12 Days Western to Central Bhutan Bike Tour

Highlights: Arrive in Paro and have an easy warm up cycle to Drukyul Dzong.

Upon your arrival at Paro International Airpor, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arriving hall of the airport. And they will have a brief introduction about themselves. After a short rest, You will have time for a short and easy cycle ride up the Paro Valley to the ruins of Drukyel Dzong.

Stay overnight in Paro. 

Explore Paro Dzong by bike

Highlights: Cross Chelela Pass and bike to Haa Valley.

Today you have the first full day's ride and it is a tough day. You will try and cycle from the hotel until Haa. The road condition is good and the route zigzags uphill for 38km to eventually reach the Chelela Pass (3810m), taking about six hours with plenty of rest stops along the way. The pass offers the majestic panorama of Himalayan Ranges and the valley beyond. If weather permits, you will capture a stunning view of Bhutan's second-highest peak, Mt.Jomolhari (7, 314m) from here.

You will stop at the top for a quick cup of hot masala tea as it is usually windy and cold at the top. Then you will put on the warm layers before the well-earned and exhilarating 29km descent down to Haa Valley.

Stay overnight in Haa.

Cross Chelela Pass by bike

Highlights: Enjoy an amazing cycling tour from Haa Valley to Thimphu.

Today, you have a long but spectacular ride of approximately 81km, which will take between 6-7 hours depending on the pace of the group. The road is paved and is mostly downhill with some undulating sections. The riding will be easy after the exertion of yesterday. Along the cycling trail, you will pass beautiful farmhouses, built in traditional Bhutanese style, and fields of rice and potatoes. There is plenty of time to stop for shooting photographs.

Once you reach the river and the main highway, the road and traffic will become much busier, so out of safety, you will be transferred to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, for the final 30km or so.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Cycling tour from Haa Valley to Thimphu

Highlights: Morning cycle to Cheri and visit National Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong and the Great Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu.

You will spend the morning exploring Thimphu by bike. A very steep but short climb will bring you to a quiet road towards Cheri. The road passes through a wonderful forest with a couple more steep but short climbs. You will pass a large painted stone depicting Guru Rinpoche before a final descent and ascent to a Chorten at Cheri. Have a break for a snack here. This allows you to refuel before the cycle back to town for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will do some cultural sightseeing in Thimphu. You will first visit National Memorial Chorten, which was built in memorial of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is also known as the "father of modern Bhutan".

Next, you can visit Tashichho Dzong, 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.

You end today's schedule by visiting the Great Buddha Dordenma. This massive statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 m, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold.

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.

Cross Dochula Pass by bike

Highlights: Cross Lawala Pass to get to Phobjikha Valley by bike.

Today is a tough cycling day and the road conditions can be variable. You need to cross the Lawala Pass with an elevation of 3,300m, where you may see some Yaks grazing in high altitude bamboo shrub along the road. The road climbs constantly as it winds its way up through the thick tropical forest with great views of the hills all around us and the buzz of cicadas in the air.

It is probably quite late afternoon by the time you reach the pass and you need to put some warm layers on for the final hours' ride which brings you right down into the Phobjikha Valley. This is one of the most attractive destinations in west Bhutan, where the rare Black-necked cranes from Tibet spend the winter.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Ride in stunning Phobjikha Valley

Highlights: Cross Pelela Pass and then bike a long downhill route to Trongsa.

Today, you will first drive 10km to the top of the Lawa La, where you will get on your bikes. Then you head for the Pelela Pass at an altitude of 3353m. The following ride will take you to Trongsa.

And en route to Trongsa, you will visit 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. Built by Lama Shinda from Tibet in the 19th century AD, the Stupa is believed to have been constructed at a spot where an evil spirit was subdued by the Lama. Another striking feature of the Temple is the eyes painted at the four cardinal points of the temple.

Then you continue to bike to Trongsa, with lush vegetation and waterfalls by the road.

Stay overnight in Trongsa.

Chendebji Chorten

Highlights: Cycle over the Yotangla Pass and transfer to spectacular Bumthang Valley.

This is the last full day of cycling. You will cycle from the hotel and the climb starts immediately as the road zigzags up into the mountains. It is 28km to the top of the Yotang La at 3425m, and it will take you about 4.5 hours, from where you can get great views of the mountains surrounding you and ahead down into the Chumey Valley. You have 24km of descent into the valley. Dotted with beautiful Bhutanese farmhouses this is a wonderful ride. The valley here is famous for weaving and you may well see some of the locals at their looms.

Taking the left-hand fork the road now winds easily for 4km through a pleasant pine forest to the Keke La, your final pass. From here you have a wonderful descent into the stunning Bumthang Valley. You cycle down through the town of Jakar, with its interesting bazaar and cross the river by bridge.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Bumthang Valley

Highlights: Visit landmarks in Bumthang like Tamshing Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Jakar Dzong.

Today, you will enjoy a sightseeing in Bumthang. Deep in the central regions of the country, Bumthang valley is broad and presents a different landscape you may not see in west Bhutan. You will first visit Tamshing Lhakhang, which famous for its collections of printings exemplifying the region’s style. Then crossing the suspension bridge to the Kurjey Lhakhang. Not far from Kurjey Lhakhang sits the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century. Next, you will continue to visit Jakar Dzong, a wonderful architecture in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1500 meters.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Visit Kurjey Lhakhang

Highlights: Fly from Bumthang to Paro and visit Paro’s landmarks including Paro Rinpung Dzong and Ta Dzong Museum.

Today you will take an early 25-minute flight to Paro. There are spectacular views of the Himalayan mountain ranges during the flight if the weather permits.

After the arrival in Paro, you will be transferred to the hotel. In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Paro Rinpung Dzong, a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in the 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Then go to 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. There will also be time to wander round the market.

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 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.