Ever since the government opened the country for tourists, Bhutan biking has slowly gained pace. Biking in Bhutan is a very rejuvenating experience.
We do not have fixed departure date for this trip. This trip can only be organized upon your request. There is an option of private and tailor-made journey best suited for you, your family and friends. We have price discounts according to the group size, the bigger your group, the bigger your group discounts. We allow complete flexibility on your departure date, please choose your preferable date.
Bhutan, small nation in south Asia that boasts for its nickname ‘the last Shangri-la’, is as adventurous for cycling experiences as it is for viewing its impeccable mountainous beauty.
Himalayas, rich culture, natural beauty, unique life styles of people: These are the ways this Himalayan kingdom is. Bhutan still is too little talked-about and shrouded in mystery, thus this Bhutan Biking trip goes around a very less explored land, especially on a bicycle.
If you have ever dreamed of a pleasant ride through the lush green forests, over the rolling hills, along creeks and pristine villages and ancient monasteries, Bhutan, also known as ‘the Land of the Thunder Dragon’ is the place to be in. Ever since the government opened the country for tourists, mountain biking has slowly gained pace. Biking in Bhutan is a very rejuvenating experience.
Snow-capped mountains, emerald green landscapes, fascinating wildlife and gentle people all await you. Go experience Bhutan! It could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you to collect reminiscing moments cycling around the exotic locations of Thimpu, Punakha, Paro and lot more! Cycling– a great way to explore this land of the thunder dragon. You will be greatly amazed by all your cycling experiences.
Arrive in Paro & Transfer to Thimpu in a private vehicle. Overnight at hotel.
Bike Checks & Warm up ride to Buddha Point, 15 kms. Afternoon sightseeing in Thimpu. Overnight at hotel.
Ride from Thimpu – Punakha, 72 Kms. Overnight at hotel.
Sightseeing & Riding Excursion around Punakha- 20 Kms. Overnight at hotel.
Ride from Punakha to Dochula, 55 Kms. Overnight at hotel.
Ride from Dochula to Paro- 63 kms & Sightseeing around Paro. Overnight at hotel.
Hike to the Tigers Nest Monastery & Sightseeing. Overnight at hotel.
Final Departure
Standard government-approved accommodation (in twin sharing rooms) for the duration of the tour.
Full-board meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea & snacks – for the duration of your stay.
Drinking water for the duration of the tour.
Country presentation and tour Briefing on the evening of Day1 with welcome drinks.
Private transportation and a designated driver within Bhutan. Toyota 4WD luggage vans and light trucks for group travel.
Monument and museums entrance fees for all sightseeing locations detailed in the itinerary.
Cultural afternoon/evening sessions with traditional mask and folk dances (with beverages). Only for group tours.
Local Bhutanese licensed English-speaking mountain biking guide(s). The number of guides and assistant guides is dictated by the group size.
Mountain bike for the number of days riding. The brands include Cube, Trek and Giant hardtail or full-suspension bikes, depending on your choice (We recommend to bring your own Bike).
The required number of local staff, porters and mules to carry your luggage in the biking trip.
Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all staff.
Free Ace the Himalaya duffel/kit bag and sun hat – if you are flying to Paro from Kathmandu (yours to keep).
Bhutan visa fees and processing assistance.
Government royalty (35% of $200), which goes to the country’s health and education projects.
All route access and monument entry permits and fees.
All government taxes, official expenses and tourist service charges.
International airfare and airport departure tax.
Tips for biking staff and driver. (Tipping is expected)
Personal clothing and equipment.(See the equipment section for detail information)
All items of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
Druk air flight costs are not included in the trip price. Druk air flights cost are different as per the flights sectors that you are taking. Druk air offer flights from following location. We recommend you to book your flight to Bangkok as they have every day flight to Paro and from Paro as well. Please let us know which route is more convenient to you, the cost of the flights are as below. Please contact us for the up-to-date Druk air flight rate.
Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok = US$890
New Delhi – Paro- New Delhi = US$875
Calcutta – Paro- Calcutta = US$510
Kathmandu – Paro- Kathmandu = US$520
Bangkok – Paro – Kathmandu = US$ 860
Bangkok – Paro – New Delhi = US$ 875
Bangkok – Paro – New Delhi = US$ 875
You can take flight to Paro from Bangkok, New Delhi, Kathmandu, Dhaka etc. We recommend you to fly from Bangkok because Druk air offer everyday flight from Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok whereas Druk air do not operate everyday flights from other sectors.
