Bhutan Thunder Dragon Rally

15 – 22 February 2024

The Thunder Dragon Rally will welcome guests to get behind the wheel and drive Prado SUV’s through the Kingdom of Bhutan. The event will explore Bhutan’s beautiful Himalayan landscapes and unique culture — an unforgettable experience driving on cliffside roads and through magnificent mountain passes. Bhutan’s unspoiled natural beauty, breathtaking villages and enchanting monasteries will share a once in a lifetime journey through one of the world’s last remote, pristine and unexplored regions.

All you need is an international driving license and a sense of adventure!

The Itinerary

FEB 15: Arrive Paro

• Welcome Blessing and spiritual cleansing with high lama at heritage farm home or private monastery, Paro
• Sacred song and dance ceremony at heritage home or private monastery, Paro
• Bonfire and traditional Bhutanese cultural event
• Overnight: Zhiwaling Ascent, Thimphu
• Drive to Thimphu-1 hour
• Gradients: 494m ascent, 405m descent 

FEB 16: Visit Buddha Dordenma Statue, Thimphu

• River Rafting, Punakha
• Riverside Comfort Picnic
• Explore Punakha Dzong with renowned Bhutanese architect, Punakha
• Overnight: Dhensa Boutique Resort, Punakha
• Drive to Punakha-2 hours
• Gradients: 1,673m ascent, 2,944m descent

FEB 17: Punakha Drubchen  (festival), Punakha

• Gangtay Monastery, Phobjikha
• Lunch at hotel, Phobjikha
• Learn Archery with National Champion and participate in match, Phobjikha
• Overnight: Gangtey Lodge
• Drive to Phobjikha-3 hours
• Gradients: 2,186m ascent, 469m descent

FEB 18: Drive to Bumthang – 5 hours

• Stop at Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa
• Comfort Picnic serving local delicacies at Chumey village, Bumthang
• Optional: Horseback ride at Chumey Village
• Overnight: Mountain Resort, Bumthang
• Gradients (Phonjikha to Trongsa): 869m ascent, 1,777m descent     
• Gradients (Trongsa to Bumthang): 1,900m ascent, 1,100m descent  

FEB 19: Spiritual pilgrimage to monasteries, Bumthang

• Lunch at local favorite restaurant, Bumthang
• Ogyenchholing Museum tour by Bhutan’s acclaimed historian/curator, Bumthang
• Overnight: Mountain Resort, Bumthang
• Drive to Tang Valley-3 hours

FEB 20: Fly to Paro – 30mins

• Herbal Treatment & Consultation at hotel, Paro
• Overnight: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro

FEB 21: Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Paro

• Mountainside picnic lunch
• Herbal Consultation & Treatment at hotel, Paro
• Overnight: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro

FEB 22: Depart

What to Expect

“The Bhutanese roads in the inner Himalaya are for the adventure and thrill seeker. They are often narrow, surprisingly winding, and run as curious black ribbons through great swathes of forests. The inner Himalayan wonderland teeming with stupendous diversity of wildlife and seasonal explosions of wildflower blossoms provide travelers on the Bhutanese roads a wonderful experience. The roads rise into subalpine meadows, fall into the melliferous decay of low-altitude woodlands, then again occasionally rise to high passes which are offshoots of the Himalayas.

The Inner Himalaya region is characterised by deeply-cut valleys rising into considerable heights. The punishing geographical barriers have enabled considerable endemism of both plant-animal lives as well as human culture, through vicariance perhaps. You will notice plenty of these things along the Bhutanese roads. As you go further east from Thimphu-Punakha, the altitude varies considerably. The roads run amid rice fields, forests, and along the edge of clean Himalayan rivers. As you ascend higher up, toward the heart of central Bhutan, leaving the vine-tangled woods, you meet forests of oaks, magnolia, and great rhododendrons. Further away toward the east, the roads are surprised by giant streams leaping off heartsqueezing heights of cliffs. And yeah — for the adventurous ones! — showers of boulders.

The humble, upright, and welcoming people who live along small agrarian or commercial hamlets along these roads add to the exotic charm of the roads. The esoteric and supernatural aren’t missing from Bhutanese roads too. You have any number of stories you want to hear — malevolent spirits pinned down under chortens sprinkling the roads by great lamas, some feral one who can still take you off the road if your shadow in the morning had been rather dilute, holy places, holy places, holy place, a great number of them. In short, Bhutanese roads are difficult, unpredictable, dangerous, and not for the uninitiated. But they are fun. They rejuvenate your spirits. They are healing. The beauty these roads know is of the superlative quality.”

Benu Bennuu