The Dragon Kingdom

It is our only tour in Bhutan: 12 days with 8 riding days, crossing the kingdom from east to west, from the Indian border at Samdrup Jongkhar to Paro, via Bumthang, Punakha and Thimphu. It is all on tarmac, rated Intermediate, with a dzong or a monastery at almost every stage. In Nepal, our tours start from Kathmandu; in the Indian Himalaya, our Ladakh tours climb higher, over passes above 5,000 metres.

The level is Intermediate: you need to ride regularly and cope with stages of 5 to 6 hours, day after day. There are no technical off-road sections, but the mountain roads are narrow and winding, in good condition over about 80% of the route, the rest under construction. Some stretches run along steep drops, and fog and rain remain possible, even in spring and autumn.

603 miles (970 km) over 8 riding days, from 43 to 118 miles (70 to 190 km) a stage: on roads that never stop winding, each stage fills the day. You cross four major passes, the Thrumsing La and the Chele La at 3,800 metres, the Pele La at 3,300 metres and the Dochu La at over 3,100 metres. On day 10, you ride only 12 miles (20 km) around Paro, to walk up to the Tiger’s Nest monastery, clinging to its cliff.

A Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, with a seat height of 825 to 845 mm, or 805 to 825 mm with the lowered seat: if your height makes you hesitate, talk to your travel advisor before booking. Pillions are welcome, at £4,490 (€4,890) per pillion. The luggage travels in the support vehicle, but your pillion must be happy with long days on very winding mountain roads.

On riding days, an English-speaking motorcycle tour leader leads the group: they meet you at Samdrup Jongkhar, as you enter Bhutan. A local English-speaking guide also travels with you, along with an experienced mechanic and the driver of the support vehicle, which carries the luggage and spare parts. The group is limited to 10 motorcycles, 12 participants with pillions.

£4,990 (€5,490) per rider and £4,490 (€4,890) per pillion. The price includes the motorcycle, fuel, the team, the Delhi-Guwahati and Paro-Delhi flights, transfers, accommodation, full board from breakfast on day 2 to dinner on day 10, breakfast on days 11 and 12, and the Bhutanese visa. The £31 (€35) registration fee only applies to your first trip with us.

Your flights to Delhi, the Indian visa, the international driving permit, drinks, entrance fees for temples, monasteries and museums, tips and a €600 deposit per motorcycle. Bhutan also charges a Sustainable Development Fee, the SDF, paid with the visa application (official Bhutan tourism website): your travel advisor will tell you how it is shown in your quote. For the rest, our budget page suggests €200 to €300 of spending money.

The season runs from March to April, then from October to November, in spring and autumn, outside the monsoon. Next departures: 15 to 26 October and 14 to 25 November 2026, both full, then 16 to 27 April 2027 and 4 to 15 October 2027. Other dates are possible on request: ask your travel advisor. Bring a warm layer for the passes and rain gear.

You book your flights to Delhi, where our representative meets you on day 1 and gives you your schedule for the next day. On day 2, an included flight takes you to Guwahati, in Assam, then a vehicle drives you to the border at Samdrup Jongkhar. On day 11, another included flight brings you back from Paro to Delhi, and on day 12 your airport transfer is timed to your flight. These domestic flights allow 20 kg of checked baggage: bring a soft bag.

Two visas. The Bhutanese visa is included: we apply for it on your behalf, with a recent digital ID photo that is not the one in your passport. As the tour starts and ends in India, you also need a double-entry Indian visa, which you apply for on indianvisaonline.gov.in (see our guide to documents for India). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you leave Bhutan, and for at least 6 months after you arrive in India with 2 blank pages (GOV.UK). Bring your licence and an international driving permit. UK travellers will find the entry rules on GOV.UK for Bhutan and India; on another passport, check your own government’s advice.