Tour Overview
Duration: 13 Days
Best Season: March - May & September - November
Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
Explore the captivating adventure of cycling in Bhutan's mountainous terrain. Ride along winding roads that traverse majestic mountains with exhilarating descents and challenging passes exceeding 3000 meters. The journey takes you through diverse landscapes of mixed forests, pastures, lush meadows, and valleys adorned with medieval villages and culturally rich towns. Our tour encompasses visits to Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, and Bumthang, allowing you to choose from a range of trail options, from easy to adventurous. Throughout your adventure, our professional support staff will be there to assist you. Found Bhutan will handle all the logistics, including providing quality mountain bicycles, unless you prefer to bring your own. Get ready for an unforgettable Bhutan cycling experience!
Tour Highlights & Facts
- Duration: 12 nights 13 days
- Cycling through Bhutan
- Tiger's Nest Monastery
- Farm House/Home Stay Experiences
- Bhutanese Dishes & Attires
- Traditional Hot Stone Bath
- Best Time to Visit- All year around (High Season: March to May & September to November, Low Season: December to February & June to August)
Tentative Itinerary
At Found Bhutan Tours and Treks, we do not take our guests on a virtual tour before arriving in Bhutan. We want our guests to fully explore and experience Bhutan first-hand. Therefore, we keep our itinerary short and less descriptive.
- One of the most breathtaking mountain flights in the world, the journey to Paro offers a continuously shifting view of some of the world's highest peaks. Once customs procedures are completed, our representative from Found Bhutan will meet you at the Paro airport exit doors.
- After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring Paro, exploring the attractions in Paro.
- Following breakfast, embark on a full day's cycling journey from Paro to Thimphu, savoring the captivating landscapes. The road offers a favorable gradient for cycling, with few steep climbs or descents. Pedal alongside rivers, through rice fields, coniferous forests, and hills adorned with chortens and monasteries. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot and ride through a narrow gorge, leading to the widening valley at Namseling. As you approach Thimphu, you'll encounter the impressive Simtokha Dzong, dating back to 1627. The 'Bridge of Prophecy,' adorned with prayer flags, ushers you into downtown Thimphu, where you'll make your way to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Your overnight stay in Thimphu promises a comfortable and memorable experience.
- In Thimphu, embark on a captivating sightseeing journey. Begin with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, a symbolic representation of Buddhist faith through intricate paintings and statues. This temple, initiated by the Third King and completed by the Royal Queen Mother, serves as a protective sanctuary against the negative aspects of modernization and a memorial stupa for the Third King.
- Explore other highlights, including the 12th-century Changangkha Temple, Drubthob Monastery housing the Zilukha nunnery, and the School for Arts and Crafts, where students master Bhutanese art forms. Visit the National Library, home to Bhutanese scriptures dating back to the 8th century, and the Folk Heritage Museum, offering a fascinating replica of a medieval farmhouse.
- If time permits, explore the Takin Preserve - Bhutan's national animal, and the grand Tashichhodzong. Your overnight stay in Thimphu ensures a comfortable and enriching Bhutanese experience.
- Embark on the road to Punakha, commencing with a 22km ride and an elevation gain of 670m to reach Dochu La Pass at 3,100 meters. The journey is adorned with a lush temperate forest, featuring abundant rhododendron and magnolia, and serving as a habitat for various deer and monkey species. Take a lunch break at Dochu La, where clear days offer a spectacular view of the Himalayan Mountains.
- Prepare for a thrilling downhill ride from Dochu La into the Punakha valley, a 50-kilometer stretch that will leave you in awe as you glide through the lush forest. Upon refreshing at your hotel in Punakha, explore the historic Punakha Dzong, constructed in 1637 by Shabdrung, the 'Unifier of Bhutan.' Situated at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu (Mother and Father Rivers), this Dzong serves as the winter residence of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who migrate en masse from Thimphu during the colder months. The three-story main temple of the Punakha Dzong is an architectural masterpiece, adorned with intricately embossed entrance pillars made from cypress and embellished in gold and silver. Your overnight stay in Punakha promises a comfortable and enriching Bhutanese experience.
- Explore the vibrant market town of Wangduephodrang and pay a visit to Wangduephodrang Dzong, a strategically positioned fortress built in 1639 at the confluence of two rivers. Traverse the picturesque Pele-La pass (3,420m) on the Black Mountain range, which serves as the division between western and central Bhutan. Along the way, you may spot white langur monkeys in the mossy forests of this region.
- Further into your journey, discover the serene Chendibji Chorten, a beautiful 18th-century stupa nestled in isolation amid the forested hills. It commemorates the subjugation of a local demon and is uniquely adorned with painted eyes facing all four directions. As you approach Trongsa, the imposing Trongsa Dzong comes into view, situated across a deep canyon, marking your arrival in the town. Your overnight stay in Trongsa ensures a comfortable and immersive Bhutanese experience.
