National Yak Day: Bhutan Names 23 October for Yaks and Herders

By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 27, 2026 · 8 min read

Bhutan now has a National Yak Day. His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck declared 23 October as National Yak Day during the ninth Royal Highland Festival in Laya, Gasa, according to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR). The day honours yaks and yak herding, which highland communities depend on for their livelihoods and their cultural heritage.

The declaration came on the opening day of the festival, when His Majesty also launched the Himalayan Yak Herders' Network, the first regional platform linking yak-herding organisations in Bhutan, India and Nepal. Bhutan will host its secretariat. BBS and ICIMOD, the intergovernmental mountain research centre that co-organised the launch, both reported on the network.

This post covers what was announced, why herders asked for a regional network, and what it means for travellers who want to visit Bhutan's yak-herding regions. For the festival itself, see our Royal Highland Festival guide.

Key Facts at a Glance

What Was Announced in Laya

Two things happened on 23 October.

National Yak Day. The MoENR notice says His Majesty declared 23 October National Yak Day to honour yaks and yak herding. No further details, such as an official programme for future years, have been published yet. We have not seen any notice that it will be a public holiday. We will update this post if more is announced.

The Himalayan Yak Herders' Network. The network brings together three national herder groups: the Bhutan Yak Federation (formed in 2022), the Yak and Chauri Farmers Federation Nepal (2023) and the Yak Federation of India (2025), according to ICIMOD. It is meant to be owned and led by herders, and the MoENR describes it as non-political. Government representatives from the three countries, researchers and development partners are also involved.

The founding partners named by the MoENR are Bhutan's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the National Land Commission and ICIMOD. BBS also lists the Yak Federation of Bhutan as a co-organiser. The first meeting of the network's regional steering committee took place in Laya on 24 October. It discussed governance and priority areas and agreed an initial roadmap and work plan for 2027.

The idea is not new. ICIMOD says it first came up in 2016 under its Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative. In 2018, herder representatives met the Association of World Reindeer Herders in Norway, and that group's model shaped the plan. Leaders committed to setting up the network in 2025. BBS describes the launch as the result of almost a decade of cooperation.

Yaks on a high pasture in Bhutan. Bhutan had 29,432 yaks in 2024, according to national statistics cited by ICIMOD.

Why Herders Want a Regional Network

The reports describe the same set of problems on both sides of the border.

• Fewer yaks. ICIMOD says yak numbers have fallen significantly in all three countries in recent decades. Down To Earth links part of the decline to changes in land use and to degraded rangelands. Genetic diversity in yak breeds is also under threat.
• Shrinking pastures. Grazing land is getting smaller and poorer in quality.
• Climate change. BBS spoke to herders in eastern Bhutan. A herder from Merak in Trashigang said yaks can no longer be kept near homes in summer and must be moved higher. In Sakteng, herders now move their animals a month later than they used to.
• Wildlife. A herder from Laya told BBS that bear attacks on livestock, especially calves, are frequent. Our post on the Asiatic black bear in Bhutan covers this conflict in more detail.
• Young people leaving. Youth migration away from highland villages is listed as a challenge by ICIMOD and BBS.
• Markets and services. Herders have limited access to markets, veterinary care and other services, according to ICIMOD.

Tawchu Rabgay, Chief Livestock Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, told BBS that the network will let herders in the three countries share knowledge and find joint solutions, including on breed conservation and pasture management.

The network's stated priorities, per ICIMOD, are advocacy, knowledge exchange, training, cross-border cooperation, healthy rangelands and conserving yak genetic resources.

Yak numbers in the three member countries

All figures are as cited by ICIMOD. The Indian federation figure covers members only, so it is not comparable with the national census count, as Down To Earth points out.

Why It Matters

For highland communities. Bhutan's yak herders live in a few remote areas: Laya and Lunana in Gasa, Soe and Lingzhi on the Jomolhari route, Merak and Sakteng in the far east, and some pastures in Haa, Bumthang and elsewhere. A national day gives their way of life an official date on the calendar, and the network gives their federations a formal channel to governments in three countries.

