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After two and a half years of quarantine, Bhutan reopened in September with changes to its long-standing “high-cost, low-volume” tourism policy. Visitors are no longer required to travel on package tours, but Bhutan’s mandatory “sustainable development fee” has increased from $65 to $200 per day.
At the same time, the 250-mile Trans-Bhutan Trail, which has served as a pilgrimage and communication route for centuries, reopened after three years of renovations that restore suspension bridges, stone steps and long-grown temples. The route stretches from east to west across almost the entire country, passing through towns, villages, farms and wilderness. Depending on the route and time of year, trekkers spy the snow-capped Himalayas, visit cliff-top forts, scale sacred mountain passes or pass through blooming rhododendron forests.
Official guides are required, and itineraries range from half a day to over a month. Accommodations include guesthouses, home stays, luxury hotels and well-appointed campsites with 28 rooms each way. Proceeds from trips booked by Trans Bhutan Trail, the non-profit organization that spearheaded the restoration, go toward trail maintenance, educational programs, guide training and other community causes.
– Sarah Clemence
Marcus Westberg
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