Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Destination: Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue, Trongsa, Bumthang
This beautiful hidden kingdom ride is an incredible journey in the mystical land of the thunder Dragon, with a time honored Buddhist culture and ancient religious traditions. Wings of the Dragon Ride takes you through different landscape offering breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountain peaks as you immerse through the rich natural environment of Bhutan. More interestingly, on this tour, mountain bikers will get a chance to explore the living culture of this mystical kingdom along with remote and isolated monasteries adorned with colorful prayer flags. The ride takes you through isolated and remote with pristine ecology and breathtaking vistas taking you through diverse flora and fauna. Recommended for experienced mountain bikers
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Paro
Upon arrival in the enchanting Paro airport and completing custom formalities, you will be met by our local tour representative and after brief introduction drive to hotel. Having short break in the hotel gather at the hotel parking lot for assembling the bikes and with brief discussion your guide will lead you for biking sightseeing. You can spend the rest day biking through the enchanting Paro Valley, starting with the Ta Dzong, a 17th century monument, which now houses the National Museum and then the Ugyen Pelri, a small jewel like palace belonging to the Royal Family of Bhutan. Along the way, we will pass through the tiny town of Paro surrounded mostly by traditional Bhutanese building.
Day 02: Paro – Thimphu
Today after your morning breakfast you will be led by our biking tour guide and ride to Thimphu. The trail takes you through the main expressway until you reach the capital city of Thimphu. Your ride is mostly through plane road and with gentle slope after crossing the confluence of Pa Cuuh River and Wang Chhu River taking you through terrace of rice fields and lovely stands of conifer forest. The pleasant ride takes you through the countryside dotted with elegant farmhouses and traditional homes that are considered the most beautiful in the country. The ride to Thimphu takes around 2-3 hr and is only 55km. Having entered Thimphu, ride straight to your hotel and check in. After lunch, you will be using the vehicle for your sightseeing program in Thimphu.
Day Attractions
- National Memorial Chorten
- Textile Museum
- National Institute of 13 Arts & Crafts
- Changangkha Lhakhang
- Buddha Point
- Tashichhoe Dzong
Day 03: Thimphu – Punakha
We suggest making an early start since, you will be biking full day that takes you to your next destination Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan. Your biking distance covers around 77km and takes around 3-4 hr. Your morning hour biking takes you past Simtokha Dzong with many twist and turn taking you all the way uphill until you finally reach the beautiful Dochu La Pass (10150ft/3100m). It takes around 22km and negotiable within 1 hour. Your ride takes you through various scattered settlements, apple orchard, pine forest and then finally enter the high altitude forest as you near Dochu La Pass. The pass is unlike any of the pass that you will encounter in Bhutan and for that matter anywhere in the world. It is surrounded by beautiful 108 chortens of memory built by the eldest Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk in 2004. Beside this magnificent chorten in an amazing setting you will be able to view the majestic peaks of the eastern Himalaya like Mount. Masa Gang (23512ft/7165m), Mount. Tsenden Gang (23288ft/7300m), Mount. Teri Gang (23944ft/7300m), Mount. Jejegnagphu Gang, Mount. Kangphu Gang, Mount. Zongaphu Gang (all above 23288ft/7100m), Mount Gangkar Puensum (24735ft/7541m). From the lofty spot, your ride takes you all the way, downhill until you finally reached Punakha which lies at an elevation of 4430ft/1350m. The descent takes you through virgin broad-leaved forest with magnolia and rhododendron ablaze in bloom in the month of April to May. En-route you can stop to visit Chemi Lhakhang (No Dogs Temple), which is a pleasant 40-minute walk from the main road. This beautifully located ancient temple was built in 1499 and was built by Lam Ngawang Chogyel built in memory and honor of his brother Lama Drukpa Kuenley. Evening ride to your hotel and rest day at leisure.
Day Attraction
- Punakha Dzong
- Chhemi Lhakhang
- Nalandra Buddhist Institute
- Nunnery
- Khamsum Yuelei Namgyel Temple (1hr hike)
Day 04: Punakha – Phobjikha Glacier Valley
Today your journey undoubtedly transports you from 4400ft to 9840ft taking you from the historical architectural splendor to savor the enchanting pristine natural beauty of the enchanting glacier Phobjikha valley the winter roosting home for the endangered Black-necked Crain. You will be using both bike and vehicle as the road takes you through high-rise uphill ridge with many twist and turn until you reach the crested ridge of Lawala Pass at 10800ft/3293m. Your first 8km takes you through high above Dang Chhu River through grassy slope until you reach Teke Zanpa, which is almost level to Dang Chhu River. From there the steady steep ascents until Lawala Pass and the road cling tenaciously to the very edge of the valley and some time with unnerving. You can choose to drive from Teke Zampa. Your first glimpses as you enter Phobjikha valley is the only place of historical importance the Gangtay Goemba. We suggest you making a short visit to the monastery. After the monastery, the ride takes you all the way downhill until you finally enter the glacier valley of Phobjikha. Check in to your hotel.
