Following two years of restoration and a delayed launch due to COVID19 – the Kingdom of Bhutan will reopen its historic and sacred Trans Bhutan Trail on 28 September.

The trail will be officially reopened in a formal ceremony in Bhutan and, as its exclusive launch partner, G Adventures will be the first group adventure operator to take travellers along the Trans Bhutan Trail when its inaugural, sold-out, departure leaves on 2 October 2022.

Yves Marceau, vice president of product at G Adventures, said the global small group operator is excited to be bringing tourism dollars back into so many local communities, with 1400 trips departing in September, and Bhutan following in October providing an incredible example of community tourism in action.

“We’re honoured to be working with the Bhutan Canada Foundation and the Trans Bhutan Trail to launch this newly restored route in magical Bhutan, and we’re thrilled with how popular the new trips have been, even with the delay in reopening,” Marceau said.

“It’s a country we’ve run tours in for more than a decade and have long admired for its commitment to the happiness of its people and sustainable way of life; both philosophies that align with our values as an organisation.

“G Adventures is the pioneer of community tourism and being able to give travellers an exceptional travel experience and simultaneously provide much-needed economic benefits to local people is our mission as a business.

“Trails have historically connected remote communities and helped distribute much-needed income to local people as travellers move across the landscape.

“Our new trips cover the highlights of the trail as hikers traverse forests and meadows and travel through rural settlements around the Dzongs. Travellers can expect an average of three to four hours of hiking each day and delicious local meals each night, whether they are camping or staying in homestays, hotels or local guest houses.”

Sam Blyth, chair of the Bhutan Canada Foundation, and lead donor for the Trans Bhutan Trail, said G Adventures was an obvious partner to help relaunch the trail given the company’s long history and success running small group tours and giving back to destinations through its commitment to community tourism.

“As well as providing income opportunities for local people – especially youth – in rural communities, the restoration of the trail is a community-based project designed to preserve an ancient cultural icon and provide a sustainable experience for travellers,” Blyth said.

“Economic benefit will flow directly into the local communities as a result of community tourism, whether via homestays, the purchase of supplies locally for multi-day trips or the employment of local guides.”

Two new Active trekking itineraries are available to book with G Adventures in Bhutan into 2023. There is an 11-day Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail trip which features camping and homestays, and a 12-day Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail itinerary with accommodation in homestays, locally-owned guest houses and hotels.

The two tours focus on trekking specially selected parts of the 403-km (250-mile) trail and connecting with local people to learn about Bhutanese life and culture, thus combining active travel and cultural immersion with the benefits of community tourism.

• Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail – Until the 1960s, the Trans Bhutan Trail was the only way to traverse the mountain kingdom of Bhutan before it fell into disuse. However, it’s back now, and this 11-day tour displays the tour in full swing. An 11-day trip travelling from Paro return is priced from $6,099pp.
  
• Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail – On this 12-day tour, visitors can travel and trek along portions of this historic trail, venturing from east to west, hiking high mountain passes across river valleys and through villages from a different era. A 12-day Active trip travelling from Paro return is priced from $7,399pp.

Travellers to Bhutan should be mindful that the country will require a $291 daily tourist tax on international arrivals.