About this trip
The most ambitious motorbike tour we offer. Twelve days, five high passes including Thrumshing La at 3,750 metres (the second-highest road pass in Bhutan), and a full east-to-west traverse to the easternmost dzongkhag at Trashigang and back. The eastern leg is for committed riders only — long ride days, technical sections through dense rhododendron forest, and the genuine satisfaction of having ridden to a part of Bhutan that fewer than five percent of foreign visitors ever reach.
Highlights
- Five high passes: Dochula, Pele La, Yotongla, Thrumshing La (3,750 m), and the return crossings
- Trashigang Dzong, perched dramatically above the Drangme Chhu river
- Bumthang's ancient temples — Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey, the Burning Lake
- Phobjikha valley and Gangtey Goenpa monastery
- The full length of Bhutan's east–west highway, ridden in both directions
For experienced riders only. Best months: October–November (clearest weather) and March–April. Royal Enfield Himalayans, full back-up vehicle, mechanic on call, certified Bhutanese road guide.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 01 Arrive Paro · Bike fitting
Met at Paro International Airport with khadars and transferred to the hotel for lunch. After lunch, a drive into Thimphu for bike fitting at our partner workshop — Royal Enfield Himalayans matched to each rider, seats adjusted, luggage racks checked. Full safety briefing for the long expedition ahead: Bhutanese road conventions, eastern road conditions, the support-vehicle protocol, mechanic's emergency kit, and the satellite communication system we use on remote eastern stretches. Helmets, gloves, rain shells and high-altitude jackets are issued. Drive back to Paro for an early dinner.
- Stay:
- Hotel Olathang, Paro
- Meals:
- D
Day 02 Paro warm-up loop
An unhurried half-day loop ride to get everyone comfortable on the bike before the bigger days begin. We ride out from Paro towards the Drukgyel Dzong ruins at the head of the valley — about 30 km of wide, gentle road that winds past rice terraces and traditional whitewashed farmhouses. Back to Paro for lunch, with the afternoon free for an easy walk to a Tiger's Nest viewpoint, a hot-stone bath at the hotel, or simply rest. Evening route briefing for tomorrow's ride to Thimphu.
- Stay:
- Hotel Olathang, Paro
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 60 km
Day 03 Paro to Punakha · Dochula
Climb to Dochula Pass at 3,100 metres — the saddle marked by 108 white chortens (the Druk Wangyal Chortens), with the eastern Himalaya from Jomolhari to Gangkar Puensum laid out across the northern horizon on a clear morning. Coffee and apple pie at the pass-side cafe is a tradition. The road then drops a dramatic 1,800 metres through subtropical forest down into the warm Punakha valley. Afternoon visit to Punakha Dzong at the meeting of two rivers — arguably the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan.
- Stay:
- Dhensa Boutique, Punakha
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 130 km
- Altitude:
- 3100 m
Day 04 Punakha to Phobjikha · Pele La
Climb out of Punakha following the Mo Chhu valley, then cut east over Pele La pass at 3,420 metres — the road surface deteriorates briefly here but the riding is exhilarating, with the Black Mountains on either side. Down the far side, the road drops into the wide glacial bowl of the Phobjikha valley — flat, grass-covered, and one of the most distinctive landscapes in Bhutan. From November to February the valley hosts roughly 500 black-necked cranes wintering from Tibet. Afternoon free for a valley walk on the Gangtey Nature Trail or a visit to Gangtey Goenpa monastery.
- Stay:
- Gangtey Lodge, Phobjikha
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 110 km
- Altitude:
- 3420 m
Day 05 Phobjikha to Bumthang · Yotongla
A long but rewarding riding day. Recross to the main east-west highway, continue through Trongsa where Bhutan's largest dzong perches above a deep gorge (a tea stop here is mandatory), then climb over Yotongla Pass at 3,425 metres before descending into the four broad valleys of Bumthang — sometimes called the spiritual heartland of Bhutan, where many of the country's oldest temples are clustered. Six to seven hours of riding with frequent breaks; the support vehicle stays close. Late dinner at the lodge.
- Stay:
- Yu-Loki Resort, Bumthang
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 145 km
- Altitude:
- 3425 m
Day 06 Bumthang valleys · Rest day
A rest day for both riders and bikes. The mechanic gives every machine a full check-over while the group explores the four valleys of Bumthang on foot or with the support vehicle. Visit Jambay Lhakhang (one of 108 temples said to have been built across the Himalaya in a single day in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo), Kurjey Lhakhang where Guru Rinpoche left an imprint of his body in a meditation cave, and the Burning Lake (Mebar Tsho) where Pema Lingpa is said to have emerged from the water still holding a butter lamp lit. Long, restful evening before the eastern leg starts tomorrow.
- Stay:
- Yu-Loki Resort, Bumthang
- Meals:
- B/L/D
Day 07 Bumthang to Mongar · Thrumshing La
The hardest riding day of the trip and the most spectacular. Cross Thrumshing La pass at 3,750 metres — the second-highest road pass in Bhutan, with technical sections through dense rhododendron forest on the eastern descent (in late April and May the rhododendron blooms turn the route into a corridor of pink and red). The road descends and climbs through several climate zones in a single day; be alert for gravel, fallen branches, and the occasional yak. Watch for blood pheasant in the upper forest. Arrive Mongar in the late afternoon — exhausted but satisfied. Bikes get an evening once-over from the mechanic.
- Stay:
- Hotel in Mongar
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 195 km
- Altitude:
- 3750 m
Day 08 Mongar to Trashigang
A scenic 4-hour ride northeast through dense forest and across the Drangme Chhu river — much easier riding than yesterday, with smooth tarmac most of the way. Optional stop at the Khoma weaving village, where the women weave the most prized fabric in Bhutan — the brocaded silk known as kishuthara, used for the formal kira on important occasions. Each piece can take six months on the back-strap loom. Continue on to Trashigang in the early afternoon, the easternmost dzongkhag — sometimes called the 'jewel of the east' for its strategic position above the river. Visit Trashigang Dzong in the late afternoon.
- Stay:
- Hotel in Trashigang
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 95 km
Day 09 Trashigang · Trashiyangtse loop · Rest day
A rest-and-explore day in the east. Optional day-trip ride north to Trashiyangtse with a stop at the white Chorten Kora — modelled on the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in eastern Bhutan. Continue to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum (the eastern branch), specialising in wood-carving and traditional bamboo crafts. Return to Trashigang in the late afternoon for a sunset visit to the dzong and a quiet evening to prepare for the long return ride.
- Stay:
- Hotel in Trashigang
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 100 km
Day 10 Trashigang to Bumthang · the long return
The longest single ride day on the books — about 290 kilometres back across Thrumshing La pass, with technical sections on the western climb. We leave Trashigang at first light to give us margin, with the support vehicle leapfrogging ahead to set up tea and lunch stops. The riding is everything you came for: hairpin descents, alpine pastures, prayer-flag-strung passes, and the deep satisfaction of recognising landscapes from the outbound leg with new eyes. Pace is conservative, breaks are frequent. Late arrival into Bumthang for hot showers and a quiet dinner.
- Stay:
- Yu-Loki Resort, Bumthang
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 290 km
- Altitude:
- 3750 m
Day 11 Bumthang to Paro
Long but rewarding return ride west, recrossing Yotongla, Pele La and Dochula passes — about 290 kilometres with stops, but everyone is more relaxed on the return now that the eastern leg is the memory it will become. Lunch at Trongsa with views of the dzong above its gorge. Late afternoon descent through Punakha and on to Paro, where hot-stone baths and a celebratory farewell dinner await. The contrast of returning to Paro after 10 days on the road is sharp; many groups need a full debrief over dinner just to settle into the idea that the trip is ending.
- Stay:
- Hotel Olathang, Paro
- Meals:
- B/L/D
- Distance:
- 290 km
- Altitude:
- 3425 m
Day 12 Bike return · Departure
Bikes are handed back to our workshop partner first thing in the morning — the team checks each in for damage, refunds any unused fuel deposits, and gives each rider a small printed mileage certificate (always a healthier number on this tour than on shorter ones) as a memento. Final breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Paro International Airport. Final khadars at the security gate and a last 'tashi delek' before you board. Most onward flights connect through Delhi, Kolkata, Bangkok or Singapore.
- Stay:
- —
- Meals:
- B
