kolkata to bhutan road trip

How to Plan a Trip to Bhutan from Kolkata?

Bhutan, set in the Himalayas, is known as the “Land of Happiness.” This beautiful country, with its impressive landscapes and deep cultural roots, welcomes travelers from Kolkata for a special adventure. Bhutan stands out because it values the happiness and well-being of its people and environment, creating a welcoming and magical atmosphere for visitors.

The country’s dedication to maintaining its natural beauty and cultural heritage makes it even more attractive. Bhutan offers enriching experiences, from breathtaking mountain scenery to lively cultural festivals. Visitors can explore ancient monasteries, walk through peaceful valleys, and enjoy the friendly hospitality of the Bhutanese. A trip to Bhutan from Kolkata promises to be unforgettable, filled with joyful and eye-opening moments.

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Your Gateway to Bhutan’s Wonders: The Kolkata Connection

Are you a wanderlust enthusiast craving new cultural experiences and exotic flavors? Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, awaits you. Embark on a Bhutan Package Tour from Kolkata and immerse yourself in a land of natural splendor, vibrant festivals, and heartwarming hospitality.

Bhutan: A Mosaic of Experiences

Despite its modest size, Bhutan’s experiences are vast and varied. Shielded from the world until the 1970s, Bhutan has preserved its pristine environment and unique culture. From awe-inspiring architecture to spiritual journeys, and from hiking through stunning landscapes to capturing the essence of untouched beauty, Bhutan is an unspoiled paradise on Earth.

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Your Bhutan Adventure with Tusk Travel

Tusk Travel Private Limited, the premier India Tour Operator based in New Delhi , offers comprehensive packages that include competitive flight prices, comfortable accommodations, expert English-speaking guides, and skilled drivers. Prepare for an unforgettable journey to Bhutan!

A Glimpse into the Bhutan Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Paro, transfer to Thimphu
Day 2: Full-day sightseeing in Thimphu
Day 3: Journey from Thimphu to Phobjikha Valley
Day 4: Travel from Phobjikha Valley to Punakha
Day 5: Punakha to Paro and sightseeing
Day 6: Hike to Taktsang Monastery in Paro
Day 7: Day excursion to Chela-La-Pass
Day 8: Departure from Paro

Entry Formalities for Indian Tourists

Indian tourists need a valid passport with six months of validity beyond their intended departure date from Bhutan. While a visa is not required, an Entry Permit is necessary, along with payment of the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).

Why Choose Tusk Travel for Your Bhutan Journey?

Since 2018, Tusk Travel has been a trusted name for organizing Bhutan tours from Kolkata. As an authorized agent, we offer exclusive airfare deals. Our pre-purchased hotel inventory for peak seasons, authorization by the Tourism Council of Bhutan, and in-depth knowledge of Bhutan ensure a seamless and enriching experience.

Best Time to Book Your Bhutan Tour

Bhutan, with its four distinct seasons, is a year-round destination. However, the optimal time for a Bhutan tour from Kolkata is during spring (March to May), when the valleys are vibrant with blossoms, and the weather is mild.

Travel Options to Bhutan from Kolkata

By Air: Direct flights from Kolkata to Paro with Bhutan Airlines
By Road: Travel via Bagdogra Airport to Phuentsholing
By Train: Journey to New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri/Alipurduar, followed by road entry into Bhutan

A Bhutan Package Tour from Kolkata with Tusk Travel is your key to unlocking the mystical charm of Bhutan. From majestic fortresses to ancient monasteries, Bhutan’s allure is bound to captivate your senses and leave a lasting impression. Get ready for an adventure that will etch a special place in your heart.

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About The Author

Indians expected to pay more money to travel to Bhutan, starting this season

Bhutan Plans To End Free Trip For All Indian Passport Holders

The MOST Perfect Itinerary for Bhutan Road Trip

Bhutan is one country that provides you with a lot of opportunities to explore and immerse in the experience. It is the biggest question everyone has – how much time would genuinely be sufficient to enjoy Bhutan. After all, it is not every day that one can plan trips like these.

So, today, I bring you the perfect trip that can be covered in a week and give you a good glimpse and feel of the nation.

