The way to Bhutan

Until 1964 The Kingdom of Bhutan was accessible only by foot through the high passes of Tibet. The construction of a road from Phuntsholing on the Indian border to Thimphu and Paro made travel by car and bus possible. In the 1980’s an international airport was constructed in Paro, 55 km from the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu.

Travel by Air

Today, Bhutan’s national air carrier, Druk Air, operates several flights per week from Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata And Kathmandu to Paro. The modern Airbus A-319 jets carry passengers through one of the most spectacular flight paths in the world. A particular highlight is the stretch between Kathmandu und Bhutan, where one passes 4 of the 5 highest mountains in the world. Weather permitting; passengers will be treated to intimate views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu und Kangchenjunga. Landing in the Paro Valley, surrounded by 4000 meter high mountains stretching across the west of Bhutan, means a visual landing is the order of the day.

Current flight schedules for Druk Air are available at www.drukair.com.bt
Flights are booked through Tour Operators who also arrange visas.

Travel By Land

The town of Phuntsholing in south-western Bhutan is currently the only land border access open for international tourists. Phuntsholing lies approximately 170 km east of the Indian national airport Bagdogra, nearby historic Darjeeling. From here begins a mountain journey of almost unbelievable beauty. The road leads from the northern Indian tea plantations through endless turns, hair-pin bends and daring stretches carved into the mountain rock via Chhuka to Thimphu. The travel time for the 175 km stretch can be more than 7 hours.

A combination of overland and air travel is also possible. All overland travel requires an Indian visa.

Traveling within Bhutan

With the exception of the Gasa district, all major towns in the 20 districts of Bhutan are accessible by road. Despite high mountains, steep slopes, and the deepest of valleys Bhutan has a relatively well developed network of roads. That said, rarely will one find a length of either straight or flat road. In some stretches one can encounter 6 to 7 bends per kilometre! Steep ascents and descents are characteristic of road travel in Bhutan and this can make travel much slower than one may be used to. Average speeds for road travel rarely exceed 30 km/h, with tourist buses making even slower progress. One is however handsomely rewarded for the long and sometimes tiring car journey, by the spectacular views of towering mountains, lush green jungle, ancient villages and majestic monasteries.

The majority of roads are sealed but can still be bumpy and are almost always single lane. Bhutan’s drivers know their land well and are cautious and careful drivers. The density of traffic is normally very low.

Distances and Travel Times within Bhutan

From/To	Distance	Travel Time
Thimphu – Paro	65 km	1 hr 30 min
Thimphu – Phuntsholing	176 km	6 hrs
Phuntsholing – Bagdogra ( India)	170 km	4 hrs
Thimphu – Ha	115 km	3 hrs 30 min
Ha – Paro	60 km	2 hrs 30 min
Thimphu – Wangdue Phodrang	70 km	2 hrs
Thimphu – Punakha	77 km	2 hrs 15 min
Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang	21 km	30 min
Wangdue Phodrang – Trongsa	129 km	4 hrs
Trongsa – Bumthang	68 km	2 hrs 30 min
Bumthang – Mongar	129 km	4 hrs
Mongar – Trashigang	90 km	3 hrs
Trashigang – Trashi Yangtse	55 km	2 hrs

Tourist Buses

Tourists can travel in Bhutan with medium-sized buses (20-22 seats), small buses (8-12 seats) or hired cars. Road widths do not permit larger buses.