Situated between India and Tibet, Bhutan is a landlocked country with limited access points. That brings to mind the question of how to reach Bhutan in the shortest, fastest way and what the available options are. The Kingdom of Bhutan is spread across the eastern Himalayas, and the popular way to travel in the country is via the winding mountain roads. However, there is more there is more than way to reach Bhutan. You could fly to Bhutan or travel to Bhutan by road.
How to Reach Bhutan by Air
Paro is the international airport of Bhutan. Regular flights operate between Paro and Delhi and Kolkata. If you are traveling to Bhutan from Nepal, you can avail of direct flights to Paro from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. All flights to Bhutan are operated by Druk Air, which is the national carrier of Bhutan.
Paro is a scenic valley-town of gurgling streams, quaint houses and old monasteries, hemmed in by the Himalayas. It is just a 2-hour drive from Thimpu. Car rentals and government bus services are available for the journey from Paro to Thimpu.
Druk Air currently operates two Airbus A319-114 with seating capacity of 124 passengers including 8 Business Class seats. Druk Air flight operates to Paro, Bhutan from Bangkok daily, two to four times a week from Delhi and Kathmandu, twice or thrice a week from Kolkata, Bagdogra and Dhaka, which originates from Bangkok. In Bangkok, Druk Air uses the new airport (BKK) Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Druk Air flight booking is centralized in Thimphu, Bhutan. It is not an IATA member and currently it cannot be booked on any Global System (GDS). Druk air do not accept Credit card payments.
Druk Air Flight Schedules, Fares regional Flights
| Druk Air fares – Coach or Economy Fares in US $ | |||
| Sector | Season Fare |
Off season fare (Jun, July…) |
Taxes + Y-Fuel Surcharges |
| PARO – DELHI | 315 | 237 | 31 |
| DELHI- PARO | 315 | 237 | 46 |
| BANGKOK- PARO | 360 | 270 | 37 |
| PARO -BANGKOK | 360 | 270 | 31 |
| KATHMANDU – PARO | 190 | 143 | 31 |
| PARO – KATHMANDU | 190 | 143 | 31 |
| KOLKATA- PARO | 190 | 143 | 18 |
| PARO – KOLKATA | 190 | 143 | 31 |
| Druk Air fares – Business Class Fares in US $ | |||
| PARO – DELHI | 380 | 285 | 81 |
| DELHI – PARO | 380 | 285 | 96 |
| BANGKOK -PARO | 440 | 330 | 37 |
| PARO -BANGKOK | 440 | 330 | 31 |
| KATHMANDU -PARO | 230 | 173 | 31 |
| PARO – KATHMANDU | 230 | 173 | 31 |
| KOLKATA- PARO | 230 | 173 | 68 |
| PARO- KOLKATA | 230 | 173 | 81 |
| Infant Fare: 90% discount on the base fare for Infants (below the age of 2years) Child Fare: 33% discount on base fare for Children (below 12 years on the date of travel) Student Discount: 25 % discount on base fare for Student (must be below 25 years of age and proof to show that one is a full time student, including ID card) Group Discount: For every 11th passenger, there is 50% discount on 1 pax or OR 1 person travel free for every 16th passengers. All passengers must be traveling on the same route and purchasing flight tickets at the same time. Taxes and insurance etc are still charged. |
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How to Reach Bhutan by Road
There is no rail network within the country and travelers can gain access to Bhutan by means of road transport – buses, private cars, which are authorized by the government of Bhutan. All parts of Bhutan are well-connected by a network of roads. If you are planning to reach Bhutan from India, the point of entry is the border town of Jaigaon. It is about 150 kms from Siliguri, the furthest that you can get near Bhutan by rail. A stately gate separates the Indian town of Jaigaon from the Bhutanese town of Phunsoling. Cars are available for hire from Siliguri to Jaigaon. You can book the very same car to take you to Bhutan or on reaching Jaigaon, get in touch with local tour operators to book a car for your tour to Bhutan and back.
The laws for traveling to Bhutan are stricter for people of other nationalities than of India and China. The purpose of such laws is to preserve its environment and culture. Both the touring party and the car rental company need to acquire permits to be in Bhutan for a given length of time
The ornate border gate between Bhutan and India
Collected from various sources