The Land of Happiness, as it is sometimes called, has many similarities to Nepal. Indeed, it too is located in the Himalayan range and surrounded by two huge countries: India and China. On the other hand, Bhutan is distinguished in particular by its original policy so that tourism remains profitable without suffering the inconveniences of mass tourism. This makes its access more expensive, but it is the price to pay to find out on the spot why hiking in Bhutan.
Walk in the Himalayan mountains
Apart from a strip of plain twenty kilometers to the south, Bhutan is mainly made up of mountains. These are generally at a height of three thousand meters in the center, but reach over seven thousand meters in the northwest. This therefore leaves a good play area for hiking while drunk. We can cite these areas, for example:
- In the Laya region with its eponymous village which can be reached by the Snow Man trek
- Around Chomolhari, the second highest peak in the country
- In the region of Sakteng, rich in biodiversity with a highly coveted trek, the Merak-Sakteng
Appreciate the cultural heritage
Religion is a daily part of the life of the Bhutanese. It is therefore normal to find many Buddhist temples and other fortress-monasteries (dzong) across the country. As for citing the most famous sites for their monuments, we can name:
- The Punakha Dzong pictured above
- The town of Paro with its famous “tiger’s nest” monastery
- Lhuntse with its sacred sites and its Dzong
- The Bumthang region, comprising four valleys and numerous sites
- Thimphu, the capital with all its activities
Participate in the festivals of Bhutan
Festivals and parties are regularly held in Bhutan. Besides, almost every month has a cultural event. During a trip, it is therefore often possible to participate in one of its festivals in order to immerse yourself in Bhutanese culture and meet many jubilant people. To only cite a few:
- Jambay Lhakhang in November, at Bumthang. One of the most important in the country.
- Punakha Tshechu in February, with its reconstruction of a historical battle
- Mongar Tshechu in December, more confidential, it is nonetheless very colorful
Get closer to animals
Bhutan is one of the few countries to officially present a negative carbon footprint. This is explained by a set of environmental protection measures awarded by the government of the country. It is therefore a large part of the country that is placed in protected areas. You can also find the list of ten national parks in Bhutan (in french though).
Convinced of why hiking in Bhutan?
The best time to go is between October and May.
Do not forget to check your visas, vaccines and others … You can consult our list to not forget anything!
