Mystical Bhutan

We ride a total of 785 km over 11 cycling days. Bhutan is the most mountainous country in the world which means that cycling involves either going up or going down, with hardly any flat sections! The average daily elevation gain is nearly 2,000 metres, but the gradients are generally gentle, and a support vehicle is always on hand.

Our tour follows Bhutan’s “Lateral Road,” a winding east-west route connecting the Kingdom’s remote regions. We begin in Paro, acclimating to the altitude and exploring key sites before hiking to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery on Day 2. From there, we transfer to Thimphu, where the cycling begins. Traversing valley after valley, we tackle mountain passes and sweeping descents, soaking in Bhutan’s pristine air (one of the most forested countries in the world), stunning Himalayan views, agrarian traditions, and rich cultural heritage. The average daily distance is 70 km, with the longest ride being 111 km (Day 5) and the shortest rides at 30–35 km (Days 4 and 8). Between Days 11 and 14, distances increase to 80–90 km. On Day 7, we enjoy a full day off the bikes in the Punakha Valley, Bhutan’s spiritual heartland. Along the way, we visit Bhutan’s famed dzongs (fortified monasteries), Buddhist temples, and breathtaking Himalayan landscapes. For many, the highlight is the deep immersion into the lifeways of Bhutanese communities living in the remote highland valleys of the Himalayan foothills.

In areas with well-established tourism infrastructure, such as Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Bumthang, we stay in comfortable 3-star hotels known for their traditional charm and convenient locations. In more remote regions, accommodations are simpler and reflect either the best or the only options available. In places like the Tang Valley, Sengor, and Wamrong, camping may be necessary depending on group size and lodging availability. Throughout the journey, you’ll savour delicious traditional Bhutanese meals, with occasional Western options. In remote areas where restaurants are unavailable, we provide packed lunches or dinners.

The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This is an advanced-level cycling challenge, ideal for seasoned riders or determined intermediate cyclists who crave the burn of gradual ascents and relish the thrill of winding descents. Stamina is essential for back-to-back riding days, and strength is required to tackle a range of climbing conditions. Most ascents feature a gentle gradient of 3-5%, with steeper sections being rare. Riders should be comfortable gaining 1,500–2,000 metres of elevation daily, with the resilience to push their limits on a few more demanding days. Good handling skills are key for safely navigating steep downhills with sharp turns. Although we do not venture off-road, the varying conditions of the paved surfaces demand focus and adaptability. Less experienced riders are welcome but should prepare in advance for the long distances, sustained climbs, and occasional rough roads. A support vehicle is always nearby to provide refuge for weary cyclists or assistance with any climbs.

Biking Conditions: We primarily ride along the “Lateral Road,” Bhutan’s primary east-west highway, which meanders through the country’s majestic mountains and valleys. Despite its highway designation, the Lateral Road is a narrow, winding route with minimal traffic, especially as we venture away from the main tourist hubs. However, be prepared to share the road with a mix of vehicles, including cars, motorbikes, and occasional buses. Road surface conditions vary. While many sections are well-maintained, broken asphalt, potholes, and road debris are common. Rain is typical in Bhutan throughout the year and can impact road conditions. We generally ride rain or shine, but based on the guide’s discretion or your level of comfort, modifications to the planned route can be made. It’s all part of the adventure

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.

If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike or gravel bike in good mechanical order.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

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The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary