Amazing Bhutan Tour

Highlights & Route

You do not have to fly to see Bhutan. From Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri railway station in north Bengal, a drive of four to five hours through tea gardens and the Dooars forest reaches Jaigaon and the gate into Phuentsholing, and from there the road climbs to Thimphu and Paro. This seven-day visit is built around that road, with two nights at each stop so that the long drives are followed by full, unhurried days. It is the most economical way for Indian families to visit the country, and the gradual climb is kinder to the body than landing straight at altitude.

Phuentsholing itself is worth an evening: the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang in the main square, the crocodile breeding centre and the quiet orderliness that begins the moment you cross the gate. The drive up to Thimphu passes the Chukha hydro-electric project, waterfalls and the Chojum confluence. In Thimphu you see the Tashichho Dzong, the Simtokha Dzong (the oldest in Bhutan), the takin preserve, the painting school and the traditional paper factory, and look down on the valley from the telecom tower hill. Paro adds the Rinpung Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, the ruined Drukgyel Dzong under the peak of Jhomolhari and, for those who wish, the climb to the Tiger’s Nest.

Indian nationals need an entry permit rather than a visa, issued at Phuentsholing or online, against a passport or Voter ID. The Sustainable Development Fee of Rs 1,200 per person per night is included. Hotels are tourism-certified three-star properties and a licensed Bhutanese guide travels with you throughout, as the rules require beyond the border town.

Route

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

Good to know before you book

Indian citizens enter on a permit, not a visa: original passport (six months’ validity) or Election Commission Voter ID, a photograph and travel insurance for the stay. The permit can be applied for online beforehand or obtained at the Phuentsholing immigration office on arrival.
The Sustainable Development Fee for Indians, Rs 1,200 per person per night (half for children aged 6-12, nil below 6), is included for six nights.
Travel to Bagdogra or NJP and back is not included; Bagdogra has flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities, and NJP is served by trains from across India.
Phuentsholing to Thimphu is about 150 km but takes five to six hours on a mountain road; the Paro to Phuentsholing return is similar. Carry motion-sickness tablets if needed.
October to December and March to May are the best seasons; the monsoon from June to September brings landslides on the border road.
Dzongs and temples require long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders; shoes and hats come off inside and photography is prohibited in shrine rooms.

Yatra Highlights

Overland entry through Phuentsholing with no flights needed inside Bhutan
Tashichho and Simtokha dzongs, takin preserve and craft schools in Thimphu
Paro's Rinpung Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, Drukgyel ruins and the Tiger's Nest hike

Day 1 :

Bagdogra or NJP to Phuentsholing

Our driver meets you at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station, your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time. Drive east about 160 km (four to five hours) through tea estates and the Dooars forest belt, with the Himalayan foothills on the left, to Jaigaon on the Indian side of the border. Cross through the Bhutan Gate into Phuentsholing and check in. If we arrive in office hours and the permit has not been done online, we complete it at the immigration office; otherwise this is done first thing next morning. Evening walk to the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang in the town square.

Overnight: Phuentsholing

Day 2 :

Phuentsholing to Thimphu

After the permit formalities set out on the road to Thimphu, about 150 km of steady climbing that takes five to six hours. The road passes Gedu, the Chukha hydro-electric project (one of the plants that exports power to India), several waterfalls and streams, and the Chojum confluence where the Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu meet, a usual photo stop. Reach Thimphu (about 2,300 m) in the afternoon. In the evening visit the Tashichho Dzong, which opens to visitors after office hours, and walk through the town centre.

Overnight: Thimphu

Day 3 :

Thimphu local darshan

A full day in the capital. Start at the Simtokha Dzong on the south edge of town, the oldest fortress in Bhutan, built in 1629, with fine slate carvings in its courtyard. Visit the Motithang takin preserve to see the national animal, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum where students learn the thirteen traditional arts including painting and wood carving, and the Jungshi handmade paper factory. Drive up to the telecom tower at Sangaygang for the valley view and prayer-flag-covered hillside, and stop at the National Memorial Chorten and the giant Buddha Dordenma at Kuenselphodrang. Evening free for the craft bazaar and the town's cafes.

Overnight: Thimphu

Day 4 :

Thimphu to Paro

A relaxed morning, perhaps at the weekend market or the textile museum, then drive about 50 km down the valley to Paro (about 2,200 m), an hour and a half. On the way stop at Tachog Lhakhang and the iron-chain bridge across the Paro Chhu. Check in and spend the afternoon at leisure in Paro's single main street of painted shopfronts, or walk to the covered bridge and the Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang. An early night before the hike.

Overnight: Paro

Day 5 :

Paro: Tiger's Nest, dzong and temples

Set off early for the Taktsang trail. The monastery clings to a cliff at about 3,120 m, roughly 900 m above the valley, and the walk takes four to five hours round trip with a cafeteria at the halfway viewpoint; ponies can be hired to that point. Inside are the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche and a series of temples. Those who prefer not to climb spend the morning with the guide in town. In the afternoon visit the Rinpung Dzong above the river and the Ta Dzong watchtower that houses the National Museum, then drive up the valley to Kyichu Lhakhang, a 7th-century temple that is among the oldest in the country, and on to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, from where Jhomolhari (7,326 m) is visible on a clear day.

Overnight: Paro

Day 6 :

Paro to Phuentsholing

After breakfast begin the descent to the border, about 160 km and five hours, rejoining the Thimphu road at Chojum and dropping through Chukha and Gedu into the warm foothills. Reach Phuentsholing by late afternoon. Free evening for last shopping and a visit to the crocodile breeding centre on the edge of town.

Overnight: Phuentsholing

Day 7 :

Phuentsholing to Bagdogra or NJP

Breakfast, exit formalities at the gate, and the drive back through the Dooars to Bagdogra airport or NJP station, your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel). Allow four to five hours and book afternoon flights or trains.

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	Thimphu	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Paro	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Paro	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
6	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 permit is compulsory. It is issued against a passport valid for six months or a Voter ID, with a photograph and proof of travel insurance, either online in advance through Bhutan’s immigration portal or at the Phuentsholing immigration office when you arrive. We prepare the forms and accompany you.

What is the SDF and is it in the price?

The Sustainable Development Fee is Bhutan’s daily tourism levy. Indian nationals pay Rs 1,200 per person per night, with a 50 percent concession for children aged 6-12 and nothing for children under 6. All six nights are included in this package.

Why go overland instead of flying to Paro?

Flights to Paro are few and expensive, while Bagdogra and NJP are well connected to the whole country. The road journey also lets the body adjust gradually to the altitude and shows the forested foothills and the Chukha valley that air travellers miss. The cost is two days of driving at each end.

Can elderly parents do this yatra?

Yes, provided they are comfortable with five to six hour drives on winding roads. There is little compulsory walking; dzongs have some steps and the Tiger’s Nest hike can be skipped. Many of our Bhutan groups include people in their seventies.

What is the best time to visit?

October to December for clear skies and mountain views, and March to May for spring flowers and festivals, including the Paro Tsechu. Winter (January-February) is cold but dry. The monsoon from June to September brings rain and landslide risk on the border road.

Is vegetarian food easy to find?

Yes. Hotel meals are buffets with rice, dal, vegetables, Bhutanese dishes such as ema datshi and Indian-style curries. Vegetarian and Jain meals are arranged with advance notice, and Phuentsholing has many Indian restaurants.

Does the Indian rupee work in Bhutan?

Yes, the rupee is accepted at par with the ngultrum, and Rs 100 and smaller notes are easiest to use. Carry cash for lunches, entry tickets and shopping; ATMs are available in Thimphu and Paro but may not accept all Indian cards.

Does this overland Bhutan package from Bagdogra include Punakha and Dochula?

No. This seven-day overland plan covers Phuentsholing, Thimphu and Paro, with two nights in each, including the Tiger’s Nest hike. Punakha Dzong and the Dochula pass are not on the route. If you want them, look at our 8-day Amazing Bhutan programme from Paro, which crosses Dochula to Punakha and Phobjikha. Or ask us to add days to this plan. Extra nights mean added hotel and Sustainable Development Fee costs, and a route permit for Punakha.

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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

Documents to carry

Fitness and health

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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