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Gentle Walking Eastern Bhutan

Due to the popularity of our Gentle Walking Bhutan trip, that explores the Western side of the country, Managing Director, Steve Berry, thought it would be a great idea to introduce another Gentle Walking trip in Bhutan. This time uncovering the more mysterious, eastern corner of the Dragon Kingdom. So, in November of 2018 Steve travelled to Bhutan to explore all the east has to offer and to see how far it’s come since his last visit in 1990. Him and a few of his friends embarked on glorious day walks through the remarkable hill top towns and remote villages of Lhuentse, Trashiyangtse, Ura, and Tashigang, which all offered an authentic feel of old Bhutan.

Although the whole area is still very much off-the-beaten track, it’s certainly not short of wonderful architectural and cultural highlights. In fact, many of Bhutan’s most important dzongs and monasteries are found in the east including Lhentse Dzong, Gom Kora and Trashiyangtse Bridge. Aside from the ancient architecture, the scenery that surrounds the east is just as impressive. The wild, unspoilt valleys make a wonderful setting for gentle strolls with plenty to see along the way. One of Steve’s favourite walks is from the village of Bamji through to Bumdeling National Park where he saw the endangered Black-necked cranes and plenty more interesting wildlife.

Though the villages and towns still remain little changed, Steve noticed a lot of developments since his first visit to the east. The most notable one being the change in the hotels and lodges which were initially very basic have been vastly improved to accommodate more western tourists.

Reflecting on his time in Eastern Bhutan, Steve would recommend this trip to people who enjoy gentle walking and want to explore the east, it would also be an ideal itinerary for those looking to return to Bhutan for a second visit to see more of the country’s unique culture and landscape.

If you feel inspired to discover the hidden sights of Eastern Bhutan, find out more here, or call the office to discuss your travel plans.