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
Nothing can prepare you for Bhutan. It's like nowhere else you've been. It has a magic about it that's indescribable. The quiet smiles. The natural rhythms of life. The temples that seem to challenge the Himalayas. The mystery of Buddhism. The crisp air. The striking mountains always looming, protecting. It's a people rooted in history and yet changing with the times. It's not Shangri-La. It's more real than that. It's a country balancing the modern with the ancient. It's what you've pictured and what you couldn't have imagined. Let's tread gently and leave it just as we found it.
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, traditional 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 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 Raft down Punakha's Po Chhu river, floating by the exquisite riverside Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's 300-year-old lofty winter capital Feast your eyes on vibrant Bhutanese painting, sculpture and textile arts in Thimphu, the capital city 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 Curious about Buddhism and how it defines life here? Our historian will enlighten you 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
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
This was without a doubt an exceptional adventure in a magical place.- Portland, OR
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
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) Traditional and simple lodging with views across the rice fields and orange groves of the Punakha Valley.
Taj Tashi Hotel
Thimphu (2 nights) Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from Thimphu's lively central 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)
More Trips
Bali Biking
Circle an Alluring Island on Two Wheels
-
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.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Walking | 3.2 | 500 | ||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 19 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||||||
| Biking | 29 | 500 | |||||||||
| 3 | Biking | 11 | 500 | ||||||||
| Walking | 3.3 | 1400 | 6.1 | 1400 | |||||||
| Other | Punakha Dzong guided walk (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Biking | 11 | 0 | ||||||||
| Rafting | On the Po Chhu River (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 5 | 1000 | ||||||||
| Biking | 11 | 500 | |||||||||
| Walking | 2.0 | 800 | |||||||||
| 6 | Biking | 25* | 600 | 35 | 700 | 45 | 700 | ||||
| 7 | Biking | 12 | 500 | ||||||||
| Walking | 3.3 | 1700 | 6.1 | 2200 | |||||||
| 8 | Other | Conclusion of the trip | |||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 15% dirt and 85% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
More Recommended Trips
Other Trips
For 34 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.
