By Air
Bhutan’s only international airport is located at Paro. Druk Air is the only national flight operating in the route Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bodh Gaya, Dacca, Kathmandu and Guwahati in Assam and nowadays Buddha Air has started its service to and from Kathmandu- Paro
The flight between Paro and Kathmandu is one of the most exciting ones as the aircraft passes over 4 of the 5 highest mountains in the world. In fine weather, as you soar higher up, you can enjoy the spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu und Kangchenjunga from the window of your seat. Bhutanese visa is required to board your flight to Bhutan.
For the latest Druk Air flight schedules, you may visit Drukair's website or contact Himalayan Glimpse Adventure (P) Ltd.
By Land
Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan are the only land border areas open for international tourists. The town of Phuntsholing is located approximately 170 km east of the Indian national airport Bagdogra. After crossing Phuntsholing, your overland journey begins its mountainous climb through endless turns and hair-pin bends till you reach Thimphu, the capital city. The travel time for the 176 km stretch can be more than 6 hours.
Gelephu in South-Central Bhutan is another entry point to Bhutan. It is approximately 250 km from Thimphu and your overland journey will take you through the sub-tropical areas of Bhutan before entering the alpine zone and then finally into Thimphu. The travel time will be about ten hours.
Samdrup Jongkhar is the only entry point in eastern Bhutan via the Indian border town of Darranga, Assam and it is approximately 150 km away from Guwahati, the capital city of Assam.Tourists entering Bhutan through Samdrup Jongkhar will take you to Trashigang, the largest district in the kingdom, and from there the route branches off to Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Wangde Phodrang and then finally into capital, Thimphu. The distance is about 700 km and will take you a minimum of three days to reach Thimphu.
Bhutan Passport & Visa
Bhutanese embassies or consulates abroad do not issue tourist visa. The Druk Air Ticket cannot be purchased without first obtaining visa. Visa application at least eight weeks in advance is advisable. The visitors are required a valid passport and visa to enter Bhutan, except for Indian nationals. Travelers to Bhutan must have a visa approval prior to arriving in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Those who have not had a visa approval will not be permitted to board Druk Air flight.
Travel Visa Application
Once you are ready to confirm your tour arrangements we will apply for your visas. We will need the following details:
Your full name (exactly as it appears in your passport)
Your Bhutan visa will be stamped in your passport when you arrive in the kingdom. You need to pay US$ 20 cash upon arrival and present 2 passport photos with your passport number on the back. We can process visa extensions for you, if necessary.
Best Season/ Weather
The temperature in Bhutan drops noticeably as one travels from the lower altitudes in the south to the high Himalayan regions in the north. The southern border areas are the hottest and have tropical conditions. Mercury rises above 30 °C in summer (mid May to August) though in winter (December to February) it dips to about 15 °C. Northern regions experience severe winters and mild summers (average temperatures range from 0 °C to 10 °C) with snow a permanent feature in areas bordering Tibet. In the central regions of Bhutan, a pleasant temperate climate is the norm throughout the year.
Autumn (late September through November) is the best time to visit Bhutan. The weather in Bhutan at this time is ideal for trekking and sightseeing, there is a lot of sunshine and very little rain. This is also the time when many colourful traditional festivals are held. Spring (March to May), when the country looks at its vibrant best, is another popular tourist season. Flowers are in full bloom and the weather is good.
Though showers can occur any time of the year in Bhutan, it really pours during the monsoon season (June to September) which coincides with the summer. Humidity is high, particularly in the southern regions and flash floods and landslides are not uncommon.
Accommodations
Traditional hotels, cottages and guest houses approved by the Department of Tourism are usually comfortable with hot and cold running water, electricity and sometimes room telephones though international calls may be via reception. There are a few luxury hotels but these do not come cheap. Accommodation is booked by Tour Operators. Expect a surcharge on the basic rate for up-market resorts and be aware that at festival time, hotels are booked long in advance so you may need to be flexible. All the treks in Bhutan are based on full board camping. .
Currency
The national currency in Bhutan is the Ngultrum (Nu) and cash is the preferred medium of exchange. Prices are usually quoted in Ngultrum although US dollars are widely accepted and changed. Our clients are recommended to carry USD cash, as there is limited ATM access. Existing ATMs are for credit cards only. However, most of the antique/textile shops around Thimphu and Paro accept VISA credit cards and a few accept American Express.
