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Bhutan Himalayan Holidays || Travelling to Bhutan

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

43 questions about travelling to Bhutan, answered — visas and permits, flights, seasons, treks and the places you will visit.

Tours & Treks

Questions about tours

Bhutan itinerary for 4 days

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This short trip to Bhutan is perfect if you have limited time.

This brief yet comprehensive Bhutan itinerary for 4 days caters to all your travel needs.

Yes, you can travel solo to Bhutan. Bhutan is the safest place to travel, even for women. Bhutanese respect travelers. Revenue from the tourism industry is the second-highest revenue for the Royal Government of Bhutan. For solo travelers, please contact the Bhutan Tour agency for attractive Bhutanese tour packages. For solo travelers, it is a bit more expensive than for the group.

No. All travelers on tourist visas require a guide certified by the Department of Tourism. It is mandatory for international tourists to have a guide for touring Bhutan.

Explore Bhutan’s beauty with this well-planned Bhutan itinerary for 4 days.

Explore Bhutan’s beauty with this well-planned Bhutan itinerary for 4 days.

Explore Bhutan’s beauty with this well-planned Bhutan itinerary for 4 Days.

Explore Bhutan’s beauty with this well-planned Bhutan itinerary for 4 Days.

Bhutan Tour Packages

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At least 6 days are required for Bhutan tour packages if you want to visit popular tourist attractions in Bhutan. You will get a chance of visiting Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. 6 Nights and 7 days are required if you want to visit Phubjikha Valley or Haa Valley if you want to experience rural life and check out a hot stone bath. If you want to visit the central part of Bhutan, which is also a beautiful place in Bhutan to visit. In fact, the domestic flight is connected to Bumthang for minimizing time.

For trekking in Bhutan you are required a minimum of 6 days for undergoing a light trek in Bhutan. The maximum duration of trekking in Bhutan is 24 days.

Most of the tourist places in Bhutan are above 2000 meters above sea level. You will encounter altitude sickness in Bhutan if you come from low-altitude areas.

Few places like Wangdue and Punakha are under 1350 meters. Most people encounter altitude sickness in Bhutan after they cross 3000 meters. Bumthang, Phubjikha Glaciel Valley, and passes in Bhutan are above 3000 meters above sea level.

While on trekking in Bhutan you will reach up to 5000 meters above sea level. It is better if you under a medical check-up and do medical insurance before you travel to Bhutan.

Tipping is recommended, while you travel in Bhutan. While on Tour or Trekking, many individuals are involved for you. As per the terms and conditions of your agency, it is not compulsory to tip in Bhutan. Drivers, tour guides, waiters, and other local people will serve you because of the standard of living of people. As in the tourism Industry, it is better to tip them and get better service on your end.

While trekking in Bhutan you contact with porters and cooks, and they need to carry your things, food, and cooking utensils during the Trekking.

Your Bhutan Tour agency will guide you till you get a Bhutan visa. Bhutan Tour packages with quoted prices will be provided to you after communicating with you. All finalization of price and services provide to the client, the required documents(filled-up Visa form, passport color size photo, passport scan copy, Student ID if you are a student and applying for a discount of 25% for tour and flight tickets) will be asked by your tour agency. Bhutan government lay minimum daily packages for clients (International tourists and regional tourists).

Bhutan flights ticked for round trip will be added with your Bhutan Tour. You can also buy Bhutan flight tickets online. The Electronic visa is applied by your tour agency and the Department of Tourism required 7 working days to process Bhutan Visa.

It is not difficult for processing a tourist visa in Bhutan. Bhutan Government don’t allow tourist to travel to Bhutan on their own like other countries.

The most common cuisine you get in Bhutan is beef, pork, vegetable, and rice is a common food in Bhutan. Bhutan vegetable is purely organic. Most hotels in Bhutan provide organic vegetables. But during winter Bhutan depend upon India’s imports of Agricultural and Food items.

Both Western and local cuisines are available in Bhutan. Bhutanese love to eat chilly. The most common cuisine is Ema Datsi. The most common cuisine served in Bhutan is international and local cuisine. It served buffet style in many hotels and restaurants in Bhutan

The best way to travel to Bhutan is by Bhutan flights from Thailand, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, or Singapore. Druk Air, the Royal Bhutan Airlines are the only Bhutan Flights to operate the sector. Your Tour tour agency will guide you in buying Bhutan Air tickets.

The most frequent sectors in which Bhutan flights operate are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Gaya, and Guwahati. Other Cities, where there are flights to Bhutan, are Bangkok (Thailand), Kathmandu (Nepal), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Singapore. Airports in Bhutan, where Paro airport is the principal international airport, and rest three are domestic airports. Very soon Bumthang Airport will upgrade to an international airport.

Tourists can also travel to Bhutan from Nepal and India by road, but the condition of the roads is not good compared to your road network outside. We recommend traveling to Bhutan by Bhutan flights.

The best times to travel to Bhutan is during the Spring season ( March, April, May), and autumn season( September and October). Most tourist place in Bhutan is above 2000 meters above sea level. During the Season it is cold. But November is a bit cold but December and January will be cold. The southern foothills of Bhutan are only around 1500 meters above sea level. The climate is very wet and hot but during winter is good enough to travel. But the Southern foothills are not a tourist place in Bhutan.

Bumdra Trek

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It takes a 3-4 hour hike from Shangchoekor Buddhist College. It depends upon your hiking skills. Total time taken including camping, is one night and 2 days. After camping in Bumdra, you have to trek towards Taksang Monastery. The visit to Taksang Monastery is iconic for Buddhists.

Planning the trek to the Bumdra needs to be done in advance for tourists, locals, and regional tourist. For international tourists and regional tourists is mandatory to contact a tour agency from Bhutan. You can hike and trek in Bhutan without getting a permit. Tour agents in Bhutan will handle all logistics including your permit and provide you with 5-star rated service.

Finding the best way to reach the Bumdra Monastery is key for a successful trek.

You have three routes to reach the campsite and the Bumdra Monastery. The first and best route is from Shang Choekor Buddhist College, 2nd route is from Paro Taksang Monastery, 3rd route is from Shari. Most of the visitors prefer the college. It is nearly 3-4 hours from the best route to Shang Choekhor College. Now Royal Bhutan Helicopter Service Pvt. Ltd provides the service if you can’t visit by trekking. It takes 15 Minutes helicopter ride to the campsite.

You can visit the Choetshe Monastery on the way. Bumdra Monastery on the rock cliff above the campsite, the blue clear sky during the fall season, Photography enthusiasts can spend time with shots,

The unique sights along the Bumdra Trek are sure to enrich your journey.

Taksang Monastery while you are returning back from the campsite -2nd day of the trek. You can see also holy streams. You can see Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave, where a lot of angels came to feed him with food, clothes and sang beautiful songs. Angles were allowed by Guru Rimpoche to leave footprints on the rocks.

People of Paro used to keep corpses of dead bodies on the three mountain tops to be fed by vultures. Now people don’t take the bodies there because of the crematoriums in Paro Valley. Now the spots are good enough spots for tourists to take pictures and hoist prayer flags. You can still see the hat of Guru Rimpoche on the spot. You can have a horse ride if you get permission from horses who are kept for carrying your food items and tents.

After one night at the campsite, you can take the route to Tigers Nest Monastery from the base camp towards Paro Valley. You can also visit Ugyentse Lhakhang while trailing down to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

Ensure you are informed about current travel protocols for the Bumdra Trek to plan accordingly.

Places to Visit

Questions about places to visit

Tigers Nest in Bhutan

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The elevation of Tigers Nest in Bhutan adds to its mystique, making it a breathtaking location for visitors from around the world.

Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest Monastery, is at an elevation of 3286 meters/10778 feet. It is 900 feet above Paro Valley. It is one of the topmost sacred sites in Bhutan. You can escape the visit by traveling to Bhutan. It is a 2-hour uphill hike to reach the monastery and a downhill one to reach the base camp of the monastery.

Many hikers find the journey to Tigers Nest in Bhutan to be a transformative experience, offering both physical challenge and spiritual reward.

