A mellow cross-country trail stop

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Bhutan Cross-Country MTB Tour

Ride across the kingdom, valley by valley.

The Cross-Country Tour is Bhutan at riding pace: west to centre through four great valleys, on a flowing mix of singletrack, farm roads and old trade paths. You’ll pedal past dzongs and rice terraces, cross passes strung with prayer flags, and roll into villages where a bike still draws a crowd.

Distances are honest but never brutal, the support vehicle is always within reach, and rest stops double as cultural ones — this is the trip for riders who want the whole kingdom, not just the descents.

Best Season
Mar – May · Sep – Nov
Ride Distance
≈ 240 km riding
Trip Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Ride Days
7 Ride Days
Challenge Level
Intermediate
Terrain
Valley singletrack · farm roads · passes
Type of Bike
XC / Trail Bike
Group Size
4 – 12 Riders
Price
From US$ 3,950

Tour Dates

18 – 27 Oct 2026

Places open

21 – 30 Mar 2027

Places open

Tour Highlights

  • Four valleys — Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Phobjikha — linked by bike
  • The Dochula pass crossing with its 108 chortens
  • Rice-terrace singletrack and suspension bridges of Punakha
  • Black-necked crane country in the glacial Phobjikha valley
  • Village lunches and a farmstay night with a Bhutanese family
  • Support vehicle shadowing every stage — ride as much or as little as you like

Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Paro

Touch down beneath 7,000 m peaks, meet your guides, fit the bikes and spin along the Paro river to loosen flight legs.

  • Distance 12 km
Day 02 Paro valley warm-up

A gentle circuit past Kyichu Lhakhang and up the valley to the ruined Drukgyel Dzong, Jomolhari on the horizon.

  • Distance 30 km
  • Elevation Gain 450 m
Day 03 Paro → Thimphu

Ride the old route into the capital, finishing beneath the giant Buddha Dordenma with the city at your feet.

  • Distance 42 km
  • Elevation Gain 800 m
Day 04 Dochula → Punakha

Crest the 3,100 m Dochula pass, then descend through blue pine and rhododendron to subtropical Punakha.

  • Distance 38 km
  • Elevation Loss 1,600 m
Day 05 Punakha valley

Terraced singletrack, the great dzong at the river confluence, and Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge.

  • Distance 26 km
Day 06 Punakha → Phobjikha

Climb steadily into the glacial bowl of Phobjikha — winter home of the black-necked cranes. Farmstay night.

  • Distance 34 km
  • Elevation Gain 1,200 m
Day 07 Phobjikha valley loop

Roll the valley rim trail past Gangtey Gonpa and through crane-watching meadows.

  • Distance 28 km
Day 08 Return west

Recross the passes (truck assist available) with a final singletrack drop into Thimphu for a celebration dinner.

  • Distance 30 km
Day 09 Paro · Tiger’s Nest

Hike to the Tiger’s Nest monastery clinging to its cliff — the classic Bhutan finale.

Rest day

Day 10 Departure

Transfer to Paro airport 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 - 12 km - - - -
2 - 30 km 450 m - - -
3 - 42 km 800 m - - -
4 - 38 km - 1,600 m - -
5 - 26 km - - - -
6 - 34 km 1,200 m - - -
7 - 28 km - - - -
8 - 30 km - - - -
9 - - - - - -
10 - - - - - -
Totals - 240 km 2,450 m 1,600 m - -

Picture Yourself Here

Crossing the cantilever bridge at Punakha Dzong
Young monks admire an enduro bike
Sharing the trail with a yak
Riding beneath prayer flags near Tiger's Nest
Riders overlook a rhododendron valley
Splashing through a river crossing
A trailside waterfall break
Climbing past a hillside village
A mule bridge in the snow
Riders push through fresh snow
Snow riding below the pass
Deep-winter singletrack
Cresting the Yele La pass
An alpine lake below the trail
The long descent from Yele La
A chorten strung with prayer flags
Riding the brown hills above Lubra
A bike rests in a burned pine forest
Royal Enfields pause on a high pass road
All smiles from the Enfield saddle
A town stop for the motorcycle crew
A line of loaded Royal Enfields
An enduro bike propped on Himalayan rock
A rider launches off a ridge above snow peaks

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.