The trip of a lifetime! In trying to coordina...

Bhutan | Sep 25 - Oct 1, 2022

The staff and service here are fantastic. The food was good and the location was central. However, being in the city center, there is quite a bit of noise like construction all day and dogs barking most of the night. If you are a light sleeper, I might look somewhere else.

This is only rated as a three star hotel, but it definitely deserves to be four or five. The location is remote but very comfortable. There are gorgeous views of the valley and exactly the kind of tranquility you travel to Bhutan to find. My room had candles and a fireplace which were perfect for the stormy evening I spent there. The bathroom was a little dated, but clean and practical. There's no WiFi in the rooms only the lobby and dinning area, which for me was an added benefit. The food was good and serving sizes were plentiful. If I ever make it back to Bhutan, this is the first place I'm booking. This place is leans heavy on charm and authenticity, but that's exactly what I was looking for. A great stay!

Out of all the hotels I stayed in, this was the most disappointing. While the views are stellar, the service and rooms felt cold and impersonal. The food was likewise as it lacked any identity besides trying not to upset anyone. The walls were paper thin and conversations from down the hall or out on other balconies could easily be heard in my room with the doors closed. I wasn't sad to leave.

The Risum staff carry the reputation at this under construction hotel. From the very first interation to the very last, the staff was helpful and warm and welcoming. They obviously wanted to make a great impression. The rooms and dinning were nothing exciting (no WiFi in the rooms).

Although not a nice as the Le Meridian in Thimpu, this hotel is near the airport and has a nice view of the river. It is more geared towards business than tourist travelers. My stay was adequate for a three/four hotel star but by no means exceptional.

Arrived too late to for this experience.

Arrived too late for this experience. I took the bicycle I was offered.

Good climb out of Thimphu, the weather held off but the clouds obscured any views. The road was wide and traffic was light. 99% of cars and trucks gave us lots of room on the road. The descent from the pass was smooth and fast. We got off the bikes in Wangdue and took the truck up to Lawa La Pass. The road was very narrow and under construction. From Lawa La Pass the ride down into the valley was easy and beautiful. A good day on the bike.

Gorgeous temple. Worth the stop!

Great climb on quiet road going back the way we came into the valley. The descent from the pass was a bit hair-raising at points as the speed of the traffic and the narrow road made this no place for beginner road cyclists in some places.

This is why you travel all this way. A stunning fort and temple rich with history and culture. I enjoyed every minuted here.

We missed this because of a change in our schedule. While the views from the nunnery were spectacular, I don't think this was worth the time to get up to the site.

Huge climb! Loved every pedal stroke. The roads were in good condition and we made great time up to the Dochula Pass.

We did not make this stop because of schedule.

We did not make this stop because of the schedule.

By far the longest day on the bike. The guide said it was downhill, an uphill, and then flat. But it was really hilly the whole way with over 1200m of elevation gain in the first 75kms of the 105kms. From 50km the road was under heavy construction and turned from a decent highway into barely passable farm/back road comprised of a single lane of mud and rough riding.

Big climb up to majestic heights! I loved every second of this ride. Stunning views and a real sense of accomplishment to crest over 3990m. I'd come back to Bhutan just to do this ride again. We covered 60km and climbed 1100m in just over 3 hours. A great day on the bike.

Stunning views and the temple visit is well worth the big hiking effort after the ride.