Bhutan Ultimate Bike Adventure, 12 Days, MTB Bhutan

Let’s prepare you for your ride in the coming days and start flexing your muscles and acclimatise to the altitude. Today we’ll explore what the capital city boasts as some of our best MTB trails in the country. Proceed to the Buddha point on a 4 km gentle climb, where the largest Buddha statue (169ft) sits overlooking the Thimphu city. Take a short diversion on an MTB trail to the viewpoint to ride in the capital’s favourite MTB trails called the KC Trail that extends for 6 km and exits in Motithang.

After a picnic lunch, we’ll hit the hills up to the Takin Reserve centre to see the national animal first. Then continue to the Radio tower from where the Wangditse MTB single-track trail starts. The loop is about 6 km. Ascend to 300m into blue pine forests and then descend to Wangditse temple that is currently being renovated. Continue to ride down to Pamtsho village. The entire ride is on fantastic singletrack punctuated with great views over the capital city. You may also likely come across some of our local MTB riders on this popular trail.

After evening tea, ride north to the valley to Kabisa village to ride on the cross-country trail till Begana village and return to Thimphu.

Visit the Folk Heritage-a three stored, 19-century traditional Bhutanese farmhouse which provides a glimpse of Bhutanese lifestyle, and artefacts from the rural households. One can come across typical households objects, religious tools and equipment…

Stroll around the city and enjoy a nice dinner at one of the best restaurants in the capital city. Your time in Bhutan is not just about riding, but also to enjoy some very good craft beers. We’ll go to one of our favourite bars called Mojo Park where young musicians will be belting out covers and originals. It would be interesting to see a bit of Bhutan’s urban culture! If anyone of you has a penchant for music, you might as well hit the stage too!

Ride time 6-7 hours/ 40 km

Accommodation: 4-star Thimphu Tower Hotel

After breakfast, shuttle the bikes to Hongtsho village and start riding on a lumberjack’s jeep track for 8 km gentle climbing through beautiful forests. The pass on the top of Thadana trail is at 3900m. From here, enjoy a long descent of 12km to Kabisa village on some of the most flowy trails we know. This ride will take a good part of the day so we’ll have our crew have pack lunch with us on a back-up vehicle. If you were fast enough, we’ll ride to Begana on a cross-country sightseeing ride and then head back towards the city.

In the afternoon, you can visit the Trashichhodzong Fortress, the office of His Majesty the King and the Prime Minister, followed by a visit to Changangkha temple.

Enjoy a fabulous dinner at Thimphu’s most popular fusion restaurant that is famous for both motorcycle and mountain bike riders. Our good friend and owner of the restaurant is a very friendly person and will definitely add a personal touch to your meal.

6-8 hours, 40 km ride.

Accommodation: 4-star Thimphu Tower Hotel

Ride to Chamgang valley for 12 km and once you reach the ridge, we’ll enjoy a wild and abandoned freeride track called the Madman trail. This trail descends from 3500m to 1200m all the way down to Wangdue valley for more than 25km, thus making it one of the longest freeride trails in the country.

Once in Lobesa visit the popular temples of Bhutan to pay your respects to one of Bhutan’s most charming and eccentric historic figures nicknamed ‘The Divine Madman’ at the Chhimi Lhakhang – also called the fertility monastery – our guide will explain the entire story about it. Going to the temple involves a short nice ride through a beautiful village surrounded by paddy fields.

Ride time 6-7 hours, 60 km ride

Accommodation: Meriphuenshum Resort or Hotel Lobesa (3-star)

In the morning, we’ll explore the town a bit and ride the Tshotsacha trail and the Punakha cross-country trail including the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. Continue to ride to Punakha Dzong, a massive structure built at the junction of two rivers is considered as the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan. It was the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and still serves as the winter residence of the monk body. After visiting the fortress we’ll have a picnic lunch at Zomlingthang and then ride on our personal favourite – the Sewla trail which is just pure ecstasy.

Ride time 6-7 hours, 50-60 km

Accommodation: Meriphuenshum Resort, Hotel Lobesa (3-star)

After breakfast, we’ll load the bikes on the pick-up truck and drive to Phobjikha valley. Once we reach the pass before entering Phobjikha valley, we’ll unmount the bikes and start riding down to the famous Gangtey Gonpa monastery. From here, we will continue riding on a beautiful stretch of trail in cross-country style. Riders will love it here as the ride takes us on the periphery of the bowl-shaped marshland and meadows, offering spectacular views. If you are here in last autumn, winter and early spring you will see the endangered Black-necked cranes in the valley as Phobjikha is their winter home. They fly back to the Tibetan plateau once the valley warms up.