Markets are held regularly, generally on Saturday and Sunday, and are a rich source of local clothing and jewellery, as well as food. The Handicraft Emporium on the main street in the capital is open daily and offers a magnificent assortment of hand-woven and handcrafted goods. Some hotels have a souvenir shop. Silversmiths and goldsmiths in the Thimphu Valley are able to make handcrafted articles to order. Bhutanese stamps are collectors' items. Shopping is otherwise limited and bargaining is not customary. Phuentsholing has a small department store, the only one of its kind in Bhutan.
Food and Drinks
Bhutanese food is generally good. Set meals for travelers tend to be on the bland side, because local food is heavily seasoned with red chilies and can be quite hot. Most hotels provide meals buffet-style. There are usually continental, Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese dishes. The food in hotels is often the best in town, but in main towns now there are few restaurants increasingly becoming popular. All tourist hotels have good selection of international and Bhutanese beverages.
Comfortable surface transport is available in Bhutan, making journey in this mountainous Kingdom really enjoyable. Latest model Japanese Toyota Cars, Land Cruisers, Hiace Buses and Coaster Buses are provided to our tourists depending upon the group size. Our experienced, friendly drivers are well trained and licensed by Department of Tourism and the Department of Motor Vehicles in safety and driving on mountainous terrain. Tourists are at ease riding in Bhutan Mountains. The transport and guide accompany the tourist right from arrival until departure.
Tourist Guides in Bhutan
Licensed Bhutanese travel guides will introduce you to the many facets of this wonderful country. Our tour guides are trained and certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and refreshers course are given frequently to update their knowledge and standards. They all speak fluent English and are well versed in country's history and traditions. We also have specialized guides for bird watching, ethno-botany or other special interest tours in Bhutan.
Clothing
In spring and summer light clothing is appropriate with a sweater or jacket in the evenings. From autumn through winter, down jackets, fleeces, hats and gloves are necessary. Sports shoes are suitable for light touring, while hiking boots are recommended for treks. Legs, shoulders and upper arms need to be covered when visiting Dzongs, Monasteries and Lhakhangs. Sun block cream, lip balm, and sunglasses are recommended for higher elevations.
Bhutan Time Zone
Bhutan time is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. There is only one time zone throughout the country.
Places to visit in Bhutan
Thimphu
It is the capital of Bhutan, situated at 2,285m above sea level. Just over 30 years old, this tiny Himalayan city was built by the late king Jigme Dorje Wangchuk in order to replace the ancient capital of Punakha. Quiet and peaceful with its streets lined with traditional shop fronts. Beautiful textiles in wool, silk and cotton, basketwork, silver jewelry, thangkas and other traditional crafts of the kingdom are available in various Handicrafts Emporiums.
Paro
Paro, the winter capital of Bhutan, is 52 km far away from Thimphu. With patchwork fields willow glades, murmuring trout-filled streams and scattered hamlets, Paro is the most attractive of Bhutan’s valleys. Bursting with colour and tradition, this tiny town is overlooked by a dramatic dzong, while hamlets and isolated farms dot the countryside. The houses here are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country.
Bumthang
The valleys of Trongsa and Bumthang are separted by Yutola pass. Bumthang has its own unique geographical feature that separates it from all other regions. Composed of four smaller valleys, the deeply spiritual region of Bumthang is shrouded in religious legend.
Apart from the Dzong at Jakar, smaller monastery is situated all over the valley. Tales of Guru Padma Sambhava dominate these holy shrines. The valley is home to the sacred Jampa and Kurjey monasteries. Bumthang is also the traditional home to the great Buddhist teacher, Pema Lingpa to whom the present monarchy traces its lingeage. Bumthang Tsechu (festival) along with the Paro and Thimphu Tsechu are the most popular festivals in Bhutan.
Wangdue Phodrang
This is the last town on the highway before entering Central Bhutan. Perched on the top of a hill, the formidable dzong is the town’s most visible features. In the 17th century, Wangdue played a crucial role in unifying western, central and southernBhutan. The town itself is now little more than an enlarged village with well-provided shops and hotels.
The road from Wangdue to Trongsa is one of the prettiest in Bhutan passing through streams forest and villages before climbing the Pelela pass on the Black Mountain ranges into the Trongsa valley. South of the highway is the Gangtey Gompa, an old monastery dating from the 17th century. A few kilometers past the Gompa is the village of Phobjikha one of the winter homes of the Black Necked cranes which migrate to Bhutan from central Asia.
Phuentsholing
Phuentsholing is the point of entry for travelers arriving from Kolkata and Siliguri. The architecture is modern, and there is no dzong, famous monastery or in fact anything of particular interest to tourists. However, like all of Bhutan, it does offer a clean, pleasant and safe environment. A thriving commercial centre, it is home to a potpourri of ethnic groups intermingling at the point where the countries Bhutan and India meet.
