Bikes in Bhutan are a rarity. Whether you're a tourist or a local, riding a bike in this Himalayan gem is just not an everyday occurrence. For a tourist the exotic appeal of being one of the first adds to an already incredible experience. For locals cycling embraces a new way of life — one that speaks to Bhutan's reverence for its environment.

To that end Kona, in collaboration with Uma, Paro Como Hotel and Resorts, Bhutan Wilderness Travel and Xplore Bhutan, ran a dawn-to-dusk week-long bike camp to train local guides on the finery of off-road bike handling and maintenance. In the words of Kona's production manager and bike guru Maurey Olsten, "It was an intense, jam packed eight days of wrenching and wheeling."

Maurey, Jason Bond, a mountain bike instructor with ten years experience teaching on North Shore trails and Uma's director of activities, Philip Bowen, a consummate off-road rider and international mountain guide took sixteen local guides under their wing for the ride of their lives. They spent mornings riding over, through and around virgin single track, steep pitches, craggy out crops, river edges and high altitude mountain passes before rolling into afternoons of bike bits and elbow grease to learn the skill and nuance of bike mechanics. On top of that our fearless leaders, who have truly gone where no bike company has gone before, impressed upon the participants the rigors and importance of group management, safety and respect for the trail.

	Tenzin Yeshey Thank you so much for coming to Bhutan and giving us a training about the KONA bikes. With KONA training we learnt a lot from you two — before we knew how to ride bikes but now we also learned more about maintenance and checking before we use the bikes and give them to guests. We also leaned a lot about biking skill and the name of the bike parts. Once more a big thank you for the training and we will be looking forward to some more training in the near future.
	Karma Tshering A week Kona biking training made us vast difference in our life. We can ride off and on road with no problem at all, as we were given the best mechanical, riding skill and confident with all their heart. This was the great opportunity offered by Kona and Uma to all of us. Now we are going to conquer any kind of trails no matter how steep ascent and descent or stony down hill. We are the best mountain bikers in Bhutan and thanks Heidi, Mauray, Jason and Philip for making this training happened successfully.
	Ugyen Dorji Thank you very much for giving us such a wonderful and helpful training. Without a teacher there won't great people in the same way we won't be able to maintain and repair bikes and guide our guests by bike. Nowadays I see my friends showing their bike stunts and can see their confidence in them and is all because of your efforts. Hope to ride with you guys again one day — Tashi Delek!
	Tharchu It was an wounderful training camp here in Bhutan with joined of three travel agent together with konaworld for a week. I would like to thank every company for organize such a camp in the benefit for the guides in Bhutan. So within training I have learn many things from Mr Maurey and Mr Jason by sharing their knowledge with us like anything.espleacialy from mr maurey how to do the mountain bike maintains.so hence forth I am sure that I can do the maintains of the bike when it has problems. from mr Jason I have learn riding skills. how to ride uphill,downhill and also the techniques to ride in difficulty areas. now I can lead a group for mountain biking. Thanks a lot for every body With best wishes to one and all
	Ugyen Tshering By phone from the Punakha Festival — "Please thank Dasho Mo and Dasho Jason for teaching me so much about biking and I cannot wait to go riding again with my friends to put practice into what I have learnt from you guys. Kudenchey and Tashi delek."
	Yarab I take this privileged to honor and pay a token of gratitude for giving me an opportunity to do Kona Bike training. Actually, I do not have appropriate words that would suit my eruption of my feelings towards your kindness. However I feel oblige and bound towards your kindness. Indeed, I learned a lots from that training and I feel confident and sikill ful in biking knowledge which I consider an asset in my life. Though I may leave to forget myself, but never in my life I would forget your kindness. You remain icon of my worship and gratitude in my lifetime. Thank you once more. with love

Now it's your turn. Be a part of KonaWorld Travels. Go ride Bhutan. There's no other place in the world like it.

In tandem with local Kona partners, KonaWorld Travels promotes cycling adventure in rewarding destinations around the globe. Where in the Kona world are you going?

For more information about KonaWorld Travels or our destinations contact info@konaworldtravels.com