26th May 2024

BHUTAN

Bhutan or Druk Yul (the land of the Thunder Dragon) as it is known in Bhutanese, is mystical, enchanting and like nowhere you have ever been. This tiny Himalayan kingdom nestling between Tibet and India is a country of raw natural beauty and dramatic landscapes that range from sub-tropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.

Regularly voted one of the world’s top travel destinations, Bhutan still remains accessible only to the privileged few. The Thunder Dragon Marathon and Half Marathon is your chance to see the country at ground level, to immerse yourself in its unique culture and enjoy an unforgettable running and travel experience.

Race Information



We are privileged to be able to organise the Thunder Dragon Marathon, one of the world’s most exclusive marathons, in conjunction with Bhutanese Tour Operator, Blue Poppy Tours & Treks.

 

The Thunder Dragon Marathon highlights all of the aspects of Bhutan that make it so special. Running through the beautiful Paro Valley, the route takes in fantastic mountain scenery and features many iconic landmarks, such as the Tigers Taktsang Monastery (also known as Tigers Nest), Paro Dzong and many religious Chorten or shrines. It is a true mountain and cultural experience.

PACKAGE INFORMATION

The Government of Bhutan puts restrictions on the number of tourists that can visit the country each year and how they book their trips. All travellers to the country must have confirmed bookings for accommodation and travel with a Bhutanese travel agency in order to obtain a visa.

We have three travel packages available that are arranged in conjunction with our Bhutanese partners, Blue Poppy Tours & Treks. The packages meet the visa requirements and the cost of the visa is included in the packages.


NOTE: Flights from Kathmandu, Bangkok and Delhi depart early in the morning to Paro and we strongly advise that you book overnight accommodation before your flight.

We offer 3 types of packages:

  • 4 Night marathon weekend

- From: £2099

  • 6 night cultural tour including Thimpu and Punakha

- From: £2799

  • 8 night tour - 4 day Trail Trek with race weekend

- From: £3499


Please note prices change with differing room options, with a twin/double occupancy costing less per person


RACE ENTRY FEE - £200 (Marathon or Half-Marathon)

SEE OUR PACKAGES

OUR PACKAGES

Tour Option Description Single Occupancy Twin/Doube Occupancy
1 4 Night Weekend £2199 £1999
2 6 Night Culture Tour £2999 £2799
3 8 Night with Druk Trail Tour £3699 £3499


The DEPOSIT is: £750

THE TOUR PRICES INCLUDE:

  • Flights from Kathmandu to Paro, or Delhi, Bangkok and Singapore for a supplement
  • Accommodation in standard hotels in Bhutan
  • Breakfast and dinner in hotels each day (except on trekking days), lunch in local restaurants as determined by the days' itinerary.
  • Guides for each tour option throughout the tour from arrival to departure.
  • All sightseeing and entrance fees.
  • All ground transportation in Bhutan from arrival to departure in 22 seater Toyota Coaster buses or 8 seater Toyota Hiace bus.
  • On treks – all facilities and staff required on trek including, guide, cook, helpers, and horses to carry luggage and tents (sleeping bags are not provided)
  • Visa for Bhutan
  • Compulsory Sustainable Development Fee of $200 per day, which is charged to all international visitors to the country as a tourist tax. There is a reduction in this fee for 2024 for those staying six or eight nights.
  • Tips to guides, drivers and cooks/horsemen on the trek option

NOT INCLUDED:

  • International flight to the tour starting point in Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok.
  • Visas for Nepal, India or Thailand.
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Drinks (except water on the bus).
  • Personal items such as laundry and souvenirs.
  • Entry to the marathon / half marathon (available at a supplement)


£200 - Marathon/Half-Marathon entry fee

FLIGHTS KTM/PBH/KTM No supplement
BKK/PBH/KTM or vice-versa £250
DEL/PBH/KTM or vice-versa £95
BKK/PBH/BKK £500
DEL/PBH/DEL £190

Please note these prices are flight supplements above the package price. The basic package includes return flights between Kathmandu and Paro.



The DEPOSIT is: £750

4 Night marathon weekend - From - £2099

Enjoy a taste of the beautiful and mystical country of Bhutan. This long weekend option takes you to the famous Tigers Nest Monastery and a day trip to the capital city Thimphu.


THURSDAY 23 MAY: Arrival from Kathmandu. Arrivals from Delhi and Bangkok are also available at a supplement. Overnight Paro.


FRIDAY 24 MAY: Hike to Taktshang Monastery (Tigers Nest) 6hrs. On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang. Overnight Paro.


SATURDAY 25 MAY: Excursion to the Capital City Thimphu (90-minute journey by coach each way). Visit the folk heritage museum, textile museum, Buddha Point, Takin Reserve. Afternoon visit to craft bazaar and weekend market. Return to Paro for pre-race briefing and number collection.Overnight Paro.


SUNDAY 26 MAY: FULL & HALF MARATHONS.Celebration dinner and Cultural show. Overnight Paro.


MONDAY 27 MAY: Fly out to Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok.


NOTE: Flights from Kathmandu, Bangkok and Delhi depart early in the morning to Paro and we strongly advise that you book overnight accommodation before your flight.


DEPOSIT: £750

6 Night cultural tour - From - £2799

A tour that captures the wide variety and rich culture of Bhutan. The Paro Valley with its surrounding pine clad mountainsides, Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan and the Punakha Valley, a lower-lying valley with a semi-tropical climate. 


TUESDAY 21 MAY: Arrival from Kathmandu. Arrivals from Delhi and Bangkok are also available at a supplement. Drive to Punakha via Dochu La Pass (approx 2.5 hours). Afternoon sightseeing in Punakha; visit the Devine Mad Monks Temple (Temple of Fertility) and the remarkable Punakha Dzong, past home to the King of Bhutan. Overnight Punakha. 


WEDNESDAY 22 MAY: Today we start our acclimatization activity with a hike to Soela Gompa via Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. This hike is approximately 15km with a moderate level of difficulty but for some, about 5km of the initial climb will be on the difficult side. The hike will take around 8hrs. Options to return after visiting the Chorten for a shorter hike can be arranged. Overnight Punakha.


THURSDAY 23 MAY:  Drive to the Capital City Thimphu (2.5 hours). Hike up to Buddha Point and the giant seated Buddha, the Takin Reserve (National animal), Thimphu Dzong and craft workshops. After lunch drive on to Paro (1hr) visiting the National Museum with the chance to hike part of the marathon route before visiting Paro Dzong.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight Paro.


FRIDAY 24 MAY:  Hike to Taktshang Monastery (Tigers Nest) 6hrs. On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang Monastery. Overnight Paro. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.


SATURDAY 25 MAY: Free time for shopping in Paro. Pre-race briefing and number collection. Overnight in Paro.


SUNDAY 26 MAY: FULL & HALF MARATHONS. Early breakfast before the 8am start of both races. Celebration dinner and Cultural show. Overnight Paro.


MONDAY 27 MAY: Fly out to Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok. 


NOTE: Flights from Kathmandu, Bangkok and Delhi depart early in the morning to Paro and we strongly advise that you book overnight accommodation before your flight.


DEPOSIT: £750

8 Nights with Druk Trail Trek - From - £3499

Bhutan has some of the best trekking in the world and as part of our 8-day package, we offer a fully supported 4-day trek on the famous Druk (or Thunder Dragon) Trail. With much of the hike up and around 4,000m, it also helps clients acclimatize for the race (which has an average altitude of 2,300m). The 8-day itinerary also takes in a visit to the famous Tigers Nest and an overnight stopover in the capital Thimphu.


SUNDAY 19 MAY:  Arrival from Kathmandu. Arrivals from Delhi and Bangkok also available at a supplement. Overnight Paro.


MONDAY 20 MAY:  Hike to Taktshang Monastery (Tigers Nest) 6hrs. On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang.  Overnight Paro.


TUESDAY 21 MAY: DRUK PATH trek – Day 1. Climb gradually upwards from the Paro Valley to the camp at 3650m. Most of the altitude gain  on the four-day trek is done today along forest trails. Distance 20km. The climb is moderate to hard. Overnight camping.


