Karma Risgang is head of operations and travel consultant for the Trans Bhutan Trail (TBT), the official non-profit organisation tasked with developing and maintaining the 403 kilometre trekking trail that crosses Bhutan from from west to east. The pioneering TBT has been recognised by the international media, including The Times, CNN, Lonely Planet, Wanderlust, among many others.
Trans Bhutan Trail (Sherizampa to Drametse section)

The Trans Bhutan Trail (TBT) is a newly-restored trekking route that stretches for 403 km across the country from west to east. The trail follows a 16th century pilgrimage and trading route where travellers would be accommodated in isolated villages barely connected to each other let alone the outside world, establishing a tradition of Bhutanese hospitality that endures to this day.
The trail can be completed as a challenging thru-hike, which takes around 36 days, staying at a mixture of campsites and guesthouses. The whole trail is spectacular, but it can be broken up into sections and my favourite stretch is the 12 km hike between Sherizampa to Drametse in Bhutan's eastern Mongar District.
Most commercial treks focus on the west of Bhutan around the Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), Jomolhari and the infamous Snowman trek. Very few people venture east and this part of the country is far less developed for tourists.
The village of Drametse has a 16th century temple and is the cultural centre of eastern Bhutan. You'll see herder camps and nomadic communities that are rarely visited by outsiders – if you're lucky you'll be invited in for a steaming cup of tea. You'll pass kids going to school, and farmers or traders making their way from village to village. It's on this section of the trail that you realise how important the original route was to lives and livelihoods in this still highly traditional country.
At a glance
Destinations
Bhutan
Activity
Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Culture, Responsible Travel, Slow Travel
Season
September - June
Related Guides
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Trans Bhutan Trail (Sherizampa to Drametse section)
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