Why Bhutan Might Be the Best Place in the World to Ride a Motorcycle

Glenn Rowley
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Hi Glenn, I hope all is well. I'm sending you this message to thank you with all my heart for the wonderful trip you took us on. Everything was perfect, beautiful hotels and excellent food. A heartfelt thank you also to Kesang, who, together with his staff, organized the stages perfectly.

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Bhutan is world best motorcycle touring destinationRiding Bhutan highest passes on a motorbike

Bhutan doesn’t have busy roads. It doesn’t have motorways, traffic jams or sprawling cities. There are no endless convoys of trucks, no crowded tourist resorts and no mass tourism. There isn’t an aggressive driving culture and, for the most part, nobody seems to be in much of a hurry. Bhutan doesn’t even have a single traffic light.

Roads climb through dense forests to high Himalayan passes draped in prayer flags, before twisting down into deep valleys and climbing all over again. There is always something waiting around the next corner: a spectacular mountain view, a waterfall dropping beside the road, a monastery clinging to a hillside, a herd of yaks, or simply a beautiful spot where you want to stop, switch off the engine and take it all in.

There are legendary motorcycle journeys all over the world, each offering something different. But compare them with Bhutan and you begin to realise just how unusual this small Himalayan kingdom really is.

India and Nepal — Incredible journeys, but chaotic traffic, trucks, buses, animals and unpredictable driving.
In Bhutan, we once watched a policeman stop the traffic to let a goat cross the road.

The European Alps — Magnificent passes and perfect tarmac, but in summer you’re sharing them with cars, camper vans, cyclists and hundreds of other motorcyclists.
In Bhutan, you can have an entire Himalayan pass almost to yourself.

Peru and Bolivia — Huge landscapes and spectacular high-altitude riding, but often enormous distances between the places you really want to see.
In Bhutan, the distances are manageable, yet every day’s ride takes you somewhere completely different.

Patagonia — One of the world’s great wilderness rides, but long, exposed roads and relentless winds can dominate the journey.
In Bhutan, the road twists through forests, valleys and mountains, with something waiting around almost every corner.

Mongolia — A true wilderness adventure, but vast distances and demanding off-road riding aren’t for everyone.
Bhutan gives you a genuine sense of adventure without requiring you to be an expert off-road rider.

America — Home to some of the world’s most iconic road trips, but the distances are vast and the highways can be very straight.
In Bhutan, you’ll struggle to find a straight road long enough to get bored.

Vietnam — Fabulous culture and a wonderful country to explore on two wheels, but the traffic can be intense.
In Bhutan, riding remains slow, relaxed and remarkably peaceful.

Morocco — Mountains, deserts and superb riding, but you’re following increasingly well-travelled motorcycle routes.
In Bhutan, you’ll meet remarkably few other foreign riders—and sometimes very few tourists at all.

Every one of these destinations deserves its reputation. But where else can you combine Himalayan mountain roads, almost no traffic, manageable distances, extraordinary culture and genuine adventure—all in one extraordinary journey?

And then there’s safety… If you’ve always wanted to ride a motorcycle through the Himalaya but have worried about the traffic, Bhutan may be the answer. It is arguably one of the safest countries in the world in which to ride a motorcycle. The pace is slower, the traffic remarkably light and, once you leave the few main towns behind, there are times when you feel you have the road entirely to yourself.

Is Bhutan Expensive?

You might think travelling to Bhutan is more expensive than riding in other parts of the world. And, at first glance, perhaps it is. But you need to compare like with like—and with Bhutan, there really isn’t a like-for-like comparison.

Our prices are fully inclusive.

They include your return flights into Bhutan from Kathmandu, typically costing around $500, and the mandatory $100-per-day Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) that every international visitor pays simply to be in the country. On our longest trip, those two unavoidable costs alone add up to around $1,600 per person. Take those out of the price—and then start comparing.

Almost everything else is included too.

Your motorcycle. All your fuel. Excellent hotels full of Bhutanese character. Every meal—and believe us, the food becomes a journey in itself. All entrance fees to Bhutan’s extraordinary dzongs, monasteries and cultural sites are included, so there are no unexpected extras along the way.

Then there is the support.

An experienced guide and mechanic ride with the group, backed up by a driver and support vehicle carrying your luggage. At the end of each day’s ride, you hand over your bike, head into the hotel and enjoy a shower, a beer and a good meal. While you relax, the bikes are checked, cleaned and serviced, ready for the next morning.

You don’t need to worry about the logistics. That’s our job.

So don’t simply think of Bhutan as expensive. Think about what you’re getting for the price. We don’t set out to make huge profits from our trips. We set out to offer the best possible motorcycle experience in Bhutan. If you genuinely compare like with like—if you can find a like for like—we believe our trips offer exceptional value.

The Road That United a Kingdom in Bhutan
Motorcycling Chele La pass in Bhutan

And Then There Are the Routes

Bhutan is still a relatively new destination for international motorcyclists, and that’s part of what makes riding here so exciting.

Between Kesang and me, we share around 60 years of experience guiding and travelling through this extraordinary country. We know the roads. We know the mountain passes, the hidden valleys and the small places worth stopping that you’ll never find in a guidebook. We’ve travelled these routes countless times.

But we’re still exploring too. We’re constantly looking for new roads, new places and new ways of experiencing Bhutan by motorcycle. Our journeys reach further into the country, exploring remote regions and communities that few motorcycle tours ever visit.

We don’t simply follow the standard tourist circuit. Our itineraries have been built from decades of experience on the ground and a genuine desire to keep discovering what lies beyond the next mountain pass. We believe we offer the most extensive range of motorcycle journeys in Bhutan—and we’re still developing them.

If you want to experience the real Bhutan on two wheels, we are the only serious choice.

Rider Review – Tour of the Dragon 2025:

“From the very start, I had a genuinely great time. The balance between superb motorcycling and cultural exploration was spot on, and the accommodation and food consistently exceeded expectations. Kesang was an outstanding leader and cultural guide. I don’t think I’ve ever learned so much about the history and culture of a country — his pride in Bhutan was genuinely inspiring. Having been on a very good supported motorcycle trip elsewhere, I can say the Bhutanese team were even better — professional, tireless, and always good-humoured. A fantastically well-organised holiday in great company. The vision for motorcycle touring in Bhutan has got off to an excellent start.”

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