Bhutan Biking Tour – 15 Days

Today, we participate in a hiking trip to one of the holiest sites in Bhutan – the Taktsang Goemba, also known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery perched on a cliff about 900m above the Paro Valley. En route, get ready to pass through shady pine forests and discover the monastery. If you do not want to hike, you can take a horse cart and ride upward the site. In the afternoon, we head to Paro Dzong which is one of the best examples displaying the traditional Bhutanese architecture. We then make our way to the National Museum in Ta Dzong – Watch Tower to get an insight into the Bhutanese costumes, culture, and history. Overnight in Paro.  

Today, our Bhutan Biking Tour will begin. We first drive up to the Chele-La Pass to an elevation of 3.800m where offers you fantastic views of the snow-capped peaks of Himalayas. We then make our way downhill to the isolated farming town of Haa Valley (30 km away). You will spend your night today in a local farmhouse. Overnight in Haa Valley.

Haa Valley is known as one of the most wonderful countrysides of Bhutan and today, we will cycle around such a destination. We cross farmhouses, barley and potato fields as well as several Buddhist temples. Our today’s biking distance will be roughly 35 km as we ride from Haa Valley to the Haatoe village on the other side of Haa and then, ride back to the local farmhouse. Overnight in Haa Valley.

Leave Haa Valley behind and we begin to paddle towards Dobji Dzong (roughly 5.5km away). We cycle along a small paved road without traffic to reach the tranquil fortress. This Dzong is considered to be one of the oldest ones in Bhutan. It once severed as the main prison of Bhutan. However, it has soon been returned to its spiritual roots and recently functions as a school for monks. This evening, we will set up a camp for an overnight stay at a quiet spot in the Valley.

We cycle towards Chozom Bridge where we will get on the West-East Highway to Thimphu – the capital city. Although being the capital city of Bhutan, the traffic here is relatively light. Today’s biking distance is 50km and if we reach Thimphu early, we can continue our cycling trip around the north side of the valley. Overnight in Thimphu.  

Today, we set out from the city center and head to the pristine forests. We ride up to the Dochu-La Pass in which, the incline is really gentle; however, the altitude gain is really challenging. When you reach the top of the pass, the panoramic vistas of Bhutan’s tallest mountains will appear in front of you. We then keep our journey to Punakha – the former capital city of Bhutan, going on. Today’s distance will be 62km along tranquil, well-paved roads. Overnight in Punakha.

This morning, enjoy breakfast and then, we hike to the atmospheric Punakha Valley. We head to some cultural sites en route. Firstly, we reach Punakha Dzong – the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan and then, continue on to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten which is a gleaming temple and it only can be reached by a steep and short hike up the hillside. However, you will be rewarded with the sweeping scenery of the whole valley. Make our way down to the road and cycle back to the city. En route, we stop at Chimi Lhakhang – a fertility temple. Once there, you will see something weird. Promise that. Later, back to the hotel in Punakha or you can opt to camp.

This morning, we ride eastward for 16km to a riverside resort located in the remote are Chuzomza. After lunch, we move to the Samtengang and Beylangdra villages and finally, we ride downhill for roughly 25km on a dirt road through forests and idyllic countryside.  

This day, we set out towards the Lawa-La Pass which is an entry point into the adorable Phobjikha Valley. This scenic glacial site is the winter home to the rare Black-necked cranes and also is an essential reserve for Himalayan black bears, wild boars, and such other animals. Today, we’ll cycle along a flat dirt road to the Pele-La Pass for 56km and camp out overnight.  

Phobjikha Valley aka Gangtey Valley is a U-shaped valley in which, slopes are dotted with lovely farmhouses, stunning potato fields, and pristine pine forests. Today, we will bike into some of the further remote areas of Phobjikha Valley to pay a visit to the authentic villages and old-aged monasteries. Our today biking distance will be 25km. Spend night camping out in nature.  

We cycle along the old Gangtey trekking trail and it is our chance to marvel at the isolated area of Bhutan. Get into a 23-km ride, you will bike through a village with barely 20 houses. We then spend the rest of the day cycling through the lush forest, passing 2 mountains passes. Overnight at a campsite near a monastery in Khotakha Valley.

Before riding up to a small pass, we listen to the sound of morning prayers from the monastery. Then, we take a breezy downhill ride to the Wangdue Valley (30km) on off-road trails. Today, we spend our overnight stay at a hotel in Wangdue Phodrang town.  

If you still want to get into a cycling tour, feel free to ride part of the way or you can opt to kick back and get into being driven through the countryside. A leisurely stroll around Paro before a farewell dinner is prepared. Overnight in Paro.

Time to say goodbye Bhutan. Breakfast and morning at leisure until getting escorted to the airport for a flight coming home. The trip ends. Hope you had a wonderful trip and wish that we can serve you next time when it comes to other Asia travel packages.