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Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Bicycling, Amazing Landscapes, Responsible
Destinations
Bhutan

Traverse the Himalayan nation of Bhutan by bike on this week-long endurance challenge, which combines immersion in Bhutan’s undulating landscapes with experiences focused on Bhutanese heritage and culture. Land in Paro, head to the capital of Thimphu, climb the Dochula Pass to lush Punakha, then return to Paro and end your trip with a hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

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

• Hiking: Make a pilgrimage to the cliffside Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

• Biking: Take on the cycling challenge of Bhutan’s Himalayan topography.

• Landscapes: Absorb dramatic peak and valley views over the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

• Accommodation: Rest at Six Senses lodges - one of the world’s most sustainable hotel brands in one of the world’s most sustainable destinations.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Paro

Arrive into Paro, where you’ll be picked up from the airport and transferred to your accommodation, Six Senses Paro. The Six Senses brand is known for its commitment to sustainability, providing luxurious lodge accommodation in Bhutan that has a low impact on the surrounding environment and wildlife, but a positive impact on the local community. The lodge is perched above the Paro National Museum, which is the perfect introduction to Bhutan and a great place to visit if you have time for sightseeing on your first day. Relax and enjoy a dinner of authentic Bhutanese-style cuisine made using organic, local produce.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Forest-covered mountains, tiny villages and terraced crop fields, valley rivers and rich history. One of the most scenic locations in Bhutan, Six Senses Paro is perched at an altitude of 2,250 meters, putting the spotlight on its epic views.

Sustainability: Six Senses Paro is committed to low impact on the environment and wildlife, and a positive impact on the local community - befitting Bhutan, the world's only carbon-negative country.

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Six Senses Paro Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Thimphu

In the morning, you’ll drive for two hours to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, and dip your toe in the city’s attractions, learning about traditional Bhutanese arts and culture. After lunch, your cycling adventure starts with a loop to Dodina. Riding through villages, farmlands and forest to mountaintop monasteries, you’ll discover a side to Bhutan more off the beaten path. Descending back down to into the capital, you can rest and freshen up at Six Senses Thimphu with a meditation or yoga class (optional – at your own expense), followed by dinner at Namkha - the lodge’s restaurant, which specializes in Bhutanese and Indian cuisine.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Secluded between apple orchards and young pine forest, Six Senses Thimphu is a "Palace in the Sky," perched 2,650 meters up in the hillside. From here, you can peer down at Thimphu Valley and across to the giant Buddha, but you're still close to all of the capital's main attractions.

Sustainability: Fitting with the other Six Senses' Bhutan properties and Bhutan's reputation as the world's only carbon-negative country, Six Senses Thimphu aims to have a low impact on the environment and wildlife, and a positive impact on the local community.

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Six Senses Thimphu Preferred Hotel
Thimphu
Thimphu

Day 3

Punakha

Leave the capital for Punakha via the most challenging section of the cycling route, which sees you climb nearly 850 meters to an altitude of over 3,000 meters. This area, known as Dochula, is thought to have a special spiritual energy - 108 chortens (shrines or monuments) can be found atop the Dochula Pass. After refueling with lunch in a scenic spot with views over the steep valleys of the region, you’ll descend 1,750 meters into Punakha through beautiful blue pine forest. Your lodging will be at Six Senses Punakha, a “flying farmhouse” that looks out over verdant rice fields.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Set at a lower altitude and with warmer temperatures, Phunakha is a favorite winter destination for local Bhutanese. Blending seamlessly into emerald steps of crop fields, this lodge is a "flying farmhouse" providing a rustic, yet luxurious, stay.

Sustainability: All of Six Senses' Bhutan properties are focused on low impact on the environment and wildlife, and a positive impact on the local community; echoing the values of Bhutan, which is the world's only carbon-negative country.

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Six Senses Punakha Preferred Hotel

Day 4

Punakha

Today, you’ll remain based in Punakha and tackle the nearby Tashithang Loop. The first leg will be a gradual ascension of 1,785 meters, then a quick descension of 1,795 meters, followed by mostly level riding for the rest of the day. Your 62-kilometer route will wind through the area’s forests, known for their rhododendron trees, orchids and birdlife. Back at the lodge, take a dip in Six Senses Punakha’s outdoor pool, try Bhutanese dishes with a Western twist at restaurant Ari, then curl up with a good book in the lodge’s cozy library.

Punakha
Punakha

Day 5

Punakha

Your final ride in Punakha covers a shorter distance and a more gradual incline, as you spin around the gorgeous valleys that encase the city. Take a trip to Punakha Dzong, which dates back to 1638 – not a single nail was used in its construction. Next, you’ll visit Chimi Lhakhang, which predates the dzong by over 150 years; built in 1499, this temple has a rich history and is known for its fertility blessings. Enjoy your final night at Six Senses Punakha – we recommend a thorough massage (optional) to relax and unknot tired muscles after a tough few days of cycling.

Day 6

Paro

You’ll leave Punakha early in the morning and take a road transfer back to Paro, which takes around four to six hours. On arrival, you’ll stretch your legs with a hike to the Taktsang “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery, which is cut into the cliffside. The path crosses a bridge, routes around a 60-meter waterfall and finally heads up the cliff to the sacred monastery – the most spectacular finale to your Bhutan travel experience.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Forest-covered mountains, tiny villages and terraced crop fields, valley rivers and rich history. One of the most scenic locations in Bhutan, Six Senses Paro is perched at an altitude of 2,250 meters, putting the spotlight on its epic views.

Sustainability: Six Senses Paro is committed to low impact on the environment and wildlife, and a positive impact on the local community - befitting Bhutan, the world's only carbon-negative country.

