Bicycle Tour 2

EAST-WEST CYCLING TOUR BHUTAN.

Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Fixed Departure Dates 2007, guaranteed with 02pax. 22.03 – 05.04. 2007 11.10 – 25.10.2007

DAY01. 22MARCH 07. THU. ARRIVAL FROM KATHMANDU, BANGKOK OR DELHI.

If flying in from Delhi-Kathmandu, one will experience breath taking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and other Himalayan peaks including Bhutan's sacred Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake. On arrival at the airport, representatives of tour company will receive and escort to Hotel. Be at leisure to explore the small town of Paro, time permitting visit the Dzong.

DAY02. 23 MARCH.07. FRI PARO SIGHTSEEING.

Get acclimatized with the altitude for the rides for the following days. Ride to the National museum, ride to Drugyal Dzong and Kichu Monastery which is the oldest monastery in the country. Total you have about 32km rides over all. Time permitting can do the Taktsang hike, the Taktsang monastery is a landmark of the country and a famous religious site for Buddhist all over the world. The Monastery clings magically on a cliff 300m above the valley floor.

DAY03. 24 MARCH 07.SAT. PARO-THIMPHU 65km.

Ride to Thimphu, this will take appx 05 hrs depending on the level of professionalism and cycling skills. The ride is all along the lined willow trees and the beautiful villages of Paro. All along you ride parallel to the river banks. On arrival at Thimphu you be at leisure or just explore the Thimphu city, the weekend market would be in progress where the residents of Thimphu do their weekly marketing and farmers and vendors all over the country visit this market to sell their handicrafts and farm produce.

DAY04. 25 MARCH 07.SUN THIMPHU.

Sightsee and explore Thimphu on bicycle, do a challenging ride to the viewpoint of Thimphu, visit the Takin sanctuary, this is also the national animal of Bhutan, which has a head of a goat, body of a Bull and fur of a yak. Visit the Zilukha nunnery. Be at leisure to explore the Thimphu city and its curio shops later in the evening.

DAY05. 26 MARCH 07.MON. THIMPHU-PUNAKHA. 71km.

Do some quick sightseeing and places of interest before heading for the Dochula pass, this will take about 02-03hrs uphill, But once you reach the Pass at 3000m, views and hard work is rewarding with the Eastern Himalayan range weather permitting. After that it is all downhill till you reach the warm and lush valley of Punakha region. Can visit the Chimey lhakhang/monastery of the devine mad man or the temple of fertility.

DAY06. 27 MARCH 07.TUE. PUNAKHA SIGHTSEEING.

Explore the fertile and flat valley of Punakha, ride north towards the Crown Prince’s Monastery perched on a strategic location on a hill top over looking the rich rice terraced fields. Visit the Punakha Dzong, which is located on the confluence of two rivers. This Dzong used to be the former capital of Bhutan and till date still used as the winter capital by the clergy.

DAY07. 28 MARCH 07. WED. PUNAKHA – GANGTEY 83km.

Ride to Phobjikha valley, the abode of the black neck cranes, enroute visit Wangdue Dzong, all along you ride and see the villages of Sha. The backup vehicle will always there following the cyclists and at any point of time riders get exhausted you can continue on the back up car.

DAY08. 29 MARCH 07.THU.GANGTEY-TRONGSA 73KM.

After completion of sightseeing and exploration of Phobjikha valley, continue towards Trongsa via the Pelila pass 3420m and along the Black Mountain range to Trongsa. The ride today does not involve steep gradients and will be a very comfortable with warm and lush winds as you approach Trongsa. You will encounter yaks depending on the season, experience vegetation from high alpine forests to dwarf bamboo vegetation to subtropical as you reach Trongsa while riding through many settlements. After reaching Trongsa can visit the Trongsa Dzong, which is the largest Dzong in the country, which is of particular importance to the Monarchy in Bhutan, it was from this Dzong that the present Wangchuck dynasty started its rule.

DAY09. 30 MARCH 07.FRI. TRONGSA TO JAKAR /BUMTHANG 68KM

After visiting the Watch tower continue uphill until you reach the Yotongla pass 3425m. From then on its downhill until you reach the broad Chumey valley. Bumthang is also called the Switzerland of Bhutan given the similarity of the views and landscape. Stop at the Yathra-traditional Bumthang woolen fabric at Chumey. Ride through pine forests and villages of Bumthang until we reach Jakar or Chamkhar Valley.

DAY10. 31 MARCH 07.SAT. BUMTHANG SIGHTSEEING

…..Many great kings and ministers have graced these valleys, And many are the magnificent monasteries there……….From an ancient text.

Bumthang region encompasses four major valleys and there are many places of interest to visit Bumthang. You can start visiting the important and ancient monasteries like the Kurgye Monastery, Jakar Dzong and Jambay Lhakhang Monastery.

DAY11. 01 APRIL.07. SUN. JAKAR- MONGAR. 198KM

We will begin early as we have a long day. Nevertheless there are a great many sights as we ride through different types of landscape. We will ride through cold conditions through pine forests and beautiful villages of Ura until we reach the Thrumshingla pass at 3750m, from then on you are now officially at eastern Bhutan, we now have to descend into warm weather passing villages like Sengkhor until we reach Mongar. o/n Mongar.

DAY12. 02 MARCH 07.MON. MONGAR

Sightsee and rest at Mongar, can be at leisure to explore some villages around Mongar or just take rest in your resort hotel.

DAY13. 03MARCH 07.TUE MONGAR TO TRASHIGANG 90KM

Trashigang is the heart of eastern Bhutan and was once the centre of important trade with Tibet. There are several Monasteries and villages where life is very interesting and lively as it is more populated than the western part of Bhutan. The Mongar to Trashigang stretch is easier and shorter than the journey from Jakar to Mongar, still requires about 3.5 hrs to cover the 92km by car. The ride to Trashigang involves crossing several villages like Yadi and other small settlements, never the less the ride can be very pleasant with the lush air and vegetation and less or no traffic at all.

DAY14. 04 MARCH 07.WED. TRASHIGANG TO SAMDRUP JONGKHAR 180km.

Today is a long but interesting ride, again passing many places like Sherubtse college the only degree college in the country, Khaling and several other settlements as you descend towards the plains at 150m. The road is interesting and a bicycling delight with many ups and downs and great sights throughout.

DAY15. 05MARCH 07.THU. DEPARTURE FOR ANY MAJOR CITIES IN INDIA OR BANGKOK FROM THE CITY OF GAUWHATI IT’S 3HRS TRANSFER FROM SJ. TO THE AIRPORT.

TARIFF:

PAX PRICE PP IN USD WITH RENTAL OF KTM OR TREK BIKES.

If guests bring own cycles. O2PAX 3460 3020 03 3390 2630 04 3355 ..do… 05 3334 ..do…. 06-10PAX 3320 ..do….

Single room Supplement. USD 455/-

Rates Inclusive of:

• A GRADE Accommodation and Resort Hotels with 03 meal plan. • Mineral water on tour. • Back up vehicle with spares. • English Speaking Guide throughout trip. • Visa fees and Tourism Development Fund • All entry fees where applicable.

What is not included:

• Airfares to and out of Paro if applicable. • International flights and domestic flights if applicable.

Extras:

• Use of bar, laundry, telephone, internet etc. • Tips to crew. • Personal shopping etc.

Notes:

The Itinerary might change a bit based on flight timings, domestic and international connections. However a final confirmation will be given once we do ticketing and determine flight timings etc.