Community tourism pioneer, G Adventures, chosen as launch partner

In March 2022, following two years of extensive restoration, the Kingdom of Bhutan will reopen the historic and sacred Trans Bhutan Trail for the first time in 60 years. The trail will be officially inaugurated by His Majesty the King of Bhutan, whose vision it was to restore the ancient route for tourism, adventure and connection. From April 2022, international tourists will be able to walk the trail for the first time, simultaneously providing much-needed economic benefits to rural communities along the way. 

Community tourism pioneer, G Adventures, has been selected by the Bhutan Canada Foundation, the non-profit that led the restoration of the trail, as the first group adventure operator when the trail launches to the public. Two new Active trekking itineraries are now available to book with G Adventures, 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 Trans Bhutan Trail's origins go back thousands of years to when it was part of the ancient Silk Road. Official records can be traced to the 16th century when it was the only route between the east and west of the country, connecting fortresses - or Dzongs - deep in the remote eastern Himalayas. It also served as the pilgrimage route for Buddhists in the east to travel to sacred sites in western Bhutan and Tibet, and legendary Garps -  trail runners - would travel the trail at great speed by foot with mail and important messages, often making their journeys without food or water. 

When construction of the national highway began across Bhutan in the 1960s, the trail's ancient stairways and footpaths gradually fell into disrepair. To prepare for the reopening, in March 2020, the team of surveyors restoring the ancient route began clearing jungles, fording rivers and reconstructing bridges to their former glory. As they worked, communities provided hospitality and assistance, elders shared stories of the past, and children marvelled at this unusual group, even as Bhutan and the world were enveloped in the emerging COVID crisis. 

Yves Marceau, vice president of product at G Adventures, says the operator's 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.

“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. 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, which are both philosophies that align with our values as an organization.

“Trails have historically connected remote communities and helped distribute much-needed income to local people as travellers move across the landscape. In today's world, the pandemic has encouraged people to spend more time in nature and now they are looking for similar experiences when they travel. 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,” says Marceau. 

Sam Blyth, chair of the Bhutan Canada Foundation and lead donor for the Trans Bhutan Trail, says 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. 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.

“Spanning the world's only carbon negative country, the Trans Bhutan Trail also reflects the country's philosophy of Gross National Happiness and enables the children of Bhutan to continue to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors. It's our vision that one day the Trans Bhutan Trail will be considered one of the great walks of the world,” says Blyth. 

It is expected that Bhutan's borders will reopen to tourism ahead of the Trans Bhutan Trail's official opening ceremony in March 2022. The two new G Adventures trips on the Trans Bhutan Trail depart from May 01, 2022. Both are available to book now and include the permits required to walk the trail. Itineraries as follows:  

• Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail - Until the 1960s, the Trans Bhutan Trail was the only real way to traverse the mountain kingdom of Bhutan before it fell into disuse. Thankfully, it's back, and this 11-day tour will show the world what it's been missing. Covering some of the best portions of this 403 km trail, travellers use their own two feet to experience breathtaking, diverse landscapes and timeless villages from a different era. Featuring idyllic camping spots and overnights in comfortable local homestays, this tour provides a glimpse into Bhutan's rural and spiritual life that is only possible off the beaten path. An 11-day trip travelling from Paro return is priced from $4,379pp for departures from 15 May, 2022. 

• Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail - Explore the happiest country on Earth while walking along the same path used by royals, monks, and traders for thousands of years. On this 12-day tour, travel and trek along the best portions of this historic trail, venturing from east to west, hiking high mountain passes across lush river valleys and through villages from a different era, stopping to soak in local history, culture, and customs along the way. A 12-day Active trip travelling from Paro return is priced from $5,619pp for departures from 01 May, 2022. 

For more information on G Adventures, please visit www.gadventures.com. For more information on the Trans Bhutan Trail see https://transbhutantrail.bt.  

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Notes to editors:

*Prices are in NZD and do not include international flights. For inclusions, see links above. 

Images can be found at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q7sob76xlzot9g2/AADRlUwIXbsmL4wqVLFtsUWla?dl=0 

About G Adventures 

Founded in 1990 by social entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures is a small group adventure travel operator offering more than 1,000 tours in 100 countries, on all seven continents. G Adventures' award-winning trips support local communities, giving travellers meaningful experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, while offering them the  freedom and flexibility to explore on their own. G Adventures' responsible approach to travel is demonstrated through its 'G for Good' social impact initiatives, which include travel guidelines for children, wildlife and Indigenous people, community-based social enterprise projects travellers can experience on a trip, and its industry-leading 'Ripple Score' assessment which measures how many traveller dollars stay in the local economy. G Adventures offers life-changing tours for individuals of all ages, interests and budgets. Because our world deserves more you. For more information please visit www.gadventures.com.

About the Trans Bhutan Trail

For thousands of years, The Trans Bhutan Trail was used by pilgrims, armies and traders. The trail spans 403 kilometres (250 miles) from the east to the west of Bhutan. Until the 1960s, it was the only way to travel across the country and, in 2022, the Trail will reopen to walkers and mountain bikers, both local and international, for the first time in over 60 years. Not only has the Trail allowed the Bhutanese to rediscover generations' worth of stories and history, it also highlights the Kingdom's core principles of sustainability and sustainable tourism.

About the Bhutan Canada Foundation

Founded by Sam Blyth in 2009, the not-for-profit Bhutan Canada Foundation continues a long tradition of cooperation between Canada and Bhutan, particularly in the education sector. In 2018, with the vision of His Majesty, The Fifth King and supported by the Tourism Council of Bhutan, the Bhutan Canada Foundation led an initiative to restore the Trail to make it accessible again for locals, pilgrims, and travelers. This led to the deployment of more than 900 furloughed, local workers during the pandemic to work on the ancient route. 18 major bridges, 10,000 stairs and 405km of trail were rebuilt and today for the first time in over half a century, it is again possible to walk across the country from Haa in the west to Trashigang in the east. 

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Casey Mead, Global Communications Lead, G Adventures, caseym@gadventures.com