Until 1964 The Kingdom of
Bhutan was accessible only by foot through the high passes of Tibet. The
construction of a road from Phuentsholing 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.
We will book your Druk Air
reservation in and out of Bhutan
as a compliment to our tour services without the added commission that outside
travel agents charge. To do this we book in advance as soon as you confirm your
trip so we can avoid the peak season rush of the Spring and Autumn festivals.
Tickets can only be issued once your visa is approved by the Home Ministry of
Bhutan. Don't worry about getting approved our staff will hand carry your
passport details and personally book your tickets. Make sure the visa
information you send for your ticket is EXACTLY the same as it is on your
passport or you won't fly. Druk Air is very sticky about that.
Air tickets will be issued
only after your visa is approved by the Home Ministry of Bhutan. To expedite
this procedure, it is essential that you send us all passport information
required to apply for your Bhutan
visa (see below). The air-tickets cannot be issued until the visa is approved -
and this process takes a week or more.
Travel by Land
The alternative of coming in
to Bhutan by road is now
allowed to tourists wanting to combine their visit to Bhutan with other places in India such as
Sikkim & Darjeeling. Entering and departing Bhutan
by surface road through the border town of Phuentsoling is the only official point of
entry other than flying. Now travelers are also allowed to fly into Bhutan and exit by road through Phuentsoling, or
vice versa
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
|