10 Day The Kingdom Ride: An Epic Guided Motorcycle Tour From India to Bhutan

Overview

Explore the only country which measures success not by GDP, but by Gross National Happiness, welcome to Bhutan! Set out on a remarkable 10-day motorcycle journey through Bhutan, the enchanting Land of the Thunder Dragon. Beginning in India, this expedition leads you along twisting Himalayan roads, through emerald valleys, past ancient monasteries, and into the heart of Bhutan’s unspoiled countryside. Crafted for riders seeking both adventure and cultural discovery, this guided tour combines the exhilaration of the open road with deep immersion in Bhutanese traditions, breathtaking scenery, and warm hospitality. From conquering high-altitude passes to embracing soulful spiritual moments, this motorcycle adventure offers a truly unique way to experience Bhutan.

Highlights

• Enjoy a motorcycle expedition starting in Siliguri and ending in Guwahati
• Hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery for a soul-stirring trek
• Ride through one of Bhutan’s highest motorable passes - "Dochula Pass"
• Ancient monasteries and myths meet the quiet mountain beauty of Bumthang Valley
• Conquer off-road trails to reach the remote eastern outpost of Trashigang
• Visit Pele La Pass, a wind-whipped, prayer-flag-draped gateway into central Bhutan’s wild terrain
• Experienced mechanic and an English-speaking Bhutanese tour guide
• 9 nights accommodation with airport transfers

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival At Siliguri - Phuentsholing

   Your Bhutan adventure begins as you land at Siliguri Airport, where the team representative will welcome you. A group pickup (before 12 noon) takes you toward Phuentsholing in a comfortable tempo traveller—this is the calm before the storm. As you wind through the lush foothills, the landscape hints at the wild terrain ahead. By the time you cross into Phuentsholing, Bhutan’s frontier town, the energy shifts. The border is more than just a line now—it’s a gateway into the adventure that awaits. After completing immigration formalities, settle into the hotel. As evening falls, the much-awaited

2. Day 2: Phuentsholing to Paro (160 kilometers \| 99 miles)

   After breakfast, Head towards the RTO for clearance formalities. Once the paperwork is sorted, it’s time to hand over the motorcycles. Feel the weight of the machine in your hands, the grip of the throttle beneath your fingers. Take your time to inspect—check the brakes, clutch, suspension - everything. The mechanic rides with you and is right there to assist with any tuning or quick fixes needed. As you leave Phuentsholing behind, the roads begin to coil like serpents. Smooth Tar gives way to patches of gravel, sudden climbs, and sharp turns that demand your full attention on the road. As you

3. Day 3: Paro - Tiger’s Nest Monastery – Paro (20 kilometers \| 12 miles)

   After breakfast, get ready as the day takes a spiritual turn—but don’t mistake it for an easy one. Today’s mission is the legendary Taktsang Monastery, famously known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Perched dramatically on a cliff at 3,120 meters (10,236 feet) above sea level, it’s not just a must-visit, but it's also one of Bhutan’s most significant pilgrimage sites. Ride a short distance to the trailhead, where you’ll park your motorcycles and begin the two-hour uphill trek. The climb is steep, relentless, and humbling. Prayer flags flutter above, catching the mountain wind. And then, there it is

4. Day 4: Paro - Buddha Dordenma -Thimphu (80 kilometers \| 50 miles)

   After breakfast, gear up and leave Paro behind, tracing the curves that lead toward Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. The ride is short but scenic, as you roll into Thimphu—a city unlike any other capital in the world. There are no traffic lights here, only white-gloved policemen directing the crowd. Pay your visit to the towering Buddha Dordenma, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. The rest of the day is open to exploration. Wander the local markets, pick up handmade crafts, sip butter tea at a hidden café, or just take in the capital's blend of the ancient and the evolving. As night fal

5. Day 5: Thimphu - Dochu La - Phobjikha (160 kilometers \| 99 miles)

   After breakfast, saddle up and leave behind the calm chaos of the capital. What lies ahead is a wild ribbon of mountain road that climbs, twists, and challenges, and soon you reach one of the most breathtaking points of the tour—Dochu La. At 3,100 meters (10,171 feet), Dochu La is lined with 108 memorial chortens and offers a panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas. From the pass, the road descends into valleys and cuts through dense forests. You will then throttle through Wangdue Phodrang. The route becomes narrower, more rugged—this is where your riding instincts sharpen. Switchbacks tighten

6. Day 6: Phobjikha - Pele La – Bumthang (160 kilometers \| 99 miles)

   By now, your body has aligned with the rhythm of the road—early mornings, throttle hum, mountain air in your lungs. But today isn’t just another ride. It’s the ride. After breakfast, gear up for one of the most challenging and rewarding days of the expedition: Arrival in Bumthang, Bhutan’s spiritual core. Today’s ride will throw everything at you—broken tarmac, steep drop-offs, loose gravel, mud, rocky sections that test both man and machine. Your motorcycle becomes your compass as you ascend toward one of Bhutan’s high passes: Pele La. As you cross Pele La, the terrain becomes even more deman

7. Day 7: Bumthang - Kurjey Lhakhang – Bumthang (50 kilometers \| 31 miles)

   Today, stay grounded. No long-distance ride. No high-altitude passes to conquer. Instead, this day is about exploring Bumthang, also known as Jakar. After breakfast, dive deep into the spiritual journey of Bhutan. The first visit takes you to Kurjey Lhakhang, a revered temple complex where Guru Rinpoche is said to have left his body imprint on the rock. It’s the kind of place where you take off your helmet, step inside, and feel centuries of belief wash over you. From there, ride towards the Burning Lake, or Mebar Tsho. This sacred site carries tales of ancient discoveries. You will then swing

8. Day 8: Bumthang - Thrumshing La – Trashigang (270 kilometers \| 168 miles)

   This is it—the longest and most demanding ride of the entire expedition. By now, your motorcycle has become a part of you. Trust it—because today, you’ll need each other more than ever. You will leave early today because the destination is Trashigang, one of Bhutan’s most remote districts, which is around 275 kilometers away. But it’s not only about the long distance; it’s the terrain that defines the day. Ride through Ura, believed to be the home of the earliest inhabitants of Bhutan. Then comes the ThrumshingLa Pass, one of the highest motorable roads in Bhutan. After nearly 8-9 hours in the

9. Day 9: Trashigang – Samdrup (180 kilometers \| 112 miles)

   The morning in Trashigang arrives quietly, as if the mountains themselves know—this is the last ride. After breakfast, leave for Samdrup Jongkhar, the edge of Bhutan. The route winds through sharp slopes. The ride may not be as brutal as Thrumshing La, but it’s relentless in its own right. As you descend into Samdrup Jongkhar—Bhutan’s final outpost before the Indian border—the bikes are lined up one last time. One by one, keys are handed over. And with each ignition turned off, a silence settles that is harder than expected. As the sun dips below, the group gathers for dinner—not just for a me

10. Day 10: Samdrup - Guwahati Airport Drop (110 kilometers \| 68 miles)

    After breakfast, board the tempo traveller for the journey back to Guwahati. You watch the landscape shift through the window, slowly trading Bhutan’s dense green for the familiarity of Indian plains. The road is smooth, but your mind drifts—replaying monastery bells, the scent of pine, and the grit of gravel under your tires. You catch glimpses of your fellow riders—eyes half-closed, earbuds in, or quietly staring out. Once you reach Guwahati Airport, Bags are offloaded, hugs are exchanged, and promises are made to ride again. You check your flight, but part of you isn't ready to take off yet

Ride Details

Terrain

80% Tar Road, 20% Off-roading

Bike

Rental (Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc)

Mileage

1080 kilometers \| 671 Miles

Daily rides

20 - 270 kilometers \| 12 - 168 miles

Riding gear

included - helmets for rider and pillion; not included - riding jacket and pants (water and wind proof)

Meals

All breakfast and dinner are provided

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in carefully selected comfortable 3-star hotels and deluxe hotel, blending modern amenities with Bhutanese hospitality. After long riding days, you can relax in cozy rooms, enjoy hot meals, and prepare for the next leg of your adventure.

Food

Bhutanese cuisine offers an exciting mix of bold flavors, fresh mountain produce, and age-old cooking traditions. Throughout the motorcycle tour, breakfast and dinner are included each day—except Day 1, when only dinner is served, and Day 10, which provides only breakfast. Lunch is not prearranged; instead, convenient halts along the route allow riders to savor meals at local eateries. Although many hotels and restaurants feature Indian and Continental options, the flavor profiles often differ because of Bhutanese ingredients and cooking practices. Keeping an open mind about these variations will make dining more enjoyable.

Getting There

This motorcycle tour covers western and central Bhutan, starting from Phuentsholing (India–Bhutan border) and riding through: