Bhutan Dragon
Bhutan Dragon Adventure Motor Bike Tour
14 Days – 13 Nights / Riding – 10 Days
Bhutan Dragon Adventure Motor Bike Tour
14 Days – 13 Nights / Riding – 10 Days
US $ RIDER / US $ PILLION
PER PERSON ON TWIN SHARING BASIS
Riding distance : 1260 KMS / 785 MILES
Maximum Altitude : 3300 M / 10890 FT
The Unspoilt Forests, Valleys And Mountains – Abundant Wildlife Including Rare Himalayan Species – Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery – Drukyel Dzong – Magnificent Views Of The Himalayan Peaks – Nakay Chu Road, Carved Out Of The Side Of A Cliff Overlooking The Mangde Chu River – Local Culture – The Gracious Bhutanese Have Kept Their Identity Over The Centuries. Dooars – Phuntsholing – Paro – Thimphu – Dochu La – Wangdue Phodrang – Pele La – Gangtey / Phobjikha Valley – Trongsa – Bumthang – Mongar – Trashigang – Samdrup Jongkhar – Guwahati – Calcutta
BHUTAN, the kingdom in the sky, Druk Yul, ‘the land of the Thunder Dragon”, was first opened to tourists in 1974 in a very regulated manner. Today this mountain kingdom is perhaps the world’s most exclusive destination in the heart of the Himalayas. We start from West Bengal riding through Sikkim and entering Bhutan from Phuntsholing riding the valleys, climb the passes through virgin jungle and forest, past the ancient Dzong Forts of the capital Thimphu and on into the heart of the Kingdom at Bumthang. The Kingdom of Bhutan is a destination known to few, distant from the western world both geographically and in culture. Nestled in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is sandwiched between Tibet and India. For the touring enthusiast, this tiny land offers the qualities we all seek when traveling on two wheels: a diversity of stunning scenery, and inviting population, political tranquility and exotic culture found within a small geographical package, quality riding that stimulates the senses at every mile, and the sense that this is a unique experience. Bhutan’s cautious limitation of tourism and outside influence has paid off. The statistics are impressive: 72% of the country is forested, over 770 species of birds, over 165 species of mammals, and an astonishing 5,500 species of plants. So few places on Earth offer such unspoiled beauty. The flora and fauna are remarkably pristine.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in DELHI / KOLKATTA.
We will meet you at Delhi Airport or Kolkatta Airport and transfer you to your Hotel. Because fellow group members may be arriving on different flights, we will wait to meet the fellow group members on the next day at the breakfast table and the staff at the dinner table.
Day 2
DELHI / KOLKATTA – BAGDOGRA – PHUENTSHOLING (820 M / 2700 FT) (170 KMS / 5 – 6 HRS).
Today we rise early to board our flight to Bagdogra, West Bengal, and then the drive to Phuentsholing. We drive through the tea plantations and small villages to the Bhutan border. Visa formalities are fast at the border. We will meet the tour staff waiting with the motorcycles and have a briefing to cover safety precautions, touring style, road conditions, and check personal equipment, with time to select our bikes and become familiar with starting procedures, control layouts, and bike handling.
Day 3
PHUENTSHOLING – PARO (2250 M / 7430 FT) (185 KMS / 5 – 6 HRS)
Post breakfast we start early, allowing us good enough time to view the mountain scenery and distant waterfalls. Today we climb our first pass, Chapch-La. Descending to the beautiful Wangshu River Valley through dense forest, we meet the confluence of the Paro River, where we cross the bridge and head up the secluded river valley road, past the only international airport in the country, to the iconic Taktsang Monastery, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched high on the side of the cliff.
Day 4
AT PARO.
Post breakfast we will visit the Taktsang Monastery, Drukgyel Dzong, National Museum in a Watch Tower, and a ride up to the Highest Motorable pass in Bhutan Chele La 3988 M / 13160 FT.
Day 5
PARO – THIMPHU (2350 M / 7755 FT) (70 KMS / 1 – 2 HRS)
Today we will start late as today’s drive is only 2 hrs. We will explore the Capital city by visiting the Tashichhodzong, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Memorial Chortens, and the Textile Museum. You should not miss Thimpu’s nightlife!.
