Join us on April 4th 2020 for an Ultra Run in Phobjikha – an upland region of Bhutan where life revolves around the Gangtey Monastery, the conservation of the rare and beautiful Black Neck Cranes, and their coexistence with the traditional yak herding and farming communities .
It’s a stunning setting for a run.
Choose the 25 Km Ultra or 50 km ultra runs – both scoring you a medal if you finish within the allocated 9 hours.
All experience levels are welcome
Non running partners, cheer-squads and cyclists are welcome to join and will catered for with bikes on both the reccy and the marathon day as well as all the cool downhill roads along the way.
Trip length : 8 Days
31st March – 7th April 2020
Cost: USD 2980
Single Supplement USD 380
We can book your flight immediately with no up-front payment.
Flights sell out quick at this time of year, so don’t delay!
Prices may go up with the price of fuel and changes in exchange rates, but they will be pretty much as follows.
From Bangkok USD 980 ; From Delhi USD 620 ; From Kathmandu USD 410
Flight prices are set by the Bhutanese government.
We will book for you without mark-up and service charge.
Book now by emailing bruce@bikeaways.com
The Team
Our team in Bhutan love running, almost as much as they love cycling.
And they like a beer too.
They’ve run most of the running events in Bhutan before – such is the physical prowess and quality of partners we have.
The point is that they are fit and fun, and know how to support a marathon team.
This year they’ve offered to host us, to cheer us, take us up the Tigers Nest a couple of days before the event to get our haemoglobin primed, reccy the trail with us, and put us on a group table for the dinner and awards ceremony at the end of the night. We will have staff to ride with the non runners on reccy- day and the marathon day.
The Route – 25 km and 50 km
Overview: Both the 25 and the 50 start and finish in the village of Gangtey, at the north end of the Phobjikha Valley. Both are loop runs, on dirt, with a mix of single track, double track and fire roads.
Both events will start together.
The course loops around the perimeter of the valley which averages 3000 metres but with no major climbs or descents on either route.
Weather: Average rainfall in this area this time of year is minimal, though it is possible to get some rain showers which can dramatically change up the surface conditions. Average daily temperatures this time of year are approximately 60F (15C). Temperatures early morning and at night will drop down to around 40-50F (~10C).
We’ll organise your visa, help you book your air tickets into Bhutan (from Bangkok, Nepal or Delhi), register you in the ULTRA, put you up in nice hotels with even nicer guides and drivers who want to share the culture of Bhutan that they are so proud of. You’ll be with a team who understands your upcoming race needs; your need to maintain focus on your race preparations and who’ll help craft good memories to take home along side your Bhutan Marathon medal.
Itinerary
Day 1 , Tuesday 31st March
Arrive in Paro and explore Bhutans most charming town. 2250 m.
You will be met at the airport and welcomed by our team with ceremony .
Flights will be arriving at different times. Most people route through Bangkok, Kathmandu, Calcutta or Delhi whose departure and arrival are as follows.
It’s then a short ride to the hotel where you’ll have a chance to relax before exploring the town in the afternoon/ evening with your guide team.
The Rinpung Dzong, a monastery fortress is the sight of the day.
Every town has a Dzong, which was the seat of the ruler in former times. Paro’s is known as the jewel heap. Bhutan’s founding father Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel, built the Dzong in the sixteenth century, setting a pattern for the spiritual culture and architecture across the land.These citadels function as the centre of religion and government to this day.
At the Dzong we will visit a couple of temples to get an insight to the spirituality that is prevalent in Bhutan.
In the evening we will have a briefing about the trip – and do a bike fit-up for those who are non-runners, and those who are joining the Gangtey cycling extension.
Day 2 Wednesday 1st April,
Hike to the Tigers Nest Monastery. 3120 m
Today we trek up to the Tiger’s Nest also known as the Taktsang Monastery, which is perched on a cliff 900m above the Paro Valley
This is where Guru Rinpoche meditated in order to subdue the evil demons that were residing within it.
Guru Rinpoche is famous amongst all gods and deities in Tibet for founding the. Monastery system – setting up the first one at Samye in Central Tibet, from where he flew on the back of his consort Yeshe Tsogyal – a revealer of portals into sacred Bhuddist knowledge whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip.
It’s a 2 hour hike to the monastery, which at almost 3000 metres altitude will have a few people puffed out.
You may also choose to ride a horse on the ascent to rest the legs ahead of the marathon.
Lunch in the Tigers nest restaurant comes with impressive views of this cultural landmark perched on the sheer cliff-face
Later in the afternoon we drive one hour to Thimphu, city of no traffic lights and capital of Bhutan.
Thimphu boasts that it is the only capital city in the world not to have traffic lights. Thimpu’s impressive Dzong houses the Secretariat and the throne room of the King.
Day 3
Wednesday 2nd April, Cycle 63 km to Punakha (1200m)
In the interest of preserving your running muscles we drive the 750 metre 15km rise to Dochula pass (3050m) and drink in views of the eastern Himalaya (weather gods being on our side).
Grab a cup of tea at the viewpoint and take note of the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens (Stupas). 108 is a sacred number in Bhuddism and a part of the Chorten built on Dochu La is an atonement for the loss of life in the military suppression of Assamese rebels on Bhutan’s Southern borders a decade ago.
Those who want to can bike up for an exciting 40km downhill through a nature reserve to the celebrated Punakha Valley where we visit the countries most beautiful Dzong – the castle of Great happiness as well as Chimmi Temple (Lhakang) dedicated to Drukpa Kuenly, known affectionately as the Divine Madman.
Drukpa Kuenly is Bhutans most convention-defying free-spirited monk. His own poem to Pema Lingpa ( his teacher) best captures his attitude to life and religion:
I, the madman from Kyishodruk, Wander around from place to place; I believe in lamas when it suits me, I practise the Dharma in my own way. I choose any qualities, they are all illusions, Any gods, they are all the Emptiness of the Mind. I use fair and foul words for Mantras; it’s all the same, My meditation practice is girls and wine; I do whatever I feel like, strolling around in the Void, Last time, I saw you with the Bumthang trulku; With my great karmic background, I could approach. Indeed it was auspicious, to meet you on my pilgrim’s round
It is from the Divine Madman that the cult of the penis originates – gigantic representations now painted on temples and houses as fertility symbols. These can be seen around the country but are most prominent around Punakha.
Day 4, Friday 3 April / Punakha to Gangtey drive (3000m) 9 km downhill ride, plus course reccy and race briefing.
It’s a three hour drive to Lawa pass from where you have the opportunity to bike up for an easy 9 km roll into this stunning valley. The drive to get there is stunning in its own right, but its always nice to get outside the car when the slope of the land is on your side. When we arrive in Gangtey we will reccy the course. Non runners can go with our guide for a ride. Later in the afternoon, we will attend the mandatory pre-race briefing and collect our race packets, and have an early dinner in anticipation of the run. Altitude : 2900m
Day 5 / Saturday 4th April 2020/
Race Day (or bike ride if you’re not a runner)
Today is the Bhutan Ultra day, the only one day ultra event in Bhutan. The program for both the 25K and 50K flags off at 7:30 AM and the route takes you along the pine forested edge of the Black Crane conservation area, through farmlands (potatoes is the big crop) and grazing pastures.
The cut off time for both the half and full is 9 hours.
In the evening, we attend the awards presentation ceremony and the celebratory dinner together with the local community.
Non runners will have the option for a ride with our guide into the distant villages of Gangtey and around the nature conservation zone.
Altitude : 2900m
Day 6, Sunday 5th April / Gangtey (3000m) to Paro (2200m) 70km downhill on the Dochu.
We spend the morning in Gangtey then ride to Wangdi Phodrang down the long passes that we drove up two days before. This fifty five kilometres of almost pure downhill. We will drive up Dochu Pass, where we have a second chance to view the panorama out along the eastern Himalaya – and ride the downhill to the Paro Highway near Thimpu.
Depending on what time we arrive in Paro – there is an opportunity to check out a new craft brewery for a tour and tasting session of the assorted beer, cider and apple juice or spend an evening at leisure recharging at the hotel.
Day 7, Monday 7th April / The Chelai Pass (3900m) – day trip from Paro. 32 Km downhill riding.
We knock off a massive climb today with an hour long drive to the little visited Chelai pass – which by now you should be acclimated to – its 3900m high. This is the highest motorable road in Bhutan. The Chelai region is known for its luxuriant forests, mountain views, birds and wildlife.
There’s a small a nunnery amidst this alpine splendour – at which we might be invited for tea – then we ride 32 Km on one of the best downhill rides in the country.
Day 8, 7th April / Transfer to the Paro Int’l airport for your onward travels
The tour concludes with breakfast and the transfer to the airport. We will be checking in two hours prior to flight departure to ensure the best seats on board.
Included
- Government mandated sustainable development contribution
- Accommodation at comfortable, clean and well located 3 and 3.5 star category hotels, including homestay in Gangtey on twin sharing basis. These are all government approved and certified hotels/homestays.
- Single travellers can be paired up with other single travellers of their own sex – or you can purchase a single supplement for USD 280 for the 8 nights of the trip.
- All meals and tea and coffee at break stops along the way.
- Service of experienced professional, english speaking and licensed guide, driver, and support team
- Private transport and driver within Bhutan
- Monument /museum entrance fees
- Airport transfers by private vehicle
- Route permits and Visa (send us a passport scan so we can process it)
- Bike – either a Trek4300D or Trek Marlins, Bike rental is included. If you want to BYO bike and we can discount you some dollars.
Not Included
- International flights
- Tips for guides / drivers (recommended at USD 5-10 per day depending on size of the group.
- Drinks at meals (wine, espresso, etc), laundry, shopping and other personal expenses
- Any excursions not mentioned in program
- Alcohol and soft drinks, and other personal items
Payment
Please pay a deposit of USD 400 to secure your place. You can get 70 percent of your deposit back up to 90 days before your trip departs if you decide to cancel.
Flights can get booked out. Very few agencies book Bhutan flights. We can. Bangkok, Delhi and Nepal are the usual entry points.
Full payment is due one month before the trip starts.
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