Bhutan Trekking in 2027: Druk Path, Jomolhari, Permits and Seasons

For a first trek in Bhutan, choose the Druk Path. The Department of Tourism (DoT) rates it medium, lists it at 2,400 to 4,200 m over up to seven days, and it needs neither an army nor a national-park permit. Every trek in Bhutan, this one included, must be run by a tour operator, led by a licensed trekking guide and kept to a DoT-approved route. The best months are March to May and September to November.

Two things make Bhutan different from trekking in Nepal: you cannot walk without a guide, and every night on the trail is charged the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), exactly like a night in a hotel. This guide covers the routes a first-timer should consider, the permits, the seasons, and what a trekker flying from Bangkok should plan for in 2027. Checked against DoT documents on 3 October 2026.

Which Bhutan trek suits a first-timer?

The Druk Path, unless you already have multi-day experience above 4,500 m. The table takes altitude, length, difficulty and months from the DoT's own trek listing, and permits from its approved-routes list.

Druk Path. The old route over the ridge between Paro and Thimphu. On the approved list it starts at Damchena on the Paro side and finishes at Upper Motithang (or Tsheluna) above Thimphu, camping at Jele Dzong, Jangchulakha, Jimilangtsho, Simkotra Tsho and Phajoding. The DoT's own editorial describes it as a six-day trek that fitter walkers can complete faster. Because it ends in Thimphu, the rest of your trip carries straight on by road.

Jomolhari. Higher and longer, with the mountain Jomolhari itself as the reward. All three Jomolhari variants on the approved list start at Shana in Paro and camp at Soi Thangthangkha and Jangothang, the camp below the mountain; the longer versions continue via Lingshi, or via Soi Yaksa and Thombu Shong. At 5,000 m, and with army and park permits, it is the step up after the Druk Path rather than a first trek.

The approved list has 51 routes, and the DoT updates it "from time to time". The current version is the DoT's approved trekking routes and campsites PDF.

What permits do you need to trek in Bhutan?

Your tour operator arranges them; there is no route for you to apply on your own. Chapter 4 of the Tourism Rules and Regulations 2024 (TRR 2024) sets out who does what:

• Operator. "A tour operator shall provide trekking services" (section 48).
• Trekking permit. A trekking group must hold a valid permit for places that require one (section 49).
• Trekking guide. A licensed trekking guide "with the necessary permit" leads every trek, and the group must carry safety and communication equipment (section 50).
• Approved routes only. Treks stay on designated trails and camp at DoT-notified campsites (section 52).
• Restricted areas. Restricted areas that are designated trekking routes are open to tourists with a DoT-certified trekking guide (DoT, 6 March 2023).
• Under-18s. A trekker aged 18 or under must walk with a parent or guardian, or have written permission from one (section 51).

The penalties are set per person, per night: Nu 10,000 for trekking without a permit, without the required number of guides, or camping outside designated campsites. Ask your operator which permits your route needs. On the approved list, the Druk Path needs neither army nor park permits, while every Jomolhari variant needs both.

Can you trek in Bhutan without a guide?

No. The DoT's notification of 8 April 2026 says it in one line: "A licensed trekking guide is mandatory for trekking tours." The DoT FAQ says the same thing: all treks must be undertaken with an accredited tour operator or guide.

The ratio is fixed as well. TRR 2024 section 52 requires one trekking guide for every seven tourists, up to a maximum of 15 tourists when a tour leader travels with the group. A party of eight therefore needs two trekking guides.

The same guide rule covers the rest of your trip, from Paro airport onward. We explain it in full in can you travel Bhutan without a guide.

When is the best season for trekking in Bhutan?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), with the exact months depending on the route.

• Druk Path: March to June and September to November on the DoT listing. The DoT has also written it up as a quieter winter option; expect much colder nights if you take it.
• Jomolhari Trek: September to November only on the DoT listing. The shorter Jomolhari Loop adds May and June.
• Snowman Trek: July to October on the DoT listing, which overlaps the monsoon.

