Dragon Bike Trail : 8 Days Cycling & Hiking

Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Arrival in Paro

Day 2: Paro – Thimphu (Cycling)

Day 3: ½ Day Buddha Point & Tango Cheri Monastery Base (Cycling)

½ Day sightseeing within Thimphu

Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha – Wangdue Eco Lodge (Cycling)

Day 5: Wangdue – Phobjikha Valley – Wangdue (Cycling)

Day 6: Drive back to Paro via Thimphu

Day 7: Hike to Tiger’s Nest

Day 8: Departure

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Paro

 Rest up, get acclimatized and walk around Paro valley. **(Maybe add in 1 or 2 tourist spots to visit)

Day 2

Paro – Thimphu (Cycling)

 Begin the ride to Thimphu. The road to Thimphu is perfect for cycling, as there are few steep slopes and descents. Enjoy cycling beside rivers and through rice fields, forests and hills dotted with chortens and monasteries.

 

Day 3

½   day cycling to Buddha Point à Tango Cheri Monastery base.

½   day sightseeing within Thimphu

 

A tough ride up to Buddha Point, which is located atop a hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the Southern entrance to Thimphu Valley. While the statue of Buddha itself is a marvel, its location positions itself well as a great viewpoint. You get commanding views of the Thimphu City & valley and the Himalayas.

Then it’s onwards to the Tango Cheri Monastery. These enchanting monasteries are set on two side hills with the river flowing right in the middle. Located around 18 kilometers north of Thimphu, the ride to the base point is itself quite charming as you pass through the interiors of Bhutan.

 

Day 4 

Thimphu – Punakha – Wangdue Eco Lodge

The journey to Punakha begins with a 77km ride. The hillsides are covered in a lush forest where several species of deer and monkeys make their home.

Do note the amazing view of the nearby Dzong and village on your way to Wangdue Eco Lodge. It is a great place for a peaceful getaway for the eco-conscious traveler. The owner makes a conscious effort to use locally sourced and sustainable materials to build the property.

 

Day 5

Wangdue – Phobjikha Valley – Wangdue  

 Phobjikha Valley is a must visit for nature enthusiasts. It’s a beautiful valley surrounded by huge mountains and lush flora.

 

Day 6

Drive back to Paro via Thimphu.

 

Rest!

 

Day 7

Hike to Tiger’s Nest

Right after breakfast, you will undertake a three hour hike to Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) to experience a deeply spiritual hike and a dash of adventure, the most famous temple in the Himalayan Buddhist world. The temple clings precariously onto a vertical cliff about 1,000 meters above the Paro valley floor. It is here that Guru Padmasambhava, con­sidered to be the second Buddha by the Himalayan Buddhists, is said to have meditated in the eighth century after having flown there on the back of a ferocious tigress.

Hot Stone Spa

After a long day of hiking to Tiger’s nest monastery, there’s nothing better than to experience our very own unique outdoor hot stone spa, a form of traditional Bhutanese medicine where fresh river water is mixed with local Artemisia leaves and heated with fire-roasted river stones. The stones take roughly up to 4 hours to heat up, so do make a reservation with us in advance!

Day 8

Drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination.

Tashi Delek!