BHUTAN

A dramatic flight will bring you to the town of Paro where we will be picked up by our local team and transferred to our hotel. Flights generally arrive in the morning so there will be time to visit Paro Museum and gain an introduction to the culture, history and religion of Bhutan.

To become accustomed to the altitude (2200m at Paro), bikes, and conditions we will take a ride up the Paro Valley to the end of the sealed road. Here we explore Drukgyel Dzong. A dzong is a combined temple, administrative office and fortress. They are located all over Bhutan and are imposingly large for a country with no large modern buildings. We will visit a number of dzong throughout the trip. On the return ride we will make a stop at a local farmer’s house to see what is inside a typical Bhutanese house.

Time to begin the journey east. This ride is the easiest point-to-point ride of the trip with a nice distance, the best road in Bhutan, and no major climbs. Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital city and the busiest part of the country. There is time in the afternoon to visit the markets, the huge Buddha image overlooking town and city dzong.

The day starts with a short warm up then the first real climb of the trip which is 18km long and takes us out of the Thimphu Valley at 2100m, up, up , up to Dochula Pass at 3050m. On a clear day the views from the top are expansive and includes distant snow capped peaks. The prayer flags on the pass along with 108 chortens (or stupa, a Buddhist monument) mark this important point in the country.

From the top it’s hard to believe that ahead of you is a 40km descent winding down past villages and monasteries all the way to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman. The temple is from Tantric Buddhism and very different from what you might expect of a Buddhist temple. From here it is a short ride along the valley to Punakha which sits at 1350m and has a very different climate to the rest of Bhutan.

A leisurely day allows us to explore the beautiful area of Punakha. While the ride is short there’s plenty to see. We take a back road upstream along the Pho River then cross the river via the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. This a pedestrian bridge that spans 200m across the river which makes for an exciting little ride (and great photos!).

Nearby is Punakha Dzong, built in 1638 it is one of the oldest and most important in the country. Sitting at the confluence of the Pho and Mo River (Father and Mother Rivers) the dzong is picture postcard beautiful. We will visit the dzong before returning to our hotel where you have a free afternoon to relax or explore further.

In the morning we transfer to Pele La Pass (3390m) in the Black Mountains, considered the traditional boundary between east and west. The Pass is marked by a large monument and many prayer flags. At the pass we unload the bikes and begin riding.

The 27km downhill from here winds through pristine pine forests, wayside villages and markets. At times the road is cut into the cliff with a long dropoffs to the valley below - it is very dramatic scenery. At a viewpoint overlooking Trongsa Dzong, sitting on the hillside just across the valley, it looks like you are almost there, but there is still 10km to go as you roll down the valley and pedal up the other side to Trongsa (2300m).

The ‘Queen’ stage of the ride will take you on the longest ascent we ride, 30km uphill to the highest pass of the tour, providing a great sense of satisfaction as you ride into Bumthang having ridden halfway across the country over some serious terrain.

There are two passes to get over today, Yotong La (3425m) and Kiki La (2860m) so it will be an up and down ride taking you through pine forests, wide open farming valleys, down to the Bumthang Valley. The valley is actually a combination of four valleys with altitudes from 2600m to 4000m and home to many prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries.

There are two options this morning.

For those looking for a rest from the bike take an easy 5km walk to explore Bhutan's oldest temple, the local farmland and the family temple of a local friend.

If you are looking for more riding we do a 41km up and back following the Bumthang River. This small village road is quiet and full of small villages and dramatic scenery as we get closer to the mountains at the end of the valley.

Cyclists and walkers will meet up for lunch in a local homestay where we will also hold our own Bhutanese dart competition where you can try your hand at hitting a tiny target from 30m. Hitting the target is worth it for the song and dance that our local team perform in your honour!

In the morning we will start the journey back west with a drive to Gantey.

Gangtey is located in the Phobjikha Valley, famous as the the winter home to a group of globally endangered black necked cranes that arrive every year from the Tibetan Plateau.

It is also home to a very cozy lodge, one of our favourite places to stay anywhere in the world!

There are two ways to complete the last part of the journey.

Unload at Pele La Pass and cycle the 30km via Kiki La Pass and a nunnery to our hotel.

Drive to Gantey village and take an easy 5km hike through the valley via a spectacular viewpoint to our hotel.

Our final ride is another long long downhill, but before the down begins we will climb up out of the Phobjika Valley to Lawa La (3250m). From here it is an incredible 52km downhill all the way to 1200m elevation at Wandue Prodrang where we will have lunch.

After lunch we load up the bus and drive back over Dochu La Pass to Paro (4 hours).

Our final day in Bhutan will be a trek up to one of Bhutan's most venerated places, the Tigers Nest Monastery, which is precariously perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro Valley floor. This site has been recognised as one of the most spiritual sites in Bhutan and many eminent saints have meditated in this area. In the evening we celebrate the end of our amazing journey through Bhutan.

The tour ends with your transfer to the Paro Airport in time for your departing flight.

Looking for more Bhutan? Extend your journey with our 4-day escape to the little-visited Haa Valley — a place that feels a world away. Two days of cycling and a stunning day hike in one of the most remote corners of an already remote country.

READ MORE