Snowman Trek

Hiking.org focus: Hiking trails around the world

the Snowman Trek Hiking trail ( Bhutan – Asia )

Text and Watercolors by Frits Ahlefeldt, Hiking.org

The Snowman Trek ( +200 Miles / 320km. is considered one of the hardest main high-altitude hiking trails on the planet. The trail goes through no less than 11 passes. It takes around 20-25 days to hike the Snowman Trek and it is best hiked in a short window, in the beginning of October

Bhutan is a tiny, ancient mountain country and kingdom between India and China high up in the Himalaya mountains. There live less than a million people in Bhutan, and it is considered one of the happiest, most peaceful countries in the region.

The Snowman trail is Bhutan’s most famous hiking trail, tough to do, with most of the trail situated higher than 12000 feet / 4000 meters in altitude, going between some high peaks and along at least 9 mountain passes with long stretches of snow, but also visiting ancient monasteries, local forests and villages along the way.

Three hikers on the Snowman trail - watercolor by Frits Ahlefeldt — The Snowman Trek ( Bhutan – Himalayas ) One of the toughest high altitude hiking trails in the world

Watercolor of Paro Taktsang in Bhutan — The Paro Taktsang Buddhist Monastery (Also known as tigers Nest) is an ancient monastery situated dramatically on high cliffs in connection with a number of sacred caves. The history of the place goes back to the 8 Century

Meeting the locals in Bhutan is part of the hiking experience most places in the world, here are a few research sketches around the Snowman Trek of locals: