Our Bhutan Trip – a senior citizen's effort to backpack!

Hello to everybody, I am new to this forum. I read all tour summary of asishdas regarding Bhutan, I realy thankful to you sir. It was an excellent one. Thank you.
I with my 3 family member wishing to visit Bhutan in October between 22 to 29 from Kolkata.

My tour plan is :
22/10 - Train Kanchan Kanya Exp.
23/10 - Hasimara to Phuentsolling (Night Stay)
24/10 - Phuentsolling to Thimpu (by bus). Entry Permit for Next day to Punakha. Evening Thimpu local Seen. (Night Stay)
25/10 - Thimpu to Punakha, Dochulla Pass & Wangdoo to Thimpu (Night Stay)
26/10 - Thimpu to Paro (morning). Paro Local Sigtht seen. (Night Stay)
27/10 - Paro - Tigers Nest (Treacking) - Paro (Night Stay)
28/10 - Paro - Phuentsolling. Phuentsolling - Hasimara. Hasimara to Sealdah by train.
29/10 - Reaching in Sealdah.

Is it ok? or I miss something? or I need to stay one another day in Bhutan. I need help.

@ Samdoc

1. The info pertaining to acceptance of only 100/- notes in Bhutan is wrong. I had settled my hotel bill both at Paro as well as at Thimphu with 500/- notes. As regards acceptance of Indian Credit Card, I do not have any personal experience, but according to Adriv, it works. I quote: Card are generally not accepted in Hotels and Shops. But some Indian Debit Cards do work in Bhutan ATMs! Like mine HDFC Master Card worked in Druk_PNB Bank ATM in Thimphu. Tried with AXIS Master Card; it worked! I would suggest you go by our IM members' feedback.
2. Doing Chelela, Ha and Paro in a single day is not possible.
3. Chelela and Paro on the same day looks doable, but you should consult your driver and hotel people at Paro.

@ bivabasupal

Thanks for liking my TR.

As regards your proposed programme, it looks okay, but I have a few comments, which are as follows;

23/10 - Night stay at Phentsolling (Why? Are you not getting your permit from Kolkata? If yes, you can straightway proceed to Thimphu. This is what we did. We were all senior citizens, but we were not that tired at the end of our journey! In the process you gain a full day. Of course, if you have any other business at Phuentsolling, then it is a different matter.)
24/10 - You planned Phentsolling-Thumphu bus journey on this day. (This would take at least 8-10 hours. Even if you leave Phuentsolling by, say, 6 AM, you will not likely reach Thimphu before 2 PM, then checking in the hotel, then going to Immigration office for Punakha Permit and then Thimphu local sight seeing? I think this would be impossible.)

Remaining part of your program looks perfectly okay.

There is a great demand for Indian currency [popularly known as IC] in Bhutan. My taxi driver, the petrol pump attendent, etc., all had requested me to pay in IC including INR 1000 notes. When I asked them the reason, I was told that they frequently go to Jaigaon for their day-to-day purchase and hence require IC. I did not use my CC/DC as I stocked myself with IC before entering Phuentsholing.
I drove off Thimphu at 8 am and straight away landed up at 10:30 am at Chelela. We dropped our plans of staying at Paro. Chelela is located 37 km from Bondey, which again is 6 km away from Paro. Ha is located 30 km further down from Chelela. Yes, it is possible to cover Chelela/Ha/Paro in one day, IMO. We spent some time at Chelela clicking photographs and left for Puri directly.

Thank you, Asish da, for your valuable replay.

23/10 - I wishing to reduce my budget, that I wish to stay at Phentsolling. Because I mailed to Mr. Tandin for availability of hotel room and also for current tariff of hotel room. He yet not replayed.
24/10 - Phentsolling-Thumphu bus journey on this day. (As per your tour report you say it about 6hrs. bus/shared car journey)

26/10 - Can we go Thimpu - Paro and Ha Ha Valley / Chelia Pass. (without local sight seen at Paro) Can it be possible???


Is there very rush of visitors in October Puja time. I am little bit worry about my per head budget. Is it very costly or would be same price as per your Tour Report.

What would I do please suggest.

1. There will not be much of a reduction in budget if you spent a night at Phuentsolling. On the other hand you will be short of a day for which you may have to cut short your visit. My own impression is that Mr. Tandin is not a regular computer person and he does not open his mail box daily. In my case also he did not respond initially, then I phoned him up and told him that I had sent him a email and that I am awaiting his response. He replied to me that he will surely reply immediately and he did exactly that. You may also follow my step.

2. Phuentsolling to Thimphu bus journey took us 6-7 hours as far as I remember. We were lucky, didn't face much of road blockage (which is very common on this route as because road expansion work is going on). My point is that on such routes, you you will have to provide some extra hours to be on safer side.

3. Just before my post J Ravi (Post # 183) informed that From Thimphu he straightway went to Ha and then to Chelela and according to him you can do this and can come back to Paro same day. I suggest you follow Ravi's route. I think this will save some time for you.

4. As regard pricing, I don't think there will be much of a change just within a gap of a few months. You can always calculate your budget with Plus/Minus 10% variations. An advise: Don't think too much, just go for it and things will fall in place! This is from a seasoned traveler.