Enjoy a nice stay at the Dewachen resort.

Accommodation: 3-star Dewachen Resort.

After breakfast, we’ll shuttle the bikes towards Gogona village on a 15 km drive on jeep tracks. Once we reach Hele la pass at 3450m, we’ll start riding the bikes on the beautiful meadows descending down to Gogona village at 3100m where we’ll have lunch. After lunch, the ride involves a short climb to reach the pass at 3410m and from here we’ll enjoy a proper downhill ride on awesome singletrack trails till we reach Chorten Karpo at 2720m. Continue descending down on a beautiful forest rich in birds and a rapidly changing vegetation to reach Tiki Zampa.

Proceed to the nearby Kichu Resort for some beers and a relaxing evening by the river.

Ride 50 km

Accommodation: 3-star Kichu Resort

We’ll start a bit early today and drive to Dochula pass. From here we continue towards Jemina valley and drive on a jeep track to reach the ridge of Tsecluna. From here we unload the bikes and ride down to Jele Dzong, intersecting with Bhutan popular trek called Drukpath trek. From here we continue plummeting down to Paro.

In the evening around 4 pm, visit Kyichu Lhakhang – believed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Bhutan built during the 08^th century. Stroll around town to observe local lifestyles.

Accommodation: 3-star Metta Resort

After breakfast, we’ll go for an easy ride. After a short climb towards Uma resort, we’ll enjoy delicious singletrack for 3 km through pine forests and exit near the airport. Go to town for lunch and shuttle the bikes to Kila Goenpa nunnery at 3800m. Since you will be shuttled and then ride mostly enduro style riding going downhill, we expect the altitude will not be a problem. You can choose to ride on jeep track for 3 km, and once we reach the temple, we’ll enjoy a long descent down to Paro valley for 15 km. This singletrack follows a loamy trail through rhododendron forests down to blue pine forests.

After reaching the motorable road, return down towards town by crossing the suspension bridge at Lango village and ride on a farm road which passes through many small villages for an intriguing insight into rural Bhutanese life.

Visit a farmhouse to experience life like a local. Take a herbal hot-stone bath which is known to be therapeutic and helps ailments related to joints and muscle aches, besides simply soothing your mind and body. Perfect to unwind and goes well with the Red Panda local beer. This is a complimentary value-added experience from Bhutan Travel Club without any hidden costs. Play some archery and darts and finally enjoy a nice dinner at the farmhouse.

Ride time 6-7 hours, 40 km

Accommodation: 3-star Metta Resort

Today we’ll ride up to Bumdra campsite via Sangchhokhor Buddhist College at 2800m and then past the yak pasturelands to reach Bumdra Monastery (3,800 m). The initial one to two-hour ascent of a shady, forested ridge, brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and views of the underlying Paro valley. The trail poses a good challenge to test your climbing skills as some parts are quite steep. After a final 20-minute climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, we plunge back into ancient forest, and, after traversing for about 40 minutes, we come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred chortens and prayer flags.

Our home for the night is tucked away just under Bumdra Monastery (Cave of a Thousand Prayers) and offers unimpeded views of the Himalayan range. After lunch, we can visit the monastery and ride further up to the peak if you still have some gas. Return to camp and enjoy the nice camping facilities of this community-run campsite.

Accommodation: Bumdra campsite

We’ve saved the ultimate ride for the last day of your bike adventure in Bhutan. It’s a 2000 m descend on some spectacular trails. Switchbacks, off-camber, downhill, rock gardens, flowy trails, enduro style of riding – you name it and it’s all there. Moreover, the trails bring you to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery – the ultimate highlight of Bhutan. After visiting this spectacular temple, we’ll enjoy some proper downhill type of riding to end a spectacular MTB adventure in Bhutan.

Tonight it’s chill time with some beers and some good times together.

Accommodation: 3-star Metta Resort

After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will take you to the airport. With a few thanksgivings, your guide will help you with the formalities and fare you well on your onward journey.