15 Days Panoramic Mountain Biking in 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: 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 be transferred to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Highlights: Cross Dochula Pass and visit Punakha Dzong.

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 beautiful Punakha Valley and visit Punakha Dzong and Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten.

Today, you have leisurely itinerary of simple sightseeing. You will take time to explore Punakha Valley. Firstly, you will visit 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.

After witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong, you will continue to visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. It sits majestically on a ridge above Punakha valley with an amazing view of the countryside and the hills below.

In the afternoon, after a short ride, you will get to Wangdue.

Stay overnight in Wangdue.

Explore Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang

Highlights: Cross Pelela Pass to enter central Bhutan and visit Trongsa Dzong and Royal Heritage Museum.

You begin today's tour with a transfer to Pelela Pass, at the altitude of 3420m. Starting at the summit of the Pelela Pass, you will ride 68km to Trongsa, home to Bhutan's largest dzong, built in 1644, which is situated high above the Mangde Chu and has sheer drops on one if its sides.

Then, you will head to visit the old tower of Trongsa (also called Royal Heritage Museum), a brilliant historical center of Bhutan. The five stories of showcases center around Buddhist workmanship and imperial memorabilia, including such fluctuated treasures as the 500-year-old coat of Ngagi Wangchuk and the football boots utilized by the teenaged fourth king.

Stay overnight in Trongsa.

Transfer to Trongsa and watch birds

Highlights: Cross Yotang La Pass and visit Yathra Weaving Center in Bumthang.

In today's schedule, you will cross two mountain passes. Firstly, the zigzag road will bring you to Yotang La Pass (3,425m). Here, you can view a Buddhist Stupa with Tibetan style and countless colorful prayer flags. Biking downhill, you will head to the Yathra Weaving Center at Zugney village where you can witness the locals waving Yathra.

In the final leg of the ride, you will have a gradual climb to Kiki La before descending down to Bumthang, also known as Bumthang.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Visit Bumthang Yathra Weaving Centre

Highlights: Bike to explore landmarks in Bumthang like Jakar Dzong, Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang.

After breakfast, you can wander around the small town that is the trading hub of the Bumthang Valley. In the afternoon, you will bike to visit some of the many dzongs and Goembas that are scattered around the valley.

First, you will visit Jakar Dzong. With a circumference of more than 1,500 meters, Jakar Dzong is one of the most majestic dzongs in Bhutan and widely accepted as a wonderful piece of architectural art all over the country. For a tour of Bhutan, pay a visit to this wonderful castle and feel the solemnness would be an excellent experience.

Then, you are going to worship the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 659 AD. It is said that Guru Rinpoche was the one who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. It was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rinpoche restored his life with his magical powers. If you visit Bumthang in October or November, you may have a chance to join in the highly popular Jambay Tsechu Festival here.

Not far from Jambay Lhakhang sits the Kurjey Lhakhang. It houses the imprint of Guru Rimpoche who meditated in a cave where the monastery was built. Finally, you will head to visit Namkhe Nyingpo Goemba. On the hill to the east of Jakar, the large Nyingmapa monastery was built in the 1970s by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Explore Kurjey Lhakhang

Highlights: Explore scenic Tang Valley and visit the Burning Lake and Ugyen Choling Heritage Museum.

In today's tour, you will cycle on the main road for 12km before heading to the remote Tang valley. It is among the popular four valleys in Bumthang district. Your first break will be at the burning lake where you will learn about the legend and then you continue riding on to a nunnery where you stop for a visit. Later, you will continue on up on a mix of paved and dirt roads to Ugyen Choling Heritage Museum which was built a century ago and once belonged to the Royal Family of Tang valley.

Stay overnight in Tang Valley.

Ugyen Choling Heritage Museum

Highlights: Cross Shirtung La Pass to enjoy the great view of Gangkhar Puensum.

Heading back to the main road, your first climb of the day takes you to Shirtung La. At the top of the pass, you will hopefully have a clear view of Gangkhar Puensum, at an altitude of 7,570 metres, which is the world's highest unclimbed peak. Since 1994 climbing of mountains in Bhutan higher than 6,000 metres has been prohibited out of respect for local spiritual beliefs, and since 2003 mountaineering has been forbidden completely. You have the option to ride down on single track trails to Ura village or you can continue on the paved road.

Stay overnight in Ura.

Enjoy the great view of Gangkhar Puensum

Highlights: Cross Thurmshing La Pass and transfer to Sengor.

Today, starting from Ura, you make your way over the highest pass in Bhutan at an altitude of 3,798m, the Thurmshing La. You will reach the summit of the pass after 22kms of riding and are then rewarded with a glorious 20km of downhill to the campsite at Sengor.

Stay overnight at Sengor Ccampsite.

BiKing to Sengor

Highlights: Bike to the beautiful remote village of Mongar.

Your downhill ride continues with a 60km descent to the Kuru Chu River. You start at 3051m, descend all the way to 579m before climbing back up to 1590m. You slowly make our way up a series of switchbacks to the remote village of Mongar, one of the oldest educational hubs of the country.

Stay overnight in Mongar.

Bike to village of Mongar

Highlights: Bike ups and downs and then arrive at Trashigang, the easternmost point of this trip.

Today is a day of ups and downs as you have a 20km climb up to the Kori La at 2,390m. And again you are rewarded for your efforts as you have a 42km descent down to the Drangme Chu River. A relatively flat, for Bhutan anyway, ride along the river takes you to the bridge that crosses Drangme then it's one final uphill climb to hotel on the outskirts of Trashigang, the easternmost point of this trip across Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Trashigang.

Bike to the easternmost point in Bhutan

Highlights: Cross Yongphu La Pass, pass the town of Kanglung and arrive at the campsite of Wamrong.

A tough start to your day with 25km on switchbacks up to the Yongphu La at an altitude of 2,544m. On the way, you will pass the town of Kanglung, home to Sherubtse College, the first accredited college in Bhutan, founded in 1966 by Jesuits. You have the final sweeping panoramic views before you continue on undulating terrain above scattered houses and fields to the campsite outside the town of Wamrong.

Stay overnight at Wamrong Campsite.

Pass the town of Kanglung

Highlights: Bike to Samdrup Jongkhar and end the cycling tour of Bhutan from west to east.

You ride to the final pass of this long trip at an altitude of 2,388m and catch your first glimpse of the Assam plain. You next experience another amazing descent of 3080m all the way down to the border town of Samdrup Jongkhar. You will follow many rivers and will feel the change in temperature as yo descend almost back to sea level, ending your ride with the elevation of 130m. Tonight we will have a celebration for our accomplishment of crossing Bhutan from west to east.

Stay overnight in Samdrup Jongkhar.

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

The tour services end.