The hike takes between 2 and 6 hours, depending on your endurance. Reaching Taktsang’s cafeterias is easy, but after crossing the cafeteria, it is quite steep. The total length of the hike round trip is about 6 km/4 miles. Don’t start late because the monastery will close for visitors after 4-5, depending upon the timings.

The best time to visit Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan is from March till the end of May and during September till November. During spring, you can see a rhododendron forest on the trail, and during autumn and early winter, you can see a clear blue sky.

Don’t miss the chance to hike to Tigers Nest in Bhutan during your visit; it truly is a highlight of any trip to this incredible country.

Travel Info

Questions about travel info

Bhutan Flights

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Flights to Bhutan are Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines fly in and out to Paro. Paro Airport is the principal international airport in Bhutan. No international flight operations in and out of Paro. Anybody can charter any flight from outside but needs to follow the rules and regulations of civil aviation of Bhutan Under the Ministry of Information and Communications.

You can fly to Bhutan by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines. Flights to Bhutan are easy from the places mentioned below. Druk Air is a Government-owned airline and Bhutan Airlines is a privately owned airline. Both carriers follow the same rules and regulations monitored by Bhutan civil aviation.

India is near to Bhutan and it is easy to fly from India to Bhutan. Following are Indian cities where Bhutan flights fly in and out from New Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Mumbai, Gaya and Bagdogra. Bhutan’s principal international airport is at Paro.

From Kathmandu to Paro fly thrice a week. Daily flights operate from Bangkok. Bhutan flights from Singapore is twice a week.

Bhutan Airlines flies from India(New Delhi & Kolkata), Thailand(Bangkok), Kathmandu(Nepal) & Singapore. You can fly checking out the sectors with respective airlines with the frequency of service.

Mumbai Bhutan direct flights are there during the high season for Indian tourists. Before travelling from Mumbai to Bhutan tourists need to contact us. Check out with Bhutan tour operator or Bhutan flight schedule of both Airlines. Bhutan Flights from Mumbai will operate directly by Bhutan Airlines and Druk Air with a consultation with travel agents during the high season of tourist flow from Mumbai areas.

Bhutan Flight cost is more than other international flight that operates outside Bhutan. The cost factor is due to two Bhutan flights that operate in Bhutan. Both airlines play a good game and provide the same cost. There is a different cost for different travellers.

Chelela Pass Bhutan

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May to September is the best time to best pass. June and July will be the worst season to visit the place but for flower lovers, you can see a wide range of flowers. Haa Summer Festival takes place during summer. It involves the tourism activities like mountain biking rides from Paro Chunzum to Haa Valley. From October to November, you can get a vision of the sacred mountains of Jomulhari, Tshringma, and Jitchu Drake.

It takes nearly 1 hour and 20 minutes from Paro Town, which is a 40 km drive uphill. From Haa, it is 27 km and takes 45 minutes car drive. From Thimphu, it takes 2 hours 20 minutes car drive with nearly 105km.

Yes, if you have time and while travelling to Haa Valley. It is on the same route. Mountain biking to Haa Valley from Paro is worth. You can see Yaks grazing and can see Blue poppy during the season. If you want hike from Chelela pass to Kila Goenpa.

You can see Drubchu (spring) with rock paintings of Guru Rinpoche and his two consorts. Dzongdrakha Goemba- white Nepali-style chorten perched stunningly on a cliff ledge. The site is where Guru Rinpoche suppressed local demons and is definitely worth a detour. While driving from Paro to Chelela pass Bhutan you can see a Hot stone bath around 10-12 km above Bondey. If you are interested to visit Kila Goenpa’s nunnery. It is better to visit after your visit to pass.

Minimum Daily Package Rate

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Sustainable Development Fees(SDF) are levied by the Department of Tourism(TCB) on all tourists visiting Bhutan(Except Indian tourists).

The fund goes directly to the government. You need to pay extra for hotels,

meals, insurance, entrance fees for all places of visit, guide charges, and transport including airfare.

Bhutan is the first country with carbon negative. The country also sequesters 9.4 million tons of carbon against its emission capacity of 3.8 million tons. With climate change taking place rapidly with glacial melting fast in the Himalayas it is important for Bhutan to conserve its environment.