In 2027 the calendar also decides the price. Spring 2027 sits inside the confirmed USD 100 SDF window, which runs to 31 August 2027. Autumn 2027 doesn't: the rate from 1 September 2027 is still awaiting a Cabinet decision. If you are choosing between a March trek and an October trek on cost alone, March is the one you can price today.

Spring also lines up with Paro Tshechu, tentatively 18–22 March 2027 at Rinpung Dzong (festival dates follow the lunar calendar). Festival week is the busiest week of the year in Paro, so book flights early if you want both.

How high do Bhutan treks go, and how do you acclimatise?

Higher than most Thai hikers have ever slept. Paro sits at 2,235 m. The Druk Path starts at about 2,400 m and tops out at 4,200 m; Jomolhari reaches 5,000 m.

Spend at least two nights in Paro before you start. A day sightseeing in the valley and a day on the Tiger's Nest hike, about 900 m of climb with a Nu 1,000 entry fee, make a sensible warm-up and tell you how your body handles height before you commit to a tent at 4,000 m.

Our guide to altitude and acclimatisation in Bhutan covers the symptoms and what to do about them. See your doctor before any trek above 4,000 m, particularly if you have a heart or lung condition. Travel insurance hasn't been required for the Bhutan visa since 23 April 2024, but on a trek you want a policy that covers helicopter evacuation. We don't sell insurance.

Do you pay the SDF on trekking nights?

Yes. The SDF is paid for the whole duration of your stay (TRR 2024 section 10), so a night in a tent counts the same as a night in a hotel. Children aged 6 to 12 get a 50% discount.

The USD 200 column is not a forecast. It is the full rate the current 50% discount is taken from, shown so you can see what is at stake. As of 12 September 2026, Bhutan's ministry was preparing its recommendation for Cabinet, and nothing has been announced since. A trek in March, April or May 2027 is charged USD 100 a night.

Why is Paro the natural trailhead?

Because both first-timer treks start there. On the approved list, the Druk Path begins at Damchena on the Paro side, and every Jomolhari variant begins at Shana in Paro. When the Bhutan Airlines flight lands, you are already at the start of the trek, with no domestic connection to make.

On the 2026 timetable, B3 701 leaves Bangkok at 06:30 and reaches Paro at 09:55 via Kolkata, and B3 700 leaves Paro at 10:35 and lands back in Bangkok at 16:05. The 2027 timetable hasn't been published yet; we confirm times when you book.

The baggage allowance suits trekking gear: 25 kg checked in economy or 30 kg in business, plus 7 kg in the cabin, on every fare. Boots, a down jacket and a sleeping bag fit comfortably. Paro is a visual-approach airport, so leave a spare day between the end of the trek and your flight home in case weather holds the aircraft.

What about the Snowman Trek?

Treat it as an expedition, not a holiday. The DoT lists two versions, of 26 and 28 days, reaching 5,320 m and crossing 13 passes, and rates both hard. Both need army and park permits on the approved list. We have not found an official 2027 schedule or status for commercial Snowman departures, so confirm directly with a licensed trekking operator before you plan around it, and expect that snow can close high sections even in season.

What should you pack from Thailand for a Bhutan trek?

Start with our Bhutan packing list, then add the trek specifics: broken-in boots, warm layers and a down jacket for nights above 4,000 m, a sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen, a head torch and a refillable bottle. Ask your operator exactly what the quote supplies, such as tents, sleeping mats, a cook and pack animals, and what you must bring yourself, such as a sleeping bag.

TRR 2024 requires the trekking team to carry out its non-biodegradable waste, and tourists who fail to deal with their own waste face the same Nu 10,000 per night fine. Pack a few zip bags.

What does a 10-day Druk Path trip from Bangkok look like?

That is nine nights in Bhutan, which is the SDF example above. The campsites follow the approved list; your trekking guide sets the daily stages to suit the group and the weather.

Our three fixed packages are cultural tours rather than treks. If you want to trek, hold your Bangkok–Paro seats first with Book & Hold, free for 48 hours, then pay by bank transfer or a Stripe card link once our team confirms, and tell us the route you have in mind; we'll tell you what we can arrange for your dates. If Tiger's Nest is as much hiking as you want, the private tours are on our Bhutan packages page.