Adventure Activities in Bhutan

Challenges is what make life meaningful and overcoming obstacles is what keeps us going. In a world where we have very less time for ourselves, indulging in adventure is an excellent way to rekindle the fire within. Thus, it is necessary to indulge in adventure activities once in a while.

Bhutan, a tiny and remote kingdom, between its powerful neighbours India and China is known for its peaceful and lush green environment offers a large variety of adventures. It fiercely protects its ancient tradition and remains cut off from the world.

Mountain Biking in Bhutan

Though this is a comparatively new activity in Bhutan, it is gaining popularity fast. Bhutan offers thrilling experience to the riders with its eloquent landscape and mountainous road. The excitement and adventure what this sport gives is what drives people to come back to it. Performed at approximately 2300 metres above sea level one needs vigour, courage, sportsmanship and zeal to undertake this dare.

Many companies and trainers provide this experience in Bhutan and in affordable prices, several start-ups have also started providing this service. There is no shortage of this adventure in Bhutan and the adventure is available for both amateur and professional riders.

The duration of the adventure varies between 3 days to 18 days depending on the choice of the customer. Amateurs should go for a 8 day course. The most preferred route in Bhutan is the Thimphu, Punakha and Gangtey. The companies that provide mountain biking service in Bhutan are, Bhutan Mountain Bike, Explore Himalayas and Wind Horse Tours. If someone is craving for excitement and challenge in life, then this sport is a must go-to for them.

Archery in Bhutan

Declared as the National Sport of Bhutan, archery makes its way into the heart of the people of Bhutan. It is also known as ‘Da’ ( as it is called in Dzongkha which is the national language of Bhutan). Being a challenging sport it does put the player on the spot but the pressure and the tension is what excites the player and motivates them to keep going. The target is placed at a distance of 100-145 meters away from the shooter.

The bows and the arrows used to play this game are made by the native men using their excellent craftsmanship. The people of Bhutan prefer playing this sport in their native land rather than Olympics , since the distance is shorter in Olympics and modern equipments are used there. There has been evolution of this art as people have become more proficient and have mastered the skill and technique of this sport.

It is essentially a male dominated sport in Bhutan but today even females are actively participating in this sport. Earlier they used to motivate the men by singing and dancing around them and bringing food from their homes. What started as a simple adventure activity in Bhutan, in 1920s today draws great enthusiasm and exuberance in Bhutan.

It won’t be wrong to say that archery is the most precious jewel of the country. It is even accompanied by cheerleading and dancing, which helps to motivates the player and creates companionship and sportsmanship among the people.The thrill of anticipating whether the archer will hit the target is what makes this sport even more popular.

Trekking in Bhutan

For the ones who don’t want to go with the ordinary and cherish adventures , Bhutan offers one of the best landscapes for trekking. Being a hilly region it has several regions where people can go for trekking, both mild and rigorous treks are available. It has a serene environment and an ideal climate to complement its trekking activity.

For beginners the Druk Path Trek is a good option, it provides a gorgeous view of the Mount Gangkar Peunsum , which is the world’s highest unclimbed peak as of now. The best time to visit here is March-June or September- October.

For people who look for challenging treks, Jomolhari and Snowman trek are their go-to spot. Whether you are a beginner or a professional Bhutan gives you your share of adrenaline rush through its trekking experience and is well known for its trekking activities.

River Rafting in Bhutan

Bhutan is a home to several immaculate and flawless rivers whose ferocious waves lure the people to try river rafting on them. The best rivers for rafting in Bhutan are Paro Chhu River and Mo Chhu river. The suitable periods for rafting are from March-May and October-November.

Safety is considered a priority in Bhutan and hence proper equipments and trained supervisors are always present. The excitement that rafting in Bhutan amidst the rocky mountains gives is unparalleled and beyond the ordinary. The cost of doing this sport varies between BTN 2000 to BTN 3500 during the peak seasons and range between BTN 1500 to BTN 1000 during the off-seasons. Bhutan is a country which has vivid mountains and a beautiful landscape, rafting with the largest mountains in the background is a must if one visits this serene place.