Based on scientific and data calculations, we believe the revised SDF will put us in a good direction to maintain climate change and remain carbon-neutral in tourism. The SDF will benefit the country with more activities that offset carbon footprint and maintain the carbon sinks in Bhutan by replanting trees. It will also benefit Bhutan by reducing t fossil fuels enhancing its hydropower capacity and electrifying the transport sector.

Beyond protecting the country’s natural environment it will benefit to preserve Bhutan’s cultural heritage and traditional values.

The SDF will also ensure long-term economic goals which provide socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders of Bhutan.

The SDF applies to all tourists.

The minimum daily package rate for Bhutan tours and trekking depends upon the services you want from your Tour agency. Hotels/Accommodations, guide charges daily, internal transport, logistics used in trekking,travel insurance, meals and any type of expenses in Bhutan are not included in SDF.

Solo trip to Bhutan

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The short and crisp answer is Yes, A lot of Indian female travelers also go for a solo trip to Bhutan. The crime rate is non-existent in the country. Backpacking in Bhutan is really that safe for everyone.

Indian Passport holders or those who have voter cards from the Election Commission of Bhutan do not require a Bhutan visa, however, they require an e-permit to enter the country:

The international airport in Bhutan is located in the small town of Paro which is about a distance of a couple of hours from the capital city of Thimpu. Unfortunately, your flying options are very limited as the only two operators allowed to fly are Druk Air (dominant player) and Bhutan Airways (relatively new).

People backpacking to Bhutan from India will rejoice in the fact that the closest airport to Bhutan on Indian soil is Bagdogra Airport. The little town of Bagdogra is located very close to the bigger city of Siliguri. Siliguri is also a gateway to the picturesque town of Darjeeling and the beautiful Himalayan capital Gangtok. Check my travel blog post on Darjeeling and Gangtok for more details.

Phuntsholing remains the most popular entry point or border crossing for Indian travelers. This is where you will be coming when you arrive by flight at the Bagdogra airport. Bagdogra is well connected to Delhi with several flights daily, as well as to Kolkata. Tourists arriving from Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai can take any economy flight such as Spice jet which connects to Bagdogra via Kolkata.

Whether you are a solo female traveler to Bhutan or a male traveler, at Bagdogra airport you can easily find someone to share a prepaid taxi to Jaigaon. Simply stand near the prepaid booth which is located on the inside, on the left of the Bagdogra airport exit. Wait for a few minutes and talk to people, you should be able to find someone going in the same direction. Note, that it is perfectly okay to travel by road as the road condition is perfectly fine and has not deteriorated as mentioned in several blog posts (perhaps those posts are old).

Alternatively, if you are on a budget trip to Bhutan, you can take an auto to the New Jalpaiguri and catch a bus or a train from there.

However, the cheapest option, if you are on a backpacking trip to Bhutan, would be to take an auto (max 40 rupees) to “Bihar mod” which is located very close to the airport, and hop on to one of the buses coming from Nepal. Yes! You heard it right, buses coming from Nepal. The bus will take you to Siliguri.

I traveled from Bangalore to Bhutan, the flight to Bagdogra was through Kolkata. There was a massive delay in my connecting flight but it turned out to be all right in the end.

Buses are the major public transportation to get around in Bhutan. The bus network is very good and the services are provided by private operators. The coaster buses provide an economical and comfortable means of transportation.

Backpacking in Bhutan is quite comfortable as the air, as well as ground connectivity is good. The towns in Bhutan are well connected with each other by domestic flights. Note, that the flights are not very frequent, so plan your Bhutan itinerary carefully.

Travel to Bhutan from USA

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Bhutan is the first country with carbon negative in the world. The environment is a clean, safe, and peaceful country. No strikes and hartals like neighboring countries. The maximum land is covered with forest(72%). Bhutan generates clean hydro-power from the steep and deep-running rivers. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains.

The average altitude you will be traveling will be 2400m above sea level. You will not tend to get altitude sickness. But when you are trekking the higher Himalayas you might tend to get sickness. We advise trekkers to acclimatize before the trek.

Bhutanese culture and traditions will attract you. Bhutanese has a unique culture. Bhutanese don’t measure Gross National Product but enjoy Gross National Happiness. Bhutanese hospitality is great. Even if you stay in Bhutanese homestays you will get excellent service.

