- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Blog · Updated October 2026
How to travel to Bhutan in 2027: by air, by land and getting around
Every way into Bhutan, from Paro flights to the road from India, plus how you get around once you are here: private cars, domestic flights and helicopters.
- Paro and Gelephu airports
- Three land borders
- Private car and driver
Overview
Two ways in: fly, or cross from India
Most visitors fly into Paro with Drukair or Bhutan Airlines from a regional hub such as Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Kolkata or Singapore. Since December 2025, Drukair also flies between Kolkata and Gelephu in southern Bhutan. The other option is overland from India, through Phuentsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar.
Whichever way you come, the paperwork is the same. International visitors need visa clearance before arrival, and a licensed guide meets you at the airport or border gate. Indian visitors get an entry permit on arrival with a passport or Voter ID.
- No foreign airlines fly to Bhutan
- Land borders only with India
- A guide meets you on arrival
By air
Flying to Bhutan: main hubs
| Hub | Good for | Airlines to Paro |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Europe, the Gulf, North America | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines |
| Kathmandu | Combining with Nepal | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines |
| Bangkok | East and South-east Asia, Australia | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines |
| Kolkata | Eastern India | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines; Drukair also to Gelephu |
| Singapore | South-east Asia, Australia | Drukair, via Guwahati |
| Dhaka, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Gaya | Bangladesh and north-east India | Drukair, on set days |
By land
Entering Bhutan by road from India
| Border | Indian side | Nearest Indian airport or railway | Onward in Bhutan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuentsholing | Jaigaon, West Bengal | Bagdogra airport, New Jalpaiguri railway station | About 5 to 6 hours to Thimphu |
| Gelephu | Assam border | Guwahati or Bongaigaon; Gelephu also has flights from Kolkata | Long drive north to Trongsa and Bumthang |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Darranga, Assam | Guwahati, about 3 hours away | Gateway to eastern Bhutan |
International visitors need visa clearance before arrival and must be met by their guide at the gate. Check that your Indian visa covers the exit and any re-entry.
Which route
Choosing the best way in
Fly in, fly out
The simplest option for most international visitors. The flight into Paro is short and spectacular, and you are in the main sightseeing area from the first hour.
Drive in from India
Popular with Indian visitors and anyone already in Darjeeling, Sikkim or Assam. It saves the cost of Paro flights and shows you the climb from the plains into the hills. The drive from Phuentsholing to Thimphu takes about five to six hours on a winding road.
Fly one way, drive the other
A good way to see more. Many guests fly into Paro, travel east, and leave by road through Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar, or the reverse. It avoids backtracking on long routes.
Combine with Nepal or India
Kathmandu and Delhi both have regular flights to Paro, so Bhutan pairs naturally with Nepal or northern India. Darjeeling and Sikkim pair well with an overland entry at Phuentsholing.
Example
A sample overland route from India
Here is how a typical overland arrival works for a guest coming from Darjeeling. You drive down to the plains and on to Jaigaon, about four to five hours, and cross into Phuentsholing, where your guide meets you at the gate. If you are an international visitor, your visa approval is checked at the immigration office there. Indian visitors get their permit at the same office. You spend the night in Phuentsholing, then drive up to Thimphu the next morning, which takes about five to six hours with stops.
From there the trip continues like any other: Thimphu, Punakha and Paro. At the end, you can fly out of Paro to Delhi, Kolkata or Kathmandu, which saves driving back down to the border.
Getting around
How you travel inside Bhutan
Private car and driver
How almost every visitor travels. Your vehicle and driver stay with you for the whole trip.
Domestic flights
Paro to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula on set days. Useful on long, cross-country trips.
Helicopters
Charters and scenic flights from Paro, from about USD 2,500 for a 30-minute scenic flight.
On foot
Day hikes to monasteries, and camping treks with a crew and pack animals.
By bike
Mountain biking days with a support vehicle. Expect long climbs.
Road times
Mountain roads average 30 to 40 km an hour. Paro to Thimphu takes about an hour.
Checklist
Before you travel to Bhutan
Book your tour
A licensed operator arranges guide, hotels, visa and SDF.
Confirm Paro flights
Then book long-haul flights to the hub, with a buffer night.
Get your visa approval
About 5 working days after it is submitted.
Pack and go
Layers, modest clothes and a universal adapter.
How to travel to Bhutan: questions
Fly into Paro with Drukair or Bhutan Airlines from Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Kolkata, Singapore and other hubs, or cross by road from India at Phuentsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar.
Yes, from India. International visitors need visa clearance first and must be met by their guide at the border.
No. The nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri in India, about four hours by road from Phuentsholing.
International visitors travel with a licensed driver. Indian visitors driving their own cars need vehicle permits.
For people already in eastern India, entering by road through Phuentsholing avoids the cost of Paro flights.
Let us plan your route into Bhutan
Tell us where you are coming from. We will suggest the best way in and out, and book the flights with your tour.
