Bhutan’s long standing policy of isolationism has preserved traditional lifestyles and cultures in this part of the Himalayas. Something must be different in a country that aims to put “Happiness” ahead of “Capitalism”, a long term goal of policy makers. The policy is more than just words, and regulations on the tourism industry limits the number of visitors to Bhutan at around 40,000 whereby nearby Nepal receives just shy of a million visitors. Bhutan is a country almost untouched by the cultures of begging and touting that spring up around modern tourist hotspots offering trekkers a unique experience if they are willing to accommodate to policy. For westerners, Bhutan has always been difficult to visit and the government has set not only minimum spending requirements but also requires all treks to be arranged through a local agent.

Bhutan, known as the land of the thundering dragon, is a place unlike any other, preserved and undiluted from the rest of the world.Their active desire to safe-keep their land and it’s traditions has made it so that outsiders have only been granted entrance in the past 45 years. Even now the number of visitors is limited to about 40,000 yearly.

When it comes to trekking, there is a fine balance to strike between being prepared and keeping it light. Luckily, we have compiled a comprehensive packing list for you to make sure you have everything you need for a successful and unforgettable trek in Bhutan! Note, that this packing list is oriented towards longer high elevation treks and on the shorter treks that stay below 4000m you may not need as much cold weather gear. You can download the complete packing list here: Packing List Bhutan Trekking If you prefer a word document click here