A town stop for the motorcycle crew

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MOTO

Bhutan Motorcycle Adventure

The kingdom's greatest hits, one week in the saddle.

Eight days, three valleys, two great passes and one very happy rider. The Motorcycle Adventure is our most accessible tour — the essential west of Bhutan aboard a Royal Enfield, at a pace that leaves room for dzongs, tsechus and long lunches with a view.

If you hold a licence and can ride confidently at home, you can ride this. Roads are paved, days are short, and the support truck is never more than a few bends behind.

Best Season
Year-round · best Sep – May
Ride Distance
≈ 600 km
Trip Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Ride Days
6 Ride Days
Challenge Level
Easy / Moderate · licence required
Terrain
Paved passes · valley roads
Type of Bike
Royal Enfield Himalayan / Classic
Group Size
4 – 12 Riders
Price
From US$ 3,850

Tour Dates

15 – 22 Nov 2026

Places open

Tour Highlights

  • Dochula pass and its 108 chortens at sunrise
  • Punakha Dzong at the meeting of the mother and father rivers
  • The glacial Phobjikha valley and Gangtey monastery
  • Chele La — 3,988 m of hairpins and prayer flags
  • Short riding days with long, unhurried stops
  • Tiger's Nest hike to finish

Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Paro

Meet the bikes and the crew; short valley shakedown and welcome dinner.

  • Distance 25 km
Day 02 Paro → Thimphu

An easy river-road run to the capital; afternoon exploring the world’s only capital without a traffic light.

  • Distance 65 km
Day 03 Thimphu → Punakha

Crest Dochula among the chortens, then swoop 1,700 m down into the warm Punakha valley.

  • Distance 85 km
Day 04 Punakha → Gangtey

Ride the river gorge and climb to the glacial bowl of Phobjikha. Farmhouse dinner, maybe cranes.

  • Distance 78 km
Day 05 Gangtey → Thimphu

Retrace the passes with the morning light in your favour — the best riding day of the week.

  • Distance 130 km
Day 06 Thimphu → Paro via Chele La

The grand detour over Bhutan’s highest road pass, then down to Paro for a hot-stone bath.

  • Distance 120 km
Day 07 Tiger’s Nest

Boots, not bikes: hike to the monastery on the cliff and raise a Red Panda to the week.

Rest day

Day 08 Departure

Airport transfer for your onward flight.

Day-by-Day Ride Stats

Hours, distance and elevation for each day of this tour, with totals.
Day Hours on the Saddle Distance Ridden Elevation Gained Elevation Lost Highest Elevation Hotel / Camp Elevation
1 - 25 km - - - -
2 - 65 km - - - -
3 - 85 km - - - -
4 - 78 km - - - -
5 - 130 km - - - -
6 - 120 km - - - -
7 - - - - - -
8 - - - - - -
Totals - 503 km - - - -

Picture Yourself Here

Royal Enfields pause on a high pass road
All smiles from the Enfield saddle
A line of loaded Royal Enfields
Crossing the cantilever bridge at Punakha Dzong
A chorten strung with prayer flags
Climbing past a hillside village
A trailside waterfall break
Splashing through a river crossing
Cresting the Yele La pass
An alpine lake below the trail
Young monks admire an enduro bike
A rider launches off a ridge above snow peaks
Riders drop through a pine-forest chute
A rider silhouetted against the sun mid-jump
Full airtime above a grassy ridge
Descending beneath the peak of Jichu Drake
Freeriding below Mt Jomolhari
Carving a dusty ridgeline
Dropping into a wild green valley
Sharing the trail with a yak
Riding beneath prayer flags near Tiger's Nest
Riders overlook a rhododendron valley
A mellow cross-country trail stop
A mule bridge in the snow

Good to Know

The answers below apply to every Bhutan Rides trip — one honest FAQ, no small print.

What does the pricing include?

