Thunder Dragon Cycling Tour
11 nights / 12 days
Difficulty Level:
4 out of 5
March – May & Sep – Nov
Thunder Dragon Cycling Tour
Cycling through Bhutan is an incredible adventure. You'll ride from the far west to the central regions, facing challenging climbs up to 4,000 meters high. The effort will be rewarded with amazing descents through some of the world's most beautiful and untouched landscapes
Itinerary
Arrival & Welcome
Arriving at Paro International Airport (2300m) is a unique experience with its clear air, forested ridges, monasteries, and friendly Bhutanese people. A representative from Nobel travel will greet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation.
After settling in, you’ll have a Bhutanese lunch and then prepare your bike. You can explore Paro or relax before the cycling begins. Dinner will be at a traditional farmhouse near Kichu Lhakhang, one of Paro's oldest temples, where you’ll learn about Bhutanese culture and Buddhism.
Overnight: Paro
Floating Statue 8-hour Hike (Easy – Moderate)
Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest, is a famous Bhutanese landmark perched 800 meters above the valley. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche arrived at Taktsang on a tiger and introduced Buddhism to the Paro Valley.
The hike to Taktsang involves a 2-hour climb through pine forests with Spanish moss and prayer flags. After exploring the monastery, we’ll have lunch with views of Taktsang before heading back down.
Overnight: Paro
We start with a 15 km easy ride to Drukgyel Dzong, a historic fortress. From there, the road becomes gravel and climbs gradually for 20 km to Shana Village. Shana is the start of the Snowman Trek, one of the world’s toughest treks.
We’ll have a picnic lunch in the village and then ride back to Paro Valley. From Tamchog Lhakhang, you can ride along the highway back to Paro, a scenic route.
Overnight: Paro
Day Hike (Medium)
We’ll leave Paro and cycle through farmland and hamlets to Chele La Pass, Bhutan’s highest motorable pass at 4,000m. After a 36 km climb, we’ll reach the pass and enjoy snacks before descending 20 km to Haa Valley.
After lunch with views of Haa, we’ll cycle 14 km to our accommodation, where you can explore the countryside before dinner.
Overnight: Haa
Today’s ride takes us to Thimphu, the capital. The first 65 km is downhill along Haa Chu River, with opportunities to spot wild monkeys and yaks. Lunch will be at a picnic spot at 95 km. The final 35 km is along roads high above Wang Chu River, passing rice fields and forests.
As we approach Thimphu, we’ll see the Four Friends statue. Thimphu is Bhutan’s largest city and has many activities. Our hotel is centrally located, perfect for relaxing after a long day.
Overnight: Thimphu
We’ll ride to Dochu La Pass at 3,050m. After a 5 km warm-up, we’ll climb 22 km to the pass. The area is covered with forests and has wildlife like deer and monkeys. The pass has 108 stupas and offers views of the eastern Himalayas.
The 50 km descent into Punakha is breathtaking. After lunch, we’ll visit Punakha Dzong, the winter residence of the monks, and the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. Our hotel offers great views and a special dinner.
Overnight: Punakha
We’ll cycle down to the valley floor, cross a bridge, and climb to Wangdue Phodrang. The climb over Black Mountain is tough, gaining almost 1200 meters.
After lunch in Norbuding, we’ll continue a challenging climb to Phobjikha Valley, known for its stunning beauty and the black-necked cranes that migrate here from Tibet. We’ll have a relaxed ride through the valley and return to our hotel.
Overnight: Phobjikha
Today promises a fun ride. After checking out from the hotel, we’ll start our journey with a 13 km climb to Pele La Pass (3,360m). At the pass, we’ll see yaks grazing and enjoy views of the changing landscape between Western and Eastern Bhutan.
Then, we’ll have a thrilling 60 km descent (1,550m) down to Trongsa. We’ll stop for lunch near a waterfall and might spot endangered langur monkeys in the forest. After lunch, we’ll continue to our hotel in Trongsa and explore the town in the evening.
Overnight: Trongsa
After breakfast, we’ll climb rapidly out of Trongsa, enjoying great views of the Dzong and the valley. After 30 km, we’ll descend to Chumey (2,650m), the birthplace of Bhutan’s Queen. The scenery changes as we enter the open Bumthang Valley.
We’ll climb to Kiki La and then have a fantastic descent to Bumthang, where we’ll stay at a guesthouse known for its European farming methods.
Overnight: Bumthang
After breakfast, we’ll start the drive to Paro, with some sightseeing along the way. We’ll stop at Taa Dzong, a watchtower turned into a Heritage Museum.
Lunch will be in Chazam village. After lunch, we’ll take a break in Lobisa before continuing to Paro.
Overnight: Paro
After 11 amazing days, we’ll say goodbye and depart from Paro International Airport for home.