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Bhutan Bike & Hike Adventure

Home > Bhutan

Bhutan Bike & Hike Adventure

Classic Tour

Price from

3500 USD

Duration

10 Days | 9 Nights

Level

3

Tour Code

GHBC18

VIEW TOUR DATES

The Ultimate Active Adventure - Cycle Tour Bhutan

Tour the Kingdom of Bhutan by bicycle and by foot on guided treks. Bhutan is a remote, little-visited and mystical country perched on the southern Himalayas between Tibet and North India. This 10-day bike & hike cycle tour showcases Bhutan's unique culture, history and natural beauty with some rewarding activities along the way.

Quality Bikes
Cannondale Quick 1 Disc

Your Guide
Local Bhutanese leader

Group Size
2 to 14

Accommodation
3-star resorts

Activities
Ride / Hike / Archery

Minimum Age
14+

Overview

Besides its stunning natural scenery, the enduring image of Bhutan for most visitors is the strong sense of culture and tradition that binds the kingdom and clearly distinguishes it from its larger neighbors. Take a guided ride & trek through this mystical kingdom that, due to its policy of restricting visitor numbers to protect its culture, has long remained an enigma.

We won't lie, parts of the ride will be a challenge complete with mountain climbs and thrilling descents, and you will be riding at altitude. But the effort is doubly rewarded with beautiful views and an adrenaline-fueled sense of personal achievement. The combination of bike travel with guided treks will give you a satisfying active experience rewarded with plenty of unforgettable experiences and scenery. Immerse yourself in the magical culture of Bhutan on your active holiday.

186 Km riding. 98% of the roads are sealed but all the riding takes place at altitudes from 1300m to 3400m - you need to be prepared for all uphill or downhill riding. Most of the ride is on well maintained sealed roads, and drivers are courteous and give space, but as always when cycling, keep your road awareness. Bhutan is a sparsely populated country so traffic is light and gets even lighter as we travel east.

Make it private: Bhutan trips can be run as private tours for two or more people at a 20% surcharge.

Highlights

Your climb to the Dochula Pass will be rewarded with stunning views to all sides before you descend into the verdant Punakha Valley.

Visit the 16th-century Gangtey Monastery and Crane Information Center where rare black-necked cranes roost.

Cycle the wide open Gangtey valley before lessons in Bhutan’s national sport: archery.

Hike the Gangtey Nature Trail and trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery for some alternate activities.

Day to Day


Meal:
D

Welcome to Paro, a sacred town in the Paro Valley of Bhutan. We will pick you up at the airport and transport you to our hotel of choice that features an optimal view of lush paddy fields in the surrounding valley and the mountains that frame it.

For those who have the energy and are not jet-lagged, we take a little time in the afternoon to see some of the sights of Paro and have the first introduction to Bhutan and it's culture. This includes a visit to your first dzong: an incredibly grand Bhutanese fortress. These are situated at strategic locations throughout the country and are an imposing sight to behold.

Riding:
35km
22mi
Meal:
BLD

Paro sits at a height of 2200m, so we’ll take it easy today with a short ride to get used to the altitude, warm up the legs, acquaint ourselves with the bikes and see a little more of Paro Valley. The setting of our ride today provides spectacular views of the verdant valley and towering mountains, cut with rice paddies and thick forests that are mostly left untouched. We'll cycle to a ruined dzong and a farmer's house along the way and enjoy some time out in town to get a sense of the valley.

Riding:
55km
34mi
Meal:
BLD

Time to leave Paro and begin the ride across Bhutan! This first point to point ride is the easiest on the tour. Our Bhutanese friends describe this day as 'flat' as you will only be cycling from a 2100m high stretch of road to 2350m throughout the journey, although the road does undulate and there is no such thing as ‘flat’ roads here! In the afternoon take a leisurely walk through the Thimphu Market area and explore the foreboding yet elegant dzong.

