Trekking information
How we operate our treks?
Trekking in Bhutan is different from Nepal. In Nepal, most of the trek routes run through spaced villages where trekkers find small lodges or teahouses for their shelter at night. You can also do an independent trek by arranging your own guide and porters and not being in a group. While on the other hand, trekking in Bhutan is a complete wilderness experience. In Bhutan, trekking is being arranged a camping trips. You will be on a guided trek sleeping inside tents at designated campsite. The assistants walk ahead of the trekking group each day and pitch tents before the trekkers arrive. A hot cuppa tea waiting in the dining tent is a most welcome treat after hours of tedious walk. All trekking groups are accompanied by a trained guide and trek chef. You will also have with you trek assistants and horsemen assembled from local community. Instead of porters, horses or yaks will carry your belongings and food supplies. Trekkers only have to carry their backpack for personal items such as camera, toiletries and water bottle etc.
How many crew on the trek?
Each trek group is accompanied by a support team consisting of a trained guide, trek chef, assistant guides and local horsemen. Trekking is a joint effort and every crew has an important role to play. The guide and a trek chef play a lead role in overall supervision and control of the trek group. Some assistants will fetch water from spring or carry your packed lunch. Besides herding horses, horsemen will also help pitch tents and serve as man of errand. Horses carry the tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, food supply, cookware, gas, stoves, chairs, tables and your trekking gear. For a trek group of two people, there will be five staff – a guide, trek chef, an assistant and 2-3 horsemen and 8 horses to carry your equipment and supplies. For a group of 12 persons, there will be 11 support staff – a guide, chef, 4 assistants, 5 horsemen and 40 horses.
Trekking trail
Trekking in Bhutan is physically challenging as it involves a vigorous long walk up hillside and through mountains with harsh terrain with radical changes in elevation. The average daily elevation gain is about 500m spread over eight to twelve kilometers. Campsites are some time spaced out over long distance, requiring trekkers to walk seven to nine hours in a day. Some times it may be just three or four hours of brisk walking. You will often come across terrain with moraine rocks and long stretches of round river rocks, which is hard on your feet. Trails could also be muddy and at times you may have to hop small streams. On high passes, it’s always possible to encounter snow. Be prepared to take any disappointments in your end. Despite your advance trekking plan, sometimes itineraries can be disrupted due to force majeure such as blockage of route due to heavy snow or breakage of bridges due to unexpected heavy showers. Sometimes trails become too icy for the horses due to sudden temperature fall at night.
Our trekking guides
Our trekking guides are experienced, talented and respected professionals in the industry. They are well prepared to handle any situation that trekkers can encounter on the mountain. We give highest priority to your personal safety on trails. Our guides receive annual training in emergency first aid and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). They can prevent, recognize and treat altitude-related illnesses. Further, they can identify and avoid potential hazards such as slippery trails and loose rocks. Our guides are knowledgeable about general mountain facts and trails. Our guides are tough and can teach you everything you need to know about high altitude trekking. They can tell you about the climate zones, the altitudes of and distances to campsites, and information about mountain culture, geology, flora and fauna.
Meals on trek
You are supplied with lavish food items and it is not necessary to bring any food with you. However, you may bring some energy bars or trail mix to be eaten while walking. Our chefs can conjure up tasty foods at any altitude. Most trekkers find camp meals better than ones served in city hotels. Besides native foods, you will be served Chinese, Indian and continental dishes. Your breakfast will include toasts, eggs, fruit juice, tea and coffee, sausages and hams. Oatmeal, drinking chocolates, baked means, peanut butter are also served. Hot packed lunch consists of rice, noodles, vegetables, meat, fruits, boiled egg or potatoes and juices. Evening tea/coffee is served with biscuits and at times with peanuts or salted popcorn. Dinner begins with soup, followed by a main course including meat (yak, chicken, fish, pork or beef) and vegetables, which are accompanied by either white or local red rice. You will also be served with fruits and tea/coffee.
Water on trek
You will be supplied with a bottled water during city tour. On trek, you will be provided boiled water. Trek assistants will collect water from rivers and streams. They will boil for you at the start of the day to carry in your water bottles. If you collect water yourself from streams, purify it using your tablets.
Segregation of clothes
A day ahead of trek, you will have to segregate the clothes you require on trek from city clothes. You must put your clothes that you require on trek in a duffle bag to be carried by horses. And your city clothes would go into your hard suitcase, which is to be left in the company office. It will be made available to you at the end of your trek.
Packing list for trek
Technical Clothing
- Down parka
- Warm fleece jacket
- Comfortable trekking boot (we like lowa)
- Lightweight shoes
- Rain gears
- 4 pair trekking socks
- 2 long sleeve capilene shirts
- 2 capilene bottoms (mid & heavy weight)
- 2 trekking shirts (non-cotton is best!)
- Trekking pants (zip off shorts are nice)
- 1 pair shorts
- 1 bandana
- Warm gloves
- Flip flop (or similar camp shoes)
- Warm hat
- Sun hat
- 2 pair sunglasses
Equipment
- Small daypack
- Waterproof duffel for gear
- Warm sleeping bag (negative 8-10 degree celsius)
- Trekking poles
- Mud guard
- Headlamp and a normal torch
- Camera and extra batteries
- Earplugs
- 2-liter water bottle (if camelback, bring also a nalgene)
- Insulated drinking mug
- Small towel
- Rain gears
- Various size plastic bags to keep gear dry and separate
Others
- Anti bacterial hand gel for disinfecting hands
- Medical kit that includes – aspirin, motion sickness tablets, cough drops, diamox, bites/burn cream and small bandage.
- Lightweight toilet articles (shampoo, soap-travel size)
- Sunscreen, lip screen and insect repellent
- Water purification tablets (iodine or chlorine)
- High calorie snacks and energy bars
- Prescription medications
- Some books to read at camp