Travel to Bhutan

Prior to the early 1960s, the Kingdom of Bhutan was essentially sealed off from the rest of the world. Due to the fact that there were only two main entry points—one in the north and one in the south—the country could only be reached on foot. The northern route passed via Tibet and required travelers to cross difficult-to-reach high mountain passes that were closed during the winter. West Bengal and Assam’s plains served as the second access point from the south. It was very difficult to enter the country because of the high, snowy passes in the North and the deep jungles in the South.

A network of roadways now enters and traverses the nation, along with one international and numerous domestic airports, thanks to carefully planned economic development, making it considerably more accessible. the border towns of Gelephu in the center region and Samdrup Jongkhar in the east that connect Bhutan with the Indian state of Assam. Today, the primary roadways entering the country are through Phuentsholing in the south, joining Bhutan with the Indian plains of West Bengal.

Visas are necessary for entry into Bhutan for all visitors (see visa under the Trip Planner tab). Before visiting Bhutan, you must get a visa clearance and make travel arrangements through a local tour operator or an overseas affiliate. It is not required for Indian, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian nationals to book travel through a tour operator, however it is advised. These individuals can obtain visas at the port of entry. A passport or voter card is acceptable for entry for Indian nationals.

The only land border regions accessible to tourists are Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samtse, and Samdrup Jongkhar. The southwest Indian village of Phuentsholing is roughly 170 kilometers (km) east of Bagdogra, the country’s main airport. It takes roughly six hours to travel the 170 miles from Phuentsholing to Thimphu, the capital city. Another entrance to Bhutan is at Gelephu, which is located in the south-central part of the country. The distance is roughly 250 kilometers, and the route will take you through subtropical and alpine Bhutan before arriving in Thimphu. It will take roughly ten hours to drive through three districts.

The Indian district of Darranga, Assam, is bordered by the south-eastern Bhutan district of Samdrup Jongkhar, which is roughly 150 kilometers from Guwahati, the capital of Assam. It takes roughly three hours to get there from Guwahati. Travelers coming into Bhutan through Samdrup Jongkhar will take you to Trashigang, then over the lateral route to Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Wangdue Phodrang, and eventually into the capital, Thimphu. You would need at least three days to travel the approximately 700 miles to get to Thimphu.

Flights are available to places like as Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Singapore, and Mumbai. Paro is surrounded by mountains that reach a height of 4,876 m (16,000 ft), which is 2,225 m (7300 ft) above sea level. Bhutan Airlines and Drukair are the two airlines currently serving Bhutan. Yonphula, in the east of Bhutan, Bumthang, in the middle of Bhutan, and Gelephu, in the south of Bhutan all have domestic airports. In Gelephu, close to the southern border with India, a second international airport is now being built.

As you descend into Paro valley, closer to the mountain peaks than on most other flights across the world, flying into Bhutan’s Paro International Airport is usually a thrilling event. Being able to fly over four of the five tallest mountains in the world makes the flight between Paro and Kathmandu one of the most thrilling. The most breathtaking views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kangchenjunga may be seen as you soar further up in clear weather.