Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal
Motorbike tour in Bhutan starts after your arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal today. When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), Trekking Trail Nepal will be there to pick you up and transfer you to a hotel. Once you reach and check into the hotel, you will have free time to relax so that you adjust yourself to Kathmandu atmosphere far away from your home. You can take some wanderings around. Trekking Trail Nepal will be giving you some guidance on how to do that if you feel the need of.
Day 2: Kathmandu city tour and sightseeing with welcome dinner and cultural show
It is a full exploration day in Kathmandu. Trekking Trail Nepal takes you for a cultural sightseeing tour of heritage monuments in Kathmandu valley. An in-depth, guided tour of Swoyambhunath, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath will give you an understanding of the rich cultural and historical heritage of Kathmandu valley. Once the tour finishes and you return back to the hotel, you will have a trip briefing meeting followed by a welcome dinner with cultural show.
Day 3: Fly to Paro, Bhutan, and ride to Thimphu (55 kilometers / 34 miles)
Today is the day you fly to Paro to enter the beautiful country of Bhutan. The trans-Himalayan flight will have an incredible chance to enjoy magnificent views of the gigantic Himalayan range. It’s a short flight of only one hour by either Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines.
Once you arrive in Paro and get all the immigration processes done, you come out of the airport and get to your motorbike. You get ready to experience the thrill of motorbiking on the Bhutanese road to Thimpu, the capital city of Bhutan, via Chuzom to see the confluence of two rivers - Thimpu and Paro river. You can also see beautiful stupas there.
Once you reach Thimpu and check in to the hotel, you go on motorbiking excursion of Thimpu surroundings. you visit Buddha Point also known as Kuensel Phodrang from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Thimpu valley. Later, you also ride to Memorial Chhorten to see the devotion of people to the monument of peace; Takin preserves to explore the amazing national animal of Bhutan – Takin. You also ride to Craft bazar, Tashi Chhoe Dzong, etc. to explore the majestic charm of Thimpu.
- Riding time: Approximately 1.5 hour
Day 4: Ride from Thimphu to Punakha and hiking excursion of Wangduephodrang
On the second day of your exciting motorbike tour in Bhutan, you are riding to Punakha. While riding to Punakha, you cross Dochula pass that stands at the elevation of 3,088 meters above sea level. When you are on the pass, you can enjoy spectacular views of beautiful mountains and surroundings. The view from here is simply breathtaking. Later, the ride takes you to explore majestic Punakha Dzong on the confluence of two rivers - Mochu and Phochu. You explore this beautiful former administrative center of Bhutan before heading towards Chimi Lhakhang.
The ride to Chimi Lhakhang takes you on top of a small hill. The place is an important center of faith. People believe that if any childless couple visits this place, they will be blessed with children soon in their life. After exploring the religious and cultural sites of the day, you ride back to hotel in Punakha and stay overnight there.
Day 5: Ride to Gangtey from Punakha
You ride onwards on your exciting motorbike tour in Bhutan towards Gangtey as your destination for the day. Riding through the highway that stretches along fascination landscape and surroundings take you to the spectacular valley of Gangtey.
Once you reach Gangtey, you go on exploring the wonders of the valley. You ride to Gangtey Gompa on a small hill. The monastery is the biggest monastery of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism here. You explore the spiritual and cultural riches of the monastery and the surroundings where the caretakers of the monastery called Gomchens live.
Later, you ride to explore Phobjikha valley to explore the black-necked cranes. Your overnight is at Gangtey today.
Day 6: Ride from Gangtey to Paro
After a beautiful day exploration and ride in Gangtey valley, you are riding back to Paro today. You ride back through the Dochula pass with the magnanimous views of the mountains and reach Paro. You will have time to explore Simtokha Dzong along the way. Enough breaks on the ride along the way let you immerse into the magnificence of wonders around.
After reaching Paro and checking in to the hotel, you ride to explore various attractions there including exploring Ta Dzong, the national museum. You can explore and learn about the antiques, art, textiles, and historic artifacts of Bhutan. You will still have time to explore Rinpung Dzong later before returning back to the hotel.
Day 7: Paro Excursion and hiking to Tiger Nest
You have a full day at Paro today to explore the Tiger’s Nest Monastery also called Paro Taktsang. You ride to the bottom of the hill where the monastery is situated and start the hike up towards the awesome Tiger’s Nest. Tiger’s Nest Monastery hangs on the cliff right above Paro valley. In the ancient time, Guru Rinpoche is believed have arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated. For Bhutanese people, this monastery is a must-visit place once in their lifetime.
After the Paro Taktsang exploration, you hike back and the motorbike tour in Bhutan continues back towards Paro. You visit Kyichu Lhakhang along the way. This place is the ancient most Buddhist shrine in Bhutan as this is the place where the Buddhism in Bhutan is believed to have been started from. Once you return back to your hotel in Paro, you will have free time to walk around and explore.
Day 8: Depart from Bhutan via Paro Airport (PBH) and overnight in Kathmandu.
Today is the last day in Bhutan on this trip. You drive to the Paro Airport (PBH) to board your flight back to Kathmandu. Another exciting trans-Himalayan flight takes you to Kathmandu, Nepal after the thrilling motorbiking tour in Bhutan. Once you reach Kathmandu and check in to the hotel, you will have free time to explore around on your own.
Day 9: End of Nepal and Bhutan motorbike tour
As the final day of the trip, it’s time to say goodbye. Trekking Trail Nepal will be at the hotel to see you off to the airport for your final departure flight as per your flight schedule. They heartily thank you for being on their motorbike tour in Bhutan. They also hope that the trip must have given you an awesome experience. They would like to hear from you and also welcome you back again to Nepal sometime for another adventure.
Notes
- The itinerary is subject to change.
- Normally on the motorbike tour of Bhutan with Trekking Trail Nepal contains 6 to 18 riders and 2 to 4 passengers. Passengers can also ride in the support jeep any time they wish. Trekking Trail Nepal join the group after the Nepal tour.
- As is always the case when on motorbike tour as this naturally beautiful country without advanced tourist infrastructure. This may become necessary to alter Bhutan's motorbike tour program on the spot due to unforeseen circumstances.
Skill level
Advanced:
- can ride for 5-6 hours
- extensive riding experience
- assistance on demand (if required)
- experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions