Most mornings, Jayne’s world is the calm of Deva Yoga studio—sunlight warming the hardwood floors, incense drifting through the air, and the steady rhythm of breath. But last month she stepped far outside that familiar serenity. She joined her close friend, Buddhist nun Emma Slade, on the rugged Trans-Bhutan Trail deep in the Himalayan wilderness. Emma was trekking the full route to raise funds for Open Your Heart to Bhutan, the charity she founded.
The Trans-Bhutan Trail is an ancient pilgrimage and communications route stretching more than 400 kilometres, from the western valley of Haa to the eastern district of Trashigang. For centuries, monks, traders, messengers, and pilgrims travelled these mountains on foot, relying on the trail as the kingdom’s main overland passage. Long before roads existed, it connected dzongs, monasteries, and remote villages, weaving together communities and cultures.
After decades of neglect brought on by modern highways, the trail underwent a meticulous restoration—rebuilt bridges, repaired stone stairways, and reopened forgotten footpaths. In 2022, it returned to life and was reopened to the world.
Emma crossed all 12 mountain passes over 37 demanding days, sleeping each night in a tent and drying her rain-soaked robes by morning. Jayne joined her for six days in the middle section of the journey, tackling two mountain passes and discovering just how punishing the trail could be. She arrived in Bhutan on the tail end of a cyclone, facing treacherous footing and harsh weather. Altitude, she said, was one of the toughest challenges. Often there was no defined trail at all—just scrambling over fallen branches and hauling themselves up steep, slippery hillsides.
Nature offered its surprises too: a family of black bears, snakes, and even leeches made an appearance! Fortunately, two expert guides accompanied them, keeping them safe, well-fed, and motivated.
The trek was a lesson in pure human endurance—moments of exhilaration, exhaustion, companionship, and deep camaraderie. The Trans-Bhutan Trail is open to anyone, but it’s not for the faint-hearted and must be tackled with an organised group.
Though Jayne joined Emma for only a small portion of the 37-day expedition, she said the sense of achievement was extraordinary. She felt honoured to be part of Emma’s journey and described the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime challenge—mentally, physically, and spiritually transformative.
In 2015, Emma founded Opening your Heart to Bhutan, an Organisation benefiting Bhutanese Children, the charity focusses on giving children with special needs joy and the opportunity to build meaningful lives. Giving access to safe medical care, disability aids and basic amenities. Emma’s story is one of pure intrigue as she started her career in finance, and only through a traumatic experience did she eventually find her way to Buddism and the life that she now leads. It is an inspiring story, and one that she has now written in a book – Set Free ‘ A Life Changing Journey from Banking to Buddism in Bhutan’ (available on Amazon – here)
You can continue to follow Emma’s journey with Opening your Heart to Bhutan at www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com
