Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Destination: Thimphu, Paro, Haa
This 6 days guided on-road biking tour in the rugged, mountainous landscape of Bhutan lends itself an opportunity to engage in recreational activities, cultural experience and magnificent sightseeing. The region covers in this tour are Paro, Thimphu and the remote Haa valley. The sport offers an escape into a vibrant living heritage, and the certain intimacy with the rich natural environment that is seldom experienced in vehicle. More interestingly as you bike through these well pave roads, you will get an opportunity of seeing and interacting with the warm friendly Bhutanese people and learn about their day-to-day activities. The tour also offers numerous optional day hikes some are within easy reach or a few hours walk but it is always satisfying offering breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Paro
At your arrival at Paro International Airport, our local tour representative will greet you and after short introduction, you will be transferred to your hotel. With a break of 10-15 minutes, you will then gather in the hotel parking for further brief hearing of the biking guidelines and basic information. After the discussion you guide will lead you for your introductory day biking sightseeing through the enchanting valley of Paro (2280m). This beautiful valley of Paro is home to many Bhutan’s old monasteries and temples and home to the only 17th century giant dzong, towering over the valley below. Your day biking begins with a visit to the ruin Drukgyel Dzong biking through a narrow valley for about 16km lies at the end of Paro valley. This ruin Drukgyel Dzong was built in 1649 to commemorate the victory of Bhutanese over the allied Tibetan-Mongolian forces. Return back the same route to the town, your next stop is the Dumtse Lhakhang that lies just out of the town, crossing the river en-route to the National Museum. This chorten like temple is built in 1421 and was built by the Tibetan saint Thong Tong Gyelpo “Iron Chain Bridge Builder”, who came to Bhutan in search of iron ore. After the temple, your ride takes you with a gentle steep climb through scattered farmhouses and apple orchard to visit the National Museum or Ta Dzong. It was built as a watch tower of Paro Dzong and now turned into a museum housing collections of Bhutanese treasures and art works. Enjoy the scenic view of the valley below. Returning the same road until you finally see the signboard that shows the direction towards the Paro Dzong. You can ride until you reach the parking lot above the dzong. The awesome and impressive introduction of the world of dzongs that lies ahead of the valley was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Detail information can be shared by your guide. After the dzong return back the same road and finally ride to your hotel. Rest day at leisure.
Day 02: Paro – Haa
Today after the breakfast, we will be given optional full day and half day biking through the express way between Paro and Haa. In the morning you can bike down t Bondey for 5km and from Bondey the road takes you ascending uphill for around 40km until you reach the highest motor pass of Chele La Pass (12200ft/3720m). The route takes you through a spectacular lovely forest of pine, oak and rhododendron that are ablaze in bloom in the April and May. You can ride up to half a way and can choose to drive depending upon your interest. Reaching somewhere close to the tree line, a short walk up to the Kela Dechen Yangtse Anim Dratshang (Nunnery) perched on a cliff side is worth to add in your program. From there you can hike up to the pass. The natural beauty from the pass gives way for you to relax and soak in the atmosphere with stunning views of both the valley of Haa and Paro. From this lofty pass the route leads you all the way downhill and you can choose for downhill ride through scenic and cool weather until you finally reached Haa valley that lies at an elevation of 2863m. Reaching Haa check in to your hotel. Rest day at leisure.
Day 03: Haa – Thimphu
Today after your breakfast in the hotel, you will be biking in the morning hour and at some point, we will be riding a car because we have long journey and want to reach your hotel before dark. In the morning hour, you can stroll around the traditional town of Haa and then led a short walk to visit the only historical and important temple in Haa, the Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple). After the hike, you can fall down to the express and continue riding your bike. En-route you can stop to take pictures and the valley between Thimphu and Haa has a charming landscape with evergreen forest of pine, oak, rhododendron. The valley is also dotted with scattered settlement with many golden roofed temples dotted on the hilltop. As you near Chundzom the confluence, you will then slowly enter the charming valley of Thimphu. The countryside from Chundzom to Thimphu is less forested than what you have been seeing so far and the valley are narrow except for two sections where it is widen into gentle slope. Enjoy your ride along the expressway following the Wang Chhu River, the valley is dotted with terrace of rice fields and lovely stands of confer forest. Reaching Thimphu, check in to your hotel. Rest day at leisure.
Day 04: Thimphu Sightseeing
We have optional program in Thimphu with full of opportunities. The charming and bustling capital lies at the bank of Wang Chhu River and set gloriously in the hills of the valley is the home to the Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal Government and to several foreign missions and development projects. It provides with many exciting places to visit like – National Textile Museum, National Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Lhakhang, Buddha Pont, Takin Mini-Zoo, National Painting School, Handicraft Emporium, Paper Factory, Tashichhoe Dzong etc. We will be leading for our biking tour in the morning to visit the historical Tango and Cheri Goemba. The ride takes you past the National Assembly building and through various settlements taking you through the line between pine forest and farmhouse with terrace of rice fields and apple orchards. Your ride takes you taking the view of Dechenchholing Palace on the way to Pangri Zampa and then leads you finally to Dodena village which all together comes around 15km ride beginning from the hotel. Once arrival at the parking you will then hike to Cheri Goemba which takes around 1.5 hr walk. This beautifully located goemba was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1620 and is the place where he established the first body of monk. Returning back you will ride to visit Tango Goemba on the other side of the Cheri Goemba, the walking distance is quite same but you will have a profound view of the monastery as you walk up to the goemba. This goemba has its history dated back to 15th century and was renovated to today’s structure in 1688 by Desi Tenzing Rabgyel. After enjoying the monastery its tnow time for you to return back to Thimphu, biking through the same rote. If time permits you will be lead for other optional sightseeing to the above mentioned places.
Day 05: Thimphu – Paro – Hike to the Famous Tiger’s Nest
We suggest making an early start since, the route takes you around 2-3 hr biking until you reach the end parking lot below Taktsang Goemba. The expressway between Thimphu to Paro is well maintained with gentle slope ride. The charming Paro valley lies at an elevation of 2280m and is home to many of Bhutan’s ancient monastery and temple. At your arrival at Taktsang base, you will then embark on your adventurous hike up to the goemba which lies at 3000ft/915m. Remember the walk up to the goemba is quite an uphill task and takes around 3-4 hr at an average speed. The path is well laid out. According to the legend Guru Padmasambhava visited the site in 8th century flying from the East of the country on the back of a tigress( a form that one of his consorts is believed to have taken). He meditated for three months in the cave here and then domining his terrifying form of Dorli Droloe subjugiated the evil spirits. Following him many permanent saints came here to meditate; notably Milarepa, Labdoenma and Thongtong Gyalpo. Today, Taktsang is more a holy place in the country. After the Tiger Nest return the same way down to the parking lot and return to the main town riding your bike. A free time to stroll around the town for your last day shopping and buying gifts for your friends and family back at home. A farewell dinner will be served in the hotel.
Day 06: Depart
After breakfast, drive to the airport for your onward journey