Example Itinerary
Beautiful Bhutan by Bike
- Duration
- 16 days / 15 nights
- Price Per Person
-
Terms & Conditions
Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.
- Interests
- Bicycling
- Destinations
- Bhutan
Take an unforgettable biking adventure and experience Bhutan like never before. Pedal to the Taktsang Monastery, an exquisite Buddhist temple located on a steep cliff high above in the misty mountains. Climb to the top of the Chele La pass and admire the snow-carpeted peaks of the famous Himalayan mountains. Cycle through endless fields of lush green rice fields, untouched forests and rich valleys. Be spellbound by the plethora of blossoming magnolias and vibrant rhododendron flowers on the way to Dochula. Experience Bhutanese culture at a Buddhist festival and watch religious mask dances. Trek to the Tharpaling Monastery, a grand temple hidden in the high hills of Jakar.
This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.
Highlights
- New Heights: Challenge yourself on Chele La Pass, a narrow and steep asphalt road with sharp turns and sheer drops, and the highest motorable point in Bhutan.
- River Routes: Trace the bucolic rivers in Thimphu which take you from town out into the countryside and scenes of endless rice fields and forests.
- Snow and Tropics: See it all from high altitude peaks to low valleys, snow-covered mountains in the background to tropical forests of bamboo and rare plant life.
Day-by-Day
Day 1
MapParo
Fly into Paro, a town filled with many sacred sites and historical buildings. Take in the stunning scenery of the Paro Valley, where mountains, lush green hills and forest cover the region. Check into your hotel and join in the preparation of the bikes for the amazing journey ahead.
Hotel Options
Day 2
MapParo
Cycle for an hour and continue by foot to the Taktsang Monastery, a divine Buddhist temple complex located on a jagged cliff. Climb up a steep footpath and prepare to be captivated by the untouched beauty of mountainous cliffs and wild forests. Take a tour of the monastery and learn about the ancient teachings of Buddha.

Day 3
MapParo
Bike through the beautiful countryside and pass rustic villages. Climb to the top of Chele La pass and admire the snow-blanketed peaks of the Himalayan mountains. Continue on for 22 miles and reach the prayer-flagged summit of the pass. Absorb the breathtaking view from the top and stop for lunch. Trek down the pass and weave through a valley made up of ten sharp turns.
Day 4
MapThimphu
Enjoy a relaxing bike ride to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Cycle along the peaceful rivers of the Ha Chhu and Thim Chu. Embrace the dazzling scenes of endless rice fields and pristine forests as you pass by. Walk through the town square in Thimphu and experience the lives of locals. Notice the traditional dress worn and the relaxed and friendly attitudes of the Bhutanese people.
Hotel Options
Day 5
MapPunakha
Bike 13 miles to Dochula, and be dazzled by a plethora of blossoming magnolias and vibrant rhododendron flowers. Enjoy fruit fresh off the branch as you pass by ripe banana and orange trees. Reach the top of Dochula pass and see the area decorated with colourful prayer flags and Buddhist monuments. Savour the breathtaking view of the Himalayas and hike back down through the rich jungle of the Punakha Valley.
Hotel Options

Day 6
MapPunakha
Relax in Punakha and take a day of rest. For those who want to explore more of the town, consider taking a side trip to Punakha Dzong, the ancient capital of Bhutan and home to over 1,000 monks in the winter. Tour the dzong, an elaborate Buddhist fortress built in the 16th century.
Day 7
MapGangtey
Enjoy a full day of cycling and head to the Black Mountains. Pass by scenic rivers, dense valleys and the tiny village of Tikke. Stop for a restful tea break and climb to the top of the Black Mountains. Take in the impressive view from the peak and descend into the Phobjikha Valley where we will stay for the night.
Hotel Options
Day 8
MapTrongsa
Hop on your bike and try to spot langur monkeys in their natural forest habitat. Continue to the high landscapes of Pele La and see the magnificent Chomolhari Mountain in the distance. Head down the pass and cycle to Trongsa. Tour the village in the afternoon and visit the beautiful dzong located on the waters of the Mangde Chhu River.
Hotel Options

Day 9
MapBumthang
Pedal out of Trongsa and make your way to Yutung La pass. Enter the vast Bumthang Valley and stop for a tasty picnic lunch. Climb up to Kiki La pass and descend into Jakar, a picturesque village. Witness the grand Jakar Dzong resting high above in the misty mountains. This beautiful area is protected and aside from seeing historic sacred sites, you might even spot the black-necked crane. Bed down for the evening at your luxurious lodge.
Hotel Options
Day 10
MapBumthang
Jakar is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Bhutan and hosts many festivals to celebrate the religion. Take part in a Buddhist festival and participate in a Tshechu. Tshechus are big events where communities come together to watch religious mask dances, receive blessings and socialize. During this time, locals dress in their finest attire and enjoy the company of family and friends.
Day 11
MapBumthang
Trek to the Tharpaling Monastery, a grand monument hidden in the high hills of Jakar. Breathe in fresh forest air and take in the sights of snow covered mountains nearby. Reach the top of the ridge and admire the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Day 12
MapUra Valley
Continue farther into the mountainous regions of Bhutan and head to the Shertang La Pass. Bike to the Ura Valley and see white sheep roam the countryside. Keep a look out for the Lunana mountain range looming in the north. Arrive in the village of Ura and camp overnight on a flat area in the valley.
Hotel Options
Day 13
MapMongar
Take on one last high altitude climb and journey to Thrumsing La, the highest road pass in Bhutan. After conquering the pass, stop for a celebratory lunch and take a 53-mile downhill ride to a tropical forest full of bamboo and rare plant life. Prepare for adventure as you bike down the side of a sharp cliff and continue on to the village of Mongar.
Hotel Options
Day 14
MapTrashigang
Get excited for another day of cycling and beautiful sights. Pedal through Kori La and see an ocean of cornfields and banana groves. Twist and turn through the hairpin roads in Yadi and continue to ride along the lively Gamri River. Arrive in Trashigang, a quaint village that rests by a valley.
Hotel Options
Day 15
MapSamdrup Jongkhar
Sit back and relax as we drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. Celebrate your amazing efforts and impressive accomplishments at a party in the evening. Not many individuals embark on a unique bike journey like this and we hope it is a memory that will stick with you forever.
Hotel Options
Day 16
MapDeparture
On our final day, enjoy a scenic drive to Guwahati, a city in northeast India. Head to the airport where we say farewell. Take a short flight to Delhi and transfer to your flight home or to your next exciting destination.

Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
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