Bhutan Dragon Riders

You may have noticed these chortens in some of our previous posts. Here’s a little more about them.

At Dochula Pass, 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens cover the hillside, creating one of Bhutan’s most distinctive sights.

Up close, there is much more to discover: whitewashed walls, deep red bands with contrasting white circular motifs, sacred images, painted timberwork and intricate golden details. The red band, known as a Keymar, signifies the spiritual status of the structure.

Their stone roofs and golden pinnacles complete these beautiful examples of Bhutanese Buddhist architecture.

From afar, an impressive ensemble; up close, a wealth of intricate details.

Riding through Bhutan — Day 6 🇧🇹🏍️

Today the motorcycle got a day off. We were heading to Bhutan’s most iconic landmark — Paro Taktsang, better known as Tiger’s Nest.

The trail starts at around 2,650 m and climbs through pine forest to the monastery at about 3,120 m. The roughly 7 km round trip usually takes 4–6 hours. Horses can take you halfway, but from there you have to continue on foot.

About halfway up, there is a café with a great view of Tiger’s Nest in the distance. We saved it for the way back, when coffee and snacks tasted even better.

The trail continues to the highest viewpoint at around 3,150 m, where the monastery suddenly looks almost within reach. But there is still quite a bit to go: the trail drops down hundreds of stone steps to a bridge above the waterfall, then climbs up another long series of steps to the monastery.

And then you finally arrive.

Paro Taktsang is a complex of temples and caves built into the cliff, centred around the sacred cave where Guru Rinpoche is believed to have meditated in the 8th century. The monastery was badly damaged by fire in 1998 and later rebuilt.

Before entering, all bags and electronic devices have to be left in lockers — photography inside is strictly prohibited. We were surprised by how much larger the complex is than it looks from outside. Three temples are usually visited, but we explored several more that were open to visitors.

The whole experience took us 6 hours and 10 minutes, including almost 1.5 hours at the monastery and 50 minutes at the café. The actual hike, with stops for photos and breaks, took around 4 hours.

Clouds kept the sun away on the way up, making the climb more comfortable. On the way back, the sky cleared and the views became even better. There were quite a few visitors, but it never felt overcrowded except at the most popular viewpoints.

NEXT: THE LAST RIDE — TO THE INDIAN BORDER

GPS coordinates of our favourite viewpoints are included in the photos.

📍 Bhutan 🇧🇹

Screw it. Let’s ride! 🏍️🌍
H-D Pan America: motorcycle travel, road trips, and off-road adventures across the world.

Bhutan - 86th country we have visited by motorcycle. 🇧🇹🏍️

We spent 7 days here, covering 923 km - from the eastern border at Samdrup Jongkhar, through the mountains, to Phuentsholing on the Indian border.

Bhutan is a country where distances can be misleading. With mountains covering most of the country, almost every road is a series of bends, climbs and descents. Here, you quickly stop thinking about kilometres and start thinking in hours.

We began our journey in eastern Bhutan, a much less visited part of the country. Fewer tourists, quieter roads and smaller villages gave us a closer look at everyday Bhutanese life, people in traditional clothing, rice fields, local markets and small roadside places where we were often the only tourists.

As we travelled west, the country gradually changed. The roads became busier, more cafés and restaurants appeared, and the infrastructure became much more developed for visitors. The west is home to many of Bhutan’s most famous attractions, from Punakha Dzong and the 108 chortens at Dochula to Thimphu and the iconic Tiger’s Nest in Paro.

Travelling through Bhutan is also different from most countries we have visited. Tourism is carefully regulated: foreign visitors generally travel with a licensed local guide and follow an organised itinerary, while a daily Sustainable Development Fee applies to most international visitors. This approach is part of Bhutan’s effort to keep tourism sustainable and focused on quality rather than mass numbers.

And perhaps that is one of the reasons Bhutan feels so different.

Seven days was far too short. We left with the feeling that we had only scratched the surface, especially in the east, where we could easily have spent much more time simply riding, stopping and watching everyday life unfold.

Bhutan became one of those countries that leaves us thinking about coming back before we have even left.

For now, though, we continue our journey. We are crossing back into India and heading further as Expedition South & East Asia continues.

📍 Bhutan 🇧🇹

Screw it. Let’s ride! 🏍️🌍
H-D Pan America: motorcycle travel, road trips, and off-road adventures across the world.

Where two journeys cross. 🇧🇹
Riding through Dochula Pass, where Bhutan’s traditions and the open road meet…

This November, ride deep into one of the most extraordinary motorcycling destinations in the Himalayas.

