9 Day Riding With Dragons Guided Motorcycle Tour in Bhutan
Bhutan Motorcycle Tour
Undoubtedly, Bhutan is an exclusive destination. A journey to Bhutan is not only about coming from far away, but it is also a time travel experience. In Bhutan, there are still over two thousand monasteries and gomps, and every major city has its dzong – a distinctive Bhutanese fortress. Houses in Bhutan are built according to a traditional model. Bhutanese people wear colorful national dress every day. Is Bhutan the last Shangri La – the mythical land of happiness? Check it out for yourself, join this tour, and pack your bags!
Key information
- Terrain: Moderate
- Bike: rental bike (Royal Enfield 500 cc / Himalayan 410 cc)
- Mileage: 900 kilometers
- Meals: all meals with farewell dinner
Note
- Riding geat is not included in the tour package, all riders have to get their own Riding gear ( Helmets / Riding Boots / Gloves & Riding gear ) .
Meet the instructors
Read more
Highlights
- Starts in Guwahati, India, ends in Paro, Bhutan
- Paro and the world heritage site of Drukgyel Dzong
- Tiger’s Nest Buddhist monastery
- Changangkha Lhakhang
- Chendebji Chorten
- Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan’s largest fortress
- Bumthang Valley, Tamshing Monastery, and Chorten Kora Monastery
- 8 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Accommodation
Accommodations provided during this tour are approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and are of minimum three-star categories as certified by the government, on a twin-sharing basis at good places like hotels / guesthouses and Swiss luxury tents.
Program
Bhutan is the last of the Buddhist Himalayan kingdoms. It is situated entirely in the mountains: twenty summits of which are higher than 7000 meters. Only 750,000 people inhabit this country, but almost all of them are reportedly happy: It is no wonder that the idea of Gross National Happiness (GNP) was first invented exactly in this tiny Himalayan Kingdom
The first motor vehicle arrived in the country in 1961. Towards the end of the 1960s the so-called “ celestial road of a thousand bends” was completed. Until now, it is only a 3.5-meter-wide asphalt ribbon. Radio broadcasting started in 1973 only. It was only in 1999 that it became possible to waste one’s life watching TV. The Internet was eventually introduced in 2000. The first tourists only came to Bhutan in 1974.
Some highlights of this tour include:
- Punakha Dzong
- Trashigang
- Dochula Pass (3100 meters)
- Pelela Pass (3423 meters)
- Yutongla Pass (3425 meters)
- Thrumshingla Pass (3780 meters)
Itinerary
Day 1 (9 November)
Fly to Gauwahati. Car transfer to Samdrup Jongkhar.
Day 2 (10 November, 180 kilometers / 112 miles)
Samdrup Jongkhar – Trashingang.
Day 3 (11 November, 92 kilometers / 57 miles)
Trashingang – Mongar.
Day 4 (12 November, 198 kilometers / 123 miles)
Mongar – Bhumtang.
Day 5 (13 November, 130 kilometers / 81 miles)
Visit the Bhumtang Valley. Ride to Trongsa.
Day 6 (14 November, 135 kilometers / 84 miles)
Trongsa – Punakha
Day 7 (15 November, 150 kilometers / 93 miles)
Punakha – Timphu – Paro
Day 8 (16 November)
Trek to Takstang Monastery
Day 9 (17 November)
Fly out from Paro.
Please note that the route may change without notice due to political, social, or weather factors.
Motorcycles available for this tour:
The tour uses Royal Enfield Himalayan or Classic 550 bikes only. All bikes are checked and serviced before the start of the tour to make sure that only good bikes are used for the tour.
Minor repairs like brake shoe, spark plug, clutch plate, tubes, cable (1 set only), and engine oil are included in the cost. However, if more breakages happen due to rough handling, accidents, theft, etc., the clients will have to bear the cost.
Skill level(s) required for this tour: Intermediate
Intermediate:
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Instructors
Rahul Chauhan (MAT)
With an interesting story behind his peculiar nickname that he loves to narrate when asked, Rahul Chauhan a.k.a MAT is very well-known and respected among the Indian biking fraternity. A doctor by education and a traveler at heart, he lives life as simple village boy. MAT has been riding through the length and breadth of India since the late 90s. His knowledge and experience of traveling in India and Asia is unparalleled. He is also a bit of a grease monkey and loves getting his hands dirty, modifying, and restoring old bikes and cars occasionally.
