Into The Wilderness During The Best Trekking Season In Bhutan

The jagged and unforgiving mountain landscapes of Bhutan make some of the best mountain trekking routes on the planet. Undoubtedly one of the toughest treks in the world, the snowman trek starts from Laya into high altitudes of the Himalaya where trekkers have to camp above 5000 meters above sea level for more than once.

The varying range of Bhutan’s topography, which spans from the southern foothills with elevations averaging from as low as 200 m to the greater Himalayas in the north where it peaks to more than 7000m.

The time tested mule trails that are craved through rugged and unforgiving mountain terrains often pass through lush green valleys carpeted in the mountain flowers giving you timeless hours of Bhutan calm and restful nature.

If you like pristine mountains all to yourself and wish to get yourself soaked in perpetual calm and wilderness, then trekking in the wilderness is a must-do during the peak trekking season which is from March to April and from September to mid October.

Like any other country in the world, the novel coronavirus pandemic has hit the travel industry in Bhutan too. Its been more than a month since Bhutan closed down its international border and the operation of tourism remain impossible. Many stakeholders involved in the tourism industry are heavily impeded by the crisis.

However, on a positive note, during such time, Bhutan is seeing many people delving into nature and wilderness. Parents along with their children are seen engaged in outdoor activities which before the outbreak was very rare. Through social media, the location of must-visit/ trekking/hiking landmarks is shared to encourage more people to be outdoor to improve both physical and mental orientation.

Such a crisis is also seen as an opportunity to boost inbound tourism or domestic tourism. Local enthusiastic hikers and trekkers are hiring porters and pony to untrodden trekking routes like Dagala, the land of thousand lakes and to Jomolhari, the second tallest mountain in Bhutan. Local people are also experiencing a ‘glamping tour’ in one of the famous hotspot hikes to Bumdra.

The interest of local people to explore Bhutan and its mountain could not only benefit the people involved in organizing local tours, but it also encourages Bhutanese people to explore one's country better and be the ambassador of the land of Happiness.

Dochola, once the most crowded tourist landmark is surrounded by beautiful rhododendrons. ‘lungchutse hiking trail’ has become many local hikers favourite place to hike since this time of the year, it's considered the best time to hike along the juniper forest and Rhododendron scrub that offers a riot of colours. Of the 46 rhododendron species recorded in the country, 29 are found in Lamperi Botanical Park, a few kilometres future from Docohla Pass.

With the winter season closing, the days are longer and the climate in regions at 800 to 2000-metre elevations making trekking more pleasant. While early spring can be a tad chilly, the middle of the season will see mildly warmer weather. Expect temperatures to be around 16 to 23°C during the day in the upper hills and lower mountain ranges and warmer nights ensure that your Himalayan trekking adventure is a much more comfortable one

Find a selection of some of the best adventures to take during the spring season with DrukAsia.