Bhutan Tour

Entry to Bhutan can only be made either through air or by road. • Travel by air – There are only two airlines flying out of Bhutan viz Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines. Paro is the only International Airport in Bhutan. From India, there are direct connectivity to Paro through Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati, Gaya and Bagdogra. For travellers of any other cities, they would have to come to any of above cities and take the flight to Paro. For details of flights and their schedules please refer to the website of the airlines or alternatively you can email us at info@naturalholiday.com • Travel by Road - If you want to travel to Bhutan by road, there are three border points from where you are enter viz. • Phuentsholing with Jaigaon in Indian Side in state of West Bengal. The nearest Indian towns from Phuentsholing are Hasimara, Alipurdwar, Jalpaiguri & Siliguri. The nearest Airport to Phuentsholing is Bagdogra Airport. Once you arrive at the Airport, our representative will pick you up. • Gelephu with Dadgiri in Indian Side in state of Assam which is about 6 hours drive from Guwahati. • Samdrup Jongkhar with Darangamela in Indian Side in state of Assam which is about two and half hours drive from Guwahati • Travel by Rail - Bhutan does not have any direct rail link. In order to reach Bhutan by rail, the guests would have to enter Bhutan through any of the above mentioned border points. The closest railway stations to above border points are given below: • Phuentsholing - nearest stations are Hasimara (25 Kms), Alipurduar (60 Kms), New Jalpaiguri (165 Kms). • Gelephu - nearest railway station is New Bongaigaon (60 Kms), Assam. • Samdrup Jongkhar - nearest railway station is Guwahati (110 Kms), Assam.

Entry Formalities for Indian Nationals:
Indian Nationals –

Entry Permit for Bhutan:

Indian nationals do not require any visa for Nepal or Bhutan. A permit will be issued at the entry point on production

of a passport (with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of departure) or Original Voter ID. These are only

valid document for issuing of Entry permit. The traveler should also carry photocopy of the travel documents. For

Children, original Birth certificate in English and student ID which clearly reflect’s the traveler’s picture, school or

college name, date of birth as well as the class in which the student is studying is required. ADHAR CARD/ PAN CARD

/ DRIVING LICENSE IS NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO TRAVEL TO NEPAL or BHUTAN.

Arriving via Phuentsholing - Immigration office in Phuentsholing is open from 6 AM – 9 PM. There is no minimum

time in which the guests can complete the immigration formalities in Phuentsholing.

Documents needed to process the permits - In order to process the permit, we need the following documents at

least 10 working days before the start of the tour

• Scanned copy of passport size photograph of the tourists.

• Scanned copy of Passport/ Voter I Card or Birth Certificate for child below 18 years

Permit can also be issued to the guests at the time on arrival in Bhutan at the entry point for which also above

documents are required. Guests are advised to always carry photocopy of the travel documents.

- Thimphu (Distance: 65 kms. / Driving Time: 2 hrs. / Altitude of Thimphu: 2,350 mts.)
After completion of immigration formalities at the Paro Airport exit door, you will be met by your Bhutanese Guide and get transferred to Capital City of Bhutan, Thimphu. Enroute stop at Chuzom, confluence of Thimphu (Wang Chhu) and Paro (Pa Chhu) rivers. Here you will see three Stupas, built in Bhutanese, Tibetan and Nepalese style. On arrival in Thimphu, check in at the hotel. Evening free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast you would be taken for tour of Thimphu City. You would be visiting Kuensel Phodrang, the gigantic

Buddha Dordenma Statue located atop a hill offering magnificent view of Thimphu Town; National Memorial Chorten, a Stupa built in 1974 to honour the third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck circumambulated by people offering prayers; Folk Heritage Museum, traditional house giving an insight to the Bhutanese lifestyle and artefacts from the rural households; Changangkha Lhakhang, one of the oldest temple in Thimphu and Motithang Takin Reserve, a wildlife reserve centre for Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. In the evening visit Tashichho Dzong, Fortress of the Glorious Religion. This impressive fortress houses some ministries, His Majesty’s secretariat, and the central monk body. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

(Distance: 77 kms. / Driving Time: 2 hrs. / Altitude of Punakha: 1,310 mts.)