- Commence your day with a visit to the remarkable Trongsa Dzong, an architectural masterpiece that stands as the largest Dzong in Bhutan. Its foundations date back to the 16th Century, and the complex now houses 22 temples, representing a significant cultural and historical heritage.
- Following a light refreshment, embark on a scenic drive to Bumthang, one of Bhutan's most picturesque valleys and the spiritual heartland of the kingdom. The journey involves ascending a series of hairpin turns out of Trongsa. As you pass through cultivated fields and forested hillsides, you'll reach the Yutung La Pass at 3400 meters. From here, a captivating ride takes you through a dense, enchanting coniferous forest, leading to the fertile Chummey valley. Enjoy the soft afternoon light as you continue your journey to the town of Jakar, where you'll spend a comfortable overnight at your lodge in Bumthang.
- Embark on your morning journey with a visit to Kurjey Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's most sacred sites, where Guru Rimpoche, the kingdom's patron saint, meditated. Explore the 7th-century Jambay Lhakhang, a temple that traces its origins to the inception of Buddhism in Bhutan and stands as one of the country's oldest.
- Following a satisfying lunch, continue your explorations with visits to Jakar Dzong and Tamshing Lhakhang. Jakar Dzong offers a glimpse of Bhutanese history and culture, while Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pemalingpa, boasts captivating and ancient Buddhist wall paintings. Conclude your day with an exploration of Jakar, Bumthang's main township. Your overnight stay at your lodge in Jakar promises a comfortable and immersive Bhutanese experience.
- Embark on a cycling adventure to the Ura Valley, situated approximately 70 kilometers from Jakar. Your journey begins with a challenging ascent, covering an elevation gain of 900 meters over nearly 40 kilometers to reach the Shertang La pass. On the other side of this pass lies the Ura Valley, the highest among the Bumthang Valleys. As you ride through this region, you'll be treated to vast pastures lining the road, and just before reaching the pass, a panoramic view of the Lunana mountain range awaits.
- Descend from the pass, following long looping roads that traverse pasturelands and fields, ultimately leading you to Ura village. Take some time for sightseeing in the picturesque Ura Valley before driving back to Bumthang. Your overnight stay at your lodge in Jakar, Bumthang, ensures a comfortable and enriching Bhutanese experience.
- Embark on the journey back to Punakha, with a convenient stop in Trongsa for lunch. If desired, there are opportunities to ride along various stretches of road during this return trip. Your overnight stay at your hotel in Punakha promises a comfortable and memorable Bhutanese experience.
- Indulge in a relaxed 12-kilometer ride to reach the captivating Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, perched on a picturesque hillock. This stunning chorten is adorned with paintings from the Nyingmapa Traditions. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch by the riverside before cycling back to Punakha. Later, drive to Thimphu and savor an overnight stay at your hotel in the capital city, ensuring a comfortable and enriching Bhutanese experience.
- Following breakfast, you have the option to either commence your ride back to Paro or choose to drive later, allowing time for a leisurely stroll around Thimphu. If it happens to be the weekend, you can explore the vibrant market, where you'll encounter an array of Bhutanese culinary delights, including fiery chillies, fresh cheese, and various fresh greens. Additionally, the market stalls showcase Bhutanese handicrafts and household items.
- Upon reaching Paro, check in at your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay, ensuring an enjoyable and memorable Bhutanese experience.
- This is one of the most exciting day for every tourist here in Bhutan. We will drive to Satsam Chorten, the base of the Tiger's Nest Monastery. Your hike to the iconic Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) starts here. You can hike through Paro's stunning pine forest, past trees covered in Spanish moss, and occasionally come across a grove of prayer flags fluffing down the trail. This amazing construction clings to the brink of an extreme rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below.
- As your trip in the magical country of Bhutan draw to a close, take away priceless memories, fresh insights, and a profound respect for Bhutan's opulent natural surroundings and rich cultural legacy.
- Your tour guide will assist you in boarding the plane for your next location.
Note***
Our Itineraries are always customizable. You can either shorten your trips or prolong them as per your needs anytime.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Tour Package Inclusions
- Bhutan SDF
- Bhutan VISA Fee
- Luxury (SUV) Vehicle for 1-2 Pax
- Hi-Roof for 3-7 Pax
- Coaster Bus for more than 7 Pax
- Professional & Experienced Driver
- All transportation within Bhutan
- English-speaking expert local Tour Guide
- All three Meals
- Packed Lunches
- Bottled Mineral Water throughout the tour
- Seasonal Fruits
- Accommodation in 3-stars and above Hotels
- Local SIM Card
Tour Package Exclusions
- International Air fare
- Single room supplement charges
- Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments
- Any Personal Expenses
- Tips/gratuities
- Cost arising out of events beyond our control
- Cost for any services not mentioned in the "TOUR PACKAGE INCLUSION"
Tour Cost
The total cost of the tour will vary based on the number of days, PAX, types of activities, accommodation & fooding, and the places you intend to visit. Our final rates will be shared based on your itinerary requirements.