The flight to Bhutan offers scenic views of some of the highest peaks in the world. Paro is at an altitude of 2280m above sea level and this valley serves as an ideal area for rice, apple, wheat, potatoes and vegetable growing.
Our Bhutanese tour guide will meet you at Paro airport, traditionally welcomed with silk scarves and after completion of arrival formalities we take we take an hour long scenic drive to the capital (Thimpu) past rice fields, hamlets & wayside mountain villages, Brief stop at the confluence where Thimpu River meets the Paro river with the three styles of stupas commonly found in the Himalayas.
These kinds of monuments are built to ward off evil spirits believed to be haunting the places where rivers and spurs meet. These kinds of monuments are also used as trail markers. Most of these monuments are built by high monks or by layman contains holy Buddhist relics
After a brief rest at your hotel in Thimpu, we embark on a leisurely exploration / walking tour of the Thimpu Market Area. We will also take some moment to witness a game of the national pastime, archery- at the local archery range.
In the morning , we visit the ,Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as Painting School) where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan viz. Sculpture (both statues and masks) , Calligraphy , Painting (Mural ,Scroll and House) , Wood Crafts (Carving ,Wooden Bowl Making , Paper Crafts ,Carpentry and Furniture) ,Leather Craft , Casting , Embroidery , Weaving , Bamboo Crafts ,Pottery ,Gold & Silver Smithy , Black Smithy & Masonry.
Folk Heritage Museum,the museums, both of which opened in 2001, provide fascinating insights into Bhutanese material culture and way of life.
Visit the Institute of Traditional Medicine, where traditional medicine are manufactured and healing are practiced in accordance to ancient scriptures and traditions.
National Library, which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts, some dating back several hundred years, as well as modern academic books mainly on Himalayan culture and religion. Bhutan – A visual odyssey conceived and printed by MIT, USA, the biggest book in the world is displayed here.
Bhutan Posts: Bhutan is much known for its colorful stamps on varying themes; the display gallery offers a good opportunity to pick up postcards and stamps. Depending on the factor of time and interest visit the adjoining Bhutan National Bank to observe the banking system.
Drive to the Thimpu viewpoint at Sangyegang, en route we visit the unique /highly endangered Takin (national animal) Preserve.
National Memorial Chorten: The building of this Thimpu landmark was envisaged by the third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, as a monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it is both a memorial to the Late King (“the Father of modern Bhutan”) and a monument to world peace. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.
(Open Fri – Sun) We visit the weekend farmers market in Thimpu where farmers & traders from all over the country converge each weekend to sell their products consisting of farm product & items of daily use. This experience will provide some insight into the Bhutanese culinary culture.
Later in the day, we take a leisurely stroll in Thimpu Bazaar (Market)
In the afternoon we take some time off to check our cycling /biking equipment , also test the bikes in preparation for the biking adventure across the country and also enjoy a test ride to the Buddha point , the site of the world’s biggest statue of Buddha (currently under construction and estimated to be complete in December 2012). Overnight at Hotel.
In the morning we start the scenic ride to Punakha over the Dochula pass (3050m). This pass offers a panoramic view of the eastern Himalayan ranges on the clear days. Stop briefly here to take in the view and admire the 108 stupas built to honor His Majesty the King, world peace and for the benefit of all living beings.
Enjoy an exciting downhill from the pass all the way till the alluvial Punakha Valley. En-route stop at the Royal Botanical Park and view the many rare species of flora and some fauna on display.
In case if there are any fruits in season we stop by the wayside farmers market at Lobesa to sample some fresh organic fruits.
In the afternoon enjoy a short walk (rating: easy with no gradient / 1 hour round trip with sightseeing) or bike ride to Chimmi Lhakang, a temple dedicated to the divine madman/god of fertility. Walk past villages and rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang-temple of the Divine Madman who is popularly known as Drukpa Kuenly. He inherited the Divine madman title since he revolted against the orthodox Buddhism in his time. He is revered as a symbol of fertility and most childless couples make visit to this temple to seek its blessing’s.
In the morning we ride across the traditional footbridge that spans across the river into the castle of Punakha. Explore Punakha fortress/castle miraculously located between the two rivers, Pho Chhu and the mo Chhu (male and female rivers).
Explore and experience the architectural grandeur of the “castle of great happiness”. The Castle of great happiness is a massive stricture built on the junction of two river Pho Chhu (Male River) and Mochu(Female river).Punakha was the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and the Dzong serves as the winter residence of the central monk body. Bhutan`s first king was crowned in this Dzong in 1907. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and earthquakes and flood, the Dzong has been fully restored by the fourth king.
Enjoy an exciting ride across the longest suspension bridge in the Kingdom. Visit the Youth development funded souvenir production centre operated by the youth from disadvantaged communities.
Enjoy a Picnic lunch by the scenic and tranquil riverside of Punakha(Optional). In the afternoon, hike (1: 30 min round trip) to the glorious Khamsum Yulay Namgyal Temple located north of the valley, the viewing platform on the roof of this magnificent landmark offers picturesque view of the northern Bhutanese Himalayas and the panoramic valley of Punakha to the south or Ride to the northern reaches of Punakha valley across paddy fields and villages.
In the morning we retrace the drive to the tranquil and picturesque Dochula Pass for the Overnight.
The ride today will be the toughest on the route esp. while climbing up to the Dochula Pass, our support vehicle / tour vehicle will also trail behind in case of any support requirement .
Rest & Relax in the pristine surroundings of the Dochula Pass. There will also be options available to visit the nearby temple.
In the morning we leisurely take the scenic route across the Dochula Pass into Paro valley.
In the afternoon Biking exploration around Paro Valley
In Paro we explore the Paro Rimpung Dzong (fortress/castle) built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body and district administration. En route we take the traditional walk (15 mins) route across the 16th century cantilever bridge.
A walk through the bridge, over a stone cobbled path, offers an up close view of the architectural wonder of the Dzong as well as life around it.
Visit the National Museum Explore (former watch tower), established in 1968. It houses some of the finest specimens of arts including masterpieces of bronze and paintings. The museum with its extensive collections interprets history and culture of Bhutan through its exhibits.Evening at leisure or enjoy a stroll in town.
Hiking excursion (2 hours on ascent and 1 hour on descent) to the tigers nest monastery. One of the most venerated places precariously perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. Guru Rinpoche arrived at this spot on a back of tigress and meditated here in a cave and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognized as the most spiritual of sites in Bhutan and many eminent saints have meditated in this area. Now it is visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their life time. The monastery defies both gravity and mind’s eye.Lunch and refreshments at the cafeteria which offers an imposing view of the cultural landmark of Tigers Nest.
In the evening we visit a nearby farmer’s house for a traditional feast and also to observe the traditional way of life and living.
We check in two hours prior to flight departure to ensure the best seats on board, best suited to take in the panoramic view of the Himalayas. We bid you goodbye and happy travels.
All you need to bring for this biking trip is simply some comfortable clothes; there is no any requirement of special equipment on the tour. However for your ease, the following gives you the general idea about the personal items you need to manage for the trip. The personal items referred here are optional and depends upon your choice. The most important factor to be considered while choosing the equipment and your Bag-pack, is the time of the year you are travelling.
In a tour, the vehicle transfers all the heavy items and equipment. But the Personal belongings of the clients which are required at any moment like money, water bottle, camera, suns cream and toilet paper etc. should be carried by yourself. It is therefore advisable that you pack the personal belongings into your daypack.
If you are flying Bhutan from Kathmandu, we will supply complimentary water and wind proof duffel bag which you can use on the trip and is carried by porter/s. The duffel bag is yours to keep after the trip. You can leave your bag with your non-trek items at the hotel in Kathmandu and collect them after the trip
If you’re bringing your own bike:
Please note: If you’re bringing your own bike, you must make sure that you have it professionally serviced before the trip, and ask your bike shop to use dry lube on your chain.
(Please note our guide will also carry the first aid kit bag during the trek. However we still recommend you to bring your personal first aid kit as well)
This list is only a guide. While you are required to bring everything on this list, there are numerous options, brands, and versions of each piece of equipment. Use your experience and the listed features to find the best gear for you.
Ace has a reputation for successfully leading treks with knowledgeable leaders and staff taking care of all your travel needs. We are a certified sustainable travel company that also endorses the idea of giving back to the community by participating in various philanthropic activities. Here are 17 reasons to hike with Ace the Himalaya.
Here are some documents that you will need to carry with you:
The best time for Bhutan tours is between February to June and September and December.
It depends on the season you’re travelling. During winter (December to February), it is colder at night and relatively warmer during the day, with the temperature ranging from 4°C at night to 22°C. Between March and May, the weather stays prefect as the temperature averages 25°C during the day. From September to December, following the monsoon, the temperature gets cooler and allows for a great time to travel. The average temperature during this season is 20°C. The vehicles and the hotels during the trip will be air-conditioned making your travel very comfortable.
