Trail Blazing

The recent opening of the Trans-Bhutan Trail has ramped up our sense of adventure and inspired us to explore some of Asia's most epic byways

- Coco Marett

Many of us have emerged from lockdowns with a renewed sense of adventure, a desire to connect with nature and a fondness for long walks.

With landscapes that span jungles and rainforests to ancient deserts and soaring canyons, Asia is home to some of the most awe-inspiring trails in the world. And because we are Tatler, we've found the best places to rough it through rugged terrain during the day and rug up in five-star comfort by night.

In the eternal words of Lou Reed, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side".

A LEGEND REBORN

TRANS BHUTAN TRAIL, BHUTAN

On September 23 this year, Bhutan reopened to visitors for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Just a few days later, on September 28, the happiest country in the world marked another major milestone: hundreds of Bhutanese men, women and children walked along the newly restored and reopened Trans-Bhutan Trail-the the first official steps in 60 years.

Dating back to the 16th century, the trail once connected a series of fortresses, or dzongs, and served as pilgrimage route for Buddhists travelling to sacred sites in western Bhutan and Tibet. It was also used as a trade route, and was the only way to travel across the country until the national highway was built in the 1960s, causing the trail to fall into disuse.

For the last two years, two teams of de-suups, or guardians, have been working to restore the trail, constructing new pathways and renovating bridges, while recording cultural sites and upgrading signs along the route-a project led by the Bhutan Canada Foundation with the support of the Tourism Council of Bhutan.