Aether Bhutan Tours and Travel
Thimphu, Bhutan | +975 77391059 | sonamnamdrel000@gmail.com
Aether Bhutan Tours and Travel
Nine days of water, wheels and one night above the clouds
Bhutan is not an obvious adventure destination, which is precisely why the adventure is good. There are no queues for anything. This journey strings together the three best active days in the west — rafting the Mo Chhu below Punakha Dzong, riding down from the Dochula pass, and an overnight hike to Bumdrak, camped on a ridge above Taktsang.
None of it is technical. The rafting is grade two to three, the descent from Dochula is on tarmac and mostly downhill, and Bumdrak is a steady four-hour climb. What ties them together is that each one puts you somewhere a vehicle cannot.
The Bumdrak night is the centrepiece. You camp at around 3,800 metres beside a small monastery, walk down to the Tiger’s Nest the next morning from above rather than below, and reach it before anyone who started at the road.
Met at arrivals, easy afternoon, kit and bike sizing after dinner.
Driving to Chele La at 3,988 m, then riding down into the Haa valley — a long descent through hemlock and, in spring, rhododendron. Return to Paro by vehicle.
A short transfer and an afternoon in the capital: the Buddha Dordenma, and the Motithang takin preserve for the strangest animal in the Himalaya.
Up to the pass by vehicle for the 108 chortens and the Himalayan view, then onto the bikes for the long drop into the Punakha valley — around 1,900 m of descent through four distinct forest zones.
Onto the water above Punakha and down through grade II – III rapids, finishing at the confluence directly beneath the dzong — which is the best possible angle on the best building in the country. Afternoon at the dzong itself.
Into the glacial valley and a long walk across the floor to Gangtey Goenpa. Flat, wide and completely open — the recovery day.
Back west, then up. A four-hour climb from Sangchen Choekor to the camp at Bumdrak — tents on a ridge at around 3,800 m, beside a small monastery, with the whole Paro valley below and nothing else around.
The reason for the whole thing. You descend to the Tiger’s Nest from above, arriving before the crowds who started at the road, and continue down to the valley floor. Hot stone bath and a proper dinner.
Breakfast and the airport.
No obligation, and no sales sequence afterwards.
Every one of these is a starting point, not a fixed package.
Walking the restored ancient route across the kingdom.
Jomolhari base camp, a high pass and six nights under canvas.
The full traverse, Paro to Trashi Yangtse, with the Thrumshingla crossing.
Any of these days can come out if it is not for you, and any of them can be made harder. Tell us what you actually enjoy.
