How To Get to Bhutan

There are only two ways to enter Bhutan – by air and by road.

Entering by Air

The national carrier of Bhutan is Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines. Drukair fly regularly to Paro, Bhutan’s only international airport, from Bangkok, Dhaka, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahti, Gaya and Kathmandu.

Important Note: Drukair operates in an alpine environment with a small fleet and delays can occur due to weather or other operational requirements. We strongly advise visitors to Bhutan to factor in at least an 8 hour transit time before connecting to or from a Drukair flight.

Bhutan & Beyond will arrange Drukair tickets on your behalf.

Please click here for Drukair Flight Schedules & Drukair Costs.

No other airlines currently fly into Bhutan so Drukair is your sole air option. However a new private airline Tashi Air is due to commence operations during 2012 and a new service ex Singapore is scheduled to commence from late March.

New Domestic Air Services In Bhutan from mid- late 2012

Both Drukair and Tashi Air are scheduled to commence domestic air services in 2012 using the ATR 42 turbo prop aircraft. The route will be Paro to Bumthang (central Bhutan) and on to Trashigang in eastern Bhutan and return.  This will allow return visitors to avoid the long drive to central Bhutan to focus on the central and more remote eastern region in a shorter time frame.

More information on schedules and fares will be provided as it comes to hand.

Drukair Aircraft.

Drukair currently operates 2 Airbus A319 jets, offering economy and business class seating, and 1 ATR-42 turbo prop aircraft (for the shorter sector flights) offering economy class only seating. These aircraft are extremely well suited for the alpine environment and your descent in to the Paro Valley will be among the highlights of your visit. The flight between Paro and Kathmandu runs parallel with the Himalayas for much of the journey and Mt Everest can often be seen very clearly.

Entering by Road

There are currently two authorised entry & exit points by road for foreign tourists.

The first is at Phuntsholing in southwest Bhutan, from West Bengal in Northern India. The adjacent Indian rown is called Jaigaon. We strongly recommend vistors entering or departing at Phuntsholing spend the first night there on the Bhutan side. Jaigaon is chaotic and only offers low standards of accommdation.

The second entry/exit point is at Samdrup Jongkhar in the far southeast of Bhutan. This option, bordering the Indian State of Assam, is useful for visitors who travel to the more remote eastern side of Bhutan.  It is 3 hour drive from Samdrup Jongkhar to the Indian airport of Guwahati which will connect you by air to your onward destination.

Important Note: Driving in Bhutan, the roads are narrow and the driving speed in Bhutan is generally 35-40 kms per hour, courtesy of the high number of bends per kilometre (up to 13 or more bends in some areas and especially in eastern Bhutan).