Bhutan is one of the least visited countries in the Himalayas (less people travel to Bhutan than to the Antarctica !) Ecologically, Bhutan is a hot spot in the Himalayas with almost three quarters of the land decreed to be kept under forest cover. This rugged, mountainous and forested landscape of Bhutan lends itself well to both on-road or off-road mountain biking and the sport is increasingly getting popular among both visitors and the local Bhutanese alike. There are a variety of biking routes available ranging from smooth journeys on paved roads to challenging off-road dirt trails that wind through rough terrain. Your paths will pass through clean air and pristine flora and fauna regions. You will enjoy unique architecture and meet smiling people. You will stop at remote villages and learn about their local and rural life…
The kingdom of Bhutan is an exotic destination for mountain biking. Its altitude range from 150m/500ft in the southern sub-tropics to temperate vegetation (2,000-3,000m/6,500-9,900ft) in the middle mountains to high alpine regions above 3000m/10,000ft. Traffic is still relatively very light and the experience very intimate. For the most adventurous the option of making side excursions to the “really off-the-road” ventures can also be planned and arranged. Mountain Biking inside Bhutan offers a certain intimacy with the environment that is seldom experienced in vehicles. With better roads replacing the old and the increasing number of off-road farm roads, biking could be your very unique and original way of seeing and interacting with the country, the people and the Bhutanese environment. Trails mostly meander through small towns, villages and rural areas; it’s just you, your bike, support group, the rustic natural scenery… and the wind. One moment you are twisting and turning along a deep ravine and the next you will be riding along the narrow tracks with majestic views of the Bhutan Himalayan ranges stretching before your eyes. Bicycling here will be a reminder of the ups and downs of life itself. An adventure in the broad terrain of the kingdom… an adventure that beckons every bicyclist that is looking for something unusual, something astonishing. Depending on the choice of route, one can traverse long and winding roads passing through low foothills, the higher river valleys and the high alpine Himalayas– the three zones that comprise the geographical variations of the country. No matter where you pedal, the drama of magnificent scenes and sights unfolding with every turn of the wheel is something to fulfill a cyclist’s dream.
Besides its natural beauty, Bhutan is also very rich in handicrafts, specially its unique textiles. And if you happen to visit the kingdom during its annual Tsechus (festivals), then you will be even more fortunate to witness ancient traditions still kept alive in this far corners of the Himalayas. MSNBC says of Bhutan, “It has all the ingredients of a tourist paradise; misty mountains, mysterious monasteries, emerald green paddy fields and tales of yaks and yetis. Yet, each year, barely 7,000 foreign tourists walk through the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan’s spectacular forests covered with conifers, rhododendrons and prayer flags fluttering in the wind.” Bhutan Travel’s very special Mountain Biking program into this exotic kingdom with intensive cycling exploration – sometimes challenging, sometime leisurely, sometimes combined with day hikes— is a wealth of visual and cultural experience that creates an exhilarating visit to one of the world’s most untouched and spellbinding places in a fascinating way.
