0Pedal Through Bhutan: A Week of Adventure and Culture
Discover the magical beauty of Bhutan on a week-long biking journey that will create lifelong memories. Once a hidden treasure, Bhutan now unfolds its breathtaking Himalayan landscapes, crisp air, and vibrant Buddhist shrines in the land renowned for its focus on Gross National Happiness. With its careful visitor regulations, Bhutan retains its deep-rooted traditions, making it a truly authentic destination for exploration.
This 7-day cycling itinerary offers a comfortable experience in the Himalayas. You’ll conquer a scenic 16km pass, enjoy exhilarating descents, and tackle easier rides at a relaxed pace. A support vehicle will be at your service throughout the journey, ready to assist when needed. Between cycling adventures, dive into the rich sights, delectable cuisine, and cultural wonders of this extraordinary country.
If you wish to combine this bike tour with a trek or other travel plans in Bhutan, we can assist you with onward arrangements and bookings.
Highlights
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Itinerary ideas
This tour can be conducted by motorcycle or by car. Please contact us for more details.
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1
When you land at Paro airport, we’ll pick you up and take you to the hotel. If you’re not too tired, we’ll explore Paro in the afternoon. You’ll visit your first dzong, a large and impressive fortress that holds great importance in Bhutan. It will be thrilling to see one!
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2
“Paro is 2200m above sea level, so today we’re keeping it easy. We’ll take a short bike ride to help adjust to the altitude, stretch our legs, and explore the stunning Paro Valley. We’ll visit a ruined dzong, drop by a farmer’s house in a remote area, and take a leisurely walk around town. It’s a chill day to enjoy the scenery and get used to biking in the area.”
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3
Today, we’re saying goodbye to Paro and starting our journey to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. This ride is the easiest one, according to our Bhutanese friends. They call it ‘flat,’ even though the road goes up and down a bit, between 2100m and 2350m above sea level. But trust me, there’s no such thing as a completely flat road! In the afternoon, we’ll take a relaxed walk around the lively Thimphu Market area and visit the impressive dzong, which looks both intimidating and beautiful.
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4
“The first big hill we’ll tackle on this trip is called Dochu La, and it’s 3050m high. On a clear day, you can see amazing views of the Eastern Himalayas from there. After riding uphill for a while to reach the pass, get ready for a long downhill stretch. It’ll take us about 40km down to a fascinating place called the ‘fertility temple.’ People visit here hoping for blessings if they’re having trouble having babies. Then, we’ll ride through the valley to our overnight stop in Punakha, which is much lower at 1350m above sea level.”
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5
“We spend a day exploring the beautiful Punakha Dzong, which used to be Bhutan’s summer capital. We’ll ride along a rough back road with great views of the river and dzong. Before we reach the fortress, we’ll cross an exciting suspension footbridge. It’s the longest and highest one in Bhutan, stretching over 200m above the turquoise Pho River. After a peaceful picnic by the river in Punakha, we’ll drive back to Paro to rest up before our hike to the Tiger’s Nest.”
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“This morning, we’ll hike up to a very special place in Bhutan called the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It’s built right on the edge of a cliff, about 900m above the ground in Paro Valley. People say it’s one of the most sacred spots in Bhutan, and many important spiritual leaders have spent time meditating here. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the incredible views as a reward for your hike.”
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After breakfast and checking out, it’s time to end the tour. We’ll arrange a transfer to Paro Airport so you can catch your departing flight.
Accommodation options
The price in the itinerary includes the suggested accommodation, but Absolute Asia Tours can be customized to fit your preferences and budget. A specialist can help you choose the best accommodation option for you.
Booking Policy
- Cost includes the government’s mandatory $600 Sustainable Development Fee
- 6 nights in comfortable accommodation
- 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners
- Healthy snacks, local treats, fruit, and water while riding
- Expert English-speaking local guide
- Quality well-maintained bike and helmet
- Full vehicle support
- Souvenir cycle jersey as a memento from the journey
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We carefully choose our expert guides and travel concierges to make sure you have an authentic experience. They're passionate about their work and will bring your destination to life with care and enthusiasm.
We design our luxury trips with responsible travel principles in mind. This means we prioritize experiences that benefit both you and the planet.
It is easy to customize your Highlights of Vietnam tours with us
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Heather
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James
17 January 2024 ★★★★★Absolute Asia tours gave us a wonderful tour of Southeast Asia (working with sister-agency My Way Travel based in Vietnam). For our Siem Reap/Angkor Wat journey, our party of two had a private driver and guide named Jak, who was a cheerful and knowledgeable companion, explaining the history, culture, architecture and religious significance of the sites while keeping it always fun. We moved efficiently from site to site, and finished with a boat tour of the fishing village on stilts at Kampong Pluk on the Tonle Sap Lake. During most of our trip we stayed at top-notch locally-owned hotels, but in Siem Reap we were at the excellent local Hyatt hotel. Absolute Asia and My Way Travel our outstanding local providers, less expensive than name-brand group tours, and customized to our interests and schedule.
Hope
2 January 2024 ★★★★★We had an awesome time on cycling tour with AAT! It was incredible, filled with good vibes, laughs & a fantastic way to explore Vietnam & Cambodia. Tony our guide made it special by introducing us to locals and showing us the real charm of these countries. The whole tour was well-organized & the way they took care of us awesome. It's an unforgettable trip and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Southeast Asia.
Nas
1 January 2024 ★★★★★My group of six completed a 30 day cycling tour in Asia with AAT. We traveled form Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Saigon to Siem Reap. Every day we pedaled through stunning countryside views, passing villages, fields & limestone karsts. Our guide Tony was fantastic-interesting, friendly & personable. This experience stood out as the highlight of our Asia trip.