Rohit Chauhan
Rohit Chauhan is the younger brother of Rahul Chauhan who has been running this company since 2002. He takes care of all 4x4 camping, hiking, and tracking tours. He is a good biker too, hosting and guiding many tours of Planet Way Round at the Himalayas and west India. Apart from touring and exploring, he is a very good painter. He studied Pathology and tours in the free time of his job.
Location
The only Buddhist Himalayan kingdom in existence, Bhutan, is one of the happiest places in the world, with more than 20 peaks towering 7,000 meters above sea level, subtropical forests, and alpine landscapes.
The land of the dragon, shrouded in mist and mysteries, is on nearly everyone's bucket list. A trip on a bike through this wonderful and happy country where the GNP was renamed to GNH or Gross National Happiness can be nothing but short of magical.
Although Bhutan opened for tourism as late as 1974, the annual influx of tourists is rather low. A constitutional monarchy since 2008, Bhutan is a fiercely independent land. This is one of the few countries in the world that has never been colonized. You will feel as if you’ve been transported back in time. Bhutan maintains its traditions and customs and that shows in the country's architecture and prevalent dressing style of the Drukpas.
From the Tiger's Nest monastery in Paro to the busy streets of Thimphu, this country is amazing, magical, and as you were told earlier, happy!
Food
The package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
During this tour, you will be served all meals in a buffet. Rice forms the main body of most Bhutanese meals. It is accompanied by one or two side dishes consisting of meat or vegetables. Pork, beef, and chicken are the meats that are eaten the most often.
Vegetables that are commonly eaten include spinach, pumpkins, turnips, radishes, tomatoes, river weed, onions, and green beans. Grains such as rice, buckwheat, and barley are also cultivated in various regions of the country depending on the local climate.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Things to do (optional)
You will have the chance to hike to the Tiger's Nest monastery.
You can also hire a horse or mule during the trekking to the Tiger’s Nest monastery (Taktsang). There is a hike of 800 meters of vertical ascent / descent (on a direct payment basis).
What's included
- 8 nights accommodations
- All meals – Breakfast / lunch and dinner
- Care of a guide and good company
- Royal Enfield 500 cc or Himalayan 410cc
- Support car in which tools, additional fuel, and your luggage will be carried
- Bhutan visa and SDF are included
- Oxygen bottles and basic medication backup for AMS
- Experienced mechanic with spare parts
- Arrival and departure transfers for the group using a common vehicle are included
- Things to carry list
- Daily motorcycle maintenance and periodic service are included in the tour price
What's not included
- Stay for extra days if any (Planet Way Round can arrange it for you)
- Flights to the destination
- Bike transfer cost (if any)
- Bike rental deposit – USD 300 per bike
- Bike damage / fine / insurance
- Fuel for Bikes.
- Riding gear, helmets , Boots etc.
- Extra luggage Jeep (if any)
- Tourist entry visa for India
- Extra food like starters / lunch / dinner all over Pay & Eat (if any outside the venue)
- Any kind of personal expenses or optional tours, extra meals, starters (alcoholic, mineral, soft drinks, aerated), etc.
- Extra guide fee, camera, and video fee
- Tips
- Insurance
- Laundry
- Phone
- Any activity apart from the mentioned
- Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances like damage accruing from land blocks, bad weather, etc.
- Any medical expenses incurred during the trip or travel insurance
- Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances like damage accruing from land blocks, bad weather, etc.
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
- The use of a horse or mule during the trekking to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
77 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU). Pick-up at the airport is included in the price.
This tour starts in Guwahati. There are a number of daily cheap flights to this airport from Delhi operated by different Indian airlines, eg. GoFirst, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and AirAsia.
The trip ends in Paro. Paro Airport is Bhutan’s only international airport. Bhutan’s two national carriers are Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. There are several cities to fly from, but the most common flights depart from Bangkok, Delhi, Singapore, and Kathmandu.
Considering the starting and ending points of the trip and the fact that both of them are well connected by air with Delhi: Planet Way Round suggests that you arrange your intercontinental flight to/from Delhi, and from there take the local flights to Guwahati and from Paro. Please remember to arrange your tickets in advance.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 35% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 10 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.