Essential Hiking Apps for Bhutan

Bhutan’s remote Himalayan trails require proper preparation. While your guide will handle navigation, having the right apps on your phone can enhance your experience, provide backup navigation, and help you document your journey.

Critical Note: Internet & Connectivity

Before We Begin - Understand This:

Bottom Line: Download and test all apps BEFORE you arrive. Assume NO internet during treks.

Essential Navigation Apps

1. Maps.me

Best For: Offline GPS navigation

Why It’s Essential:

• 100% free offline maps
• Works without internet after downloading
• Good trail coverage of Bhutan
• Turn-by-turn navigation
• Points of interest (hotels, restaurants, temples)

How to Use:

1. Download before leaving home
2. Download Bhutan map package (~100MB)
3. Search for “Thimphu” or “Paro” to download regional maps
4. Mark important locations (hotel, trailheads)

Cost: Free

Pros:

• Completely free
• Good offline performance
• Regular map updates
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Trail detail not as good as topographic maps
• Contour lines require paid upgrade

Tip: Use for city navigation and backup trail reference

2. Gaia GPS

Best For: Serious trekkers, topographic maps, route planning

Why It’s Essential:

• Topographic maps with contour lines
• Download maps for offline use
• Record your trek (GPS track)
• Emergency SOS feature (subscription)
• Layers: Satellite, terrain, slope angle

How to Use:

1. Create account before leaving home
2. Download Bhutan maps (regions you’ll visit)
3. Practice using it before your trek
4. Mark trailheads, campsites, waypoints

Cost: Free tier (limited) or Premium ($39.99/year)

Premium Features:

• Download unlimited maps
• National Geographic trails
• Weather overlay
• Print maps

Pros:

• Best topographic maps
• Excellent for trekking
• Good customer support

Cons:

• Subscription required for full features
• Learning curve (but not too steep)

Tip: Worth the subscription if doing multi-day treks

3. AllTrails

Best For: Finding trails, trail reviews, photos

Why It’s Useful:

• Trail database with reviews and photos
• Offline maps (Pro membership)
• GPX file import (you can load custom routes)
• Recording capability

Bhutan Coverage:

• Limited but growing
• Good for popular trails (Tiger’s Nest, Druk Path)
• Community photos helpful for expectations

Cost: Free or Pro ($29.99/year)

Pro Features:

• Download maps for offline use
• 3D map previews
• Weather overlay

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Good community reviews
• Trail photos helpful

Cons:

• Limited Bhutan trail coverage
• Offline maps require Pro

Tip: Use for research before your trip, not primary navigation

4. Google Maps

Best For: Cities, towns, general reference

Why It’s Useful:

• Offline areas can be downloaded
• Good for cities (Thimphu, Paro)
• Satellite view helpful
• Business information (hotels, restaurants)

How to Use Offline:

1. Search for “Thimphu, Bhutan”
2. Tap download icon
3. Select area to download (~200-500MB)
4. Repeat for Paro, Punakha, etc.

Cost: Free

Pros:

• Free
• Familiar interface
• Good city coverage
• Business information

Cons:

• Not suitable for trekking navigation
• Limited detail for trails
• Large file sizes

Tip: Download areas for city exploration, not trekking

5. OsmAnd (OpenStreetMap Android)

Best For: Android users who want free offline maps

Why It’s Useful:

• Free offline maps (no subscription)
• Topographic contours (paid plugin)
• Good Bhutan coverage
• GPX support

Cost: Free (plugins available)

Pros:

• Completely free
• Good offline performance
• Regular updates
• Android-optimized

Cons:

• iOS version less developed
• Steep learning curve
• Interface not as polished as competitors

Tip: Great free alternative for Android users

Altitude & Weather Apps

6. AccuWeather

Best For: Reliable weather forecasts

Why It’s Useful:

• Good coverage of Bhutan
• Hourly forecasts
• Minutecast (minute-by-minute precipitation)
• Altitude-aware (if you enable location)

Cost: Free (premium available)

Key Features:

• Temperature (feels like and actual)
• Precipitation chance
• Wind speed/direction
• UV index
• Sunrise/sunset

Limitation in Bhutan:

• Mountain weather is unpredictable
• Forecasts often wrong in high Himalaya
• Use as guide only, not gospel

7. My Altitude

Best For: Tracking elevation gain

Why It’s Useful:

• Current elevation display
• GPS coordinates
• Barometric pressure (useful for weather prediction)
• Offline capable

Cost: Free (basic), Pro ($1.99)

Why It Matters:

• Track your acclimatization
• Know how much you’ve climbed
• Helpful for altitude sickness awareness

Limitation: GPS accuracy varies in mountains

8. WeatherBug

Alternative to AccuWeather

Features:

• Good international coverage
• Lightning detection
• Weather cameras (where available)
• Enhanced radar

Cost: Free (with ads)

Tip: Download TWO weather apps and compare. If they agree, forecast is more reliable.

Health & Safety Apps

9. Cairn

Best For: Safety, letting people know where you are

Why It’s Essential:

• Share your location with contacts
• Check-in feature (people know you’re safe)
• Emergency contacts easily accessible
• Offline capability

How It Works:

1. Share your trek details with someone home
2. App sends your GPS location periodically
3. Emergency contacts can see your last known location
4. Check-in feature confirms you’re okay

Cost: Free

Why It’s Critical:

• If something goes wrong, people know where to look
• Peace of mind for family at home
• Can assist rescue efforts

Limitation: Requires some connectivity (works with intermittent cell, not useful in complete isolation)

10. First Aid by American Red Cross

Best For: Medical emergencies

Why It’s Useful:

• First aid instructions
• Videos demonstrating techniques
• Offline capable
• Altitude sickness information

Content:

• CPR instructions
• Bleeding control
• Sprains/fractures
• Altitude sickness
• Hypothermia/frostbite

Cost: Free

Why Download: In an emergency, you want information at your fingertips

11. Medical Encyclopedia (Offline)

Alternative First Aid App

Features:

• Comprehensive medical information
• Works offline
• Searchable
• No ads

Cost: Free or nominal

Photography & Documentation Apps

12. PhotoSync

Best For: Backing up photos to cloud

Why It’s Useful:

• Automatic backup when you have connection
• Full-resolution backup
• Preserves metadata (location, date)
• Works over Wi-Fi when available

Cost: $4.99 one-time

Why It’s Essential:

• Phones can be lost/broken on treks
• Backup photos when you get back to town
• Don’t lose those Tiger’s Nest photos!

13. Sun Surveyor

Best For: Photographers planning golden hour shots

Why It’s Useful:

• Sunrise/sunset times
• Golden hour (best light) prediction
• Moon phases
• Augmented reality view of sun path

Cost: $8.99

Perfect For:

• Planning Tiger’s Nest hike for best light
• Photography enthusiasts
• Knowing when to be at scenic spots

14. PeakVisor

Best For: Identifying mountain peaks

Why It’s Cool:

• Point camera at mountains and app identifies them
• 3D panorama of peaks
• Elevation profiles
• Hiking trails overlaid

Cost: Free (premium features available)

Bhutan Use:

• Identify Jhomolhari, Jichu Drakey, Tsherimgang
• Know which peaks you’re seeing
• Great for trekkers

Special Interest Apps

15. Star Walk 2

Best For: Stargazing on clear nights

Why It’s Magical:

• Point at stars and app identifies them
• Constellations, planets, satellites
• Time travel (see sky at different times)
• Augmented reality

Cost: Free (in-app purchases)

Bhutan Context:

• Minimal light pollution in remote areas
• Incredible night skies
• Perfect for clear autumn/winter nights

16. iNaturalist

Best For: Identifying plants and wildlife

Why It’s Useful:

• Take photo of plant/animal
• AI identification suggests what it is
• Community verification
• Contributes to citizen science

Cost: Free

Bhutan Use:

• Identify rhododendrons
• Record bird sightings
• Learn about local flora

Utility Apps

17. Currency Converter (XE Currency)

Best For: Quick conversions

Why It’s Useful:

• Offline rates (last updated when connected)
• Quick conversions (Nu. to USD/EUR)
• Historical charts

Cost: Free

Tip: Update rates when you have Wi-Fi in town

18. Flashlight Apps

Best For: Emergency light, late night needs

Built-in flashlight on most phones:

Why Have Dedicated App:

• Brighter than built-in
• SOS mode (blinking)
• Screen light option (softer light)

Cost: Free (many options)

Recommendation: “Tiny Flashlight” or similar highly-rated app

19. Compass Apps

Best For: Basic direction finding

Built-in compass on most phones (iPhone)

Why Have App:

• Backup if built-in fails
• Altitude display
• Coordinates display

Cost: Free

Tip: Compass app on iPhone is excellent. Android users may want dedicated app.

Preparation Checklist

Before Leaving Home:

Download and Test:

• Maps.me (download Bhutan)
• Gaia GPS (download trek areas)
• AccuWeather (test)
• Cairn (set up emergency contacts)
• PhotoSync (set up backup)

Charge and Prepare:

• External battery pack (10,000+ mAh)
• Charging cable for your phone
• Universal adapter (if needed)
• Waterproof phone case
• Screen protector (scratches from dust)

Test Offline Functionality:

• Turn off Wi-Fi and cellular
• Open each app
• Confirm it works without internet
• Practice using key features

In Bhutan:

Daily Routine:

• Charge phone every night
• Update weather (when you have connection)
• Back up photos (when in towns)
• Check offline maps are working

During Trek:

• Use airplane mode (save battery)
• Keep phone warm in cold (close to body)
• Use screen brightness moderately
• Check GPS tracking is recording (if using)

Hardware Considerations

Phone Choice

Best for Bhutan Trekking:

• iPhone: Good offline support, reliable GPS
• Android: More customization, often better battery

Critical Features:

• Good GPS (all modern phones)
• Long battery life (or bring battery pack)
• Water resistance (rain is common)
• Durable (drops happen)

Battery Life Management

Extend Battery Life:

• Airplane mode when not using
• Low power mode (iOS/Android)
• Lower screen brightness
• Close unused apps
• Keep phone warm (cold drains battery)
• External battery essential for multi-day treks

External Battery (Power Bank)

Minimum: 10,000 mAh Recommended: 20,000 mAh for multi-day treks

Features to Look For:

• Multiple ports (charge phone + camera)
• Fast charging
• Lightweight
• Durable

App Recommendation by Trek Type

Day Hikes (Thimphu/Paro)

• Essential: Maps.me, Weather app
• Optional: PhotoSync, First Aid
• Internet: Intermittent to good

Short Treks (Druk Path - 6 days)

• Essential: Gaia GPS, Weather app, Cairn
• Optional: PhotoSync, Altitude tracker
• Internet: Limited to none

Long Treks (Snowman - 25+ days)

• Essential: Gaia GPS, Cairn, First Aid, Altitude tracker
• Optional: Star Walk 2, PhotoSync (when you have signal)
• Internet: None

Cost Summary

Total if buying all paid features: ~$100

Budget Option: Use only free apps = $0

Final Tips

1. Test Before You Go: Don’t wait until you’re in Bhutan to figure out how apps work

2. Backup Everything: Phones can be lost, broken, or run out of battery

3. Don’t Rely Solely on Apps: Your guide is the primary navigation source

4. Battery is King: All the apps in the world are useless with a dead phone

5. Know Your Limits: Apps provide information, they can’t overcome exhaustion or altitude sickness

6. Enjoy the Experience: Don’t spend your whole Bhutan trip staring at your phone screen

Remember: Apps are tools to enhance your Bhutan experience, not replace proper preparation, a qualified guide, or common sense. The most important navigation tool in Bhutan is your experienced guide who knows these trails intimately.