12 Days Epic Himalayan Biking Tour in Bhutan

When you arrive in Paro by Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, your tour guide will pick you up at the airport and then escort you to your hotel. After taking a rest, you will head to enjoy sightseeing around Paro.

You will first visit the Ta Dzong Museum, which houses many religious relics, works of art and handicrafts offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Next drive to the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. This temple is built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, and holds great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni inside. And Later explore the Paro Rinpung Dzong. Located at the suburb of Paro City, Rinpung Dzong is a fortress built in the 17th Century to protect Paro valley, which offers you picturesque scenery and a sense of inner peace.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Getting up in the fresh morning, we’ll start today’s trek to Taktshang Goemba (also known as Tiger's Nest). Standing on the cliff of Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3120 meters) is the landmark of Paro as well as the holiest temple in Bhutan. It’s said that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. From here, you can catch a panoramic view of Paro Valley.

After lunch, you may opt for a stone bath or enjoy free exploration nearby.

Stay overnight in Paro.

In the morning, we will first drive to Chele-la Pass (3,988m), which is the highest motor-able pass in Bhutan. You can enjoy an amazing view of Mount Jomolhari and Mount Jichu Drakey here.

Then, we will depart to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, following the Pachu River. The drive takes about 1.5 hours in total, during when you can stop on the way to see the Tamchhog Lhakhang, a hereditary place of worship for the Bhutan’s iron bridge builders.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Today, you will enjoy a full-day sightseeing around the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu, to visit the following sites:

1) National Memorial Chorten:
The National Memorial Chortan was constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. “Chorten” in Bhutan literally refers to the “seat of faith” and Buddhists often call such monuments the “Mind of Buddha”.

2) National Textile Museum:
It is an amazing museum that keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. You can find how the exquisite exhibits are waved by locals giving a spot operation with intricate tools.

3) Traditional Arts and Crafts Painting School
Visiting the painting school where students receive a six-year course on the 13 different traditional arts and crafts.

4) National Institute of Traditional Medicine
See the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training.

5) Traditional Paper Making Factory
Originating from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu

Today, you will ride to explore the beautiful Thimphu Valley, following the trail of Thimphu – Pangrizampa – Hongtsho. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Thimphu city square, where the riding journey begins. The amazing riding trail runs through the hills of Thimphu, and will take you through places like Pangrizampa, Taba, Sinchula Road Forest, Sinchula Pass, Hongtsho and Simotokha.

After the riding, you will be transferred back to hotel in Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Today, we will drive from Thimphu to Phobjikha via Punakha. First, we will travel northeast to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. On the way, we will stop at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m), where there are about 108 sacred stupas or temples being build out there. The perfect vintage point brings you the unobstructed vista of Great Himalayas.

In the afternoon, we will continue to drive up a winding mountain road to Phobjikha from Punakha, passing through oak and rhododendron forest.

Stay overnight in Phobjikha.

Phobjikha valley, also known as Gangtey Valley, is one of the most beautiful high-elevation valleys in Bhutan, and is the winter home of black-necked cranes, migrating from the Tibetan plateau. You can take a stroll in the enchanting Phobjikha Valley and visit Gangtey Monastery, the only and the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.

Then in the afternoon, you can enjoy a half day mountain bike starting from Gangtey Monastery. The cycling route follows along the upper dirt road above the Gangte Nature Trail and will take you into the valley behind Khewang Lhakhang. You can pay a visit to the village of Gophu before descending to the main valley at Khewang Lhakhang.

Stay overnight in Phobjikha

Today, we will drive back to Punakha from Phobjikha. On the way, you will visit the impressive Wangdiphodrang Dzong, which is perched on a ridge overlooking the Punatsangchu and Dangchu Rivers. The dzong held a powerful position during the pre-monarchy days and presently it is the town’s visible feature.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Today, we will explore the biking trail of Khuruthang – Samdiingkha – Punakha, which follows a 27-km loop route. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Khuruthang to start the mountain biking journey. You will explore the world-renowned Punakha Dzong, widely believed to be the most beautiful Bhutanese Dzong, built at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers.

Before reaching the Dzong we will cross a suspension foot bridge, which is the longest and highest suspension foot bridge in the country, stretching over 200 above the Pho River. You will also visit Chimi Lhakhang, a popular Buddhist monastery built around 1499 by Ngawang Chogyal.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

After breakfast, we will drive the same way back to Thimphu from Punakha. You will visit the Kuensel Phodrang, where the largest statue of siting Buddha is located. Here you will enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Thimphu city.

You will also visit the Changangkha Lhakhang, an old fortress like temple and monastic school perched on the ridge, and the Takin preservation center in Motithang, a north-western suburb of Thimphu.

After lunch, we will further visit the Dechenphu Lhakhang, one of the most sacred and commonly visited places in Thimphu. The temple is the residing place of Gyenyen Jagpa Milen, the valley’s guardian deity.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

In the morning, we will drive to Paro from Thimphu. On the way, you will visit the Tachogang Lhakhang, which was built in the fifteenth century by Tangtong Gyelpo. The temple sits atop a hill that can only be accessed by a suspension bridge stretching over the Paro Chhu River.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Today, our tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination. Tour service end.