Day Attraction
- Gangtay Goempa
- Black-necked Crane Educational & Information Center
- Tongphu Shing Trail biking (01hr from the Gangtay Goemba)
Day 05: Phobjikha – Bumthang
Today you have a long journey and we will be combining your day tour with part biking and part driving as you head for Bumthang. It takes around 150km and en-route you will be stopping to visit some of the historical figure and interesting sites. In the morning after the breakfast, you will be driving to Pele La Pass (11070ft/3375m), which is marked by a small chorten surrounded by beautiful Buddhist prayer flags. From the lofty pass the black mountain region the road descend downhill passing through dwarf bamboo, yak pasture and through groove of fir trees to the evergreen and then finally through the broad-leaved forest. You can choose to ride your bike from the pass until you reach Trongsa (6800ft/2073m. En-route stops at Chendebji Chorten for lunch. After lunch, your ride takes you through broad-leaved forest with scenic landscape through gentle plain road and less traffic. From Trongs the road steeply climbs above the Trongsa town and we suggest driving rather than biking. The gradual climb takes you to Yotong La Pass at 11000ft/3354m and takes around 26km. From the pass, you can choose to ride your bike until you reach Chamkhar valley to your today’s destination. We would like to suggest you reaching your destination before dark.
Day Attraction En-route
- Chendebji Chorten
- Trongsa Dzong
- Ta Dzong
- Yathra Weaving Centre
Day 06: Bumthang Sightseeing
Today you are offer with many sightseeing program in the cultural and religious heartland of Bhutan. The fascinating Bumthang with its gentle slope hill offers plenty of biking opportunities visiting various historical sites dotted around the valley. A full day sightseeing and biking tour.
Day Attraction
- Jakar Dzong
- Wangduecholing Palace
- Jambay Lhakhang
- Kurjey Lhakhang
- Chakhar (Iron Castle)
- Kenchosum Lhakhang
- Tamshing Lhakhang
- Thangbi Goemba
- Pedselling Goemba
Day 07: Bumthang – Ura (Ride)
Today you will be biking to visit Ura village. It takes around 2 hr rides from Bumthang town. The ride takes you through sheep pastures and along the way if the weather is clear you can glimpse a magnificent view of Mount Gangkar Punsum from Ura La. It is one of the highest peaks in Bhutan lies at 24735ft/7541m. The scenic countryside of Ura Village is mostly characterized with closely clustered houses center around the newly founded Ura Lhakhang. With you picnic lunch, walk down to visit the cultural insight of Ura village and the temple. In the evening, you will head back to Jakar for your night halt.
Day 08: Tang Valley Excursion
After breakfast, your ride takes you to another beautiful valley of Tang. Your trails takes you through the Tang Rinpoche’s Monastery and pass the Member Tsho (the mythical burning lake) and finally lead you to the sixteen-century Ugyen Choeling Palace which was restored in nineteenth century. Today this privately owned house has been turned into a museum depicting the life of Bhutanese nobility and serve as a retreat for those engaged in religious studies. The museum also offers all kind of traditional artifacts. After you visit to the museum, ride downhill and soon you will reach the main road where your car and driver or further continue riding your bike back to Jakar for your night halt accommodation in the hotel.
Day 09: Bumthang – Punakha / Wangdue
Today in the morning as you, check out you will be driving till your lunch. After lunch you will be offered to bike until you reached you final destination Punakha. Your journey is bit long with a distance cover of 197km and takes around 8-9 hr.
Day 10: Punakha/Wangdue – Thimphu
Today in the morning, we will be biking further north of Punakha to visit the historical site of Chorten Ningpo Shedra. You can discuss for optional program in choosing a walk or riding your bike. The valley provides immense opportunity to explore the local village and people surrounded by magnificent landscape. Returning for your lunch in Khuruthang. After lunch, drive to Thimphu. Rest day at leisure.
Day 11: Thimphu – Paro – Hike to the Famous Tiger’s Nest
Today in the morning, we will be biking until you reached the end parking lot of Taktsang Goemba. From the parking, you will be taking another 304 hr challenging hike up to Tiger’s Nest perched on the side of a cliff at a height of 900m above the Paro valley. Legend says that Guru Padmasambhava flew here on the back of a tiger to meditate. The tiger was actually his favorite consort, Yeshe Tshogyel, whom he transformed in to a flying tiger for the purposes of this journey. They meditated in the cave and when the Guru left, he instructed that the monastery to be built. After exploring the temple, walk down through the same trail to the parking lot and drive to Paro. In the evening hour, you can stroll around the town for shopping buying gifts for your family and friends back home. A farewell dinner for your last evening in Bhutan.
Day 12: Depart
After breakfast, drive to the airport for your onward destination.