WEDNESDAY 22 MAY: DRUK PATH trek – Day 2. Leaving the camp we climb steeply for 1hr and follow a ridge offering views of Mt Jomolhari if the weather is clear. A steep descent takes you to the campsite next to a beautiful lake.  Distance 15km. Overnight camping.


THURSDAY 23 MAY: DRUK PATH trek – Day 3. Today is a short but tough day of ascents and descents up to 4150m. Distance 11km. Overnight camping.


FRIDAY 24 MAY: DRUK PATH trek – Day 4. The day begins with a gradual climb with possible views of Mt Gangkhar Puensum, Bhutan’s highest mountain before dropping into the Thimphu valley floor on a steep descent. Potential visit to Takin Reserve, which is close to the finish point of the trek, before taking the coach to the overnight hotel. Distance 12km  Overnight Thimphu.


SATURDAY 25 MAY: In Thimphu. Visit the folk heritage museum, textile museum, Buddha Point, Takin Reserve. Afternoon visit to craft bazaar and weekend market before driving back to Paro (90-minutes) for the pre-race briefing and number collection. Overnight Paro.


SUNDAY 26 MAY: FULL & HALF MARATHONS. Celebration dinner and Cultural show. Overnight Paro.


MONDAY 27 MAY: Fly out to Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok.


NOTE: Flights from Kathmandu, Bangkok and Delhi depart early in the morning to Paro and we strongly advise that you book overnight accommodation before your flight.


DEPOSIT: £750

HOTEL INFORMATION

Depending on numbers, we are likely to use two main hotels in Paro both at, or a short distance from, the start and finish line. The hotels will be allocated according to those booked for each option - allowing us to keep clients booked on the same option together throughout their time in Bhutan. These are the hotels we have traditionally used.


UDUMWARA HOTEL

The resort has 10 rooms at the main block and 5 cosy villas with 4 rooms in each villa, which are all deluxe twin bedded rooms decorated in a traditional style with modern facilities like security boxes, TV and free wireless internet connection. Pakshing Bar made wholly of bamboo which serves only local drinks and a handicraft shop with all the antiques on display just next to the bar in the main block will surely mesmerize you.


To add on to the existing natural beauty of the resort, a traditional bridge is constructed which passes over a small brook. The resort is a blend of a traditional look with a touch of modern architecture.


TIGERS NEST RESORT 

The Tigers nest Resort Hotel is a traditional wood-framed building that is on a slightly elevated position overlooking the Paro River valley and with views of the Tigers Nest Monastery high on the cliff face opposite. All rooms have bathrooms en suite, flat-screen TV and wifi. Rooms are either in the main hotel building or in spacious bungalows alongside the main building.


If these hotels fill we will use other hotels of a similar standard in the close vicinity of the start/finish.


In Punakha on the 6-night tour the hotel will be the Zhingkhan Hotel, a modern standard class hotel high on the valley side with fantastic views across the river to the Dzong. Rooms are in bungalows above the main reception and all have bathrooms en suite, flat-screen TV and wifi.


In Thimphu on the night after the trek, the hotel is likely to be the excellent  4-star Druk Hotel. The Druk is situated in the bustling capital city, all rooms with bathrooms en suite, flat screen tv and wifi. 


BHUTAN PHOTOS

ABOUT BHUTAN

Bhutan is no ordinary place. Remote and isolated it is the last great Himalayan kingdom. Although completely cut off for centuries it has tried to let in some aspects of the outside world while fiercely guarding its customs and traditions.

The Bhutanese people with their Buddhist beliefs have a strong sense of identity and of the interdependence between man and nature, expressed through the national policy of Gross National Happiness and concern for the environment. Its environment is wild and pristine and it is home to some of the world’s highest unclimbed mountains, the last great undestroyed forests of the Himalayas and exotic wildlife such as the Black-Necked crane, the Golden langur and the Royal Bengal tiger.

OUR TRAVEL PARTNERS

The Thunder Dragon Marathon attracts a range of international runners from around the globe as well as a number of local runners who are offered free entry to the race.

We partner with a number of travel agents around the world who can offer you guaranteed entry into the Thunder Dragon Marathon or Half-Marathon as part of a holiday travel package to Bhutan. Select from the list of travel partners below to book your holiday.

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