Getting to Bhutan
There is more than one way into Bhutan, by air or overland from India, and once you are here, getting around calls for the right mix of transport. Here is what to expect.
Ways to travel
Bhutan’s mountain terrain shapes how you get around. Depending on where you are headed, that might mean a private vehicle with a driver or a domestic flight. You can also take a mountain bike or motorbike, a local bus and a helicopter.
Arrive by air
Arrive by road
There are four official road entry points from India: Samtse and Phuentsholing in the west, Gelephu in the central region, and Samdrup Jongkhar in the east.
Getting around once you are here
The most practical way to travel within Bhutan is a hired vehicle with a driver, arranged through a car rental company or a tourism service provider; self drive is not permitted in the country. A local driver or transport provider can also be booked directly.
Four airports connect Bhutan’s western, central, southern, and eastern regions: the international airport in Paro, and domestic airports in Bumthang, Gelephu, and Yonphula in the east. Yonphula’s altitude and micro climate make it prone to unpredictable weather in the summer months, so flights there are occasionally delayed or cancelled.
If you are flying domestically, the check in baggage allowance is 30kg in business class and 20kg in economy. If you are arriving internationally, keep your passport on hand at all times, with at least six months of validity remaining.
Helicopter services
The Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Limited (RBHSL) is available for private hire. It was originally established for emergency medical evacuations, and now also supports heli hiking and other guest services, turning otherwise long journeys into short ones with an aerial view of the kingdom along the way. Helicopters fly only in clear, calm weather.
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