How to get into Bhutan

Travel by air

The easiest way for visitors to enter Bhutan is by air. Bhutan has two carriers – Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines. The pilots are especially trained and internationally licensed for mountain flying and both the airlines have impeccable safety record.

On clear days the flight to Bhutan offers spectacular views of the Great Himalayas, Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Jumolhari, Kula Gangri and you can also catch a glimpse of the Great Tibetan Plateau and its grandeur stretching in the distance.

We will book your tickets well in advance to avoid last minute rush during the peak seasons without the added commission. To do this you need to confirm your trip, especially during the rush of spring and the autumn festivals, at least 3 or 4 weeks in advance.

Note: There are flights to destinations that include Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati and Singapore.

Travel by land

If you wish to travel overland, you can enter and exit Bhutan through its southern gateway of Phuentsholing into the Indian state of West Bengal. It is approximately a five hour drive from Thimphu. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra, located approximately four hours by road from Phuentsholing. This border point is an ideal junction for those wishing to combine their exploration of Bhutan with the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal.

For those who would like to journey across Bhutan, there is an exit only border crossing at Sumdrup Jongkhar in southeast Bhutan to India. The closest airport is 110 km away in Guwahati. From here you a number of destinations you can fly on to including Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata and Bangkok. This is convenient for those flying into Paro in the west and touring across Bhutan without back tracking.

Note: Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar are the only land border areas open to tourists.

Entry through Samdrup Jongkhar will take you to Trashigang, the largest District in the country, and from there over the lateral route to Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Wangduephodrang and then finally into capital town – Thimphu. The distance is about 700 kms and will take you a minimum of three days to reach Thimphu.

Travelling within Bhutan

One can use domestic flight service to visit Bumthang in central Bhutan or Yonphula in eastern Bhutan. The Yonphula Airport is currently not operational till end of 2016. Flight service between Paro and Bumthang operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The other mode of transport within Bhutan is by road. All the major towns in the 20 districts of Bhutan are accessible by road. Despite high mountains, steep slopes and the deep valleys, Bhutan has a relatively well developed network of roads.