All about Bhutan Biking
Bhutan’s mountainous terrain offers a fascinating adventure for Bhutan biking enthusiasts. The roads in Bhutan wind up and down mountains. Beauty of mountain biking in himalayas will show you high passes of over 3000 metres above sea level. the bhutan biking route is accompanied by mixed forests, pasturelands, rich meadows and beautiful medieval villages. This tour allows time for visiting the places in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha,Trongsa and Bumthang. Bhutan biking tours can be customize from easy to adventurous trails. The mountain biking will be backed up by professional support staff from Bhutan Himalayan Holidays. We will manage the logistics for your entire trip to Bhutan including arranging branded mountain bikes for your riding pleasure in Bhutan.
For your kind information Bhutan Olympic committee organize biking competition ” The Tour of the Dragon“. It covers 268 km from Bumthang(Central Bhutan) to Thimphu(Capital city).The competation is toughest MTB race in the world. The roads wind up and down mountains with dropping of thousands of meters. Other interesting part is passing highest passes in Bhutan over 3000 meters. Bhutan cycling route is accompanied by mixed forests, pastureland, rich meadows and traditional Bhutanese valleys. This Bhutan cycling tour highlights of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa and Bumthang. You will be accompanied with with professional support staff at all times.
Itinineary for Bhutan Biking tours
Day One-Arrival Paro.
The flights to Bhutan will most spectacular mountain flights views by Druk Air or Bhutan Our representative from Bhutan Himalayan Holidays will meet you at Paro international airport.
After lunch you will be undergoing Paro sightseeings, including a visit to the National Museum, Paro Dzong. The museum houses with many antique religious relics, works of art and handicrafts, Bhutan’s historical items, Thangkhas and many more.
Next, visit the Rinpong Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation. Dzong’s acts as district administrative centres and Monastic body. which were strategic forts of Bhutan during Shabrung Ngwang Namgyel. Walk down to the beautiful cantilever wooden bridge of Paro river. Before the dinner you will be given orientation and gudiance of Bhutan biking tours by our guide. Overnight at your hotel in Paro.
Day Two-Paro to Thimphu
After breakfast guest will begin a full day’s ride to Thimphu. Your pick up vechile and team will be with you. The average gradient of the road from Paro to Thimphu is excellent. There will be few steep climbs or descents. You will enjoy the ride with beautiful clean rivers of Paro and Thimphu. You will be passing through a mixture of rice fields, coniferous forests and hills dotted with chortens and monasteries.
After enjoying a picnic lunch on thw way, continue riding mountain bike through widening valley of Namseling. Finally, you find the Bhutanese design gate which welome you Thimphu city. Enjoy remainder of day for Thimphu sightseeing or leisure in the town. Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.
Day Three- Thimphu sightseeing
After breakfast Enjoy the sightseeing in Thimphu with visit to the National Memorial Chorten. The stupa was first initiated by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk as a protection from the negative elements. The Royal Queen Mother completed it for the memory of his husband who passed away in the year 1972.
Other highlights of the day in Thimphu will be 12th Century Changangkha lhankhang, Zilukha nunnery, the painting school, where the students are taught to master the 13 types of Bhutanese art. Other visits will be National Library housing a collection of Bhutanese scriptures dating back to the 8th century. Visit the replica of a medieval farmhouse at the Folk Heritage Museum. If there is time, you may visit Mini Takin reserve and Tashichhodzong. Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.
Day Four-Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast you will starting another day for Bhutan Biking tour enroute Dochula pass with a 22km ride and a height gain of 670m up to Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters). The hillsides are covered temperate forest with abundant rhododendron and magnolia. You will find species of deer and monkeys. Stop for lunch at Dochu La. You can see spectacular view of the Himalayan Mountains.
The downhill ride to Punakha valley with an elevation of 1300 meters over a distance of 50 kilometres.
After refreshing in the hotel in Punakha, visit Punakha Dzong. The dzong was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It is situated at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu.sidence of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who move en masse from Thimphu in the colder months. The three story main temple of the Punakha Dzong is a breathtaking example of traditional architecture with four intricately embossed entrance pillars crafted from cypress and decorated in gold and silver. Overnight at your hotel in Punakha.
Day 5 Punakha to Trongsa
Enjoy exploring the bustling market town of Wangduephodrang before visiting Wangduephodrang Dzong. Built in 1639 the strategically located Dzong is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. Drive over the Pele La pass (3,420m) on the Black Mountain range, which divide western and central Bhutan. White langur monkeys can often be spotted in the moss-draped forests in this area. Further on, in silent isolation surrounded by great forested hills is beautiful Chendibji Chorten built in the 18th Century to commemorate the subjugation of a local demon. It is built in a style unusual for Bhutan, with painted eyes facing the four directions. The imposing Trongsa Dzong can be viewed across a deep canyon to signal your approach to the town around a curving road. Overnight at your hotel in Trongsa.
Day 6 Trongsa to Bumthang
After breakfast visit Trongsa Dzong, a masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture. Trongsa has the largest Dzong in Bhutan and its foundations were laid in the 16th Century. There are now 22 temples in the complex. Afters light refreshments begin the drive to Bumthang, one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the spiritual heartland of the kingdom. The road climbs rapidly up a series of hairpin turns out of Trongsa. After passing through cultivated fields and forested hillsides you will reach the Yutung La Pass (3400m). From here ride down through a dense, beautiful coniferous forest to a wide, cultivated valley known as Chummey valley before continuing on in the soft afternoon light to the town of Jakar. Overnight at your lodge in Jakar, Bumthang.
Day 7 Bumthang
In the morning visit Kurjey Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places in the kingdom where Bhutan’s patron saint Guru Rimpoche meditated and 7th century Jambay Lhakhang. It dates back to the origins of Buddhism in Bhutan and is one of the Kingdoms oldest temples. After lunch, visit Jakar Dzong and Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pemalingpa and containing interesting and ancient Buddhist wall paintings. Afterwards enjoy exploring the village of Jakar, Bumthang’s main township. Overnight at your lodge in Jakar, Bumthang.
Day 8 – Bumthang- to Ura-Bumthang
Cycle to the Ura Valley, approx 69 kms from Jakar. The ride begins with a height gain of 900 metres over almost 40 kilometres to the Shertang La pass. The Ura Valley, on the far side, is the highest of the Bumthang Valleys. Extensive pastures line the road and just before the pass there is a panoramic view of the mountains of Lunana. Descend from the pass on long looping roads through pastureland and fields to Ura village. Enjoy some sightseeing in Ura Valley before driving back to Bumthang. Overnight at your lodge in Jakar, Bumthang.
Day 9 Bumthang to Punakha
Drive back to Punakha, stopping at Trongsa for lunch. There will be opportunities to ride along various stretches of road if desired. Overnight at your hotel in Punakha.
Day 10 Punakha -Thimphu
Enjoy a leisurely ride of about 12 kms to reach Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten situated on a beautiful hillock. It houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa Traditions. Take a picnic lunch on a picturesque riverside before riding back to Punakha. Afterwards, drive for Thimphu. Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.
Day 11- Thimphu to Paro
After breakfast you can either begin riding back to Paro, or elect to drive there later to allow time to stroll around Thimphu. If it’s the weekend, you can walk through the market to see the variety of food of Bhutan, including basket upon basket of fiery chillies, fresh cheese and a variety of fresh greens. In addition, many stalls contain Bhutanese handicrafts and household items. On arrival in Paro, check into the hotel. Overnight at your hotel in Paro.
Day 12- Paro-Taksang Hike
After breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastery. The walk of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours uphill takes you almost a kilometre above the Paro valley floor (for those who cannot hike we will arrange a horse for transfer up to cafeteria). The view of Taktsang Monastery built on a sheer cliff face 900 metres above the valley floor is a spectacular sight. The Monastery is also an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. The great Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown here on the back of a tigress when he brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma to Bhutan in the 8th Century. Nearby there is a teahouse where you can stop for refreshments before returning to Paro for lunch.
In the afternoon drive or ride the relatively flat road to the ruins of the 17th Century Drukgyel Dzong, built to commemorate a victory against invading Tibetans in 1644. In fine weather the towering peak of the sacred Mount Jomolhari (7314m) appears as a stunning backdrop. On the return drive to Paro, visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo.
Alternatively, day 12 could be spent on a day trip to the Haa Valley, one of the most picturesque districts in Bhutan. Reached via the beautiful Chelila Pass, Haa Valley is characterised by its surrounding rugged and mountainous terrain. On the return to Paro, you may choose to ride the exhilirating downhill run from Chelila Pass. Overnight at your hotel in Paro.
Day 13-Departure
Breakfast in the hotel, then drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination. Tashi Delek!