Road Biking vs. Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Bhutan is a country where bicycles have not been a mode of transport for very long, but the kingdom has taken to cycling like a duck to water, and biking tours of Bhutan are becoming more popular every year. Both road cycling tours and mountain biking tours are available in Bhutan, and you can plan your Bhutanese Himalayan adventure based on the kind of tour you want to take.

There is a difference between road cycling tours and mountain bike tours in Bhutan, and we will explain them here for you so that you can make an informed choice of which style of tour to take.

Cycling Trails of Road Biking and Mountain Biking in Bhutan

The trails used for road biking and mountain biking are different, and cover not only different parts of the country, but also different areas in each district. The main difference in the trails used and the route are the state of the roads in the area.

Top Trails for Road Biking in Bhutan

Paro - Tiger’s Nest Monastery - Drukgyel Dzong

The route from Paro town center to Drukgyel Dzong and back is a 35km road tour that takes you all the way to the ruined fortress of Drukgyel Dzong and back. Traveling via the Taktshang Monastery and the Kyichu Lhakhang and ending at the famous Rinpung Dzong. The trip is a full day tour, as you will also take the 3-4 hour trek up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery first.

Paro - Haa - Paro

A slightly tougher ride for a road tour is the route from Paro to Haa and back, which covers a roundabout route of around 160 kilometers. A very scenic tour that takes you to the beautiful Haa valley, you will cross the Chele La Pass, the highest road pass in Bhutan at 3,988 meters. You also get to stop and visit the famous Black Temple, one of the most important temples in Bhutan.

Paro - Thimphu

The road from Paro to Thimphu is a 49-kilometer route that allows you to really view the scenery along this route in all its pristine beauty. Not only will you visit the 15th-century Tachogang Lhakhang in Paro and the 17th century Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu, but you will also stop at the Buddha Dordenma, the huge statue of Buddha that stands guard to the entrance to Thimphu Valley.

Thimphu - Dochu La - Punakha

The road from Thimphu to Punakha is one of the most popular roads in Bhutan for cycling along, and takes you over the famous Dochu La Pass, the site of the renowned 108 Memorial Chortens. A distance of around 77 kilometers, this route also takes you to visit the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, which was commissioned by the Queen Mother, and is a symbol of the hope of world peace.

Top Trails for Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Tango - Cheri

The route of the trail from Thimphu to the Tango Monastery and Cheri monastery is one of the easiest of the off-road trails you can find. While the first part of the trail is on the road from the capital, from the Tango Monastery on the side of the mountain to the Cheri Monastery at the top, the route is overland and rough terrain. And you will ascend more than 500 meters to reach the peak of the small mountain.

Phobjikha Valley - Pele La - Trongsa

A ride through Phobjikha is one of the most scenic mountain bike routes in the world, and the stunning scenery includes the beauty of the renowned Gangtey Lhakhang, the monastery that lies in the center of the valley on its small hillock. You can visit the Black-necked Crane Information Center, which is handy if there are no cranes in residence when you arrive, and then head out to climb up to the stunning views from the Pele La Pass.

At 3,420 meters, it is known as the gateway to Central Bhutan, and has some great views of the Bhutanese Himalayas. As you arrive in Trongsa, after a long ride of around 120 kilometers through winding roads, you can stop to visit the 16th century Trongsa Dzong and tour around the Royal Heritage Museum, with its beautiful Tower of Trongsa.

Trongsa - Yutong La - Bumthang

The ride to Bumthang from Trongsa is a trip of just 68 kilometers, but the winding and up and down road will mean it can take you several hours to cross. This is a route that takes you up and down the mountainsides, as well as up to one of the most picturesque passes in Bhutan, the Yutong La Pass. Your arrival in Bumthang means you get chance to visit the famous Jambay Lhakhang, the temple of the Future Buddha, as well as the resting place of Bhutan’s first three kings in the Kurjey Lhakhang.

Trashigang - Wamrong

The road from Trashigang to Wamrong is a relatively new route for vehicles, but an older road for mountain bikes, and the rise and fall through the mountains means a road bike is not suitable for this 28km road. The route takes you through the wild primeval forests of Eastern Bhutan, passing through traditional local villages where life goes on the same way it has for hundreds of years. This is one of the best rides for exploring the traditional culture during your Bhutan tour.

Different Physical Requirements of Road Biking and Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Physical Requirements of Road Biking in Bhutan

While you do need to be fit to ride the roads in Bhutan, the roads used for road biking are not as rough as those for mountain biking. That is not to say that it is easy, it is not, and you will need to be fit to tackle these routes. However, with straighter routes and smoother rides, it is open for most fit people to try.

Physical Requirements of Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Bhutan bike tours on mountain roads normally takes you to areas where the rise and fall of the trails is high and the slopes are steep and rugged. On these trails, some of which are little more than gravel or dirt tracks, you will be pushed to your limits and need to be very fit to take on these rougher routes.

Different Types of Bike for Road Biking and Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Types of Bike for Road Biking in Bhutan

For road biking in Bhutan, it is recommended to use the classic mountain bike style of bicycle, as the frames are more rigidly structured than road-racing bikes. And this is a good thing for the country where a good quality road is still pretty rough. However, you can use the lighter racing bike variety if you prefer. The bike should however, have road riding tires for use on the smoother roads that these tours follow. The smoother the rites on smooth surfaces, the faster you will be able to travel and the easier it will be to pedal along the roads. Lighter frames can be an advantage here, as they are not so much weight to push along, and you can make better time and an easier run than with a heavier bike.

Types of Bike for Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Mountain bikes are the predominant bikes used in Bhutan, and while you can use them for road riding, the tires for road use are no good when heading off road into the mountains of Bhutan. Here, you need the heavier tread of the “knobbly” tires that mountain bikes are famous for, and which can help you maintain your balance and grip on the rough and often muddy sections of track where you need it most. Light frames are also out here, as you need the toughness of the heavier stronger frames to allow you to land more solidly when jumping a ridge in the mountain trails.

Conclusion

Bhutan is the ideal destination for both road biking and mountain biking, and whichever style of riding you choose for your Bhutan biking tour, you are bound to be amazed at the stunning views, amazing landscapes, and Stupendous scenery that this isolated kingdom has to offer. So whether you are racing along the road from Paro to Thimphu or biking the dirt train up to the Cheri Mountain Monastery, you can be sure that you will have the best bike for the job. Now start a plan of traveling to Bhutan for biking.