Bhutan Cycling Tour

Take out a week and come explore by bike the mysterious and mystical country that is Bhutan. Landlocked and until recently hidden from the world, Bhutan now welcomes visitors who want to enjoy spectacular Himalayan vistas, clear air and colorful Buddhist temples in the land of Gross National Happiness. Cycling in Bhutan is one of the most challenging yet rewarding experience one can have. Your journey will take you through high mountain passes, down steep ravines and valleys along the beautiful twisting and turn roads that lead u there. The thrill of biking under the shadows of the mighty Himalayan mountains is an adventure that beckons every biker. Along with your journey, you will be visiting many mythical temples, ancient towns and majestic Dzong that will take you to a different realm. In this tour, you are going to explore 4 western districts in Bhutan.and its easy cycling from on district to another. And all the cycling will be on road and all the roads are blacktopped. But there is road extension work in between Thimphu and Punakha. So the road conditions are not so good as of now but by end of 2016, the work will be completed. Traffic is not so high between most of the road, except between Paro and Thimphu, but here the road is a double lane. This 9-day tour encompasses the easier end of cycling in the Himalayas. Of course, our support vehicle is on hand at all times in case you need a lift up a hill.

Trip Type: Cycling Tour  

Duration: 6 Days | Paro to Paro.

Maximum Altitude: 12,402 ft (Chele La).

Best Season: March to June & August to November

Group size: 2-10 people.

6 Days cycling with full vehicle support.

90% surfaced roads and some broken tracks.

Why Bhutan Cycling Tour:

Explore some of Bhutan's more off-the-beaten-track countryside by bike.
Experience the culture and Meet Bhutan friendly people.
Enjoy great cycling routes both on a tarmac and easy off road tracks and explore beautiful Himalayan mountains.
Travel with us and improve the likelihood of local communities.

NOTE:

How difficult is Bhutan Cycling tour:

sections.There are occasional climbs, with some of them being steep. As the trip is 100% vehicle‐supported, there will nearly always be the option to enjoy the scenery from the bus. The leader will inform you in advance about any off road sections where the bus is not around for support. 90% of the cyclingThis trip is Moderate/Challenging in nature. The majority of the riding is on tarmac roads. you will find very less traffic in Bhutan. Most of the rides are undulating with some good downhill  is on surfaced roads and on some of these routes there will be traffic. You will be advised of this in the daily briefing. Although it is a moderate trip a good level of fitness is required so that you can feel confident while cycling for 6 days. There will be minimal side affects from the altitude and the laid back pace means you can relax and immerse yourself in the local culture.

How to Reach Paro, Bhutan:

By air: Paro is the international airport of Bhutan, to get to and from the country. There is an availability of regular flights between Paro to Delhi and Kolkata in India. If one is undertaking a journey to Bhutan from Nepal, then there is an availability of direct flights to Paro from Kathmandu- the capital of Nepal. Druk air is the national carrier of Bhutan that operates and run all flights to Bhutan. Bhutan has no rail network. but The government of Bhutan has made the country accessible by means of road transport. All sections of the country are well-linked by a network of roads. 
By road: first Reach Hasimara by Train (Hasimara is a small town in the Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. The town is situated at a distance of 17 Kms from the Indo-Bhutan Border. In order to reach Hasimara, you will have to board a train from Kolkata. From North India, you can take a train from Delhi, Kanpur or Ranchi for Jalpaiguri. from Jalpaiguri few trains go to Hasimara. you can check trains and their schedule in Indian Railway website. Kanchankanya Express from Kolkata which reaches Hasimara at 10:30 AM in the morning.)
Reach Jaigaon By Taxi/Bus (Jaigaon is the Indian town touching Indo-Bhutan Border. All the formalities to acquire permission, in order to enter Bhutan, will be carried out here at the immigration office. Every individual will have to acquire permission to enter Bhutan. You can take an Indian car in Bhutan, but you need a separate permit for the car. When you get a permit for Bhutan, it will only cover Thimpu & Paro. In case you want to go to Bumthang or any other distant destinations, you need a separate permit. Once you have executed the required formalities, you can enter Bhutan and take a taxi or bus to reach Paro.

Nuts & Bolts:

Bikes: Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide mountain bike as part of this tour. However, you are able to hire bikes in Bhutan. Rental in Bhutan varies from $25 USD/day to $55 USD/day. The bikes you can find here are well-known brands of mountain bikes (trek, Cannondale) with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes as well as disc break with Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, and that it is in good order.

Bike Repairs: Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee to have spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube, and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety: Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Support: Our all cycling tours are supported by vehicles and they are always available for tired cyclists. It is very easy to get bikes on and off, so you can rest when you are tired and cycle whenever you feel like it.

Guides: You will be led by a local English-speaking tour leader. All our tour leaders are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

Arriving and Departing: This tour begins in Paro and ends in Paro. International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. If you need help or advice arranging international flights please contact us.

Passports and Visas: Please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour. All foreigners, except Indians, must have a visa. You can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport by filling out an application form and providing a passport photograph. To get a jump on the line, you can download a visa application form from the websites of the Bhutani embassy in your country ahead of time.

Health: There are no compulsory vaccinations although it is strongly recommended that you are vaccinated against: Typhoid; Hepatitis A and B. Tetanus and polio vaccinations should also be up to date at the time of travel. If you have come from an area infected with yellow fever you are required to be vaccinated before entering the country. Please speak to your doctor/physician for the most recent information.

Food: Meals are included in the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, and D = dinner. Meals during the tour will be prepared by the cook team and feature Bhutani and Western-style cuisine. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink: Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water and energy-restoring drinks are included in the tour price. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer and alcohol are NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers: Explore Himalaya.org does not require you to pay an extra charge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge.  

Extra Expenses: We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars a day for incidentals. Included entrance fees are those for the listed sites and national parks that are part of the itinerary. Any other site fees are not included. 

Money: The currency is Bhutanese ngultrum (Nu) and there are Bank ATMs in Paro and Thimpu that take international cards. However, to be safe, we suggest you change money in Paro and carry cash as a backup in case the power goes down, the ATM is out of order. 

Local Time: GMT/UTC + 6 hr 

What to Carry: