How do people travel to Bhutan?

How do you travel to Bhutan?

Fly or drive. Bhutan isn’t keen on casual visits. That’s it.

Flights: Drukair or Bhutan Airlines. India, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, and Bangladesh—updated list, Indonesia no longer directly served.

• Paro International Airport: Only international airport. Dramatic landing, trust me.

Overland?

• Phuentsholing: Most common entry from India. Bureaucracy awaits.
• Gelephu: Another southern border crossing. Less traffic.
• Samdrup Jongkhar: Southeastern border. Remote. (I once saw a yak wearing a hat there. True story.)

Visas? Required. Apply in advance. No independent travel allowed. Tour operators only.

• Sustainable Development Fee (SDF): $100 per person per night. Worth it? Debatable.

Prepare to unplug. WiFi exists, but the experience? A bit rough, much like my first attempt at meditation.

What is the best way to get to Bhutan?

Fly. Paro International Airport. Seven kilometers from Thimphu. Flights from Delhi, Bangkok, Kathmandu.

Key Considerations:

• Visa requirements: Check Bhutanese visa policies. My trip in 2023 required pre-arranged permits.
• High-altitude landing: Paro’s approach is infamous. Expect turbulence.
• Ground transport: Taxis readily available. Negotiate fares beforehand. My driver, Sonam, was excellent.

Alternatives (inferior):

• Land routes exist via India, but time-consuming and complex. Forget it.
• Limited overland options. Road conditions vary wildly. Not advisable.

Pro Tip: Book flights well in advance. Paro’s a busy airport, especially during peak season. June.

What is the main transportation in Bhutan?

Roads. Roads are everything, you know?

Everything depends on them.

• Bhutan moves on its roads.

• Air? Only for going out. Never really… home.

• No trains there, ever.

Just the rumble of the bus. My grandfather drove one, once. Across those roads.

He always said, “The road is a lifeline, achala.”

Lifeline. Is that true though? For everyone?

How do I get to Bhutan from Asia?

Okay, so Bhutan… I flew there last year, October 2023, from Bangkok. Total mess, honestly!

Flew out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Drukair flight was delayed, surprise, surprise.

I was so nervous. Landing in Paro is supposed to be terrifying, right?

It was. Mountains everywhere. My stomach flipped.

There’s only those two airlines, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines, that even go there.

Flights are from specific places, mainly South Asia and Southeast Asia.

• South Asia: Like, India, Nepal, Bangladesh maybe?
• Southeast Asia: Well, Bangkok for sure. Plus Singapore, I think. (Might be wrong, oops).
• Middle East: I heard something about flights from there NOW. Never saw it last year.

Listen. You have to book ahead. It’s not like hopping on a bus.

Getting tickets is, well, a PAIN. Travel agent recommended? Absolutely. Don’t wing it. It is EXPENSIVE.

Was it worth the anxiety? Absolutely yes. Bhutan is… well, you need to see it. Get ready for a major culture shock in a super good way. That air, that view… it’s insane.

And Paro airport, so tiny. And cute.

Additional info:

• Bhutan Airlines used to be called Tashi Air I think.
• Visa is required. Arrange it before you get there.
• USD is accepted.
• Take cash. Not everyone takes cards.
• Don’t expect luxury.

Can you travel freely in Bhutan?

Bhutan? Free travel? Ha! Think again, pal. It’s like trying to wrestle a yak – tough.

Until recently, you were basically chained to a tour guide, like a tiny, slightly more expensive, culturally significant chihuahua. Now? Slightly less chained.

Only two areas are open to independent exploration: Paro and Thimphu. The rest? Off-limits unless you want to play hide-and-seek with the Bhutanese army (I don’t recommend it. They’re good at hide-and-seek).

Think of it this way:

• Paro & Thimphu: Your playground. Go nuts.
• Rest of Bhutan: Forbidden Kingdom. Seriously.

What’s the deal? They’re protecting their precious culture, I suppose. Or maybe they’re just having a giggle at our expense. Who knows?

My Uncle Barry tried it in 2023, he ended up befriending a yak herder. True story.

Let’s be honest, though, this “freedom” sounds kinda lame.

2024 update: Still limited access. Don’t even think about sneaking into Bumthang. You’ll get lost, probably encounter a mythical creature. My aunt’s friend’s cousin’s neighbor swore he did.

How to get around in Bhutan?

Bhutan’s transportation? Think of it as a luxurious, albeit slightly isolated, Rolls-Royce experience, not a crowded Delhi metro. Forget trains and rickety buses – private car and driver is the only game in town.

It’s charmingly inefficient, like a perfectly crafted, yet stubbornly slow, yak-cheese soufflé. The National Highway? More like the National Highway. There’s only one.

• Private car and driver: Your only realistic option. Expect breathtaking scenery though. Think less “rush hour,” more “contemplative yak gazing.”
• Domestic flights: Limited. Good for shorter hops, but hardly a comprehensive network. Imagine a hummingbird’s flight path, meticulously planned.
• No trains: Yep, zero. Think of the peace and quiet. No screeching brakes, no overcrowded carriages. Bliss.

The whole thing is surprisingly delightful. A slower pace, yes, but one infused with a certain… zen. This year, 2024, my friend and I hired a driver for a week; best decision ever. Expensive, yes, but utterly worthwhile. Worth it. Really. Trust me. Seriously.

Is there a dress code in Bhutan?

Okay, Bhutan dress code…right. Dzongs. Gotta cover up.

Hmm, dzongs are like…fortress-monasteries, super important. Saw pics from my aunt Susan’s trip in ’23. Amazing.

• Dzongs: Religious, Cultural sites
• Aunt Susan’s trip: Inspiring

Oh, dress code! Yeah, arms and legs covered. No spaghetti straps, duh. What was I thinking?

Foreigners don’t wear the gho and kira, cool. The gho is for men, the kira for women. I know that much.

• Gho: Men’s traditional dress
• Kira: Women’s traditional dress

But still respectful clothing. Makes sense. It’s not like going to the beach, you know?

Like, I’d wear my modest maxi dress. Is that enough? I think so.

• Maxi dress: Probably respectful

Okay, so to recap. Dzong visit, dress respectfully, cover arms and legs. Got it! I think. Hope so. Phewww!

What should I avoid in Bhutan?

Bhutan. Tread carefully.

• Hats, shades off in sacred spaces. Respect demands it.

• Clockwise only. Always. Around everything holy. No exceptions.

• No smoking. Ever. Public spaces? Fines. Steep ones. I saw it happen to a tourist last spring; pathetic.

• Monasteries, temples, dzongs. Behave. Or leave. Simple.