Essential Bhutan Info For The Guide-Less Indian Traveler

Hey Ashoka....
Thanks a lot for the important info, spcially regarding d transport frm NJP.....Its my first holiday solo, so kinda very confused.....Keepin my fingers crossed....

Please share your experience, its always good to update info and also ruminate on known facts, kind of nostalgia.

Amazing details Vijay!!! You have sorted out all the missing information which any Indian would have before going to Bhutan. I am planing to go there solo in November. Would definately consult you before I leave :-)

We are planning for a bhutan trip in mid october. For that, we will be getting our entry permit from Kolkata. I found in some posts here that we require a route permit to travel to places other than thimpu and paro. I am having some of my friends in bhutan. If I forward them all the necessary documents, is it possible for them to get the permits in advance? We will be reaching thimpu on saturday and we dont want to waste 2 days in thimpu for getting the permits.

Very nice travelogue Aviram. Brought back extremely fond memories I have of that country

Any place beyond Phuentsholing requires route permit for non bhutanese travellers, even for those working in that countryunless their work permits specifically allow them to travel. You must talk to your friends if they can manage your permits in advance by showing your documents.

Hi Cutiepie,

Many thanks for sharing your experience with bhutan. Real good one. We(me and my wife)are planning to have a trip to bhutan for 7-8 days this december first week, could you please share the tour operator details. Was it good? If possible please suggest the best itenary for the same. we want to start from NJP.

Appreciate your help on this.

Bhutan also seems to suffer, due to recent 6.8 quake.

According to the news, Bhutan felt only the tremor, nothing like Sikkim - north Sikkim esp and Nepal.

Bhutan is so thinly populated and population density so low that even if there was a bigger tremor and natural calamity casualties would have been minimal.But that is surprising that being so close to the epicentre the country was not affected.

I and my wife are planning a visit o Bhutan for 10-12 days this Oct-Nov. Sikkim was the original plan. Unfortunately we had to change our plan. Can you please share the details of the agent you traveled with?

I was given this itinerary by an agent. Is it good?

Day1 – Arrival – Phuentsholing - Thimphu (6 and half hours drive) (Capital city of Bhutan)
Day 2 – Thimphu – Punakha (3 hours drive)
Day 3 – Punakha Sightseeing
Day 4 – Punakha – Phobjikha (4 and half hours drive)
Day 5 – Phobjikha – Bumthang (6 hours drive)
Day 6 - Bumthang sightseeing
Day 7 – Bumthang – Punakha (7 hours drive)
Day 8 – Punakha – Paro (4 hours drive)
Day 9 – Paro sightseeing
Day 10 – Departure

I am planning to spend 2 more days in Bhutan. Agent has quoted 50K for 2. That includes pick from and drop to Phuentsholing, a car, stay and all food. Please suggest

Looks good!

A few points:

1) On Day 7 I think you can cover Bumthang to Paro in one day. You'll save one day in the process. I've traveled from Thimphu to Bumthang in a single day on a local bus so it should be even more easy in a private car.

2) If you're adding 2 more days, I'll add one more day stay for Bumthang and one for Thimphu.

Hi Vinay!

Can you please tell us as to whether we can make Thimpu – Punakha – Wangdue – Thimphu trip in a day? If yes, which mode of transport, bus or exclusive/shared taxi, would be preferable? The idea is to leave Thimphu after breakfast, say at about 8 AM and come back to Thimphu in the evening same day. Thanks & regards

Asish Das

I've only been till Wangdue not to Punakha. For Punakha you need to travel a little bit further from Wangdue. At 3 hrs driving distance from Thimphu, I think it should be possible to do it in a day.

Of course, a private taxi would be the best option. I'm not sure whether the buses from Thimphu bus stand go till Punakha. Most go via Wangdue on their way to Central & Eastern Bhutan.