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Bhutan

Merak and Sakteng

Brokpa yak herder villages in the high pastures of eastern Bhutan

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Best time to visit Merak and Sakteng

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: April to May and October to November
  • Shoulder: March and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August and December to February

Planning a specific month? AprilMayOctoberNovember

Merak and Sakteng season by season

Winter December to February Do not go

Avoid Dec to Feb: freezing nights at about 3,500 m, snow on Nachung La and a rough gravel road that can ice over.

Summer March to May Prime time

Apr and May are the best: rhododendron forests in bloom on Nachung La and Brokpa herders moving yaks to high pasture.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Skip Jun to Aug: rain, leeches and slides on the gravel road via Phongmey; Sep is drier but trails stay muddy.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct and Nov bring crisp clear days, the best pass views and herders back near the villages before winter.

What Merak and Sakteng is actually like

Village homestays with butter tea, yak cheese and ara; Brokpa families in red yak-wool tunics and felt hats.

Things to do in Merak and Sakteng

The local places worth your time in and around Merak and Sakteng, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Sakteng

    Village · 13 km out

    Sister Brokpa village at about 2,950 m, one long or two easier trekking days from Merak over Nachung La.

  • Nachung La

    Trek · 7 km out

    Pass at about 4,150 m on the Merak to Sakteng trek, the hardest climb of the route, above rhododendron forest.

  • Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

    Wildlife · 9 km out

    Protected forest of about 1,500 to 4,500 m set up in 2003, famed in local lore as home of the migoi, or yeti.

  • Chaling

    Village · 15 km out

    Road head village on the climb from Trashigang where many Merak trek itineraries start.

  • Phongmey

    Village · 15 km out

    Village with an old lhakhang on the Merak road; slips here can force long detours in the rains.

Getting to Merak and Sakteng

About 68 km from Trashigang, 2 to 3 h on a rough road; Sakteng is 1 to 2 days on foot. Route permit and guide needed

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
4 days
Budget
Splurge
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
3541 m
Country
Bhutan
Coordinates
27.3017, 91.8580

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Merak and Sakteng?

April to May and October to November is peak season in Merak and Sakteng. March and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August and December to February. Apr and May are the best: rhododendron forests in bloom on Nachung La and Brokpa herders moving yaks to high pasture.

How many days do you need in Merak and Sakteng?

4 days is the usual stay. Village homestays with butter tea, yak cheese and ara; Brokpa families in red yak-wool tunics and felt hats.

How do you get to Merak and Sakteng?

About 68 km from Trashigang, 2 to 3 h on a rough road; Sakteng is 1 to 2 days on foot. Route permit and guide needed. Practical ways in: road.

Is Merak and Sakteng expensive, and does it get crowded?

Splurge by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Merak and Sakteng?

Sakteng, Nachung La, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaling and Phongmey. Sister Brokpa village at about 2,950 m, one long or two easier trekking days from Merak over Nachung La.

Nearby, and where to go next

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