For conservation. Yaks graze rangelands that are also habitat for snow leopards, blue sheep and other high-altitude wildlife. How those pastures are managed matters for both herders and wildlife. Our post on the snow leopard GPS collar project shows how closely the two are linked.

For Bhutan's international profile. The launch was timed to the UN's International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, which both BBS and the MoENR mention. Hosting the secretariat puts Bhutan at the centre of regional work on pastoralism.

What It Means for Travellers

Nothing changes in the entry rules. Visitors still need a Bhutan visa, a booking with a licensed tour operator and the Sustainable Development Fee. But the news is a good reason to plan time in yak country. Here are the practical options.

Treks through herding areas. Most yak pastures are reached on foot.

• The Jomolhari Base Camp trek passes yak herders' camps around Jangothang and Soe, below Mount Jomolhari.
• The Laya trek continues north to Laya, home of the Layap herders and venue of the Royal Highland Festival.
• The Snowman trek goes on to Lunana. It is long and hard, and only practical in a short autumn window.
• In the east, the Merak and Sakteng area is home to the Brokpa herders. See our eastern Bhutan guide for routes and timing.

Our complete Bhutan trekking guide compares these treks by difficulty, length and season. On all of them, yaks often carry camping gear above the tree line, so you will travel with herders as well as see them.

Easier options. If you do not want a multi-day trek, the Bjimilangtsho hike from Thimphu reaches high lakes and yak pastures in a day. You can also taste yak products: dried yak cheese and yak butter appear in our Bhutanese food guide.

Festivals. The Royal Highland Festival in Laya is the main event for highland culture, with yak parades, herder games and stalls of highland produce. The 2026 edition was held on 23–24 October. Dates for 2027 have not been announced. If National Yak Day stays on 23 October and the festival keeps its late-October slot, the two could fall together again, but that is not confirmed.

Timing. Herders move yaks to higher pastures in summer and bring them lower in colder months, so where you find them depends on the season. October and early November, and spring from April to May, are the usual trekking seasons for the high routes. Ask your operator which camps are in use for your dates.

Respect on the trail. Herders' camps are working homes. Ask before photographing people, keep a distance from yaks (especially those with calves) and follow your guide's instructions near herds and guard dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is National Yak Day in Bhutan?

23 October. His Majesty the King declared it during the ninth Royal Highland Festival in Laya on 23 October 2026, according to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

Is National Yak Day a public holiday in Bhutan?

No holiday has been announced. As of 27 October 2026, we have not seen any notice that it will be a public holiday or that offices will close.

What is the Himalayan Yak Herders' Network?

A regional network of yak-herding organisations from Bhutan, India and Nepal, launched in Laya on 23 October 2026. It is led by herders, has its secretariat in Bhutan, and works on knowledge sharing, advocacy, pasture management and conserving yak breeds.

How many yaks are there in Bhutan?

29,432 yaks in 746 yak-rearing households, according to 2024 National Statistics Bureau figures cited by ICIMOD. Yak numbers in Bhutan, India and Nepal have fallen in recent decades.

Where can tourists see yaks in Bhutan?

On the high treks: the Jomolhari, Laya and Snowman routes in the northwest, and the Merak–Sakteng area in the east. The Royal Highland Festival in Laya also features yaks. For a shorter trip, the Bjimilangtsho day hike near Thimphu reaches yak pastures.

Sources

• Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources: "Himalayan Yak Herders Network Launched at 9th Royal Highland Festival," 26 October 2026. National Yak Day declaration, festival theme, partners, steering committee.
• BBS: "Himalayan Yak Herders Network launched to address common challenges," 24 October 2026. Herders' challenges, comments from Merak and Laya herders and the Chief Livestock Officer.
• ICIMOD: media advisory on the network launch, 19 October 2026. Member federations, yak and household figures, background timeline, priorities.
• Down To Earth: "Himalayan yak herders from Bhutan, India and Nepal unite amid climate and pasture pressures," 21 October 2026. Yak population decline and comparability of Indian figures.
• Kuensel: "Himalayan Yak Network to launch at Royal Highland Festival," 21 October 2026.

Want to plan a trek through Bhutan's yak country, or time a trip with the Royal Highland Festival? Talk to us and we will build the route around the season and your fitness.