Featured destination

Bhutan Holidays

The world's only carbon-negative country — monasteries on cliff faces, empty mountain roads and no visa queue for Indian travellers.

Get a Bhutan quotePrice Delhi–Paro flights
Mar–May, Sep–NovBest months
6–7 daysIdeal trip length
₹84,999Packages start at, per person
~2h 30mDelhi to Paro, non-stop

Bhutan is the shortest international flight most Indian travellers will ever take into somewhere genuinely different. Two and a half hours from Delhi, and you are in a kingdom that has never been colonised, measures its progress in Gross National Happiness, and keeps more than seventy percent of itself under forest by constitutional requirement.

The classic route is Paro, Thimphu and Punakha — six days, three valleys, one very good climb. The climb is Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, glued to a cliff 900 metres above the valley floor; it takes four to five hours return and it is what everyone comes for.

The case for it

Why Bhutan

No visa, no queueIndian passport holders travel on a permit rather than a visa — arranged before departure with your voter ID or passport. It is the least paperwork of any international trip we sell.
Tiger's NestFour to five hours return, 900 metres up a cliff face, ending at a 17th-century monastery around a cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated. Horses cover the first half for those who need them.
Deliberately uncrowdedBhutan's high-value, low-volume tourism policy means no coach parks and no queues. You will share Dochula Pass with a handful of people, not a hundred.
The three valleys

Where to go

ParoThe airport valley and the Tiger's Nest trailhead. Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum, and Chele La — the country's highest motorable pass — an hour away. Two nights.See Paro packages →ThimphuThe only capital in the world without traffic lights. Buddha Dordenma's 51-metre gilded statue, the weekend market, Tashichho Dzong and the takin preserve. Two nights.Find Thimphu stays →PunakhaOver Dochula Pass and its 108 chortens, down into a warmer valley for Punakha Dzong at the river confluence and the suspension bridge. One or two nights.See Punakha itineraries →Phobjikha & BumthangThe glacial Phobjikha valley, where black-necked cranes winter from late October, and Bumthang's ancient temples. For a second visit, or a longer first one.See extended trips →
Sample shape

Six days in the kingdom

  1. 1
    Day 1 — Fly into Paro

    One of the more memorable landings in aviation. Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum in the afternoon; an early night to start acclimatising.

  2. 2
    Day 2 — Paro to Thimphu

    Chele La Pass in the morning if the weather is clear, then the hour's drive to Thimphu. Buddha Dordenma at sunset.

  3. 3
    Day 3 — Thimphu

    Tashichho Dzong, the Folk Heritage Museum, the takin preserve, the weekend market if the days line up, and an archery ground in the afternoon.

  4. 4
    Day 4 — Dochula Pass to Punakha

    The 108 chortens with the Himalaya behind them on a clear morning, then down to Punakha Dzong and the Punakha suspension bridge.

  5. 5
    Day 5 — Tiger's Nest

    Back to Paro and the Taktsang climb — start by 8am. A hot stone bath in the evening is the correct decision.

  6. 6
    Day 6 — Home

    Morning flight out of Paro, or the road down to Phuentsholing if you are crossing overland.

Season by season

When to visit

WindowWhat it's likeWorth knowing
March – MaySpring, rhododendrons, clear morningsPeak season. Paro Tshechu, the biggest festival of the year, falls in this window.
June – AugustMonsoon, green valleys, cloudLowest rates and almost no other travellers. Mountain views are hit and miss and trails get slippery.
September – NovemberThe clearest skies of the yearOur pick. Thimphu Tshechu in autumn, and the black-necked cranes arrive in Phobjikha from late October.
December – FebruaryCold, crisp, very quietSharp Himalayan views and empty monasteries. High passes can close after snow — worth the risk for the light.
Practical

Good to know

  • Money. Ngultrum (BTN), pegged one-to-one with the Rupee. Indian notes are accepted in most places — carry ₹100 and ₹500 denominations, and expect cash to be needed outside hotels.
  • Getting there. Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly Delhi–Paro non-stop, with connections from Kolkata, Guwahati and Bagdogra. The overland route via Phuentsholing works too and costs less, but adds two days.
  • Guides. Bhutan requires a licensed guide and vehicle for most sightseeing. This is included in every package we build — it is not an upsell.
  • Altitude. Paro sits around 2,200m and Thimphu 2,300m. Take day one slowly, drink more water than you think you need, and do Tiger's Nest later in the trip rather than on arrival.
  • Tiger's Nest. Four to five hours return on a steady uphill. Horses go as far as the cafeteria, not to the monastery. Trainers are fine; walking poles help on the descent.
  • Respect. Cover shoulders and knees in dzongs and temples, remove shoes and hats indoors, and ask before photographing people or altars.
Monastery on a cliff face in the Bhutanese Himalaya
Paro Taktsang — the Tiger's Nest
Punakha Dzong above the river
Punakha Dzong
Rows of chortens with the Himalaya behind
The 108 Druk Wangyal chortens, Dochula Pass

Bhutan: common questions

Do Indians need a visa for Bhutan?
No. Indian nationals travel on an entry permit arranged before departure with a valid passport or Voter ID. We handle the permit as part of the booking.
What is the Sustainable Development Fee?
A per-person, per-night levy Bhutan charges visitors, at a concessional rate for Indian nationals. It funds healthcare, education and conservation. We show it as a separate line in your quote rather than burying it in the package price.
How hard is the Tiger's Nest trek?
Moderate. Four to five hours return, steadily uphill, at around 3,100m at the top. Anyone reasonably fit manages it with breaks. Horses are available for the first half of the ascent only.
How many days do I need in Bhutan?
Six covers Paro, Thimphu and Punakha at a comfortable pace with a day for Tiger's Nest. Four is possible if you skip Punakha. Eight or more opens up Phobjikha and Bumthang.
Is Bhutan good for older travellers?
Yes, with the itinerary adjusted. The valleys, dzongs and Dochula Pass are all accessible by road. Tiger's Nest is optional — the viewpoint at the cafeteria is a shorter, gentler walk with much of the view.
When do the black-necked cranes arrive?
From late October into early November, in the Phobjikha valley, staying through the winter. The Crane Festival at Gangtey Monastery is in early November.

Six days, three valleys, one very good climb

Send us your dates and we will come back with the permit paperwork, the SDF shown separately, and an itinerary paced for the altitude.

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