Bhutan Bike Ride Guide - Routes, Permits, Best Time to Go, Things to Carry, and Rules to Follow

Bhutan is renowned as one of the single most exclusive holiday destinations in the world. Located high in the mighty Himalayas, on the southern slopes of this range’s eastern mountains, Bhutan is a dream destination for many biking enthusiasts. Long isolated from the rest of the world, Bhutan still retains its aura of mystery and mysticism for foreign travelers.

Cycling in Bhutan is fast becoming a bucket-list activity for adventurous cyclists, and taking a bike to ride around the stunning views and pristine natural landscapes of this ancient kingdom is the trip of a lifetime. And if you are thinking of planning a cycling trip to Bhutan, here are some tips on making it the best tour possible.

Top Bhutan Bike Ride Routes

There are lots of biking routes that you can take through Bhutan for your lifetime cycling tour, and the choice is entirely yours. All the routes include stops at monasteries and Dzongs to allow you to go sightseeing, which gives you a unique opportunity to explore more of the local culture and traditions. Cycling these routes means you are out in the world of nature, without the restrictions of riding in a car.

Paro - Tiger Nest - Drukgyel Dzong Cycling Route

A ride of around 35 kilometers, this is a route that can normally be done in a single day. The ride begins and ends in Paro, and heads northwest to take you to the Kyichu Lhakhang, Taktshang Monastery, and Drukgyel Dzong. The day starts with a ride up the valley to the car park for the Taktshang. It is best to get here early, as the hike up to the monastery known as the Tiger’s Nest can take around 3-4 hours. Located on a cliff ledge 900 meters above the valley, the monastery is the most famous in Bhutan. Then it is on to Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined Buddhist fortress located in the upper part of the Paro Valley. After exploring the ruins, you head back towards Paro, stopping to explore the stunning Kyichu Lhakhang and the Paro Rinpung Dzong on the way back.

Paro - Haa - Paro Cycling Route

If you want to tackle a slightly tougher ride in western Bhutan, one of the best is the 160km roundabout route from Paro to Haa and back again. One of the most scenic routes in this part of Bhutan, the road to Haa takes you over the highest road pass in the country, at Chele La. Sitting 3,988 meters above sea level on the boundary between the Paro and Haa Dzongkhags, this is the highest lace you can ride on a road in Bhutan, and has some of the most amazing scenic views in the kingdom. The route takes you around the Haa Valley area, through the beauty of this valley’s natural scenery, to the Lhakhang Nagpo, one of the most important temples in Bhutan, known as the Black Temple.

Cross Chelela Pass by Bike

Paro - Thimphu Cycling Route

The road from Paro to Thimphu is one that all tourists to Bhutan pass along as they travel to the capital from the airport. However, it is better doing it on a bike, as you really get a better chance to admire the beauty of the landscapes and scenery along this much underestimated road. A distance of around 49km, the route is not too hard, as it follows the valleys and rises by only 790 meters in total. The route also takes you to some of the greatest sites in the area, including the 15th century Tachogang Lhakhang in Paro, the 17th century Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu, and the huge Buddha Dordenma Statue, which protects the entrance to the Bhutanese capital.

Tango - Cheri Cycling Route

Around 18km to the north of Thimphu lie the two monasteries of Tango and Cheri. The road route to reach these two small goembas follows the Dechencholing-Dodena Lam, and takes around an hour, climbing up by around 500 meters in total. The Tango Monastery was founded in the 13th century, and lies near the top of the small Cheri Mountain. Cheri Monastery, also known as the Changri Dorden Monastery, is perched on the top of the mountain at an altitude of around 2,850 meters, and was built in the 16th century on a site visited by Guru Rinpoche more than 800 years before.

Bike to Tango Monastery in Thimphu

Thimphu - Dochu La - Punakha Cycling Route

A simple but long ride of around 77 kilometers, this run from the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu to Punakha, in the east of Western Bhutan is a great day ride that takes you over the most spectacular mountain pass in the kingdom. The ride, from the heights of the capital to the lush balmy landscapes of Punakha, heads east first to the pass at Dochu La, at 3,100 meters. The pass is the site of the famed 108 Chortens, erected in memory of the 108 soldiers that died fighting Assam rebels. Then you continue on to Punakha, to stop at the Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan. Then continue on to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, built in 2004 by the Queen Mother as a symbol of world peace.

