Merak & Sakteng Cultural Trek
- Trip length
- 18 days • 17 nights
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Group size
- Up to 8
- Departures
- 2026: Nov–Dec · 2027: Jan–May, Sep–Nov
From Nu. 180,000/person
Includes guide, transport, hotels and the daily SDF
Overview
An 18-day journey to Bhutan's far east, ending with a trek to the semi-nomadic Brokpa villages of Merak and Sakteng.
An 18-day journey to Bhutan's far east, ending with a trek to the semi-nomadic Brokpa villages of Merak and Sakteng. This 18-day journey is led by Bhutanese guides who know the places and the people. Day by day: Arrival, transfer to Thimphu; Thimphu heritage sites; Thimphu to Wangdue via Dochula; Phobjikha Valley; Drive to Trongsa; Bumthang sightseeing; and more across 18 days. The full itinerary with each day's details is on this page. This is a trekking journey. You walk with a guide, cook and pack animals or porters, camp or stay in simple lodges, and see parts of Bhutan that no road reaches. Your guide carries a first-aid kit and sets the pace for the group. The difficulty is moderate. You should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven ground and at altitude, but no technical experience is needed. Every Droelma Tours & Travels journey is arranged with a licensed Bhutanese guide, a private vehicle and driver where roads allow, and accommodation planned in advance, and we help with your Bhutan visa and permits. Departure dates and group size can be adjusted — send us an enquiry and we will tailor the itinerary to your dates and interests.
Highlights
- Airport pickup
- Thimphu Dzong
- Memorial Chorten
- Dochula Pass
- Phobjikha Valley
- Gangtey Monastery
Bhutan
Start / end Thimphu to Paro
Day by day
What each day looks like. Timings shift with the weather and the festival calendar — your guide will tell you the night before.
Day1Arrival, transfer to ThimphuThimphu
Arrive in Paro and drive to the capital.
What you'll do
- Airport pickup
Day2Thimphu heritage sitesThimphu
A day through the capital's dzong, museums, and monuments.
What you'll do
- Thimphu Dzong
- Memorial Chorten
Day3Thimphu to Wangdue via DochulaWangdue Phodrang
Cross the pass into central Bhutan.
What you'll do
- Dochula Pass
Day4Phobjikha ValleyWangdue Phodrang
Bhutan's glacial crane valley and its hillside monastery.
What you'll do
- Phobjikha Valley
- Gangtey Monastery
Day5Drive to TrongsaTrongsa
The ancestral seat of Bhutan's royal family.
What you'll do
- Trongsa Dzong
Day6Bumthang sightseeingBumthang
A day among the valley's founding-era temples.
What you'll do
- Jakar Dzong
- Kurjey Lhakhang
Day7Drive to Trashigang via ThrumshinglaTrashigang
A dramatic mountain-pass crossing into eastern Bhutan.
What you'll do
- Thrumshingla National Park
Day8Trek begins toward CharbalingTrashigang
Leave the road behind for high grazing grounds.
What you'll do
- Charbaling grazing grounds
Day9Trek to Merak via Thumburtsa LaTrashigang
Cross a 3,273m pass into the first of the Brokpa villages.
What you'll do
- Thumburtsa La Pass
- Merak village
Day10Trek to Sakteng via Nyuksang LaTrashigang
The trek's high point at 4,140m, into the second Brokpa village.
What you'll do
- Nyuksang La Pass
- Sakteng village
Day11Explore SaktengTrashigang
A day among Brokpa herding communities inside the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary.
What you'll do
- Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary
- Brokpa village life
Day12Trek to Jyonkhar via Munde LaTrashigang
Descend over a lower pass toward the roadhead.
What you'll do
- Munde La Pass
Day13Trek out to PhongmeTrashigang
A short final walking day back to the road.
What you'll do
- Phongme village
Day14Drive to BumthangBumthang
Retrace the mountain road west.
What you'll do
- Thrumshingla National Park
Day15Drive to PunakhaPunakha
A long transfer day toward western Bhutan.
What you'll do
- Trongsa Dzong
Day16Punakha sightseeingPunakha
Punakha Dzong and the fertility temple.
What you'll do
- Punakha Dzong
- Chimi Lhakhang
Day17Paro sightseeing & Tiger's Nest hikeParo
Bhutan's signature hike to close out the trip.
What you'll do
- Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
Day18DepartureParo
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
What you'll do
- Departure transfer
Where you'll stay
We haven't published the property list for this trip yet. Accommodation is included throughout, and we confirm each hotel in writing before you pay anything — ask us and we'll tell you exactly where this itinerary stays.
Gallery
Photographs from this trip. Tap any of them to see it full size.
What's included
Included in the price
- Licensed guide & trek crew
- Camping equipment
- Pack animals for gear
- All meals during the trek
- Hotel accommodation on non-trek nights
Not included
- International flights
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
- Visa fee
- Personal expenses
Traveler reviews
Nobody has reviewed this trip on the site yet. Reviews here are written by travellers after they return, so they only appear once a departure has run — ask us and we can put you in touch with someone who has travelled with us.
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