We will handle the visa procedures for you. The Govt. will sanction the VISA only after the receipt of full payment in advance. The visa fee is included with our tour price. Actual Bhutan VISA will be stamped in your passport on arrival on Paro airport. Without visa clearance number, tourists cannot board the flight or enter the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs forwards a copy of this visa clearance to the concerned Druk Air stations and other entry points; we also fax a copy of the visa clearance document to our clients for their reference. While the actual visa is stamped on arrival, the initial visa clearance is also required at the time of issuing Druk Air Tickets.
All you need is to carry 2 copies of original passport-sized photographs, which are required on arrival in the country. Please e-mail us the clear color copy of the passport for the visa procedures.
Yes, our airport representative will be there to greet you at the airport. S/he will be displaying a sign board with your name on it at outside the airport terminal. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel by our tourist vehicle.
It depends on your spending habits. Generally, all the foods, accommodation and hot drinks are included in the price. You can allocate USD 10 to USD 15 for chocolates and a few drinks during the trip.
There are just a few ATM’s in Bhutan for credit card (Master card / Maestro) & only few establishments in Bhutan accept credit card payments hence US Dollars (cash or Amex travelers cheques) or Euros Cash is suggested and convenient to cover any personal expenses (eg. beverages , laundry ,phone bills , tipping , shopping etc) that the Pax may make in the Kingdom. 1US$ is equivalent to Nu. 55 & 1 Euro is equivalent to Nu.69 as of today (the day we writing this text). NU= Ngultrum, the Bhutanese currency.
To participate in our Bhutan Biking Trip, you need to be in good health and reasonably fit. Moderate trips are ideal for cycling enthusiasts who enjoy nature and culture, as well as occasional climbs and mud. Some experience is recommended for the this biking trip. There are several ups and downs in this trip as you soar through some the most ancient Bhutanese, popular hilltops with stunning views of the Himalayas, religious sites and serene gardens. Moderate biking trips include a mixture of paved roads, jeep tracks and single tracks.
No. The guide will carefully pace the ride to include rest and refreshment along the way. Where available, the support vehicle will accompany you and you can always hitch a ride if you need a break.
Either hard-tail or full suspension mountain bikes will do fine. In some parts of the routes, you can take downhill shortcuts for which we strongly recommend full suspension bikes. (Your guide will let you know if there are any shortcuts you can take.)
All the brands we provide are properly serviced and fully functional standard hardtail rentals best suited for the trips. We provide full suspension bikes (if preferred by our clients) for an additional charge.
Trek: 3-, 4-, 6- and 8-series
Cube: Comp, LTD, CMPT, Reaction
Giant: ATX, Tralon
Other brands: Capic and V-Ket
Bikes are hired at the time of booking, and are included in the price. The frame size of the bike has to be matched with your height, and since there is a limited number of each size, we strongly suggest you provide us with this information well ahead. In case of any damage incurred to the bike or the equipments, the client will be liable to pay for the repair and/or replacement, depending on the nature of the damage.
We provide a helmet, a pump, a spare tube, a water bottle and a repair kit with a rental bike.
Cycle computer and a GPS unit for USD 2 and USD 5, respectively, per day per person.
You definitely can! It is highly recommended that you have your bike thoroughly serviced before coming on the trip. Spare parts are available in Kathmandu, but may not always be compatible with your bike.
Most airlines are quite used to people travelling with bikes, and if a bike is properly boxed and within the luggage allowance, it is a relatively hassle-free experience. On arrival at your destination you will be met by your leader, and you will just need a baggage trolley to take your bike as far as the transfer vehicle.
Make sure the bikes are properly packed. You may do it yourself (here’s a guide or if you’re not sure, you could have a local bike shop pack it for you).
We take every care to ensure your bike is well treated, but it is normal for a bike to sustain minor scratches, resulting during the daily ride as well as loading and unloading from support/transport vehicles.
Your bike is part of your baggage allowance on the plane, details of which are shown on your flight ticket, and maximum weights are usually between 20 and 25 kgs. A boxed bike weighs around 16 kg, so you need to pack carefully. Put heavy items in your hand baggage, wear your heavy/bulky jacket when you check in. Ace the Himalaya will not be liable for any excess baggage charges brought by the airline as a result of your exceeding the baggage allowance, whether you have a hire bike or take your own bike. In practice excess luggage charges are rare for those who pack sensibly, even if you are a little over the specified limit.
Few airlines impose specific standard bike carriage charges. All such charges are beyond our control, and to be paid by the client. Where we know of a bike carriage charge in advance, this will be added to the relevant trip notes. In the unlikely event of any of your luggage and or bike being misplaced or damaged while in the care of the airline, a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) must be filed with the appropriate airline on arrival. This is essential if you subsequently wish to make a claim against the airline or on your travel insurance. This must be done at the airport where your baggage arrived, or should have arrived.
