Bhutan Heritage by Bicycle

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan tops many travel bucket lists. Once an isolated region shrouded in mystery, it is now a global leader in sustainable tourism, prioritizing the protection of its cultural and natural heritage. This tour introduces you to Bhutan's culture, landscapes, and proud people, combining excursions to historic sites and heritage institutions with a remarkable cycling route through picturesque valleys.

We begin in Paro, where we visit the National Museum and the city’s grand dzong, a fortified medieval Buddhist monastery. Then, we drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, where we learn about the country’s spirituality, crafts, and elusive national animal (the takin), before embarking on our inaugural ride into the woodlands north of town. Day 3 marks a rite of passage for cyclists in Bhutan as we conquer the formidable Dochula Pass, rewarded with a long, winding descent into the Punakha Valley, where we’ll spend two nights. Here, we visit the country’s most photogenic dzong and bike across a long suspension bridge to enter an agrarian world of rice terraces. Before returning to Paro, we treat (and challenge!) ourselves with one final ride into Punakha’s hinterland, riding up and down densely forested hillslopes. We save Bhutan’s most iconic attraction — the Tiger’s Nest Monastery — for last and hike up to this fabled temple perched atop a cliff. The tour ends in Paro.