GETTING THERE : The best way to enter Bhutan is by Druk Air, the national air carrier. Following stations are connected with Druk Air flight:

TTAVEL BY AIR : Today, Bhutan’s national air carrier, Druk Air, operates several flights per week from Kathmandu, Bangkok, Delhi and Kolkata 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 and 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 Kanchanjunga. Landing in the Paro Valley, surrounded by 4000m high mountains stretching across the west of Bhutan, means a visual landing is the order of the day.

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.

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION : The closest Railhead is at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, 148-km and Siliguri which are connected to Calcutta , New Delhi Guwahati and other major Indian cities.

NEAREST AIRPORT : The closest Indian Airport is at a distance of 124-kms from Gangtok at Bagdogra in Siliguri in West Bengal, where scheduled flights operates from Calcutta, Delhi and Guwahati and connecting flights onwards. Travel time from the airport to Gangtok is 4 hours. From Kathmandu you can fly to Bhadrapur in the east Nepal then drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border, 35-kms), to Siliguri (37-kms) and to Gangtok (110-kms, 4 hrs). Or fly to Biratnagar also in the east

ROAD : Gangtok is well connected by road to Siliguri, 114-kms. 4 hours, which functions as the major transit point for the North and North Eastern sections of the Indian Sub-continent? Gangtok is further well connected by road with Darjeeling 4-hrs, Kalimpong and with Bhutan, Phuntsholing 6- hrs.

VISA : A visa is required for traveling to Bhutan and it is processed and arranged by us. No foreign mission grants tourist visa. Please fill up the visa application form after downloading and forward it to us at least three weeks prior to date of travel, for processing visa with the concerned authorities. In addition, four copies of original passport size photographs should be mailed to us along with these information’s. Actual visa is stamped on arrival in Bhutan while visa is cleared in advance and a visa clearance number issued.

For all travelers, entering Bhutan by Druk Air, the visa clearance number is forwarded to concerned overseas Druk Air stations and without the Clearance Number; passengers are not allowed to board the flight. Visa Clearance Number is also required while issuing Druk Air-tickets.
For all travelers, entering into the country by surface through Phuntsholing (The border town south of Bhutan), the visa is stamped on arrival and Clearance Number is forwarded to Foreign Ministry's office for references and record.

Visa fee is US$ 20.00 per person for 14 days visa, which can be further extended with additional fee of US$ 15.00. Visa fee is payable on arrival in cash.

For FITs / GITs traveling during festivals, visa particulars must be sent to us at-least 6 weeks prior to your date of travel as festivals are peak time for tourists and all tour formalities are required to be completed well in advance.
CUSTOMS & REGULATIONS: The Bhutanese authorities strictly prohibit the export of any religious Antiquity or antiques of any type. All personal electronics, Cameras, Video Cameras, Computers and personal electronic equipment may be brought into the country but they must be listed on the customs form provided on arrival at Paro and will be checked on departure. Two liters of Alcohol and reasonable quantity of cigarettes may be brought in to the country without duty.

CURRENCY : Bhutan's unit of currency is the ngultrum (Nu), which equals 100 Chetrums. It is at par with the Indian rupee, itself a legal tender in the kingdom. One US dollar is exchanged for roughly 44 Ngultrums. Tourists can exchange traveller's cheques or cash at the Bank of Bhutan or at their hotels. American or Australian dollars, pound sterling, Euro, Hongkong dollars, Singapore dollars, Thai bath or Japanese yen are all accepted currencies.

TIME : Bhutan time is GMT/UTC plus 06 hours; there is only one time zone throughout the country. The time in Bhutan is 30 minutes later than India, 15 minutes later than Nepal and one hour earlier than Thailand. When it is noon in Bhutan, standard time is 06:00 am in London, 04:00 A.M. in Sydney, 01:00 A.M. in New York and 10:00 P.M. the previous day in San Francisco.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotels Vary in style and quality but are generally considered one of the welcome surprises for visitors. There is a variety of hotels in Bhutan, ranging from simple huts that cater to Bhutanese yak herders to Paro's fancy Olathang Hotel, which was built for royal guests. There is no International chain of hotels and not much imported hotel equipment; what you get is a Bhutanese version of what the tourists expect. In most cases, the facilities and service is good. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan approves the hotels for the International Tourists. All government-approved hotels are reasonably modern with running hot and cold water in Thimphu and Paro but less often further east in the remote areas. All hotels are equipped with telephone; fax machines with international dialing facilities.

THE BEST TIMES TO TRAVEL : Bhutan has a season for everyone. The Kingdom stretches across all climatic zones; from the sub-tropical jungles in the south, to the moderate heights of 2000 – 2500m in the centre and up to the alpine world of the towering Himalayas and glaciers of the north. In winter the South beckons. Dry and pleasant conditions make this the best time of year for bird watching in the jungles, village to village trekking in the lower altitudes or a bicycle trip along quiet mountain roads. The trekking routes in the high mountains are covered in deep snow and are impassable at this time of year. The impressive and endangered Black Necked Crane spends the winter in the high valley of Bumdeling (in eastern Bhutan) and Phobjika (in central Bhutan).

In spring the trekking season commences in moderate altitudes. Above 3000m spectacular rhododendron forests bloom. It is also the perfect time for a rafting tour. In Paro, one of the largest monastic festivals - Paro Tshechu – takes place.

The temperature is pleasantly mild even up to the Alp regions. Rain comes only in May as the harbinger of the approaching monsoon.

The summer brings with it the monsoon, but this should not deter travellers. In the settled areas of the medium ranges of Central and Western Bhutan pleasant summer temperatures without heat or humidity can be found. Rain falls for short periods daily but is manageable with adequate planning and equipment. Treks in high mountain areas, e.g. the Snowman Trek, are characterized by mild temperatures, verdant green meadows, and pastures of Blue Poppies and Edelweiss. Nomads tending their yaks in the high Alps are a common sight.

Autumn is the traditional high season in Bhutan. September und October have the highest number of Tshechus. Trekkers particularly enjoy the clear view of the mountains in October and the low rainfall. Rice harvest means a picturesque landscape remarkable terraces and changing colour. Temperatures and vegetation in the altitudes between 200 and 300m are comparable to the moderate climate of middle Europe. The tree line lies just less than 4000m. During winter there is little precipitation. Snow falls rarely below 2500m.

Distances and Travel Times within Bhutan