Trekking tips

Physical Fitness
Treks vary from short three-day walks across low altitudes to the three-week Snowman Trek that covers 356 kilometers and climbs three of the Kingdom’s highest passes. Not only the overall duration but also the daily walking distances vary substantially according to the different trek routes.

Guiding, Food and Camping
In Bhutan, all trekking supplies – camping equipment, kitchen implements, food – are all carried by pack animals. Porters are rather unusual in Bhutan with loads usually carted by horses or, in higher regions, yaks. All trekkers are accompanied by a guide, a cook and usually at least one horseman or yak herder. With the surest footing; they lead trekking groups across the passes. The horseman and cook will usually run ahead during a trekking day. They will have prepared a packed lunch for hikers and will go on to the night’s resting place to set up camp.

They set up tents, cook dinner and ready the area for arriving trekkers. When trekkers reach the campsite they are greeted with a hot cup of tea and biscuits in the dining tent. After six hours on the mountains, no drink will ever taste sweeter. For dinner the cook will usually prepare a buffet of dishes that are as welcome as they are delicious.

Trekking Gear
Although trekking gear is available in Bhutan you are advised to bring your own gear.

What to Bring
FOR ALL TREKS
Footwear

Trekking or running shoes
Camp shoes or thongs
Socks (polypropylene)

Clothing

Down or fibre-filled jacket
Jumper or piled jacket
Hiking shorts
Waterproof jackets, poncho or umbrella
Hiking pants
T-shirts or blouses
Underwear
Sun hat

Other equipment

Rucksack
Self Inflating Sleeping Mattress (optional, “normal” mats provided by Bhutanese tour operators)
Sleeping bag
Water bottle
Torch, batteries and bulbs.
Photographic Equipment

FOR TREKS ABOVE 4000 m
Footwear

Mountain trekking boots
Socks or wool to wear with boots
Socks, light cotton for under wool socks

Clothing

Insulated pants
Nylon windbreaker
Nylon Wind pants
Long underwear
Woolen hat
Gloves
Long gaiters

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Toilet articles
Cigarette lighter
Small knife
Sun block / Sun block for lips
Sunglasses
Towel
Laundry soap
Medical and first aid kit
Sewing kit
Bandana
Walking sticks
While on trek your Bhutanese tour operator will be providing you the following items:
Two-person tent
Trekking mattresses
Eating utensils
Kitchen equipments
Other camping equipment such as dining tent, toilet tent
Trekking guide
Trained cook and other helpers

What you are supplied

Health & Safety
Trekkers are warned that altitude sickness can be a serious problem at the altitudes hiked to in Bhutan. If you feel sick, dizzy or have a worsening headache, stop and drink as much water as possible. If the symptoms persist, go back down the mountain.

Bhutanese guides are trained to look out for altitude sickness and other ailments that can affect trekkers. They are expert walkers who have been trained as trekking guides and follow routes that have been walked for centuries. All trekkers are required to strictly follow trekking rules to protect the fragile environment at high altitudes.