HIDDEN KINGDOM RIDE
• 14–25 November 2026
• 12 days on a Royal Enfield Himalayan
• US$3,995 FULLY INCLUSIVE
• Small group: a few places remaining

From spectacular Himalayan passes and remote Eastern Bhutan to subtropical valleys, traditional villages, ancient monasteries and the legendary Tiger’s Nest, this is Bhutan experienced from the saddle.

Your US$3,995 includes:
Royal Enfield Himalayan • Hotels • All meals • Fuel • Bhutan visa • SDF • Permits & entrance fees • Bhutanese motorcycle guide • Mechanic • Support vehicle • Airport transfers • Luggage transport

No complicated extras to work out. Just get yourself to Bhutan and get ready to ride.

RIDE BHUTAN THIS NOVEMBER.

A few places remain for 14–25 November 2026.

👉 LEARN MORE for full trip details and enquiries.

Riding through Bhutan — Day 5 🇧🇹🏍️

After spending the night in Thimphu, we had a few relaxed hours to explore Bhutan’s capital before continuing west to Paro. We picked three places that showed us very different sides of the city.

First was Buddha Dordenma, the 54-metre seated Buddha overlooking Thimphu Valley. Made of bronze and gilded in gold, it was completed in 2015. Inside are exactly 125,000 smaller Buddha statues, also made of bronze and gilded in gold. Photography isn’t allowed, but the interior is just as impressive as the statue itself.

Next, we stopped at a viewpoint overlooking Tashichho Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most important political and religious landmarks. It houses the King’s throne room, government offices and the Central Monastic Body led by the Je Khenpo.

The original fortress stood elsewhere, where Dechen Phodrang is today. After its destruction, Tashichho Dzong was moved to its present location and extensively rebuilt in the 1960s, when Thimphu became the capital.

Before leaving, we visited the Centenary Farmers’ Market. Clean and beautifully organised, yet still full of local character, it offered a glimpse into everyday life in Thimphu.

Then we rode towards Paro. Only 51 km, but a beautiful route through the valleys of western Bhutan. At Chhuzom, where the rivers meet, we stopped for lunch at a very local place Kesang visits with his family — homemade food, local products and not a tourist in sight.

Just before Paro, we stopped at a viewpoint overlooking Bhutan’s only international airport. Paro Airport sits at 2,235 m in a narrow Himalayan valley and has one of the most challenging approaches in the world. Only specially qualified pilots can land here, and scheduled flights are operated by just two airlines: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines.

We reached Paro before 6 PM and still had time for a short walk along the main street, where traditional buildings hide souvenir shops, restaurants and atmospheric cafés.

NEXT: THE ICONIC TREK

📍 Bhutan 🇧🇹

Screw it. Let’s ride! 🏍️🌍
H-D Pan America: motorcycle travel, road trips, and off-road adventures across the world.

Riding through Bhutan — Day 4 🇧🇹🏍️

After three days of long mountain rides, today was a little different. Less time on the motorcycle, more time to slow down and discover Bhutan.

We started the morning in Punakha with beautiful sunny weather and, before heading towards the capital, visited one of Bhutan’s most impressive landmarks — Punakha Dzong.

Built in 1637–38 at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, this magnificent fortress is one of the oldest and largest dzongs in Bhutan and one of the country’s most important religious and historical sites.

From there, we continued to Chimi Lhakhang, the famous “Temple of the Divine Madman”. Dedicated to Drukpa Kunley, a colourful and unconventional Buddhist saint, the temple is known for its unusual symbolism and connection with fertility blessings. The walk through the rice fields, with local people working around us, was just as interesting as the temple itself.

After lunch, it was time to get back on the motorcycle and head towards Thimphu.

On the way, we stopped at Dochula Pass, at 3,100 m, to see the 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens, arranged in three concentric circles. The pass was wrapped in mist that day, giving the place an even more atmospheric feel.

By late afternoon, we reached Thimphu — Bhutan’s capital and another completely different side of the country. After the mountain roads and small villages, the capital felt surprisingly calm. There was traffic and plenty going on, but nothing like the crowded capitals we had experienced elsewhere in Asia. Life here seemed to move at its own pace.

The evening was ours to explore the city on foot. Our walk eventually led us to a local motorcycle bar, where we met Bhutanese bikers and spent the evening talking about motorcycles, travels and life on the road. It was a great way to end the day.

NEXT: A CLOSER LOOK AT THIMPHU

📍 Bhutan 🇧🇹

Screw it. Let’s ride! 🏍️🌍
H-D Pan America: motorcycle travel, road trips, and off-road adventures across the world.

Ride. Stop. Pose. Repeat.
Somewhere in Bhutan 🇧🇹