Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

Druk Air (KB) (website: www.drukair.com.bt), the national airline of Bhutan, is the only airline serving Bhutan and has two 72-seater planes, plus a new fleet of two 114-seater Airbus 319 planes. It is compulsory for all visitors to Bhutan to travel at least one-way by Druk Air. Owing to the changeable Himalayan weather, travellers may experience delays.

Druk Air operates flights from New Delhi and Kolkata (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Bangkok (Thailand) and Khathmandu (Nepal). The airline flies two to five times a week to each of the above destinations. Additional flights are offered during the high seasons (from March to April and from September to October).

Airport

The Main airports Paro (PBH), Bhutan’s only airport, is located in a deep valley, some 2190m (7300ft) above sea level, surrounded by hills and high mountains. Operating conditions are fairly difficult and the approach into Paro airport is entirely by visual flight rules. To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city centre (travel time – 90 minutes).

RAIL

The nearest railhead is Siliguri (India).

ROAD

The road from Bagdogra (West Bengal) enters Bhutan at the border town of Phuentsholing, which is 179km (111 miles) from Thimphu, and borders West Bengal, India.

Travel - Internal

AIR

Druk Air operates an hour-long scenic mountain flight – the so-called ‘Kingdom of the Sky’ – which offers visitors spectacular views of the mountains, lakes and waterfalls that are part of Bhutan’s beautiful scenery. The plane’s seating capacity is 72, with 32 window seats. However, there are no domestic airline routes within Bhutan.

RAIL

There are no internal services.

ROAD

Traffic drives on the left. The country has a fairly good internal road network with 3100km (1926 miles) of surfaced road. The average speed is less than 40 kph (25 mph). The main routes run north from Phuentsholing to the western and central regions of Paro and Thimphu, and east–west, across the Pele La Pass linking the valleys of the eastern region. The northern regions of the High Himalayas have no roads.

Bus: Those services which were formerly Government owned are now privately run, though yaks, ponies and mules are the chief forms of transportation. The main routes are from Phuentsholing to Thimphu, Thimphu to Bumthang, Bumthang to Tashigang, Tashigang to Samdrup Jongkar and from Tongsa to Gaylegphug.

Documentation: An international Driving Permit is required.

Resorts & Excursions

The Kingdom of Bhutan has adopted a very cautious approach to tourism in an effort to avoid the negative impacts of tourism on the country's culture and environment. All tourists must travel on a pre-planned, prepaid, guided package tour. Independent travel is not permitted. The package rate is fixed and controlled by the Government and is followed by all travel agents.

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, lies at a height of over 2400m (8000ft) in the fertile valley traversed by the Wangchhu River. In many ways it resembles a large, widely dispersed village rather than a capital. The Tashichhodzong is the main administrative and religious centre of the country; it was rebuilt in 1961 after being damaged by fire and earthquake. Its hundred-odd spacious rooms house all the government departments and ministries, the National Assembly Hall, the Throne Room of the King and the country's largest monastery, the summer headquarters of the Je Khempo and 2000 of his monks. The yearly Thimphu Festival is held in the courtyard directly in front of the National Assembly Hall. The Handicraft Emporium displays a wide assortment of beautifully handwoven and crafted products which make unique souvenirs. Simtokha, 8km (5 miles) from Thimphu, has Bhutan's most ancient dzong (fortified monastery).

The small town of Phuntsholing is a commercial and industrial centre as well as the gateway to Bhutan. A short walk from the hotel is the Kharbandi Monastery. Bhutan is well known for its stamps, and the best place to buy them is in Phuntsholing where the Philatelic Office of Bhutan has its headquarters. The first and only department store of Bhutan is also in Phuntsholing. Punakha is the former capital of the country; situated at a lower altitude, it enjoys a comparatively benign climate. The valley contains many sacred temples, including Machin Lhakhag where the remains of Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan, are entombed.

Tongsa is the ancestral home of the Royal family. The Dzong at Tongsa commands a superb view of the river valley and contains a magnificent collection of rhino horn sculptures. The district of Wangdiphodrang is known for its slate carving and bamboo weaving.

A visit to the Paro Valley where the Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery clings dizzily to the face of a 900m (2952ft) precipice, is highly recommended. Other attractions in the area include the Drukgyul Dzong, further up the Paro Valley (now in ruins after the earthquake in 1954), which once protected Bhutan against numerous Tibetan invasions; and the Paro Watchtower, which now houses the National Museum of Bhutan. The temperate Punakha Valley houses many sacred temples including the Machin Lhakhag in the Punakaha Dzong. The 3100m-high (10,170ft) Dochu La Pass commands a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayan chain.

Bumthang is the starting point for four- and seven-day cultural tours through the rural villages including Mongar. Tashigang, a silk-spinning district, has an interesting dzong.

Useful information can be obtained from Bhutan Yodsel Tours and Treks (tel: (2) 323 912; fax: (2) 323 589; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website: www.lightlink.com/bhutan) or Yarkay Tours & Treks (tel: (2) 322 628 or 323 484; fax: (2) 323 894; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website: www.yarkay.com).