Our prices cover everything inside Bhutan: the government Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), your visa, all riding permits, twin-share accommodation, three meals a day, drinking water and trail snacks, a certified riding guide, a support vehicle with mechanic and driver, airport transfers, and all monument entry fees on the itinerary.

What is not included in the price?

International flights to and from Paro, travel insurance (mandatory — see the insurance question below), alcoholic drinks, personal shopping, tips for the crew, and single-room supplements. Bike or motorcycle hire is quoted separately so riders who bring their own machine never pay for one they don’t use.

Who is this tour for?

Each ride lists its own challenge level, but the honest rule is: if you ride regularly at home, there is a Bhutan ride for you. Cross-country trips suit anyone with moderate fitness; Enduro and expedition trips need confident technical descending; motorcycle tours need a valid licence and real-world riding experience. Not sure? Write to us — we’d rather match you to the right ride than sell you the wrong one.

Do I need to tip the guides?

Tipping is customary in Bhutan but entirely at your discretion. As a guideline, riders typically pool around US$8–12 per person per day, shared between the guide, driver and support crew at the end of the trip. It is a thank-you, never an obligation.

How many riders will there be in the group?

We keep groups small on purpose — most departures run with 4 to 12 riders plus crew. Small groups keep the singletrack flowing, the pace flexible and the evenings personal. Private groups of 2 or more can book any tour as a bespoke departure.

Can I do laundry during the trip?

Yes. Hotels in Thimphu, Paro and Punakha offer same-day or next-day laundry at a modest charge. On multi-day riding stretches between towns, plan for two to three days between laundry stops — quick-dry riding kit is your friend.

What kind of accommodation can I expect?

Hand-picked three and four-star hotels and heritage lodges in the towns, and the best available farmstays or camps in remote valleys. Every property is chosen for hot showers, good food and secure bike storage. On expedition itineraries like Chasing the Yeti, some nights are full-service camping with our crew.

How are the medical facilities in Bhutan during an emergency?

Every district town has a hospital and the national referral hospital is in Thimphu; healthcare for visitors is competent for first-line treatment. Our guides are wilderness-first-aid trained, every trip carries a comprehensive medical kit and oxygen on high routes, and the support vehicle is never far from the trail.

Is helicopter evacuation possible?

Yes. Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services operates medical evacuation flights nationwide, and our crews carry the communications to call one in from remote valleys. Heli-evacuation is exactly why we require travel insurance that covers helicopter rescue and riding activities.

What kind of food can I expect?

Hearty and plentiful. Expect Bhutanese staples like red rice, momos and the famous ema datshi (chillies and cheese) alongside Indian, Chinese and continental dishes. Breakfasts are big, ride days include packed lunches or hot roadside stops, and we cater happily for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free riders — just tell us when you book.

Insurance and safety

Travel insurance is mandatory for every rider and must cover the activity you’re booked on (mountain biking or motorcycling), emergency helicopter evacuation and repatriation. On the safety side: certified guides, radio-linked support vehicles, quality loan helmets and pads, daily bike checks by our mechanic, and conservative route calls when weather turns. We’ve run rides here for over fifteen years without losing our record — and we intend to keep it.

What should I pack for the trip?

Your riding kit (helmet, gloves, eyewear, padded shorts, quick-dry layers), a warm down jacket and beanie for high passes, rain shell, casual clothes for evenings, sunscreen, a personal medical kit, and your licence if motorcycling. We send every confirmed rider a detailed, tour-specific packing list — pedals, saddles and other personal contact points are welcome if you’re riding our bikes.

See the full FAQ

Want to Ride This as a Private Trip?

Please write to us today — any departure can run privately for two or more riders, on your dates and at your pace.

How to find us?

Ride past the garage, ping us on WhatsApp or drop us a line — either way, you'll be talking to someone who rides.

A real rider replies within two working days — usually much sooner.

Get in Touch

No deposit yet — this simply starts the conversation.