The support vehicle (where available) and the guide will carry the required repair tools and spares. We do recommend you carry some basic tools and spares (like a puncture kit and Allen keys). Our guides are also qualified mechanics and have ample experience maintaining bikes on the trips.
Safety and comfort are what you’re looking for here. Here’s a quick list of what you’ll need for the trip:
Cycling helmet (included with the bike rent)
It is recommended that you carry a backpack with your valuables like camera and passport. Panniers are not suitable for the trips.
Yes. All the bikes are compatible with customized bike parts. The support team accompanying the group will be able help with any bike alterations or damage to the bike along the entire trip. Please inform us in advance if you plan to bring your own saddle and pedals.
Hotels vary in style and quality. All Government approved hotels are clean and well maintained with hot and cool water, telephones with international dialing and fax facilities. We use three to four star hotels for this trip. All the meals and hot drinks are included in the trip price.
Most of the restaurants serve Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine always plenty to choose from. Local Bhutanese food are spicy like the Indian food.
The trip price included the drinking water for the all Bhutan trip. You don’t need to bring any bring purifying tablets/filter or pay for the water.
Laundry service is easily available at your hotel. Please note that laundry service is not included in the package price.
These facilities will be available in most of the places in your hotel. Remember to bring travel adapters!
Our company insures all our trekking staff members, including guides, cooks, Sherpa, and porters. Please browse through our legal docment page to view insurance details.
No vaccinations are compulsory for traveling in Nepal, but we do recommend you are covered for diphtheria & TB, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, *malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus.
We also recommend:
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and Ace the Himalaya at the time of your booking.
Notice should be provided 20 days before the trip start date in case of cancellation. The trip can be canceled for justifiable reasons. Once the trip is canceled, a fee of 30% of the trip cost is retained for administrative costs.
However, the trip amount is entirely non-refundable if the cancellation is not made before the 20 days as per our terms and conditions. For submitting a claim to your insurance company after the cancellation, we can assist with documentation such as a receipt of monies paid. Refund will not be provided for unused accommodation in case of trip cancellation caused by personal reasons/sickness/weather.
More information about our cancellation policy can be found here in Terms and Conditions page.
This is a difficult thing to gauge. We have seen everything from USD 20 to USD 1000 per person for guides and porters. Tipping is not required, but a small gesture of thanks to your guides and local porters thanks for their help. The level of the tip should reflect the level of satisfaction from and personal involvement with your guide.
Telephones and Internet and international calls are readily available in most of the town for this trip.
You will have many photo opportunities during the trip. Please ask for permission before taking a person’s photo. Photography in, monasteries, shrine rooms of Dzongs and religious institutions is generally not permitted, but outdoor photography is. To be sure when visiting such places, you may consult with your guide just to make sure. Carry plenty of films and batteries. Photo shops in Bhutan do not sell equipment or accessories.
No, because we can’t change your Druk air flight once it is booked.
We cater to all group sizes, while maintaining the field staff ratio to give you the best quality and experience.
Yes, you need to book your own International flights. We are a local agent and it would cost you significantly higher to book through us. Please find more information in the International Flight page.
Druk air is the only airline to and from Bhutan. We can ebook the Druk air flight to and from Bhutan and e-mail you the e-ticket.
Druk air flight cost is not included in the trip price. Druk air flights cost are different as per the flights sectors that you are taking. Druk air offer flights from following location. We recommend you to book your flight to Bangkok as they have every day flight to Paro and from Paro as well.
Please let us know which route is more convenient to you, the cost of the flights are as below. Please contact us for the up-to-date Druk air flight rate.
Ace the Himalaya is all about providing you with local insights, lifestyle as well as adventure. Using a variety of private transport is an integral part of our Himalayan tours, enhancing the experience!
We use private tourist vehicles for sightseeing, city tours and pickups; whereas we use the best 4WD SUVs as our support vehicle. These vehicles are extremely sturdy, spacious and reliable and they make the journey as comfortable as possible. For larger groups, we also use supported trucks to carry your luggage.
Druk Air allows only up to 20 kgs of luggage per person, after which the excess baggage charge is USD 5 per kg.
Yes, you can extend your holiday. Ace the Himalaya offers many options and alternatives for your holiday extension. For more information, you can visit our Day trips pages.
These full and frank reviews are from travelers who have traveled with Ace the Himalaya previously. The reviews and experiences shown here are from reputable travel websites like TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Trust Pilot, etc.