13 Days Mountain Biking Tour to Central Bhutan

Highlights: Visit landmarks in Paro including Ta Dzong Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang after arriving in this amazing city by flight.

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to the hotel. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Paro city (2,250m).

This first landmark in Paro you will visit is the Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

After that, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlights: Explore Paro town by bike and pay a visit to Drukyel Dzong.

Paro sits at a height of over 2200m, so you ought to take it easy by some short biking in Paro city to adjust to the high altitude. This is a terrific opportunity to discover the beauty of Paro Valley.

Today, you will take the bike to visit Drukyel Dzong, a historical heritage. It was built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father, and unifier of medieval Bhutan. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories. Nowadays, Drukgyel Dzong becomes a popular attraction in Paro, Bhutan.In the evening, you will take a relaxing stroll in town.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Explore Paro Dzong by bike

Highlights: Ride to Thimphu and explore Tashichho Dzong and the local market.

Today after breakfast, you will leave Paro on a bike and begins your ride to Thimphu (2,350m). You will follow the zigzag road beside the Pa Chhu river to its confluence with the Thimphu River. You are going to ride between the elevation of 2200m and 2350m. However, the road does undulate and there are no flat roads.

After arriving at Thimphu, your guide will help you check in the hotel and you can have a short rest to refresh yourself. Then you will explore this capital city of Bhutan on your bike. Ride to the Tashichho Dzong, a Buddhist monastery on the western bank of the Wang Chu. It is the eminent fortress where the national government and central monastic body are located. In addition, here sits the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.

In the evening, you can stroll in the local market.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Ride to Thimphu Tashichho Dzong

Highlights: Further explore Thimphu Valley along the Thimphu - Pangrizampa - Hongtsho Biking Trail.

Today's tour will enable you to take a bike 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 leads you through places like Pangrizampa, Taba, Sinchula Road Forest, Sinchula Pass, Hongtsho and Simotokha.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu bike tour

Highlights: Cross Dochula Pass and visit Punakha Dzong in Punakha.

After breakfast, you will have an early start of today's journey for a full day ride to Punakha. After 25km of biking, you will reach Dochula Pass at an altitude of 3,140m, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Eastern Himalaya on a clear day. Here the impressive collection of 108 chortens sits as well.

After stopping for lunch, you will continue traveling down to the Punakha Valley which is around 40km below at an altitude of 1,372m. Upon arriving, you will head to visit the Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. Moreover, the rectangular shape fortress is also an honorable treasury where preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Biking visit the Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Explore Punakha along the Khuruthang - Samdiingkha - Punakha Biking Trail and visit The longest suspension bridge, Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

In today's itinerary, you will explore the biking trail of Khuruthang – Samdiingkha – Punakha. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Khuruthang to start the mountain biking tour. On the way, you will cross a suspension bridge, which is the longest and highest suspension bridge in the country, stretching over 200 above the Pho River.

Then you will head to visit the Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. More importantly, the rectangular shape fortress is also an honorable treasury where preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

Next, you will continue to visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Monastery, which is a beautiful Buddhist monastery located in the Punakha District of Bhutan. It stands on a small round hillock close to the village of Lobesa and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Biking cross Punakha suspension bridge

Highlights: Cross mountain passes including Pele La and Yotang La and visit Chendebji Chorten, Trongsa Dzong and Yathra Weaving Center en route.

Today, you will set out in the early morning after breakfast and travel to Bumthang via Trongsa. The drive takes you through the oak and pine trees, deep into the dense forest, and passes the Nobding Village. Then you need to pass the Pele La Pass, at an altitude of 3353m.

Along the route, a distant view of local settlements scattering far from the road gives you a fresh and deep impression on Bhutan's rural life. Meanwhile, the open green meadows with yaks and rhododendron ridden valley are worth ceasing your moving steps to enjoy the Chendebji Chorten, a large Buddhist Stupa. The Chendebji Chorten is a large white structure built in likeness to the famous Bodhunath Stupa located in Kathmandu in Nepal.

On arrival at Trongsa, you will take a temporary stop and visit Trongsa Dzong, the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan and built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the Mangde River.

Then you continue your travel to Bumthang by passing through Yotangla Pass (3,400 m). The route during this section takes you to the Yathra Weaving Center at Zugney village where you can witness the locals waving Yathra, a name that refers to the colorful and woolen cloth with geometric design in Bhutanese.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Visit Chendebji Chorten

Highlights: Discover the natural beauty and rural scenery of Bumthang Valley by bike.

Today, you will enjoy the biking around the Bumthang Valley, one of the most beautiful and sacred valleys in Bhutan. The fertile valleys of Bumthang are covered in fields of buckwheat, rice and potatoes. Apple orchards and dairy farms are also common sights here. This serene region is one of the most peaceful places in the kingdom. This region is also the cultural and religious heartland of Bhutan. It is worthy and possible to have a 60km bike around the valley.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Bumthang Valley

Highlights: Bike to Ura to explore the beautiful meadows and verdant valley.

Today's journey requires you to bike to Ura valley, 69km away from Bumthang. Situated at 3100m above sea level, the Ura Valley is the highest among the valleys in Bumthang. It is surrounded by the lush terraced field and lofty hills dotted with alpine trees. Ura valley is known for its scenic view of beautiful meadows and verdant valley. After that, you will drive back to Bumthang.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Bike to Ura valley

Highlights: Transfer to Wangdue via the beautiful Phobjikha Valley and visit Gangtey Gompa and Black-Necked Crane Information Center here.

Today, you will have a long drive from Bumthang to Wangdue via the beautiful Phobjikha valley. You will first stop at Gangtey Gompa, an impressive monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism that you can't miss, behind a dense forest. Then you drive towards the Phobjikha valley which is one part of the beautiful Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park.

The Phobjikha Valley is the winter home for the rare and endangered Black-necked Cranes from Tibetan Plateau. There is a Black-Necked Crane Information Center, situated at the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha valley. It has an observation room equipped with a high power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. If you travel to Phobjikha in November to January, you can have a chance to view many black-necked cranes here.

After lunch, you have plenty of time exploring the Phobjikha valley. Then you will continue your travel to Wangdue Phodrang, the capital of Wangdue Phodrang District.

Stay overnight in Wangdue.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlights: Drive back to Thimphu and visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Lhakhang and Simtokha Dzong en route.

En route the transfer to Thimphu from Wangdue, you will pay a visit to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Lhakhang, built by the Queen Mother of the 5th King to bring peace and harmony for all living beings. It sits on a ridge above Punakha Valley, where you will have a fascinating view of the countryside below. About 2 hours round trip hike through rice fields is required to visit the chorten.

Then you will head for Thimphu and visit Simtokha Dzong on the route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Explore Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang

Highlights: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery to enjoy spectacular views from it and visit Kyichu Lhakhang.

In the morning after breakfast, you will start your hike to Taktsang Monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery). You will spend 5 to 6 hours for the hike. Perched on the side of a cliff 900 meters above the Paro valley, Taktsang Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. The principal monastery of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former glory.

After exploring the monastery, you will begin your return tour to Paro. In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temples built by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in the 7th century.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

The tour services end.