Day 6
THIMPHU – DOCHU LA (3100 M / 10230 FT) –WANGDUE PHODRANG (1350 M / 4455 FT) (70 KMS / 1 – 2 HRS)
Post breakfast we climb out of Thimphu to the Dochu La pass at 3100 M. There are prayer flags everywhere on the summit and if it is a clear day then you can have a 360 degree of beautiful panoramic view of Himalaya mountain range and the giant peaks of Lunana. The road then descends over 1700 m in 26 km as we pass first temperate forest, then semi-tropical with orange, banana, and bamboo. We will visit the Punakha Dzong and after having Lunch in a Bhutanese Restaurant we further drive to the busy town of Wangdue Phodrang. We will visit the Mighty Dzong fortress built on the rocks above the town.
Day 7
WANGDUE PHODRANG – PELE LA (3300 M / 10890 FT) – GANGTEY / PHOBJIKHA – TRONGSA. (150 KMS / 6 – 7 HRS)
Post breakfast we start our ride towards east across the length of Bhutan on the only road across the kingdom. We will visit Gangtey Gompa in Phobjikha Valley one of the most beautiful places in Bhutan. The road flattens for 12 km then begins the climb over Black Mountain and our next pass, Pele-La at 3300 m, where we can see yaks grazing and views of the Chomolhari Range in Western Bhutan. Another 1500 m descent takes us to Nakay Chu bridge through forest and dwarf bamboo. The road is carved out of the side of the cliff above the Mangde Chu River and there is the forest for as far as the eye can see, with the famous Trongsa Dzong visible 12 km away.
Day 8
TRONGSA – BUMTHANG (2600 M / 8580 FT) (75 KMS / 2 – 3 HRS)
Post breakfast Visit the Trongsa Dzong, the largest in the country and further riding over the last smaller pass to Jakar to our destination to the beautiful Bumthang Valley.
Day 9
BUMTHANG – MONGAR (1700 M / 5610 FT) (210 KMS / 6 – 7 HRS)
Today is the longest riding day of our tour, and one of the most spectacular, as we “ride the high ridges” from Bumthang Valley to Mongar. Where most visitors to Bhutan rarely even make it as far as Bumthang Valley, we intrepid explorers thump on past over the high passes to the very center of the kingdom. Vast forests for as far as the eye can see in every direction, mixed with extraordinary views of the high Himalayan snow-capped peaks.
Day 10
MONGAR – TRASHIGANG (1150 M / 3800 FT) (100 KMS / 3 HRS)
Post breakfast we will visit the Mongar Dzong before heading the short distance ride to Trashigang through dense forest to the jewel of eastern Bhutan, Trashigang. The road becomes less maintained and the people are also tribal. Most of the traffic is by horse and on trails.
Day 11
TASHIGANG – SAMDRUP JONGHKAR (190 KMS / 6 – 7 HRS)
Today is our last day ride in Bhutan which takes us back down through the many climate zones, reflected in the dramatic changes in flora & fauna, becoming again almost sub-tropical. The gateway to the eastern Bhutan town of Samdrup Jongkhar is as busy as all border towns can be but a little quiet. A good mix of Indian and Bhutanese cultures is a unique thing to see.
Day 12
SAMDRUP JONGHKAR – GAUWAHATI (110 KMS / 3 – 4 HRS)
After finishing the border formalities we get back into India our ride takes us through densely populated villages on flat steamy plains with bamboo groves. You will see the big change, busy traffic of India compared to any traffic in Bhutan as we head for the capital of Assam, Guwahati. The land of the mighty Brahmaputra River runs through Guwahati – from the high plateau of Tibet and goes down to Bangladesh and out into the Bay of Bengal.
Day 13
GUWAHATI – DELHI / KOLKATA
We fly out of Guwahati to Delhi or Kolkata as per your flight schedule.
Day 14
DELHI / KOLKATA
Transfer to the Airport to board the flight back home.
Cost Includes:
- Royal Enfield Standard 500cc / Himalayan 411cc
- Spare parts for the bikes
- Support Vehicle for luggage.
- Toyota / Small Bus.
- Mechanic
- English Speaking Road captain / Tour guide
- Fuel & Oil
- First Aid Equipment
- Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
- Hotels 3*-4* / Heritage
- Fixed Camp
- Internal Flights
- Inner Line Permit
- Oxygen in the unlikely event of altitude sickness
- Bhutan Visa Fees
Cost Does Not Include:
- Any part broken while riding will be payable extra
- The expense of personal nature viz laundry, telephone calls, tips, mineral water, beverages, etc.
- Expense arises due to unforeseen circumstances like roadblocks, landslides, flight cancellation, etc.
- Personal Insurance
- Sleeping Bags
- Helmets or any riding gear
- Indian Visa and International Flights
