BHUTANWho it suits
Active couples, friends and families with older children who enjoy varied outdoor days without a multi-day high-altitude trek.
Private Bhutan soft adventure · 13 days
Bhutan by River, Trail & Two Wheels
A private journey by bicycle, raft, walking trail and riverbank. Thirteen days through Haa, Punakha, Zhemgang and Bumthang, with room to change the pace.
- Duration
- 13 days / 12 nights
- Route
- Paro · Haa · Punakha · Zhemgang · Bumthang
- Style
- Private & handcrafted
- Travel timing
- Spring & autumn, subject to conditions
The journey in one thought
Different ways to move.
Time to take it in.
Cycle Haa’s country roads, raft through Punakha’s river landscape and travel towards Zhemgang for forest paths and a carefully arranged fishing day. Bumthang brings valley cycling and rural walks before a gentler finish in Paro.
Two or three nights in the principal stops leave room for weather, river conditions and your energy. This is not an endurance course, but it does include several full road days. Fishing, rafting and camping remain conditional, never guaranteed.
Activity level
Adjustable cycling and walking, conditional river activities and several long transfers. Confidence, fitness and each activity’s requirements are checked privately.
How it feels
Outdoors and unhurried: forest pauses, riverside lunches and time to choose a quieter alternative when conditions or energy change.
The story of the journey
River, trail and the pleasure of moving slowly
A varied journey, not a checklist of activities. The landscape and the conditions help decide how each day unfolds.
Day by day
A clear plan.
Room for real life.
Days 4, 6 and 9 are longer road journeys; day 11 depends on domestic flight operation. Permits, specialist guides, access and exact stays are confirmed for your dates before booking.
Day01
Paro
Arrive gently. Find your outdoor rhythm.
Keep the first day light. Meet your guide, discuss cycling confidence, fishing interests and the activities that matter most. Check the agreed equipment and take a short countryside walk if arrival time and energy allow.
- Focus
- Arrival & activity briefing
- Pace
- Easy arrival
- Sleep
- Paro countryside
Day02
Paro → Haa
Into Haa, then onto two wheels.
Travel into Haa by the route best suited to road and weather conditions. After settling in, begin with an easy ride through the valley’s farms and villages. Distance and pace are adjusted to your confidence, with time to stop along the way.
- Cycling
- Flexible 1–2 hour introduction
- Pace
- Easy to moderate
- Sleep
- Haa
Day03
Haa
A day between country roads and forest paths.
Choose a longer rural ride, a mixed cycling-and-walking day or a shorter forest route. Leave room for local food and village life. A supported camp may replace the lodge only when the site, weather, permissions and your comfort make it worthwhile.
- Activity
- Cycling and/or forest walking
- Pace
- Adjustable
- Sleep
- Haa lodge or agreed camp
Day04
Haa → Punakha
A full road day, with space to pause.
Travel east towards Punakha with proper meal, tea and comfort stops. This is one of the longer transfers, not a day to fit in another demanding activity. Settle into the countryside and leave the evening free.
- Travel
- Full private road journey
- Pace
- Regular breaks
- Sleep
- Punakha countryside
Day05
Punakha
See the valley from the river.
Begin with a short countryside walk, then raft on a route chosen for current water levels, weather and your party’s suitability. A riverside lunch and open afternoon keep the day relaxed. If rafting is unsuitable, replace it with a land-based valley experience.
- Rafting
- Conditions & suitability checked
- Pace
- Flexible river day
- Sleep
- Punakha countryside
Day06
Punakha → Zhemgang / Berti
Towards a different side of Bhutan.
Set out on a long road transition through central Bhutan towards Zhemgang. Pause for meals, viewpoints and nature when safe, then settle in the Berti/Zhemgang area for three nights. Exact driving logistics and the arrival plan are checked for your dates.
- Travel
- Full-day road transition
- Pace
- Scenic transfer with breaks
- Sleep
- Zhemgang / Berti area
Day07
Zhemgang / Berti
Patience, river life and catch-and-release.
Subject to the approved fishing site, permit and specialist availability, spend a day with a certified local fishing guide. All recreational fishing is catch-and-immediate-release; a catch is never promised. Non-anglers can choose birding, village walking or forest exploration instead.
- Fishing
- Approved site, permit & guide
- Pace
- Patient river day
- Sleep
- Zhemgang / Berti area
Day08
Berti and surrounding trails
Follow a forest path. Let the day open up.
Walk a suitable section of the Berti–Tama trail or nearby village paths, with the route and duration confirmed locally. Conditions and interest may allow another permitted river session, birding or an arranged camp. None is added at the expense of a comfortable, realistic day.
- Walking
- Route & duration checked locally
- Pace
- Easy to moderate
- Sleep
- Zhemgang / Berti area
Day09
Zhemgang → Bumthang
Back into the mountain valleys.
Travel through changing forest and mountain landscapes towards Bumthang. Allow a full scenic road day with breaks, then settle in without an evening sightseeing programme. Tomorrow is for exploring on two wheels and on foot.
- Travel
- Full scenic road journey
- Pace
- Travel day with breaks
- Sleep
- Bumthang
Day10
Bumthang
Farm roads, valley views and a walk beside the river.
Choose a valley cycling route through farm roads and villages, then continue on foot along a suitable forest or riverside section. The day can be gentler or more energetic, according to your party. Shorten the ride whenever a slower pace feels right.
