Bhutan Adventure Bike Ride 9N/10D (1N Phuentsholing, 2N Paro, 1N Thimphu, 1N Phobjikha, 2N Bhumtang, 1N Mongar, 1N Trashi Yangtse )

Itinerary 

Day 00 :Arrive Bagdogra/ NJP from across India by flight/ train.

Stay at Bagdogra, arranged by us (at own cost)

Day 01:Bagdogra to Phuentsholing, (150 kms) 4 hours:Stay at Phuentsholing:

•    Ride through lovely foothills, meandering rivers and huge tea plantations.
•    Cross over into The Land of Thunder Dragon, Phuentsholing city, Bhutan.
•    Overnight hotel in Phuentsholing (1st night)

Day 02:Phuentsholing to Paro, (148 kms) 5-6 hours

•    Stay at Paro
•    Post Breakfast we head to get our visas and road permits.
•    Ride all the way uphill to Paro, En-route stop at the beautiful Gedu University for photos and visit Rinchending Monastery, other villages and towns along the way.
•    Lunch at hotel on arrival.
•    Evening free for local sightseeing in Paro – Dzong/ National Museum/ River etc.
•    Overnight hotel in Paro (2nd night)

Day 03:Rest day at Paro

•    After a hearty breakfast, set out for the majestic and oh so beautiful Taktsang Dzong or Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It’s a 2.5 hour hike up & 1.5 hour hike back to the road head.
•    The name Taktsang means Tiger’s Nest, the legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, believed as the second Buddha or Precious Teacher flew to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress and then meditated there in the cave for three months.
•    The main building of the monastery was destroyed by fire on 19th April 1998 and the Bhutan Government had re-constructed it in the original form.
•    Post coming back, to soothe our tired leg muscles, we go for a Hot Stone Bath Therapy at a friend’s Farm House.
•    Evening free for local sightseeing/ stroll in the bazaar.
•    Overnight hotel in Paro (3rd night)

Day 04:Paro to Thimpu, (65 kms) 1.5 hours

•    Stay at Thimpu
•    After Breakfast at the hotel, we ride to the CAPITAL Thimphu.
•    We head to get our Visas and road permits extended.
•    We the ride to the best view point in the Thimphu valley – the Buddha point (Kuenselphodrang). It is a short ride from the town. You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the world and then walk around and have a glimpse of the valley.
•    Evening free for local sightseeing in Thimpu – Dzong/ Museum/ River/ Palace etc.
•    Overnight hotel in Thimpu (4th night)

Day 05 :Thimpu to Phobjikha, (145 kms) 5-6 hours.

•    Stay at Phobjikha
•    Today we start early as we head to our 1st pass in this beautiful country, The Dochula @ 3140 mtrs. is the highlight of the day.
•    It’s an easy ride all the way to Phobjikha, one of the easy days of the trip.
•    Lunch before we check into our hotel for the night.
•    While riding, enjoy the still snow-capped alpine mountains with dense vegetation.
•    Riding along this highway will allow you to experience the chilly winter winds but also observe the blessings of spring blossoming.
•    Explore the village through a series of walking trails around.
•    This place is world famous for the Tibetan Black Necked Cranes that nest here between November to February every winter.
•    Evening free to ride around the small town and see the locals go about their daily chores, see the Dzong – one of the most scenic Monasteries you will ever come across.
•    Overnight hotel in Phobjikha (5th night)

Day 06 :Phobjika to Bumthang, (180 kms) 7-8 hours

•    Stay at Bumthang
•    After an early breakfast we ride towards Trongsa, on the way visit Chendebji Chorten patterned on Nepal’s Swayambhunath Stupa, with eyes painted at the four cardinal points.
•    It was built in the 18th century by Lama Shida, to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot. Legend says that the evil spirit manifested as a gigantic snake.
•    Today is one of the longest days of this trip, yet a pleasure to the eyes.
•    We also go across Pele La & Yotong La – two of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan.
•    Overnight hotel in Bumthang (6th night)

Day 07:Rest day at Bumthang

•    After breakfast @ a local restaurant, we go for local sightseeing.
•    Explore the beautiful valleys of Bumthang at your own pace.
•    Your visit in Bumthang includes Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the valley;
•    Jambey Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, dating from the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan; and Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most sacred places, where Guru Rinpoche left his body imprint on the cave when he was meditating.
•    Post lunch we visit Bhutan’s world famous Red Panda Brewery and Swiss Cheese factory.
•    Go to the Mystery Lake if time permits.
•    Overnight hotel in Bumthang (7th night)

Day 08: Bumthang to Mongar, (198 kms) 7-8 hours.

•    Stay at Mongar
•    Overnight hotel in Mongar (8th night)

Day 09:Mongar to Trashi Yangtse, (136 kms) 4 hours.

•    Stay at Trashi Yangtse
•    A relatively easy day, as we ride to the Easternmost tip of this sweet little country, bordering Arunachal Pradesh.
•    Overnight hotel in Trashi Yangtse (9th night)

Day 10:Trashi Yangtse to Guwahati, (300 kms) 9-10 hours

•    Stay at Guwahati, arranged by us (at own cost)
•    Post a hearty but last Bhutanese breakfast get ready to ride the longest day of this tour as we head back to (Guwahati) India, towards the hot yet beautiful town of Samdrup Jhongkhar, bordering the Indian state of Assam.
•    It’s all the way down to Samdrup Jhongkhar and the weather turns from cold to cool to warm to kind of hot……all during the course of one day
•    Bhutan is a place that you will never, ever forget.
•    Magical memories will be yours to recall forever.

Day 11

•    Fly out or take a train out of Guwahati to your home cities

                                                    Trip Ends With Sweet Memories !!!