Ways to get to Bhutan

Visitors can enter and exit Bhutan either by air or by land:

Travel By Air

Bhutan has so far only one international airport that caters to the needs of visitors coming in through flights. Though, within country, there are domestic flights to Yonphula in eastern Bhutan, Bumthang in central Bhutan and Gelephu in south-central Bhutan. The international airport at Paro is located at 7,300 feet above sea level and surrounded by mountains and hills as high as 16,000 feet. The flight between Paro and Kathmandu is one of the most exciting one as the aircraft passes over four of the five highest mountains in the world. 

DrukAir -Royal Bhutan airline and Bhutan Airlines- Private Tashi Air are the only airlines flying in and out of Bhutan. Currently Druk Air operates a daily flight between Paro and Bangkok. Drukair also flies to cities like , Kathmandu,Singapore, Dhaka, Bagdora,Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati. Whereas Bhutan Airlines ( Tashi Air) has flights to and from Bangkok, New Delhi ,Kathmandu and Dubai (from Oct 28,2024).

For the latest flight schedules, please kindly visit their website www.drukair.com.bt and www.bhutanairlines.bet or you can directly contact Access Bhutan Tours & Treks ( Bhutan Tour Operator) at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or drop a message on our skype ID talktoaccessbhutan.

Travel By Land

Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar are the only land border areas open to tourists. 

The town of Phuentsholing in south-west is located approximately 170 km east of the Indian national airport at Bagdogra. After crossing Phuentsholing, you begin your journey to Thimphu, the capital city with travel time of about six hours for the 170 km stretch. 

Gelephu, in south-central Bhutan, is another entry point to Bhutan. It is approximately 250 kms from Thimphu and the journey will take you through the sub-tropical areas of Bhutan before entering the alpine zone and then finally into Thimphu. One will have to traverse across three districts and the travel time will be about ten hours. 

The district of Samdrup Jongkhar in south-east Bhutan borders the Indian district of Darranga, Assam and is about 150 km and 3 hours drive from Guwahati airport, Assam (India). The journey from Guwahati is about three hours. Tourists entering Bhutan through Samdrup Jongkhar will take you to Trashigang, and from there over the lateral route to Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Wangdue Phodrang and then finally into the capital, Thimphu. The distance is about 700 kms and will take you a minimum of three days to reach Thimphu. 

Badrapur (about 5.1/2 hours drive from Bhutan's southern town of Phuentsholing) and Birat Nagar (7 hours drive from Phuenthsoling) are two other nearby airports in Nepal, those are connected with regular flights from Kathmandu.

Domestic Air Service in Bhutan: Drukair provides regular domestic services from Paro to Bumthang, Yonphula & Gelephu using the ATR 42 turbo prop aircraft. Flights do not operate over the rainy season June to late September. 

How to Book  Flights to Bhutan

Booking a Bhutan trip well in advance with the confirmed dates of entry and exit from Bhutan will help us to obtain your seats on the Druk Air flight or Tashi Air on your preferred travel dates.

Your local Bhutan Tour Operators /Bhutan Travel Agents like Access Bhutan Tours & Treks will do your DrukAir or Bhutan airlines flight booking upon receipt of Drukair fare from you in advance and send the e-tickets to you via email.

But it is also possible to purchase drukair tickets and Bhutan Airlines tickets online at www.drukair.com.bt or www.bhutanairlines.bt 

****Tashi Delek****