We believe this is the most competitively priced Bhutan motorcycle adventure on the market.
Bhutan, for years closed off from the rest of the world, seems like a little slice of Himalayan heaven. This ancient land got TV in 1999 and the single set of traffic lights was removed for being unfriendly.
Bhutan is set high in the Himalayas and the roads we traverse snake around the mountains like the tail of the Thunder Dragon that appears on the flag of Bhutan. Bhutan is no ordinary place and our motorcycle adventures are far from ordinary. Like Bhutan, they are magical (with just a hint of mystery) and will present traditional Buddhist culture in its finest light.
We’ll have time to ride, time to soak up the scenery and time to engage with the locals in the villages we pass through. Staying away from the cities, we explore a relatively untouched land where the locals welcome the unusual site of foreigners travelling through their villages on motorbikes.
Chilli is not a seasoning but the main dish, Monks will check their smartphones after daily meditation, the country is carbon neutral and more importance is put on Gross National Happiness than on GDP. If Bhutan is not ‘Shangri La’, it’s as close as it gets.
Weather
Early March to mid-April is spring in Bhutan. Temperatures are mild, and melting snows give way to gorgeous wildflowers covering the hillsides, while both humidity and rainfall are low. The views are spectacular in Spring and you can expect some absolutely stunning Himalayan panoramas at higher altitudes.
Summer is long and begins in mid-April and continues through to mid-September. Rainfall is at its heaviest from late-June onwards, especially in the south. Humidity is higher, but it can still get cold at night, especially in the northern areas. In July (the warmest month of the year in Bhutan) temperatures can reach 31.5°C in the east of the country, with highs of around 26°C in the capital, Thimphu.
From late September or early October, it is autumn and is predominantly crisp, bright and sunny. Again, the views are often sensational at this time of year, hence this being another peak season. Higher elevations in the north could well be experiencing some early snowfall as the autumn months progress.
Late November to Early March is winter and although possible to explore, the weather makes it more challenging with heavy snow above 3000m and some remote villages can be cut off.
We cross off all the must-see spots such as the Tiger’s Nest monastery, Trongsa Dzong and arguably the most spectacular Dzong in the country – Punakha Dzong
Experienced Bhutanese guides will escort you safely through the land of the Thunder Dragon with a full support crew including mechanics to ensure that you have the best adventure of your life.
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION |
Paro, Bhutan |
| ADVENTURE DATES | 2024 dates are available upon request
The best months are Spring and Autumn (March, April, May & Sept, October, and November). However, Bhutan can also be explored during the other (off-peak) months if you’d like a more affordable experience. |
| PRIVATE ADVENTURES | This tour is also available as a private adventure for solo adventurers, couples, clubs, or even just a group of mates. This can be any combination of riders, pillions, sidecar passengers or even family in one of our expedition support vehicles. The tour can be shortened or lengthened to suit your desires. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have a group that would be interested in exploring the happiest country on the planet. |
| PRICES | Rider: US$4,390 per person Pillion: US$3,490 per personPrices quoted are per person and based on a minimum of 2 people on a twin share basis. If you have a group of 4 or more interested then the price will be reduced. |
| WHAT’S INCLUDED | All ground transfers in Bhutan, airport to airport. Motorcycle – Royal Enfield and all fuel. Accommodation (twin sharing luxury hotels/similar- heritage hotels /similar), neat & clean. Breakfast and dinner in the hotel (lunch on the way) in the local restaurants. An English-speaking guide. Mechanics with all necessary spare parts throughout the adventure Support van to carry all your luggage Mineral water will be provided during the expedition. Monument entrance fees during the entire trip. Bhutan Visa Fees All internal route permit |
| NOT INCLUDED | International flights Indian multiple entry visa (details sent with rider pack) Travel Insurance (compulsory) International Driving License Any damage to the motorcycle must be covered by the rider in full (optional insurance available) Personal Expenses Tipping (US$100 is recommended. It gets shared between the support crew) Alcohol, soda & espresso coffees |
NOTE: The prices above are based on a twin share basis. If you’d like a private room, then there is a US$650 supplement.
