A 10 Day Biking Trip to Bhutan

Ahoy, Land Lovers! They say four wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul….

This one is dedicated to those who love to tramp the tar on their thundering two-wheeled monsters. An epilogue of the Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan which was concocted with some advocacy from my brother-in-law who just returned from the grand expedition, this post might just give your biker brains some food for thought to plan your next voyage. A 10-day long road trip, this was Royal Enfield’s first endeavour into the magical land of Bhutan after a series of odysseys to the less-trudged lands of Ladakh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Rann of Kutch and Nepal.

The tour flagged-off with an entourage of 30 adventurous wayfarers at Bagdogra (West Bengal), who literally “bulleted” their way through the gruelling Himalayan terrain to Thimphu, clocking 140-200 kilometres on a daily basis. As tyres treaded the tarmac off the beaten track, the bikers witnessed an enthralling mix of spectacular natural beauty and hospitable culture. The ride through Darjeeling, Sikkim and Phuentsolling was an amalgamation of the most picturesque mountains, valleys, ridges, crests and quaint hill towns of the North East. The Buddhist influence is very evident throughout the journey, as most of the tasteful hill towns are peppered with monasteries resounding with the clinking of chimes and the chanting of monks.

A noteworthy point about Bhutan is that Indian citizens do not necessarily need a passport to get in. A voter’s ID card serves the purpose just as well; going international couldn’t have been easier.

Thirty Enfields; some Classics, some Thunderbirds, thumping their way to Thimphu were quite a sight for the onlookers - that celeb-ish feel is simply too good to pen down in words! A look on the content faces of the locals explains why Bhutan is one of the happiest nations in the world. Joy prevails in Bhutan, and there are ample avenues for you to soak in some of it. The roads are designed for the roadie; you can drift through the mountains at speeds as high as 70 km/h as there are no bumps and traffic is scarce.

The tour concluded at Guwahati, from where the bikers flew back to their respective everyday lives, their bikes being couriered back to them in a fortnight. 

Few road-trips can be exhausting and rejuvenating at the same time; only a true biker would understand the depth of the aforementioned statement. Biking trips, though not common in India, have avenues aplenty, waiting to be chalked into an itinerary. For all those looking to break free from their tied-up lifestyles, a biking road trip is highly recommended.

So get your motorcyclist mind racing; all it takes is you, a few bikes, and a few more religious roadies to commence your own quest of defying boundaries and trotting the globe on the path to freedom. Ride on…

For the best deal on a trip to Bhutan, click here.