Authentic Bhutan

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Highlights & Route

This is the compact version of the overland Bhutan journey: five nights, of which one is in Thimphu and two in Paro, with a night at Phuentsholing on the way in and on the way out. It suits travellers who have about a week of leave including travel to north Bengal, and who want the essentials of western Bhutan, the capital’s monuments and the Tiger’s Nest, without the extra days of the longer tours.

The road from the border to Thimphu climbs through the Chukha valley past hydro-electric dams and waterfalls to the capital at about 2,300 m, where the evening is given to the Tashichho Dzong as its courtyards open after office hours. The next morning covers Thimphu’s landmarks, the Buddha Dordenma, the National Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Lhakhang, the Folk Heritage Museum, the takin preserve and the Sangaygang viewpoint, before the short drive to Paro. A full day there is kept for the Taktsang hike, with the unusual Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang and the Paro bazaar in the afternoon.

Indian nationals travel on an entry permit, not a visa, against a passport or Voter ID, and the Sustainable Development Fee of Rs 1,200 per person per night is included. A licensed Bhutanese guide accompanies the group from Phuentsholing onward, as the rules require. The pace is brisk on the driving days and relaxed in Paro, and the altitude is moderate throughout.

Route

Bagdogra / NJP → Phuentsholing → Gedu → Chukha → Chojum → Thimphu → Paro (2 nights) → Phuentsholing → Bagdogra / NJP

Good to know before you book

Indian citizens need an entry permit, issued at Phuentsholing or online, against a passport valid for six months or a Voter ID, a photograph and travel insurance for the stay.
The Sustainable Development Fee of Rs 1,200 per person per night (half for children aged 6-12, nil below 6) is included for five nights.
Travel to and from Bagdogra or NJP is not included; book afternoon departures on the last day to allow for the four to five hour drive from the border.
The Phuentsholing-Thimphu and Paro-Phuentsholing drives each take five to six hours on mountain roads.
Best months are October to December and March to May; the monsoon (June to September) brings landslides on the border road.
The Tiger’s Nest hike is about 900 m of ascent over four to five hours; ponies are available for part of the climb at extra cost.

Yatra Highlights

Thimphu in a morning: Buddha Dordenma, Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Lhakhang and the takin preserve
Guided Tiger's Nest hike with a full day in Paro
Overland entry via Phuentsholing with permit and SDF handled for you

Day 1 :

Bagdogra or NJP to Phuentsholing

Meet our driver at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station, your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time, and drive east about four to five hours through tea gardens and the Dooars forests to Jaigaon, then through the Bhutan Gate into Phuentsholing. Check in and, if time allows, complete the entry permit at the immigration office; otherwise it is done early next morning. Evening walk in the town square to the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang.

Overnight: Phuentsholing

Day 2 :

Phuentsholing to Thimphu

Permit formalities, then the long climb to Thimphu, about 150 km and five to six hours. Stops at Gedu, the Chukha hydro-electric dam viewpoint and the Chojum confluence, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers meet below the road. Arrive in the capital (about 2,300 m) in the afternoon and visit the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of government and the summer residence of the central monk body, which admits visitors after office hours. Dinner and a walk through the town centre.

Overnight: Thimphu

Day 3 :

Thimphu sights, drive to Paro

A full morning of local darshan. The Buddha Dordenma at Kuenselphodrang, a seated bronze Buddha over 50 m high overlooking the valley; the National Memorial Chorten, where townspeople circle with prayer beads; the Changangkha Lhakhang, a 12th-century temple on a ridge where parents bring newborn children for naming blessings; the Folk Heritage Museum in a restored three-storey farmhouse; the Motithang takin preserve; and the Sangaygang viewpoint under the telecom tower. Lunch at a traditional restaurant is optional. In the afternoon drive about 50 km down the valley to Paro, an hour and a half, and settle in.

Overnight: Paro

Day 4 :

Tiger's Nest hike and Paro

An early start for Taktsang. The guided climb rises about 900 m through pine forest to a cafeteria at the halfway viewpoint and on to the monastery at roughly 3,120 m, with the last stretch down and up several hundred stone steps past a waterfall. Inside are the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated and the temples rebuilt after the 1998 fire. Allow four to five hours in all. Return to town for a late lunch, then visit the Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, a 15th-century temple built in the form of a chorten with three storeys of murals. The evening is free in Paro's main street of carved and painted shopfronts.

Overnight: Paro

Day 5 :

Paro to Phuentsholing

A relaxed morning; those who wish can see the Rinpung Dzong or Kyichu Lhakhang before leaving. Then the five-hour drive down to Phuentsholing by the Chukha road. Check in, with the evening free for shopping in the border town.

Overnight: Phuentsholing

Day 6 :

Phuentsholing to Bagdogra or NJP

Breakfast, exit through the gate, and the four to five hour drive back across the Dooars to Bagdogra airport or NJP station, your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel).

Overnight: Not applicable (departure day)

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1	Phuentsholing	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
2	Thimphu	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
3	Paro	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Paro	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Phuentsholing	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

Do Indians need a visa for Bhutan?

No visa, but a compulsory entry permit, issued against a passport valid for six months or a Voter ID, a photograph and proof of travel insurance. It can be applied for online in advance or at the Phuentsholing immigration office on arrival; we handle the forms.

Is the SDF included?

Yes. The Sustainable Development Fee for Indian nationals is Rs 1,200 per person per night, with a 50 percent concession for children aged 6-12 and no charge under 6. All five nights are built into the price.

Why is there only one night in Thimphu?

To keep the yatra to six days. The dzong is seen on the arrival evening and the main sights the next morning, which covers the essentials. If you would like a second night in the capital, see our seven-day overland tour.

Can we skip the Tiger's Nest hike?

Yes. The guide takes those not hiking to the Rinpung Dzong, National Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang instead, and the group meets for lunch. Some guests walk only to the halfway cafeteria, which has a good view of the monastery.

When is the best time to visit?

October to December and March to May. Winter is cold but clear. June to September is the monsoon, with rain and landslide risk on the Phuentsholing road.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes. Hotels serve buffet meals with rice, dal, vegetables and Bhutanese dishes, and vegetarian or Jain food is arranged with notice. Phuentsholing has many Indian restaurants.

When should I book my return flight or train from Bagdogra or NJP?

Book an afternoon or evening departure on Day 6. That morning we cross the Bhutan Gate at Phuentsholing after exit formalities, then drive four to five hours through the Dooars to Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station. Morning flights cannot be met. The border road can be slow after rain, especially from June to September, so leave some margin. Any extra night caused by a road closure is not part of the package price.

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Highlights & Route

Route

Good to know before you book

Yatra Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

Not included

Hotels

Documents & Fitness

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Fitness and health

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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