International · Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan · Western & Central Valleys · 2,200–2,800 m
The world's only carbon-negative kingdom — Tiger's Nest monasteries, butter-lamp dzongs, and prayer-flag passes where Gross National Happiness is government policy, not a slogan.
Bhutan is the Himalayas without the tourist crush — monasteries perched on 900m cliffs, fortresses built where rivers meet, and a government that by law prioritises ecological preservation over GDP. For Indian travellers it is the easiest international tick: no visa, short flights, familiar vegetarian food, and a profoundly different pace of life.
Plan it with us
Want Bhutan shaped around you?
Tell us your dates — we'll build the trip.
Go in
In season, days sit around 20° and nights near 6°.
What you'll see & do
The sights worth the trip, and how to spend the days around them.
To see
- Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) — cliffside gompa at 3,120m
- Punakha Dzong — 17th-century fortress at the confluence of Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu
- Dochula Pass — 108 chortens with panoramic Himalayan skyline on clear days
- Buddha Dordenma & National Memorial Chorten, Thimphu
To do
- Trek to Tiger's Nest — 4–5h round trip, 900m ascent, cafeteria with cliff views midway
- White-water rafting on Mo Chhu or Pho Chhu near Punakha (Grade II–III)
- Attend a Tsechu festival — masked Cham dances in dzong courtyards
- Traditional hot-stone bath (dotsho) using river-heated stones — standard in most lodges
Before you go
- Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines have limited seat inventory and fares spike 2–3x in peak season (March–April, October–November) — lock flights before building any other part of the itinerary.
- The SDF of INR 1,200 per adult per night must be itemised as a separate line on every cost sheet; clients who see it for the first time on arrival regularly dispute the invoice.
- Monsoon (June–August) landslides routinely close the Thimphu–Punakha highway and the Paro–Haa road for 1–3 days at a time; reroutes add 3–4 hours and can strand a group mid-trip.
Days, already shaped
3-day plan
- Fly into Paro; acclimatize with Rinpung Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang temple, and Paro town walk; hot stone bath evening
- Full-day Tiger's Nest trek (4–5h ascent/descent); cafeteria lunch with cliff views; sunset over Paro valley
- Drukgyel Dzong ruins, Ta Dzong museum, local farm lunch; transfer to Paro airport
5-day plan
- Fly into Paro; Rinpung Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, town walk; overnight Paro
- Full-day Tiger's Nest trek; evening hot stone bath
- Drive to Thimphu (1h): Memorial Chorten, Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong, handicrafts bazaar
- Thimphu → Dochula Pass → Punakha: 108-chorten panorama, Punakha Dzong interior, suspension bridge, Mo Chhu raft
- Return via Wangdue to Paro; leisurely valley walk; airport transfer
7-day plan
- Fly into Paro; Rinpung Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, town market walk; overnight Paro
- Full-day Tiger's Nest trek (900m ascent); sunset views over Paro valley
- Paro valley day: Drukgyel Dzong ruins, Chelela Pass drive (3,988m, Himalayan panorama, rhododendrons); hot stone bath
- Drive to Thimphu (1h): National Memorial Chorten, Buddha Dordenma, Folk Heritage Museum, weekend vegetable market
- Thimphu → Dochula Pass → Punakha: dzong tour, hanging bridge, white-water raft on Mo Chhu
- Drive to Phobjikha Valley (2h): Gangtey Gompa, black-necked crane education centre, marshland nature walk
- Return to Paro via Wangdue Phodrang; local farm lunch; depart
Getting there, permits & day trips
By air — Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines fly Paro from Delhi (2.5h), Kolkata (1h), Mumbai (3h), Bangalore (2.5h); very limited seat inventory — book 3–4 months ahead for March–April and October; fares INR 15,000–35,000 return
By rail — Train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) — overnight (~13h) from Delhi, ~12h from Kolkata; then shared taxi 2.5h to Phuentsholing border town and onward drive to Paro (5h) or Thimphu (4h); total door-to-door ~22h from Delhi
By road — Drive from Siliguri/NJP (180km, ~5h) or from Guwahati (180km, ~5h) via Phuentsholing–Jaigaon border crossing; popular itinerary: enter by road, exit by air from Paro; border open daily 0800–1800
On a Driftibo trip we handle the transfers.
Permits & entry — Indian passport holders need no visa for Bhutan. A valid Indian passport with at least 6 months remaining validity, or an original Voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India, is accepted at Paro airport and all land border crossings (Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse); Aadhaar cards are not accepted at any entry point. A free Entry Permit is issued on arrival at Paro airport immigration or the relevant land border Immigration Office; online pre-application is available at immi.gov.bt and requires 4–5 working days. The Entry Permit covers Thimphu and Paro districts only — travel to any other district (Punakha, Haa Valley, Bumthang, Phobjikha, eastern districts) requires a separate Route Permit, also free, collected in person at the Department of Immigration office in Thimphu on a working day (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm; processing takes approximately 1.5–2 hours); a driver or guide may collect it on the client's behalf, but it is issued only at the Thimphu DoI office, not at checkposts. No licensed Bhutanese tour operator is required for Indian nationals. A Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of INR 1,200 per adult per night (INR 600 for ages 6–12; free under 5) applies and is confirmed fixed until 31 August 2027; a 5% Bhutan GST on hotel stays, transport hire, and guide fees has been in effect since 1 January 2026, replacing the previous 10% accommodation-only sales tax. Reconfirm all rates before quoting, as policy may change.
Day trips nearby
- Haa Valley (2h from Paro via Chelela Pass, 3,988m) — pristine valley, few tourists; area permit needed, best done as an overnight
- Darjeeling, West Bengal — 5h road from Phuentsholing border; natural bookend for a 10–12 day trip
- Sikkim (Gangtok / Pelling) — 6h from Phuentsholing via NJP; stack with Bhutan for a full Himalayan circuit
- Kaziranga National Park, Assam — 4h from Guwahati border crossing; rhinos + dzongs in one trip
Seasons and access shift — we reconfirm every detail before we quote.