The Big Dragon Tour - OUR NEW CIRCLE TOUR!
Our Big Dragon Tour is designed brandnew, will run from Westbhutan till Eastbhutan, to the south, passing Assam and Westbengal back to Puentsholing and back Paro in the north.Fotos from Jochi Sauer, Jürgen Briehlmeier and Kinley Tshering.THE BIG DRAGON TOUR - WEST-EASTH-SOUTH-WEST-NORTH - BHUTAN MOTORCYCLE EXPEDITION 2006/2007. Guaranteed departure with 02 bikers on 2 bikes as a minimum. 2007 05 april – 26 april - Code - MT/3/1/07 18 october – 08 november - Code - MT/3/2/07 It took twenty unbelievable years to construct Bhutan’s highway number one from west to east through rugged Himalayan terrain, the altitude you ride is permanently in a range of 1500m to 4000m as you ride more than 600km from west to east Bhutan, through hills and valleys, plains and mountain and passes after pass!. You will negotiate at least 10,000 curves in this ultimate thunder dragon challenge!. This expedition is the ultimate challenge for bikers! You will be riding the whole of the country from west to east and south to north through the great mighty fertile plains and beautiful tea gardens of Assam in India to reach Phuenstholing Bhutan. This is a completely new innovation from the pioneers of Himalayan Adventures, the only motorbike tour operator based in Bhutan and never before have people undertaken this journey of mosaic cultures, sights and experiences. It is a real Bikers life journey!. Become a Dragon Biker! Welcome to the Club! DAY01. ARRIVAL FROM DEL,KTM or BKK. Arrival from DEL,KTM or BKK. This is a breathtaking mountain flight weather permitting as you can see all great Himalayan peaks including Everest. Upon arrival our staff will be there to receive you at the airport. Be at leisure to explore the town and inspect your machines can do some acclimatization ride on your machines. o/n Paro. DAY02. PARO SIGHTSEEING AND ACCLIMITIZATION. Start your tour of the Paro valley, visit the National Museum to get orientated with Bhutanese culture and History. This is also a ride to get used to the Bhutanese traffic rules and Bhutanese traffic system.Visit the Paro Dzong/Fortress. Dzongs are usually the centers for the District Administration and also Religious head of the District with monks reside, they take care of the spiritual needs of the people. Later in the afternoon take a hike to the Taktsang Monastery, can ride your motorcycle to the road end and hike about 1hr to the view point of the Taktsang Monastery which clings magically on a cliff. While returning back ride to the ruined fortress of Drugyal Dzong, weather permitting views of Mt. Jhomolhari is a treat. o/n Paro. DAY03. PARO-THIMPHU. 65Km 2hrs. Start your onward your ride towards Western Bhutan through the villages of Paro with views of farmhouses and rice fields all along the Paro river which meanders through the valley of Paro. The ride till Thimphu takes about 2hrs. All along your ride through inhabitants as the road is also the highway, you are at your disposal to stop as and when you get photo opportunities. On reaching Thimphu check into your hotel, can be at leisure to explore this small city with its many stores, bars, handicrafts stores. Ride to the view point of Thimphu, can also visit the Zilukha Nunnery. The nuns will probably be having some of their Religious ceremonies and prayers. Today the weekend market is in progress where the resident of Thimphu do their weekly shopping, the bazaar is bustling with vendors from the villages. o/n Thimphu. DAY04. In THIMPHU Today sightsee Thimphu on your bikes. Visit the Folk heritage Museum, the school of handicrafts where students are taught the 13 arts and crafts like statue making, carving, thanka or scroll painting etc Ride to the extreme north of Thimphu towards Tango and Cherry Monastery, the route is very scenic with many apple orchards and villages and at the backdrop mountains shield the place like a great wall. o/n Thimphu. DAY05. THIMPHU –PUNAKHA 77km 3hrs15min From Thimphu you have about 2 hrs of uphill ride towards Dochula pass at 3140m/10,299ft. Weather permitting once you reach Dochula pass there are great views of the Bhutan Himalayas and also there are 108 beautiful stupas marked by a large array of prayer flags. This place is a photographers delight. Visit Chimey Lhakhang- the Temple of the ‘Devine Mad Man’ just before reaching your Hotel. You need to walk about 15minutes from the road. Lama Drukpa Kuenley is a deeply loved saint, he built this monastery in 1499 and it is also the temple of fertility. All the phallus painting and flying phallus on the farmhouses in Bhutan is his! o/n Punakha. DAY06. PUNAKHA-WANGDUE- GANGTEY 83km 3.5hrs. Visit the Punakha Dzong which is one of the most beautiful Dzongs in the country. For the more adventerous cross the suspension bridge and ride towards Wangdue through a little dirt road. Explore a little of the Shengana village. Visit the Wangdue town and head towards the Phobjikha Valley, the valley of the black neck cranes. Depending on the time you will encounter yaks at the small pass at near 3000m. Gangtey is also home to the Gangtey Monastery and village. Explore the Phobjikha valley. Enroute can visit the Wangdue Dzong which stands proudly on a ridge. o/n Phobjikha valley. DAY07. GANGTEY TO TRONGSA. 