Cross Dochula Pass by Bike

Phobjikha - Pele La - Trongsa Cycling Route

This unique ride starts with the beauty of the renowned Phobjikha, the valley in which lies the famous Gangtey Monastery. Before departing, you can explore the monastery and, if there are no cranes in residence at your time of travel, you can visit the Crane Information Center to learn about this valley’s auspicious winter visitors. Then you depart from the stunning valley to tackle the 120km ride to Trongsa. The route takes you up over the Pele La Pass at 3,420 meters, the gateway to Central Bhutan. The Trongsa Dzong is the largest fortress of its kind in Bhutan, and dates back to the 16th century. And the beautiful Tower of Trongsa, in the Ta Dzong, forms part of the Royal Heritage Museum, and is well worth stopping by for a visit.

Ride in Stunning Phobjikha Valley

Trongsa - Yutong La - Bumthang Cycling Route

The touring ride from Trongsa to Bumthang, a collection of four valleys including the valleys of Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor, is a short ride of just 68 kilometers. After crossing the Yutong La Pass, one of the most beautiful and picturesque passes in Bhutan, you head down into Bumthang Dzongkhag, where you can see the famous Jakar Dzong, on the ridge above the town. You can also visit the Jambay Lhakhang, a Maitreya Temple, and the Kurjey Lhakhang, resting place of Bhutan’s first three kings.

Cross Yutong La Pass by Bike

Trashigang - Wamrong Cycling Route

A great ride of around 28 kilometers through some of the most beautiful woodlands and scenic areas of Bhutan. The wild primeval forests of this part of the region are stunning, and filled with hundreds of species of wild birds and small animals. The route takes you through several small villages, giving you the chance to learn more about the unique traditions of Bhutan.

Required Permits for Bhutan Bike Ride

For the Bhutan bike tour, you will need to have your visa, which is applied for by the travel agency on your behalf once you have booked your tour. You also get an Entry Permit, which is valid for travel in Paro and Thimphu, when you arrive at the airport. Your Route permit, which is based on your itinerary and travel plans and allows you to travel in the restricted areas of Bhutan, is also issued when you arrive. If you are bringing your own bike, you will need to have a permit to bring it into Bhutan. However, bikes are easy to hire in Bhutan, and cheap enough to not break the bank.

Best Time for a Bhutan Bike Tour

Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are usually the best times to ride bikes through Bhutan. The weather in spring is generally dry, though it can get wetter through May as the land prepares for the summer monsoon. Skies are normally clear, though, and if it does rain, it is normally in the late afternoon or evening, so does not usually affect travel. Temperatures can be a little chilly in March and April in some areas, but it does warm up as the season progresses.

Autumn, from September to November, is the other great time of year when there is little rain and clear skies. September is warm and still humid, and there is still a chance of some rain in the evenings. As October and November progress, the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures drop a little, making it one of the most beautiful times of year to visit Bhutan.

Things to Carry for a Bhutan Bike Tour

It is essential that you bring the right gear with you to Bhutan, so that you are well prepared for the tour on your bike. You can wear cycling gear for the trip during spring and autumn, but it is essential to have warmer clothes to cover up with once you stop, as the cold can get to you after such physical exertion.

Make sure you bring some rain clothes, just in case, and bring warm sweaters for the chillier evenings. You may also find it useful to have some comfortable shoes to wear when walking around the sites, instead of cycling shoes, which are not very good for walking in.

Rules to Follow on your Bhutan Bike Ride

It is essential to follow the general “Road rules of Bhutan” when biking in the country, and they are simple to remember. Generally, people drive on the left, as they do in the UK, Japan, and Singapore, so remember to stay left on the roads. Helmets are a requirement for riding in Bhutan, and speed is measured in kilometers per hour, not miles per hour. Always stick to the maximum speed limits, as all road users are required to follow the road rules, even on bicycles.

Conclusion

Biking in Bhutan is an amazing experience that will leave you yearning to come back for more. And with dozens of routes and rides to choose from, you can enjoy riding all across the kingdom, from west to east. So if you are planning a biking trip to Bhutan, come and talk to us and let us help you arrange your lifetime Bhutan tours.