After breakfast, you will be driven to Punakha. Later halt at Dochula Pass, situated at an altitude of 3,100 mts. The

landmarks around the pass includes 108 Druk Wangyal Stupas. Continue your drive to Punakha / Wangdue.

On arrival visit Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of Fertility. It is a short hike of around 30 - 45 minutes. Later, visit Punakha Dzong, located at the confluence of Mo Chhu and Po Chhu Rivers. Later check in at the hotel. Evening is free forleisure. Overnight at the hotel in Punakha / Wangdue.

(Distance: 140 kms. / Driving Time: 4 hrs. / Altitude of Paro: 2,280 mts.)

After breakfast, you would be driven to Paro. Enroute stop at Royal Botanical Garden at Lamperi Bhutan’s first

botanical park. Later continue your drive to Paro. On the way again stop at Immigration Check Point in Hongtsho Village to return the permit which was stamped earlier. Enroute stop at Tamchog Lhakhang, situated between Thimphu and Paro built in the 13th century by Thangthong Gyalpo also known as the Iron bridge builder. Continue

your drive to Paro. On arrival visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower overlooking Paro Valley built in 1951 now converted into national museum; Paro Rimpung Dzong, also known as Fortress of the heap of jewels, built during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646; walk down to Nemi Zam Bridge, also known as Nya Mey Zam 

Bridge is a traditional covered cantilever bridge connecting the Paro town to the Dzong. Later check in at the hotel.

Evening free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

After breakfast visit Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), home of gods and monks located at an altitude of 3100m in the Upper Paro Valley, Bhutan. As per legend, Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery. The hike to the Monastery takes about 5 - 6 hours to complete. As the hike to Taktsang Monastery is steep coupled with stiff stairs, it is not recommended to take the hike with small children and elderly people. On the way back visit Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred temples of Bhutan. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 06: Excursion to Chele La Pass & Haa Valley
(Distance: 65 kms. One way / Driving Time: 3 hrs., Altitude of Haa Valley - 2,700 mts) After breakfast, you would be taken for an excursion to Chele La Pass, the highest motorable pass in Bhutan and separates Paro Valley and the Haa Valley. From here you can also see Paro Valley on side and Haa Valley on the other. Later continue your drive to Haa Valley. Here visit 7th century Lhakhang Karpo also known as White temple, Lhakhang Nagpo also known as Black temple and Haa Wangchuk Lo Dzong. Later return back to the hotel. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Paro.

Day 07: Paro Airport
After breakfast you would be dropped at the Paro Airport for your return journey. Tashi Delek!

1st Jan 2025 to 28th Feb 2025, 1st Jul 2025 to 31st Aug 2025, 1st Dec 2025 to 31st Dec 2025

Note:

• The above vehicle capacity includes Child also.

• In our standard packages we have considered vehicles based on maximum capacity. For instance

for 2 Pax travelling together we have taken SUV; for 4 Pax, we have considered Toyoto Hiace and

for 6 Pax and above till 8 pax, Toyota High Roof Hiace.

• In case of increase in number of heads including child above the maximum capacity of vehicles

considered, the guests will have to take bigger vehicle for which supplement costs shall apply as

mentioned above. For example, capacity of SUV is 2 Pax. So if a group size consists of 3 pax where

3rd pax is either an adult or child, than the guests would have to pay supplement for using Toyota

Hiace instead of SUV as mentioned above.

For Indian Nationals – Passport (minimum validity of 6 months from the date of departure from Bhutan )/ Voter I

Card or Birth Certificate in English and student ID for child below 18 years is acceptable. In order to process the permit, we need the following documents at least 10 working days before the start of the tour

• Scanned copy of passport size photograph of the tourists.

• Scanned copy of Passport/ Voter I Card or Birth Certificate for child below 18 years

Permit can also be issued to the guests at the time on arrival in Bhutan at the entry point for which also above documents are required. Guests are advised to always carry photocopy of the travel documents.