73km 3.5hrs 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. Time permitting can also ride towards the south to Kungarapten Palace through the villages and warm weather.o/n Trongsa. DAY08. Trongsa –Kungarapten-Zhemgang. Ride 50km appx. With option of another 25km to Kungarapten palace of the 2nd King. You can also take a day excursion to the Kheng district of Zhemgang. The ride to Zhemgang is through the lush and green rice terraced villages throughout. Zhemgang is also a paradise for bird watching, given the dramatic climatic conditions and rich vegetation its rich in avi fauna. o/n Trongsa. DAY09. TRONGSA TO JAKAR /BUMTHANG 68KM 2.3 HRS 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. o/n Bumthang. DAY10. BUMTHANG …..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. BUMTHANG. Explore the valley of Tang today, visit the Ugencholing muesuem in Tang valley, visit the mebar tso or the burning lake where Guru Rimpoche hid treasures and Terton Pema Linpa or the Treasure Reveler discovered them. DAY12. JAKAR- MONGAR. 198KM 7HRS 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. DAY13. MONGAR TO LHUENTSE 76KM 3HRS. Visit one of the most isolated and remote districts of Bhutan. Your ride will take you across many remote and sizable villages of Lhuentse. Lhuentse was formally known as Kurtoe and this region is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family. Your excursion today is 152km and about 6hrs on the road. O/n Mongar. DAY14. MONGAR TO TRASHIGANG 90KM 4HRS Visit the Mongar Dzong and the neat and lively town. 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, but makes it easier on a motorcycle as you can stop on the places through the village of Yadi and small settlements on the way. O/n Trashigang. DAY15. TRASHIGANG –YANGTSI 53KM 2HRS. Take a day excursion to the beautiful valley of Yangtsi enroute visit places like Chorten kora and Gom kora. Yangtsi also borders the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The excursion is about 106km and will take about 5hrs. o/n Trashigang. DAY16. TRASHIGANG. You can be at leisure or be at ease to explore other villages around Trashigang area. Trashigang is a large district and many places are there to be explored. o/n same. DAY17. TRASHIGANG –KHALING. 54KM 2HRS. Visit Khaling and enroute visit Sherubtse college and monasteries and sightsee places throughout. Sherubtse college is the only Degree college in the whole country, the University students will be thrilled to meet you and curious to talk and interact with you. o/n Khaling. DAY18. KHALING-SAMDRUPJONGKHAR 120KM 5HRS. Your ride now begins downhill to the foothills of Assam, all along you cross many small towns and settlements with stops at your convenience. Your ride now officially comes to an end today at 150m. There is a vast change in vegetation, climate and emotions as one heads towards the plains after so many valleys and hills. With this you would have seen the whole of the Himalayan Kingdom from west to east, villages to lifestyles and you will wonder at the end how a small country has such dramatic changes in all aspects. O/n Samdrup Jongkhar. DAY19. DEPARTURE S/JONGKHAR TO Phuentsholing. 180KM 03HRS. Day20. Phuenstholing to Paro. Day21. Paro Rest. Day22. DEPARTURE. At the end of the Tour, you would have had an enchanting experience, met many new friends all along the way, Himalayan Adventures’ mission is to cultivate and connect ‘friends for ever!’ we have many age old connections with other motor bike tour operators worldwide, Lets dream together for another great and exciting adventure to create memories of a lifetime!. We believe in creating memories and departing to cherish them!. *************************************************************** Tour prices No. with KTM 640 adventure Motorcycle in USD per person. 02 8185 03 7205 04 7015 05 6900 06 6825 07 6800 No. with Royal Enfields motorcycle in USD per person. 02 5845 03 5125 04 5065 05 5030 06 plus 5000 Single Room Supplement USD 735 for entire trip. Note: Maximum number of KTM machines 07KTM Royal Enfields we can have maximum of 12motorcycle. KTMs or Royal Enfields will run in two different groups in daytime always! Price includes. -One KTM or Royal Enfield motorbike according to reservation. -A grade accommodation in all places where applicable, best available accommodation in the east at all places with 03 meal plan and tea. -Local Tour Guide and Road Captain. -Back up vehicle & Luggage van. -All fees to museums and sights where applicable, special permits etc. Price excludes. -International airfares and halts in India or elsewhere if connecting flights depending on flight schedules. -Domestic Flights in and out of Paro Bhutan. - Motorcycle caution deposit of USD 1000 for KTM’s and USD 500 for Royal Enfields. -Tips and Gratuities to Guide, Driver, Mechanic. -Use of Bar, Laundry service, Telephone calls etc in Hotels. -Petrol costs while on Tour for own bikes. -personal Insurance. Option. -Last night guests can choose to stay at the most beautiful heritage hotel Zhiwaling Hotel in Paro with dinner included, surcharge of USD 159/ person is applicable in this case. |