See Hotel
Six Senses Paro Preferred Hotel
Paro
Paro

Day 7

Departure

Your Bhutan cycling adventure comes to an end, as you check out of Six Senses Paro and head to the airport for your onward flight. Consider adding extra sightseeing or relaxation time at the end of your trip, or combine Bhutan with a second destination for an even bigger adventure.

To further combat your carbon footprint, we advise offsetting your international flights through a carbon offset program, choosing an environmental cause that speaks to you.

Suggested Hotel For Day 1

Six Senses Paro
Preferred Hotel

Six Senses Paro

With sacred sites, traditional architecture, and historical buildings, a trip to Paro, Bhutan, is like taking a trip back in time. Nestled in a scenic river valley, the town is the first stop to Bhutan for many, as it is home to the country’s sole international airport. Six Senses Bhutan Paro is perched directly above Paro National Museum, offering incredible views of the valley. Built in the midst of old stone ruins, charming interiors of hewn stone walls and working fireplaces will contrast mid-tone vertical timbers. Community gathering sites such as an open fire pit are available, and all resources used in the construction of this resort are sustainably sourced. The property offers 16 suites, two one-bedroom villas, one two-bedroom villa, and one three-bedroom villa that is perfect for families. Other facilities and services include an all-day dining restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, banquet facilities, Spa and Wellness Center with gym, outdoor sauna, yoga room, relaxation and private meditation areas, indoor pool, library, and boutique. The Six Senses Bhutan Paro is one node of the collective Six Senses Bhutan hotels, meaning that guests can conveniently travel to Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, or Bumthang assured of the consistent quality of the Six Senses brand throughout their trip.

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Suggested Hotel For Day 2

Six Senses Thimphu
Preferred Hotel

Six Senses Thimphu

The capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Thimphu sits at around 8,000 feet above sea level and is 34 miles from the nation's international airport in Paro. As the nation's cultural heart, people venture to this remote capital to catch glimpses of rare Buddhist scriptures at the National Library or marvel at the Buddha Dordenma's 149-foot bronze statue. The Six Senses Thimphu is situated on the valley hillside just south of the town with spectacular views of Thimphu Valley and across to the giant Buddha. The hotel's décor has been designed to reflect the city's cultural dominance. Beautiful cultural items, handcrafted objects, and intricate weavings are abundant throughout the hotel, and modern interiors feature clean lines, wood paneling, whitewashing, and natural stone. Buildings are constructed from rust-colored bricks, and old solid wood has been repurposed into table and bench tops. The property offers 20 suites, 3 one-bedroom villas, 1 two-bedroom villa, and 1 three-bedroom villa. Facilities and services include a Living Room, all-day dining restaurant, private dining room, bar and lounge, banquet facilities, indoor pool, boutique, prayer pavilion, business center, sunken outdoor performance deck, and a Spa and Wellness Center with manicure and pedicure room, and a gym. A branch of the Six Senses Bhutan hotel, guests will be able to easily move on to Paro, Punakha, Gangtey, or Bumthang while still enjoying the comforts offered by the Six Senses brand.

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Suggested Hotel For Days 3–5

Six Senses Punakha
Preferred Hotel

Six Senses Punakha

The former capital of Bhutan, Punakha features stunning nature and enchanting cultural sites. Take in the breathtaking mountain vistas of Dochu La Pass, hike to Khamsum Yuley Monastery, or go river rafting along the Mo Chu River. The Six Senses Punakha is reached by a windy road that climbs through pine forests and passes streams, waterfalls, and chortens (Buddhist monuments). Just a 15-minute drive north of the grand Punakha Dzong, the lodge is nestled several hundred meters above the valley floor amidst the rice fields. Drawing on the region’s agricultural heritage, the hotel is designed in the style of a local farmhouse. Clean lines adorn the mud brick structures, and light fittings cleverly crafted from recycled mason jars illuminate the woven bamboo on the walls. The property offers 16 suites, a one-bedroom villa, a two-bedroom villa, and a three-bedroom villa. Facilities and services include a Living Room and Lounge, all-day dining restaurant, library, outdoor pool, and a Spa and Wellness Center with three single rooms, gym, two meditation huts, and yoga facilities. A satellite hotel of the Six Senses Bhutan, guests can travel to other cities in the country — such as Paro, Thimphu, Gangtey, or Bumthang — all under the Six Senses name.

See Hotel

Suggested Hotel For Day 6

Six Senses Paro
Preferred Hotel

Six Senses Paro

With sacred sites, traditional architecture, and historical buildings, a trip to Paro, Bhutan, is like taking a trip back in time. Nestled in a scenic river valley, the town is the first stop to Bhutan for many, as it is home to the country’s sole international airport. Six Senses Bhutan Paro is perched directly above Paro National Museum, offering incredible views of the valley. Built in the midst of old stone ruins, charming interiors of hewn stone walls and working fireplaces will contrast mid-tone vertical timbers. Community gathering sites such as an open fire pit are available, and all resources used in the construction of this resort are sustainably sourced. The property offers 16 suites, two one-bedroom villas, one two-bedroom villa, and one three-bedroom villa that is perfect for families. Other facilities and services include an all-day dining restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, banquet facilities, Spa and Wellness Center with gym, outdoor sauna, yoga room, relaxation and private meditation areas, indoor pool, library, and boutique. The Six Senses Bhutan Paro is one node of the collective Six Senses Bhutan hotels, meaning that guests can conveniently travel to Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, or Bumthang assured of the consistent quality of the Six Senses brand throughout their trip.

See Hotel

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