Most of Bhutan's landscape is covered with forests, and nowhere is this more obvious than on a trek. All treks climb up and down hills, pass­ing through various vegetation zones with a great variety of trees. As there is a lot of wildlife in the hills of Bhutan, and most treks are in protected area, there is a chance, albeit small, of seeing wildlife in its native habitat.

Once you step off the road to start the trek, you are in true wilderness much of the time. Although there are established trails, there are no planes flying overhead, no roads and very few villages; instead there are views of snowcapped peaks and forested hillsides stretching to eternity.

Day hikes are very possible, particularly around Thimpu, Paro and Bumthang. A short trek in Bhutan is three or four days in duration, an average trek in a week. Government rules dictate that all treks must be arranged as camping trips. This also happens to be the only practical solution because there are no lodges or hotels in the hills and few villages in the high country visited by most treks.

A Bhutanese crew treks with you to set up camp, cook and serve meals. You carry a backpack with only a water bottle, camera and jacket. The rules specify that a licensed guide accompany all trekkers, but there is still a very limited number of guides who are seasoned trekking guides.

Treks in Bhutan do not rely on porters. Instead, all your personal gear, plus tents, kitchen and food, is carried by packhorses or, at higher elevations, yaks. There are so few villages and facilities along trek routes that the people driving the pack animals carry their own food and tents and camp each night alongside you.

You will sleep in a two-person tent with foam pads placed on the floor as a mattress. All your gear goes into the tent with you at night. Having a tent gives you a reasonably private place and you have the freedom to go to bed when you choose. Because there are also tents for the Bhutanese guides and the packers, you do not need to camp near villages and can trek comfortably to remote regions and high altitudes.

Traveling by foot gives the best chance to interact with not only the physical and natural environment but also the social environment of Bhutan. One gets a live experience of Bhutan's daily life.