Bhutan Cross-Country MTB tour

Day 1 - Welcome to Bhutan

Enjoy the landing, and our boys will be there waiting for you at the airport. Drive to Thimphu and have a relaxing evening. Our boys will assemble the bikes and prepare for the next day. Trip briefing at dinner time and retire early to have a good night’s rest.

Day 2 - Best of Thimphu’s XC trails to get Acclimatized.

Start flexing your muscles and get acclimatised to the altitude. Today we’ll enjoy riding on the best singletracks of the capital city namely the KC trail in the morning and the Wangditse trail in the afternon combining it with some quick breaks at cultural highlights including a typical Bhuatnese lunch at the folk heritage museum. In the evening, lets do some carb loading with very good craft beers.
Ride time 6-7 hours/ 40 km

Cultural highlights of Thimphu.

Cultural highlights of Thimphu.
Let’s visit some of Thimphu’s cultural treasures on bike. Visit museums, textile weavers, post office, markets and watch archery at the staidum in the morning. After lunch, we’ll ride up north on tarmac roads passing through Thimphu’s various residential neighbourhoods and surrounding villages. On the way back, we’ll visit the Trashichhodzong Fortress, a fine exmaple of Bhutan’s rich architecture that holds the office of His Majesty the King and the Prime Minister.
Enjoy a nice dinner at one of the best restaurants in the capital city.
Ride time 6-7 hours/ 40 km

Thimphu to Punakha. 65 km.

Ride to Dochula Pass (3140m) from Thimphu on gradual ascent for 16km. Enjoy spectacular views over the Himalayan ranges and descend descend to the low-lying rice valley of Lobesa on a 40km descent. On the way, visit the Lamperi botanical gardens as it will be covered in rhododendrons and magnolias. Visit the famous Chhimi Lhakhang riding through paddy fields– also called the fertility monastery in honour of a great saint named the Divine Madman.

Ride time 5-6 hours, 65 km ride (mostly descending so its an easy ride)

Punakha Cross country ride.

Today, you’ll enjoy a beautiful country ride visiting ancient fortresses, suspension bridges, paddy fields, temples and a school. Soak your feet in the glacial rivers over a picnic lunch and if you feel like it we can also raft some white-water rapids in the afternoon – totally suitable for beginners as well.

Ride time 3-4 hours, 20 km

Day 6 - Punakha to Gangtey valley ride. Your Bhutan biking Challenge.

After a hearty breakfast we set out for Gangtey via Wangduephrodang, with the option of a few side trips on the way. Continue riding gently gaining elevation to reach Nobding for lunch. The ride is on beautiful tarmac roads with great scenery. Once we reach the pass before entering Phobjikha valley, we’ll unmount the bikes and start riding down to the famous Gangtey Gonpa moanstery. From here, we will continue riding on a beautiful stretch of trail in cross-country style. Riders will love it here as the ride takes us on the periphery of the bowl-shaped marshland and meadows, offering spectacular views. Gangtey valley is so beautiful and there is no better way to see it than on a bike!

Day 7- Riding around Phobjikha valley

The scenic Phobjikha valley begs you to enjoy its beauty and there is no better way than exploring it by bike. After breakfast, ride to Gangtey Gonpa monastery and visit this exquisite temple and monastic school. Then we’ll enjoy a nice ride down to Longtey village and the surrounding vicinity on the southside on beautiful trail that traverses through pine-forests and towering bushes of jade-hued bamboo, festooned with prayer flags overlooking the bowl-shaped marshland and meadows. Riders will be rewarded by spectacular views along the ride. At the end of the bamboo enclave lies a small group of village houses, built in the distinct Bhutanese style, which features elevated platforms, intricately carved timber window panes and wood-lined, arched roofs. Enjoy a nice picnic lunch by the river. Continue riding through scenic villages make a loop around Phobjikha valley.

Day 8 - Ride into the rural communities of central Bhutan

After breakfast, continue riding to the scenic Tangsibje village – our village. Stay overnight in our Tangsibji heritage house, which my grandfather built in the 60’s. You will be welcomed by my cousin and her husband who is the “Strongest Man of Bhutan” as he had won the national twice in a row. The welcome ceremony will include a traditional Chipdrel ceremony with local laymonks playing their traditional instruments.

We are the only tour operator in Bhutan taking visitors here and makes it a real off-the-beaten-track experience. The host family will prepare a splendid dinner for you using fresh organic vegetables and herbs from her garden and we'll spend an evening listening to stories and legends from our village while being entertained by the lovely host family.

Day 9 - Tangsibje village to Bumthang.

Bid farewell to your local host and shuttle the bikes to Chumey valley in Bumthang. On the way you could visit the mighty Trongsa Dzong fortress and the Tower of Trongsa museum. Once we reach Chumey, we'll start riding for 12 km on a jeep track to reach Tharpaling monastery, from there we'll ride 13 km of one of the sweetest single tracks in Bhutan. Here riders usually spot various pheasants and other avi-fauna common in this region.

In the afternoon, you could also visit the Cheese factory to see how local Gouda cheese and locally made white beer - the Red Panda beer.

Drive 3 hours, ride 4 hours.

Day 10 - Hiking around Bumthang valley - Easy Day

Today, you may just want to hike around the valley visiting popular cultural sites. After breakfast, let’s explore Chamkhar valley. Let’s start by hiking to the oldest Buddhist temple - the 07th century Jambay lhakhang temple. Continue to visit Kurjey monastery which is considered as one of the sacred shrines in the country. After lunch at one of our favourite farmhouses, we'll cross the suspension bridge and ride to Tamshing monastery. Each of these cultural hot-spots has its own story and history that bear much significane on our traditions and cultural identity and makes it for a day of story-telling, folklore, legends, myths and wonder. End the day with a visit to Jakar Dzong fortress and stroll around town in the evening to observe local life. Dinner at town and head to your resort.

Day 12 - Petsiling trail and ride to Ura Bumthang

After breakfast, we'll shuttle the bikes to Petsiling village and ride down on the beautiful single track. From there continue riding to Ura valley for 35 km on a beautiful tarmac road. On the way, we'll stop at Maebar Tsho creek for lunch as this is a very important shrine. You can either make a longer loop riding over the pass to Chumey valley for another 45 km, or take the easier option riding back to the valley. There will be back-up vehicle, therefore you can also chuck the bike on the truck and drive back to make it easy.

Day 12 - Domestic flight to Paro.

After breakfast, continue to the airport and take a 30 minutes domestic flight to Paro. Many guests love the experience as it's a nice glide over the himalayan ranges. After reaching paro, visit the 7th century Kyichu lhakhang monastery, the sister temple of Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. These two are considered the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong fortress overlooking the beautiful Paro river.

Note – Bikes will be transported to Paro on our pickup.

Day 13 - Amazing single-tracks of Paro

After breakfast shuttle the bikes to the highest motorable Pass Chelela at 4000m. From here, we’ll ride up the ridge to Kungkarpo peak at 4400m for 4km on a gentle ascent. From here, we’ll descent on one of the most exciting trails leading down to Kila Goenpa nunnery at 3800m. If you feel like a technical descend we can take the Kila trail. The trail starts to get nice loamy on a beautiful fast-flowing trail through rhododendron and bluepine forests. Once we get to Gorina monastery, the trail starts to get loose with hardpack dirt with a number of rock gardens, making it awesome ride. Tonight its chill time with some beers and some good times together.

Day 15 - Tiger's Nest monastery.

Today you’ll experience Bhutan’s most valued attractions, and perhaps one of the major highlights of your trip. An excursion to the famous Taktshang monastery – translated as- Tiger’s nest monastery. A two hours hike-a-bike would reward you with a spectacular temple clinging on a 1000 feet cliff. On the way back visit the ruins of Drugyal Dzong fortress.
In the afternoon, visit a farmhouse to soak in a herbal hot-stone bath which is known to be therapeutic and helps ailments related to joints and muscle aches, besides simply soothing your mind and body. Perfect to unwind and goes well with the Red Panda. Explore Paro town in the afternoon as you might want to shop for some souvenirs to take back home.

Day 15 - Farewell

After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will take you to the airport. Your guide will help you with the formalities and fare you well on your onward journey.