17/07/2020
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 Stephen Couchman, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁
Bhutan Canada Foundation Tourism Council of Bhutan
The Trans Bhutan Trail Project is reviving the ancient east-west trail that was used for hundreds of years prior to the construction of road networks in the country. The trail cuts through 28 gewogs and nine dzongkhags, all the way from Haa till Trashigang, offering an exciting experience of Bhutan's past, history, cultural diversity, and pristine environment. And more. The Project Director of Trans Bhutan Trail Project, Stephen Couchman, talks to Tashi Delek magazine about this project and what we can expect along this wonderful journey!
𝗤. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁?
It was His Majesty’s Vision that the ancient trail connecting Haa to Trashigang should be refurbished. As an important symbol of Bhuta¬nese unity, the trail has always been there in some form. For hundreds of years, it was the thin thread through the mountains, which connected this land from East to West. Whether in continued usage for seasonal migra¬tion, cattle and yak herding, travels of the Monastic Body, repurposed as tourist day hikes, or for events like the 2002 and 2014 Move for Health Walks, large parts of the trail have never stopped being used. Connect¬ing all these pieces and identifying alternative routes where the ancient trail was subsumed by the National Highway, has been in the works since last October.
Sam Blyth, Chair of Bhutan Canada Foundation (BCF), made the initial financial commitment to the Trans Bhutan Trail (TBT) and helped bring together the best practices of other trails from around the world. BCF has collaborated with Tourism Council of Bhutan which has also provided significant support, resources, and expertise in the first phase of refurbishment. We were joined by a unique coali¬tion including 9 Dzongkhags and 28 Gewogs, Forestry, Desuung, Local Government, Royal Society for the Protection of Nature, Association of Bhutan Tour Operators, Bhutan Sustainable Tourism, National Land Commission, Guides Association of Bhutanese and many others in order to realize this Vision. In this sense, the trail continues to fulfill its purpose in bringing the Nation together.
𝗤. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹?
The total length of the trail is 430km crossing 11 passes. Most days involve climbs of 1000m or more. It may not be the longest trekking trail in the world, but it is easily one of the toughest. (Just be glad you don’t have to do it with 35Kg of chilies on your back.) The initial survey and clearing expedition in March took 28 days. Given the work done by communities in 28 Gewogs since then, it should be possible to hike the entire length in either direction over the course of 21 to 28 days. Since there are many access points, you can also challenge yourself to hike the TBT in sections over a longer period.
𝗤. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁?
The initial survey identified over 400 cultural sites along the route. That’s just a start. There are remnants ev¬erywhere of the extraordinary work of Bhutanese ancestors. Even though the way is often clear, whenever I walk the trail it is always in the com¬pany of a local guide. They are full of stories, jokes, knowledge of flora and fauna, and practices to ensure we keep good relations with local deities and demons.
I am reluctant to play favorites regarding highlights and I know better than to take a position on which region produces the best ara. Every day on the trail has unique highlights; views over the Paro Valley, the hidden Dochula Trek, Divine Madman Trail, Samtengang ridge walk, Trongsa Bazam, Mem¬bertsho, Phrumsingla National Park rhododendrons, Zhongar Dzong, Drametse Lemon Grass, and Eastern village hospitality…The list goes on and on. The TBT has something for everyone, every day.
𝗤. 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁? 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀?
Full development of trail infrastruc¬ture will take time. Early trekkers will be trailblazers, helping the TBT through our social media and trail app, to understand where and what facilities are needed. A big focus of the TBT is on community economic development. Homestays, guesthouses, local guides, community campsites, transportation services, food, and other goods and services; these are all part of the long-term plan for the trail. The TBT and our partners will be working with com¬munities to develop these over time. As the trail connects the dzongs trek¬kers will have an opportunity to spend time in larger centers every few days.
𝗤. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻?
First, it’s worth noting that the TBT incorporates and is linked to, several popular routes. In this sense, we hope to improve and increase usage of existing trails. Where possible we are developing multi-user trails provid¬ing opportunities for trekkers and mountain bikers. One way the TBT is different is that it is more accessible than remote routes. This allows for supported trekking with the potential for, ve¬hicle support, homestay, and hotels all along the route. It will be your choice to camp, homestay, or live in luxury, as you hike the TBT. Starting this fall, there will also be a trail passport, which allows trekkers to track their journey and collect stamps as part of the TBT recognition program.
Finally, the TBT is an important symbol of national unity. It is a community trail that will be used by Bhutanese youth for leadership development, community service, and educational purposes.
𝗤. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹?
A trail is not as much a physical path, as it is a way to connect people and communities. I have already mentioned the potential economic benefits. Underlying this is the fact that people who remember life before the National Highway, will not be with us forever. To know the TBT is to keep alive the stories of the Ancestors. It is an opportunity for future generations to maintain traditions and to learn the historic narratives that are literally embedded in the landscape of the trail.