Festival
Tour of the Dragon
Bumthang to Thimphu by bicycle, in one day
- 5 September 2027
- Bumthang to Thimphu, Thimphu
The festival
What happens
The Tour of the Dragon is a mountain bike race along the main road of Bhutan, from Bumthang in the centre of the country to Thimphu in the west. It is 268 km long and it is ridden in one day. Between the start and the finish are four passes: Kiki La, Yotong La at over 3,400 m, Pele La at about the same height, and last Dochu La, which the riders climb at the end of the day with more than 200 km behind them.
The race was conceived by Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, who rode the first one in 2010, and it is organised by the Bhutan Olympic Committee, of which he is president. It is held on the first Saturday of September.
The day
The riders leave Bumthang in the dark, long before dawn. In all they climb about 3,800 m and descend a little more. There is no time limit, and about half of those who start do not finish. The winners reach Thimphu in the afternoon after ten or eleven hours in the saddle. The last come in by torchlight. The start is at two in the morning in Chamkhar, the town of Bumthang, and the finish is at the Clock Tower Square in Thimphu.
A shorter race, the Dragon’s Fury, is run on the same day over the last 60 km of the course, including the climb to Dochu La.
Watching it, or riding it
To watch, the best place is Dochu La in the afternoon, where the riders come over the last climb one at a time and people from Thimphu line the road to cheer them, and then the finish in the town. The plan below is built round that.
If you want to ride it, tell us well ahead. Entry is through the Bhutan Olympic Committee, and you should arrive several days early to get used to the height.
Practical notes
- September is the end of the monsoon. Expect rain, mist on the passes and wet roads.
- The road is not closed for the race. Our driver keeps well clear of the riders.
- Hotels in Bumthang are full the night before the start.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Tour of the Dragon
A private trip, with your own guide and driver, timed so that you are there for the festival. Every day of it can be changed.
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$1,260 per person Enquire about this trip
-
Day 1
Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu
Your guide meets you at the airport and we drive to Thimphu. In the afternoon we visit the National Memorial Chorten and the Buddha Dordenma.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner
-
Day 2
Thimphu
We visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where the thirteen traditional arts are taught, then the Textile Museum and Changangkha Lhakhang. Tashichho Dzong opens once the offices close.
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 3
Race day
We drive up to Dochu La after lunch to watch the leading riders come over the last pass, with 40 km still to ride, and follow them down to Thimphu to see the finish. The square stays busy until the last rider is in.
- Travel
- About 50 km there and back, 1 to 2 hours of driving
- Altitude
- Dochu La, 3,100 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Thimphu, then Paro
A quiet morning in Thimphu, where the riders are doing very little, and then the drive to Paro. The National Museum and Rinpung Dzong fill the afternoon.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Hike to Tiger's Nest
We walk up to Taktsang in the morning, with a rest at the teahouse on the way, and visit Kyichu Lhakhang in the afternoon.
- Travel
- About 7 km on foot, 4 to 5 hours
- Altitude
- Tiger's Nest, 3,120 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Depart from Paro
Your guide and driver take you to the airport after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Prices
What the trip costs
| Group size | Price in US dollars |
|---|---|
| Solo traveller | US$1,770 |
| 2 travellers | US$1,285 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$1,260 per person |
Prices are per person in US dollars and include the Sustainable Development Fee and the visa fee.
This trip runs privately, on the dates of the festival. Festival dates are tentative until the year itself, so confirm them with us before you book flights.
Included
- Sustainable Development Fee (US$100 per person per night)
- Bhutan visa fee (US$40) and visa processing
- 3-star hotels, in a twin or double room
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Licensed English-speaking guide throughout
- Private vehicle and driver, including airport transfers
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Not included
- Entry fees for monuments and museums, about US$90 per person
- Flights to and from Paro
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Drinks, laundry and personal spending
- Single room supplement, US$35 per room per night
See it for yourself
Other trips that fit this festival
Any of these can be timed to the festival dates. Tell us which days you want to be there.
Cultural tour
Bhutan Signature Journey
Thimphu, Punakha, Paro
Six days with a night in each of the three western valleys: two in Thimphu, one in Punakha and two in Paro.
Cultural tour
Heart of the Himalayas
Punakha, Phobjikha, Trongsa and 1 more
Nine days from Paro to Bumthang by road, through Punakha, Phobjikha and Trongsa, with a short flight back.
Questions
Asked about this festival
Are festival dates fixed?
Most are not. Bhutan’s festivals follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different dates each year. The Department of Tourism and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators publish a list for each year and label it tentative, because dates can still move.
Our festival calendar shows the official dates and the day we last checked them. Confirm with us before you book flights. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is the exception: it is held on 11 November every year. If you are deciding between festivals, read how to choose a Bhutan festival.
Can I take photographs at a festival?
Yes, in the courtyard or festival ground, from where you are sitting. Do not step into the dance area or block other people’s view, and ask before photographing anyone at close range. Photography is never allowed inside temples and shrines.
A few rituals may not be photographed at all, among them the midnight Tercham at Jambay Lhakhang. Your guide will tell you. Drones are not permitted.
What should I wear to a festival?
A festival is a religious occasion and Bhutanese come in their best clothes. Wear long sleeves and full-length trousers or a long skirt, and take off your hat inside a dzong. You will be sitting on stone for hours, often in strong sun, so bring a cushion, a sun hat for outside the dzong, water and a warm layer for the early morning.
Enquire
Plan a trip around Tour of the Dragon
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.