How do I get to Bhutan? will be important to know while traveling to Bhutan. You can access Bhutan through road and Flights. International flights don’t fly to Bhutan and out. You can charter international flights. Clearance can be approved through Bhutan Aviation Authority through your tour agency in Bhutan.

Visiting Bhutan offers a unique and enriching experience due to its distinct cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and sustainable tourism practices. Here are some compelling reasons to visit Bhutan:

Rich Cultural Heritage: Bhutanese culture is deeply rooted in Buddhism, and visitors can explore numerous ancient temples, monasteries, and fortresses (dzongs). The country’s festivals, like Tshechu, are vibrant and showcase traditional dances, music, and religious rituals.

Stunning Natural Scenery: Bhutan boasts some of the most pristine and untouched natural landscapes in the world. From the towering peaks of the Himalayas to lush valleys and dense forests, the country offers spectacular scenery. Popular trekking routes, like the Snowman Trek, provide unparalleled views of snow-capped mountains and serene landscapes.

Gross National Happiness (GNH): Bhutan measures its success based on Gross National Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Product. This philosophy emphasizes sustainable development, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and good governance. Visitors can witness how this unique approach positively impacts the lives of the Bhutanese people.

Adventure Activities: Bhutan offers a range of adventure activities, including trekking, hiking, white-water rafting, and mountain biking. The challenging terrains and diverse landscapes provide excellent opportunities for adventure enthusiasts.

Biodiversity: Bhutan is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The country’s commitment to conservation is evident

Bhutan is in the eastern Himalayas. It is sandwiched between China to the north and India to the south, West and East. It lies between latitudes 26°N and 29°N, and longitudes 88°E and 93°E. The terrain consists mostly of steep and high mountains. Elevation rises from 200 m in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 m in Northern Bhutan.

Bhutan is a very safe country. Crime is uncommon, you will small crimes, and the crime rate is very low as compared to other countries. The beauty of Bhutan is you will never see traffic lights.

It depends upon the nights you want to stay in Bhutan. How much does it cost to go to Bhutan how many nights, and the kinds of hotels do you want to stay in Bhutan? Bhutan Depending on the duration and kind of hotel you stay in Bhutan.

The package does not include Airfare International and domestic, Travel, and Medical Insurance, Our best tour Package would be 6 6-night 7-day tour to Bhutan.

Contact the Bhutan Tour agency in Bhutan. Get a quote for the Bhutan Tour package with your interest. Your tour partner will advise you on the best possible to get to Bhutan from the US. Already is mentioned above for the US citizens flying into Bhutan.

If you are traveling to Bhutan from the USA by land, the option that is best is to take the flight direct from the United States to an Airport in India, northeast India, New Delhi, or even to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport terminal in Kolkata. After that, it is easy to get a train to Alipurduar Junction, New Jalpaiguri(NJP), or Hasimara in the Indian State of West Bengal. India covers nooks and corners of Indian cities and towns.

Through the railway station at Hasimara, you can easily get a taxi or bus to Jaigaon, near the border opposite Phuentsholing, Bhutan’s border town. From Hasimira is a 30-minute drive to reach Phuentsholing. From Alipurduar junction is one hour drive and from NJP is 5 hours car drive.

After reaching Jaigaon you must stamp your passport for entering Phuentsholing Bhutan gate. Another entry point is Samdrup Jonkhar if you are flying to Guwahati under Assam state of India.

If you are already in Nepal and want to travel to Bhutan from land. You will need to get a flight to the Tribhuvan airport terminal from Kathmandu if you travel from the United States of America to Nepal.

There are not any flights that are direct from the United States to Nepal, & most routes connect either in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, or Istanbul. As soon as you reach Kathmandu, where you can get across into India, although the border town of Kakarbhitta in east Nepal could be the easiest & most preferred.

The crossing goes to the West Bengal city of Panitanki, from where you could get a train that is direct to Hasimara, near the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing. From Panitanki you can directly get the bus to reach the border town of Jaigaon. if you want a Bhutan vehicle we can arrange it at the border of Nepal and India.

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