Payment terms: A US$500 deposit must be made at the time of booking. Balance payment must be paid 8 weeks before the tour start date. Payment plans are available upon request.
Terms & Conditions What To Bring Price GuaranteeAdditional information
| Rider or Pillion | Rider, Pillion |
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An early start with a 2 – 3 hour hike to Tiger’s Nest, the infamous monastery that is the quintessential image of Bhutan. It will be a 1-hour hike back down and then we head to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. You ride through the fertile plains of Paro and have great views of the rich farms of terraced rice fields as we ride next to the Paro and Thimphu Rivers. Upon reaching Thimpu, we’ll check into our hotel and explore the city at our leisure.
We ride to the best viewpoint in the Thimpu valley which is only a short ride from the town and visit one of the largest statues in the world at Buddha Point (Kuenselphodrang). The 52m high statue of Buddha contains 100,000 smaller statues of Buddha inside it! Enroute to Punakha we go over Dochu La (pass). After lunch in Lobesa, we visit Chimi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong (fortress). After completing sightseeing, ride to Phobjikha via Bajo town for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, we ride to Trongsa and we visit the Trongsa Dzong (fortress) and Ta Dzong (Museum). Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
We visit Jambay Lhakhang (temple), Kurje Lhakhang (temple) and Tamshing Monastery. Later we ride further to Ura valley, which is a 48km one-way trip. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, we will ride back to Tingtibi crossing Trongsa town. After crossing Trongsa we will descend down to Tingtibi. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel / local farmhouse.
Today we will ride to Gelephu, the nearest Indian Border town within the Indian State of Assam. Google maps says there is no direct way to get there but there is if we go a little off-road :). Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Today we will leave our bike back in Bhutan. After breakfast, we will complete our exit formalities in Bhutan and reenter the Indian state of Assam. Later, we will enjoy a long ride on a fine paved road along the Assam Highway NH31. Late in the evening, we will enjoy Brahmaputra River Cruise. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
After your morning breakfast, our team will transfer you to the airport for the flight to Delhi to connect with your international flight home.
That’s it, you’ve visited the happiest country in the world and hopefully, you’ll take some of that happiness away with you and spread it around. We’ll see you soon for your next adventure.
INSURANCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(INDIA, NEPAL, BHUTAN, TIBET, MONGOLIA, MYANMAR and SRI LANKA)
In the countries we conduct adventures, commercial insurance on motor vehicles is either not available, or is of questionable value. 3rd party insurance will usually not cover foreigners and even if it does, it is generally worthless if one needs to make a claim. In the event of an accident in these countries, the situation is usually settled on the spot without the “assistance” of insurance companies. If insurance companies are involved, it can take days, weeks and even months before there is a resolution.
Damage Cap Option “DCO”
Himalayan Heroes offers its riders the option of capping the cost of your damage bill on the motorcycle you are riding. The cost of this damage cap option “DCO” is US$195, paid as a lump sum before the tour starts. In the event you damage the motorcycle, the DCO will cap your damage bill at US$200.
3 Scenarios
- If, like most of our riders, you do not damage the motorcycle then the total cost to you is only the cost of the DCO = US$195.
- If, like some of our riders, you put the bike down at slow speed and damage mirrors, levers, foot pegs etc and the damage bill is say, US$120 then you pay the US$120. The total cost to you is US$315 (US$195 DCO + US$120 damage bill)
- If you have a big off and damage the tank, forks etc and the damage bill is say US$750 then your damage bill is capped at US$200. The total cost to you is US$395 (US$195 DCO + US$200 damage bill).
The DCO is optional, so if you would like to carry the risk yourself, you are welcome to. At the completion of the tour, you will be presented with an itemised bill of the damage to the bike. Approximately 50% of our riders do not damage the bikes and of the 50% that do receive a damage bill, the majority of the bills are less than $300. Please send us an email if you’ve got any questions about the DCO.
The DCO is not an insurance policy and therefore any costs related to it cannot be claimed on a travel insurance claim.
