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.
Trip Highlights
- 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
Premiere Inns
Uma 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 (2 nights): Traditional and simple lodging with views across the rice fields and orange groves of the Punakha Valley.
Taj Tashi Hotel (2 nights): Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from Thimphu's lively central square. (pool, spa)
Zhiwa Ling (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)
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
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 9/29-10/6 Price: $6398 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1200 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $990
- 11/3-10 Price: $6198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1200 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $990
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
2014 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 3/23-30 Price: $5998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1170 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $1040
- 4/27-5/4 Price: $6198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1170 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $1040
- 9/28-10/5 Price: $5998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1170 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $1040
- 11/2-9 Price: $5998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1170 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $1040
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
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
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
Namgay, our local guide, added immensely to everyone's experience. His forthcoming nature and his desire to share his country with us was very warming. He is a beautiful person and a remarkable human being. You are very very lucky to have him as your local guide.- San Francisco, CA
This was a life-changing experience. I expected beautiful scenery, but there was so much more.- Chevy Chase, MD
From the 5 Backroads' trips I took during my 3 and a half months, I think this one and Patagonia were the most impressive ones. It was an amazing experience and I wanted to thank you all for making it a very special time. I think the biggest asset of Backroads are the "people" and everyone that I met was fully engaged on the company's philosophy.- Hamburg, Germany
As always, the trip was well-planned, well-executed and enjoyable from start to finish. The guides were knowledgeable and fun, the group was awesome, and my long-awaited trip to the Land of the Thunder Dragon exceeded all expectations and then some. The itineraries seem to incorporate the best the region has to offer, Backroads takes care of every detail and all that is left for the guest to do is decide which of the many Backroads destinations to choose. The guides are always top-notch, the guests interesting and although each trip is different, the quality of the trips never varies and is always first-class.- New York, NY