Bhutan Multisport
- Immersion into an ancient landscape where life’s daily rituals remain sacred
- Namgay, our local guide and longtime friend, opens doors normally closed to foreign travelers
- Bike through Bhutan's culturally and scenically rich valleys - you'll be one of the few!
- Hike to secluded Buddhist temples and monasteries, including the famed Tiger’s Nest
- Exchange ideas with Buddhist monks and receive a blessing
Temples, Traditions & Sacred Peaks in a Himalayan Oasis
You can’t prepare for Bhutan. It’s like nowhere else you’ve been. It has a purity to it that’s indescribable. Temples that seem to challenge the Himalayas. Crisp air. Striking mountains always looming, protecting. And yet it’s not Shangri-La. It’s more real than that. It’s a country balancing the modern with the ancient. It’s a people rooted in history and yet changing with the times. Let’s tread gently and leave it the way we found it. The quiet smiles. The agrarian life. Homes that match ancient designs. The mystery of Buddhism. It’s what you’ve pictured and what you couldn’t have imagined.
Day 1 Namgay, former National Assembly member, our guide and longtime friend, opens doors normally closed to foreigners 
Hike above Paro Dzong, a massive monastic fortress built to commemorate a 1644 victory over the Tibetans, then see what lies within Peruse handicrafts in Paro’s tiny mercantile shops.
Days 2-3 Bike through Bhutan's culturally and scenically rich valleys - you'll be one of the few! Dochu La pass dazzles with panoramas of snowcapped Himalayan peaks Ethereal villages and rice paddies enliven your ride to Punakha Valley Engage with monks in between their meditations Exquisite riverside Punakha Dzong, Bhutan’s 300-year-old winter capital, still exudes eminence Hike to Chorten Nebu, a remote 14th-century temple accessible only by foot and seldom visited by international travelers.
Days 4-5 Immersion into an ancient landscape where life's daily rituals remain sacred Take to the Po Chhu River by raft for a beautiful perspective of the Punakha Valley Feast your eyes on vibrant Bhutanese painting, sculpture and textile arts in Thimphu, the capital city Curious about Buddhism and how it defines life here? Our historian will enlighten you Tackle the steep but rewarding walk from Dodina village to Cheri Goemba Monastery.
Days 6-8 Hike to secluded Buddhist monasteries and temples, including the famed Tiger's Nest Climb an ancient path to the Taktshang teahouse, situated at 9,200 feet and offering superb views of the valley and otherworldly Taktshang Monastery.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This was a trip of a lifetime; the beautiful country of Bhutan, the hiking/biking adventure, the guides and the group with whom we traveled. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to see Bhutan at this time, while it is unaffected. I was unprepared to fall so in love with the people and the land.- Tres Piedras, NM
What can I say? Backroads does such a great job, great guides, good itineraries. I am so pleased and will plan on many more similar trips!!! Bhutan is especially wonderful. I would think folks would be flocking to your door!- Portland, OR
Fabulous trip. This was more than a vacation; our Bhutan trip was an adventure, a cultural experience and a window on another world. It was made even more special by the other like-minded travellers, our superb Backroads leaders and our marvellous Bhutanese guide. Thank you so much!
- Toronto, ON
Premiere Inns*
Uma Paro
Paro (1 night) An upscale hillside retreat with luxurious guest rooms; the main building was formerly a Bhutanese nobleman’s home. (pool, spa)
Meri Puensum Resort
Punakha (2 nights) Sitting high above the Punakha Valley and the Puna Tsang River, this simple hotel offers great views over rice fields and the valley below, and is currently our best option in the region.
* Casual Inn
Taj Tashi Hotel
Thimphu (2 nights) Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from the lively town square. (pool, spa)
Zhiwa Ling
Upper Paro Valley (2 nights) With impressive masonry and elaborate hand-carved cornices, this hotel is set on a verdant mountainside and combines Bhutanese hospitality with modern conveniences. (spa)
Bali Biking
Island of Exotic Culture & Tranquil Beauty
Classic:
Singles+Solos:
Thailand Biking
Exploring the Golden Triangle near Laos & Myanmar
Classic:
Singles+Solos:
This Trip Is Rated Level 2-4
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 3.2 miles
- 450 feet elevation gain; 640 feet elevation loss
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- Biking 21, 28 miles
- 0 - 400 feet elevation gain; 2200 feet elevation loss
Day 3
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3.3, 4.7 miles
- 1250 - 1400 feet elevation gain
- Biking 11 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Biking 11 miles
- No elevation gain
- Rafting 2 hours
Day 5
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2 miles
- 800 feet elevation gain
- Biking 11 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 3 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- Biking 25, 35 miles
- 610 - 650 feet elevation gain
Day 7
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3.3, 6.1 miles
- 1700 - 2200 feet elevation gain
- Biking 12 miles
- 450 feet elevation gain
Day 8
- Conclusion of Trip
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For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Bhutan tour experts. See our award-winning Asia & the Pacific multisport tours, Asia & the Pacific biking tours and Asia & the Pacific walking and hiking tours.
