How to get to Bhutan: airports, flights and border crossings

Paro (PBH) is the airport to book. It sits in a valley 6 km from Paro town and handles the scheduled international flights most visitors use. There is no direct long-haul service from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand: you connect through Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok or Singapore, then take a short hop into Paro.

Land entry works from India at Phuentsholing. Whether a given crossing currently accepts foreign visitors, and what paperwork you need, depends on your nationality — Indian nationals are treated differently from other passport holders — so confirm your own case before you commit to a land route.

Paro International is Bhutan's only airport with scheduled international flights. The approach is visual and the runway is short; flights are commonly described as daylight-only and weather-dependent, but confirm current operating conditions with the airline when you book. Build a buffer day before any onward long-haul flight.

Drukair and Bhutan Airlines are the two carriers that fly to Paro. Typical origins are Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok and Singapore; routes and frequencies change with the season, so confirm the current schedule when you book. Fares are usually higher than comparable regional hops because capacity is small.

Gelephu in the south and Bathpalathang at Jakar in Bumthang have had domestic or limited services at different times. Check whether they are operating and whether your ticket allows them before you plan around them.

There are no nonstop flights from any of these countries to Bhutan. Total travel time is the connection plus the short final leg into Paro. The routings below are common options, not schedules — check live timetables before booking.

Phuentsholing, on the border with the Indian state of West Bengal, is the main land crossing. Whether it currently accepts foreign visitors, and what paperwork you need, changes over time — confirm with your licensed Bhutanese operator before you commit. The nearest useful Indian hubs are Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri and Bagdogra airport, from where it is a road transfer of several hours — check the current road conditions and your operator's pickup point.

Samdrup Jongkhar in the east and Gelephu in the south have also served as entry points at times. Which crossings accept foreign visitors changes, so confirm with your licensed Bhutanese operator before you commit to a land route.

There is no sea or river entry for tourists. Bhutan is landlocked and the practical options are air or the Indian border.

Bhutan is booked, not wandered. Most visitors need a visa or permit arranged through a licensed Bhutanese operator or the official portal, and the Sustainable Development Fee paid per night of the stay. Indian nationals follow different rules. Check what applies to your passport before you commit to dates, and confirm with the airline what documentation it asks for at check-in.

Your operator normally handles the visa application, the SDF payment and the guide and driver arrangements. Independent travel outside Thimphu and Paro is not the norm; visitors travel with a licensed guide and driver.

Check your passport validity and any transit visa rules for your connecting country, especially India. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth having: Paro's weather can strand you for a day.

Paro airport is small and the approach is weather-dependent, so keep the day after arrival light and leave a buffer before any long-haul return. Baggage allowances on the Paro legs can be tighter than on your long-haul ticket — check both.

The currency is the ngultrum, pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee; Indian rupees are widely accepted. Mobile data and eSIM options are limited compared with neighbouring countries, so sort connectivity before you land. Tipping your guide and driver at the end of the trip is expected.