4. Yes, it is true there will be comparatively a larger crowd (mostly Bengali people) in Oct. Had I been you, I would have avoided this time. But then if you don't have any other option, just ensure pre booking of hotels etc. But surely you don't need to pre book car, there will be enough of cars in Thimphu and also at Paro.

Thank you, sir. I drove from Thimphu to Chelela Pass directly bypassing Paro. En route, I clicked some photographs of Paro airport's runway. We spent about half-hour at Chelela Pass as the ambient temperature there was enjoyable 10 deg C. After clicking some photographs, we started driving towards Puri. We didn't go to Ha valley. We bypassed Paro while returning also.

@ J Ravi


Please would you be clarified what should be our tour route Thimpu - Chelela - Ha - Paro (for Night Stay) or some thing else!

What would be 4 seater car cost? and timing? for this route.

Please suggest me, thank you.




@ Asishdas

Thank you asish da for your valuable help.

As per your sugession we are going Thimpu not stay at Phuentsolling.

I know it would be costlier in puja time but I have no other time to visit there.

Thank you, once again.

Ashish da, I'm here again, I will be off for bhutan on 20th the comming month, so need some last minute suggestions...

Firstly, is this a right time I choose to visit bhutan ? as I spoke to few people and they reply discouragingly that it will the monsoon season so I may face problem ? so what's your suggestion ?

Should I opt for any precautionary measure ? What kind of winter clothing is needed during this time ?

To visit the Tiger's nest, is trekking a must or are cabs available for the visit ? what would be the best part of the day to visit this place ? what would be the timing ?

The route will be Thimphu [leave in the morning]>Bondey>Chelela>Haa>Chelela>Pa ro [for night halt]. These places could easily be covered in one day.

You have to take left at Y-fork at Bondey. The straight road takes you to Paro, which is 6 km away from this junction. Chelela is located at 36 km and Haa 62 km from this junction.




We left Thimphu at 8 am and reached Chelela by 11 am.

As I drove in my own car, I don't know. Please engage taxi at Thimphu after negotiations. They have fixed fare for different routes. The taxi drivers are honest.

@ Anindya

1. Well, I have not visited during this period. So, I do not have any personal opinion. But generally speaking, monsoon is not considered to be a good season for travelling in hills. This is mainly because of land slides and obstructed view of hill & peaks. As far as Bhutan is concerned, I have not heard much about landslides during monsoon, but you may expect clouds hovering around you and there may also be rain occasionally. But Anidya, I suggest you forget these apprehensions at the last moment. When you have decided to go, just go for it. Travel God would surely help you out!!
2. Yes, precautionary measures are must. Carry Rain Coat, Umbrella, Wind Cheaters etc.(each of you), it will not be terribly cold, so carry light woolen and those who are scared of cold, they may carry heavy woolen.
3. You can take your cab upto certain point on way to Tiger's Nest, thereafter it is a uphill trek. You have no other option. Start at early morning from your Hotel and I have seen people coming back at about 3 to 4 PM.

@ Biva

Just follow Ravi's suggestions and routes blindly. His opinion would be like "right from horse's mouth", accurate and authentic! I have nothing more to add.

@ Ravi

Thanks a ton! Awaiting for your trip report.

Thank you, sir. My trip report is here.

@ J Ravi

Thank you, for your valuable suggestion.

Dear Ashish Da,
I started reading the thread and just glued to it. The travelogue is sticking and just finished the total thread of 13 pages. I enjoyed it very much and also found it informative and asnwering all my questions.
I had a confusion regarding the weather as I am planning to go there during July. Raining is acceptable (though the cloud blocks the view of snow covered mountain), what I am worried most is the landslide, and don't want to get blocked in the road. I have read ur reply to Anindya regarding this, but I am wishing if someone helps me with more information regarding this.
And one more query, how many days it require between applying the permit from Kolkata and getting it ready?
Thanks.

Hi Anupam!

I am glad that you have like my TR. Thanks.

Regarding Bhutan trip during monsoon, I have no personal experience and hence I have nothing to add except what I had posted in response to Anindya (Post # 190 of this thread). May be you will get some response from someone from IM family, who had actually visited Bhutan during this period.

Time taken for issue of Permit: There is no fixed rules for this. It looks to me that they issue the Permit on need basis. I have seen people getting the permit next very day whereas in my case we got it after 7 to 10 days. When you will go for permit, one question they will invariably ask: when you are proceeding to Bhutan? Then they will give you a date based on your answer, which of course will be before your departure date. The whole system is very informal and you will feel quite at ease in the Consulate. One more thing: there is no charges and no money involved in the process.

Thanks Asish da.
My workplace is Koderma, Jharkhand, which is near to Gaya. And my home is at Midnapore. We shall catch Kanchankanya from Sealdah, but we hav to return to Koderma. As there is no direct route from hasimara/ NJP to KOderma, i am planning to go to dhanbad by KYQ RNC exp, thentowards koderma from Dhanbad. Can anyon suggest any altenate route for KOderma? Thanks in advance..