- Cycling
- Flexible half-day route
- Pace
- Easy to moderate
- Sleep
- Bumthang
Day11
Bumthang → Paro
Fly west, then leave room to recover.
Take the scheduled Bumthang–Paro flight only when it operates and is confirmed for your dates. Leave the rest of the day for a hot-stone bath, massage, sacred art or simple rest as agreed. Flight disruption may change the timing or length of the route; plan the alternative before booking.
- Travel
- Domestic flight when confirmed
- Pace
- Restorative
- Sleep
- Paro countryside
Day12
Paro
A final day chosen around you.
Choose Tiger’s Nest if you want a substantial uphill hike, or stay with rural cycling, a shorter monastery walk or a relaxed farmhouse-and-wellness day. The final day is not a compulsory checklist. Your guide helps choose a suitable plan for your energy and the conditions.
- Choice
- Hike, ride, walk or rest
- Pace
- Personalised
- Sleep
- Paro countryside
Day13
Paro → onward
Leave with a different sense of the landscape.
Enjoy a final breakfast if your flight time allows, then transfer privately to Paro International Airport. Departure arrangements follow the confirmed flight schedule.
- Travel
- Private airport transfer
- Pace
- Departure day
- Sleep
- —
Why Raven designed it this way
The best days leave space for what cannot be scheduled.
A fish does not appear because an itinerary says it should. A river may rise; a village game may begin; an unexpected bird may hold your attention. This route leaves room to respond rather than forcing every activity into a fixed slot.
The underlying route is Raven’s existing 13-day proposal. Fishing access, permits, specialists, road logistics and the domestic flight must be checked together. If one element does not fit, change the plan rather than promise an experience that cannot be delivered.
Where you may stay
A comfortable base. A camp only when it adds something.
The stay plan combines valley bases with the possibility of an arranged, supported camp. Properties, campsites, room categories and camp equipment are selected for your dates and confirmed in your personal proposal.
- Haa & Punakha: two nights in each, with time for cycling, walks and the river.
- Zhemgang & Bumthang: three and two nights respectively, with exact local stays confirmed privately.
- Paro: one arrival night and two final nights, allowing time to settle in and recover.
The photograph is illustrative of the style of a Bhutan stay, not a confirmed property. Exact accommodation, camp facilities, meals, upgrades and availability will be set out in the final proposal.
Read Raven’s approach to staysPractical clarity
What Raven takes care of
The arrangements below are a starting point, not a confirmed quotation. Your personal proposal specifies every inclusion, activity, permit, fee and accommodation choice.
Included in the journey
- Private Raven guide, chauffeur, vehicle and in-country support
- Visa processing, permits and applicable SDF as confirmed
- 12 nights in the agreed accommodation and/or supported camp
- Bicycles and safety equipment for the rides included in the proposal
- Punakha rafting and safety equipment when confirmed and suitable
- Fishing permit and certified specialist guide when fishing is included
- Agreed meals, refreshments, trails, cultural visits and site fees
- Bumthang–Paro domestic flight when included and operating
Not normally included
- International flights unless specifically included
- Travel insurance and emergency evacuation cover
- Personal specialist fishing or cycling equipment unless agreed
- Alcohol and personal purchases
- Tips and gratuities
- Additional activities outside the final proposal
- Unconfirmed upgrades or extra camping arrangements
- Disruption costs unless the final terms provide otherwise
Optional extensions
More of the activity you love, not simply more stops.
Extend the cycling with a specialist route for experienced riders, or ask about another permitted fishing day or supported camp. Each option depends on the season, local access, specialist availability and your experience. Confirm the details and price before adding it.
Questions before you travel
Useful answers.
No fine print.
The final proposal is personal, but these answers explain how the thirteen-day framework works.
Do we need technical adventure experience?
This journey is designed around adjustable outdoor days rather than a technical trek. Cycling confidence, fitness and the requirements of each river activity still matter. Tell Raven about your experience and comfort so the rides, walks and alternatives can be chosen appropriately.
Is fishing guaranteed or open everywhere?
No. Fishing requires the relevant permit and an approved location; foreign anglers need a certified local fishing guide. Recreational fishing is catch-and-immediate-release, and a catch is never guaranteed. Access, dates, permitted methods and specialist availability must be confirmed.
What if rafting or cycling is unsuitable?
River levels, weather, roads and guest suitability determine the day. Activities can move, shorten or be replaced with a village, forest, birding or cultural experience. Raven agrees the alternatives and any cost implications in the final proposal.
Must we camp or hike Tiger’s Nest?
No. A supported camp is an option only when weather, the authorised site and the facilities suit you. Tiger’s Nest is also a choice; a shorter walk, cycling or a quieter final day can replace it. Exact accommodation alternatives are confirmed privately.
Is the Bumthang–Paro flight guaranteed?
No. It depends on the operating schedule, available seats and weather. Raven checks it against your dates and agrees a realistic contingency before booking. A road alternative can change the timing or length of the journey.
When should we travel?
Spring and autumn are the starting point for planning this route. Fishing is subject to statutory closures and date-specific permits, not simply a broad seasonal recommendation. Confirm the permitted fishing window, river conditions, road access and flight together before choosing dates.
Your journey starts with a conversation
Tell us how you like to be outdoors.
Share your dates, cycling confidence, fishing interests and preferred comfort level. Raven will shape a realistic private journey around your party.
Plan this journey with Raven