North-East , Bhutan Bike Trip - March/April 08

Swapnil

Unfortunately - still no dates are fixed - ( I'm ready - but still waiting for confirmation from my pillion friend
regarding exact date ) so unable to make any train reservations so far -
I'll let you know exact date as soon as I get confirmation from my friend .
In mean time do let know your detail travel itinerary - might prove useful to me .

artwallah

Don't miss Punakha and Paro Valley in Bhutan. Two of the most beautiful places....

censorhipisobscene

Well my itineraryWAS like this:

2nd nite- leave for siliguri
3rd morning reach phunsholing
3rd/4th- at thimpu, permit formalities for all the places to be done.
5th-thimpu to wangdi (punakha)- 70 km (23 km uphill, rest downhill)
6th- wangdi to ? (just camping it)-25 km (all uphill)
7th- ? to trosnga- 95 km (25 uphill, rest downhill)
8th- trosnga to jakar- 75 km (29 uphill, rest downhill)
9th/10th- jakar to ura (snow probably!)- 50km (40 uphill, 30 of this is quite easy)
11th- ura to mongar- Not sure of distance but its 35 uphill (we reach 4000m here, highest point) then very very long downhill.
12th- Mongar to lutshe-75 km (not sure of elevation, will find out...)

I called up the immigration office in Thimpu today though and they seem to be pretty adamant that we can't go beyond Thimpu whitout a Bhutanese guide. So we have to find a way around that. Will just cycle to North Sikkim if not allowed. Also, found out from immigration office that exit is allowed at Samdrup. (Sorry didn't ask about entry. Friend in Hyd. called the office). I'm pretty sure though entry at Samdrup will not be allowed because to go to any distrcit apart from Paro and Thimpu you require a permit which is issued only by the Thimpu Immigration office. So I don't see how you can enter through Samdrup. Do keep me updated though.

link2hs

Hi,

I am not sure which areas can you call safe or un-safe in NE....I have known people who have traveled NE many times (to all the states including Manipur and Nagaland) and nothing happened....I have myself visited Mon District (Shiyong village) which is supposed to be the worst district in Nagaland....but no such incident happened when I felt unsafe....

There is some Manipur tourism festival happening in Dilli Haat (today, 27th march) is the last day....I went to the tourism guy yesterday and he too said that no one says anything to the tourists (I can't really remember anytime reading about something happening to some tourist in the NE)......

HS

Swapnil

@ artwallah
Thanks ...I'm going to visit paro valley ...is Punakha connected by motorable road to Thimpu ...in map only dirt track is shown

Swapnil

@ censorhipisobscene
Nice itinerary here are some pointers :
1) Why you going to Thimpu for completing formalities when these can be even done at Phuntsholing ?
2)Is there any special permit required for cycling ? ( for motorcycling they issue permit from phuntshoilg traffic office itself I already done Phuntsholing - Thimpu stretch on my motorcycle)
3) If you're Indian national no guide is required anywhere in Bhutan...many Indian ppl. already working there in Bhutan .
4) Permit is required to visit every district in Bhutan ( including Paro & Thimpu for which you have to take permit at border itself ...if you traveling by road .) Exception to this only tourists coming from Paro airport .
5)Permit for other districts also issued at border( atleast @ phuntsholing border) - you need to quote district/places while applying in the form & purpose of visit : interestingly when I applied for permit to visit Thimpu for couple of days @ phuntsholing border - even though I applied for visit to Thimpu only... I been issued permit to visit 10 districts & that too for 15 days !
6) If your information about Samdrup is correct then I'll do this route vice-versa - entering @ Phuntsholing & leaving from Samdrup...though this'll add 300-400 KM to my itinerary.
Surely I'll keep you updated about this .

Swapnil

@ link2hs
Thanks....but as these areas are much more sensitive .. situation can go bad anytime over there....& even if nothing happens to tourist - unluckily if someone gets caught in middle of curfew/bandh over there that might disturb whole further plan...so I just want to play safe...even I don't want to miss this beautiful area after getting so close to it....I'll make final decision about this only after getting close to this area ...depending upon current situation that time .

dumb_bacchus

Swapnil - thanks for posting this. I been thinking to do Bhutan this year since past 4 months, but just didnt get to sit and do the research. thanks again.

ShivaRaver

Hi,

Read all the posts, quiet interesting. I am doing a North East ride this year end in November and December. Heard thats the ebst time to visit North East. I see lot of concerns with Manipur and Nagaland. I hope the situation improves by then.

Is it possible to make an entry on a motorcycle from Tawang into Bhutan at Trashigang or I have to come to Samdrup Jonghkar and make the entry to Bhutan. Has anyone tried getting into Bhutan from Tawang?

Any idea what is the distance between Gangtok to Itahari through Kakarbhitta (Nepal)

Shiva

miniesquimo

is it possible to go to bhutan as an independent traveler?
I heard that I need to go with a guide and is at least 200usd per day! witch is a lot for me....

any advice?

many thanks

machadinha

I think most of the info is already there in this thread and the ones it links on to.

Try these:
Bhutan - The Lost Shangri-La
Legal & cheap way into Bhutan?

Note that most of the info there pertains to Indian nationals; for all other foreigners, I believe you'll be stuck to a costly tour deal like you say, yes.

ps I see now you were involved on one of those threads even?

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