Riding:
65km
40mi
Meal:
BLD

The first pass of the trip, Dochula, sits at 3050m and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalaya on a clear day. After a long climb up to the pass, you'll love zooming along the downhill section that takes you 40km rolling all the way down until the junction towards the Punakha Valley. The final section undulates along the valley to our overnight stop at Punakha which sits at a lowly altitude of 1350m.

Riding:
15km
9mi
Meal:
BLD

We take a day to explore the beautifully situated dzong at Punakha, once the summer capital. While pedaling down a mostly unsealed back road, we get great views of the river and Punakha Dzong. Before the Dzong, however, you must cross a terrifying or exhilarating suspension footbridge (the feeling depends on your perspective). Either way, it will take your breath away!

This is the longest and highest suspension footbridge in the country stretching over 200m above the Pho River. After a picnic lunch, we ride back to the hotel and the rest of the afternoon is free for rest and relaxation off the bike or you may choose to wander around for a brisk walk in the valley or spend some time exploring town.

Meal:
BLD

Today we travel to Gangtey, a valley famed for its conservation efforts. Along the way, we'll walk to the famous fertility temple. The drive from Punakha takes us to the Lawala Pass at 3300m after which we descend into the beautiful Phobjika/Gangtey Valley where we visit the Gangtey Monastery and Crane information center. The Gangtey Monastery, established in the 16th century, is a significant center for the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism and will provide an interesting cultural stop on our journey. Gangtey Valley is an ecological hotspot for Bhutan, known to be the roosting site of the rare black-necked crane that is an extremely honored bird in Bhutan. We’ll make a visit to the Crane Information Centre for further exploration.

Riding:
16km
10mi
Meal:
BLD

Today we cycle for half of the day in the beautiful valley of Gangtey / Phobjikha. The day is casual and can be custom tailored with recommendations from your guides. We can proudly claim that by this stage of the tour, after going through the challenges and rewards of the cycling journey together, your guides will feel like family. In the afternoon we have archery (Bhutan’s national sport) lessons for the group as a fun way to round out the day.

Meal:
BLD

Soon after breakfast, we’ll begin trekking on the popular Gangtey nature trail. The two-hour-long hike takes us across the grounds of the black-necked cranes that roost here during the months of November until May each year and provides us with peaceful forest views. We then retrace our route through the Dochula pass to the breathtaking valley of Paro, where we’ll return to our palace accommodation.

While in Paro, we will also take a tour of the recently opened Namgay Artisanal Brewery craft brewery. This is the first such establishment to open in Bhutan and is an incredible operation. Spend the evening at leisure or you may choose to enjoy a walkabout in Paro Town.

Meal:
BLD

In the morning, we’ll trek up to one of Bhutan's most venerated sites: the Tiger's Nest Monastery. This stunning site is precariously perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro Valley floor. Tiger’s Nest has been recognized as one of the most spiritual sites in Bhutan and many eminent saints have meditated in this area. Reward your physical activity by soaking up the energy of this place!

You should now be quite familiar with the town of Paro and after dinner, the final evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure, a return to the craft brewery for a few celebratory drinks may be in order!

Meal:
B

Your tour ends today with breakfast and a transfer to the Paro Airport in time for your departing flight.

Dates & Price

EARLY RIDER PRIZE: Be in the first 4 to book a departure and get 5% OFF the tour price


Dates Availability Price

Payment Plans Available
* Deposit payment: $500 USD
* Single room option: $350 USD

Any tour can be made private! Request quote GO PRIVATE
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WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT

GRASSHOPPER STYLE


Since Bhutan has only recently opened its country to tourism and still limits its number of visitors each year, the country has remained a mystery for most foreigners. We’ve taken advantage of this little-explored place in order to bring you on an adventure that encompasses all of Bhutan’s charms and best scenery. On this active adventure, you will enjoy satisfying cycling through spectacular scenery and hiking excursions to magical places, and even an archery lesson to mix things up.

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