So, let’s begin.

Let's quickly dive into the details:

The Most PERFECT 7-Day Bhutan Trip Itinerary

I will mention here that you can genuinely customize Bhutan trips and add more days to get more experiences packed into your travels. However, if you can only spare a week to get to the land of dragons , try this plan. Also, I should mention here that this is an itinerary made from the India perspective.

Day 1: Arriving in Phuentsholing

Even though there are many ways to get to Bhutan from India, the most common and convenient way is from the border of Jaigao-Phuentsholing. Jaigao is the last Indian town, and from Pheutsholing , the Bhutanese territory starts.

Opened Monday-Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM, it is in the immigration office of Phuentsholing, where nearly all border accessing applications for tourists arrive. Provide a photo ID, and you get permission in a couple of hours, depending upon how long the queue is.

If you manage to get permission before 2 pm, it is well worth using the same day and traveling to Paro. Those not hurrying can even consider staying for the first night in Phuentsholing, which has enough to offer to a tourist.

But for those short with time, a 4-hour journey to Paro (from Phuentsholing) can be easily made the same day they applied for a tourist permit.

To enter in Phuentsholing, you need not have a tourist permit with you. Even an Indian number plate vehicle can pass through with no problem. But as soon as you exit Phuentsholing, towards Thimpu or Paro, there’s an immigration checkpoint that asks for a valid tourist permit. I have a detailed post covering all the permits, how to get them, why you need them.

Rinpung Dzong - A Buddhist Monastery in Paro, Bhutan

The journey to Paro to Phuentsholing takes nearly 4 hours if you’re driving, or 6 hours if you’re taking a public bus . The journey is rather impressive and enjoyable. From the sea level of Phuentsholing, you only pretty much go uphill throughout the trip before you end up a much colder town of Paro located at 2100+ meter altitude above the sea level.

The well maintained four-way highway, built by Indian Border Road Organization ( BRO ), moreover makes Phuentsholing to Paro & Thimpu a very sought after Himalayan Roads for motorbikes in India wanting to ride in Bhutan.

Dheeraj Sharma

Day 2: Paro to Thimpu

Today you will be moving on from Paro and heading towards Thimpu. But, this won’t happen before you truly experience Paro – which has a bunch to offer as well. Of course, you will want to visit Tiger’s Nest Monastery – this is usually a bucket list item for most.

Even with packing a big punch on this day, you can still reach Thimpu on time. That is only possible as Paro to Thimpu is a short stretch of nearly 50km, and a smooth highway connecting two cities is moreover the best in the country, thus saving you enough time no matter when you leave.

Since Paro has the only international airport in Bhutan and Thimpu is the capital – the highway moreover stays good in shape throughout the year. It takes one and a half to two hours to travel between the two cities.

Day 3: Thimpu to Bhumtang

Today’s journey is excruciating. Thimpu to Bhumtang is a long way and a brutal; there is some road widening work after Punakha was going on last year, and made it worse. There are some specific timings within which you need to cross the stoppages. Otherwise, you may need to wait on a few check posts for a few hours.

Pro Travel Tip : Do not forget to check this complete travel guide for traveling to Western Bhutan .

If you keep going and by the grace of luck, you are not stopped anywhere. In essence, even in this best-case scenario, you’ll need nearly eight hours to cover the 250 km stretch of a highway-under construction.

However, a few handy night-lodge services right next to the Bus station in Bhumtang offer an easy option of booking a dorm bed for as little as 150 Rupees, making it up to you for a long and rough journey.

As a town, Bhumtang doesn’t offer much to see than a 15th-century monastery and old-world charm. However, there are a bunch of hikes nearby here.

Day 4: Bhumtang to Trashigang

Another brutal and long stretch of a ride, Bhumtang to Trashigang , can again take 8 or 9 hours of your daylight. The route is moreover not in shape to be driving once it’s dark.

But on a good note, there isn’t much road construction going on the way. Leave with the first light to avoid any problems. There are enough budget accommodations in Trashigang.

Day 5: Trashigang to S. Jongkhar

Trashigang to S. Jongkhar takes you back to (a not so great but manageable) highway again, with a few patches of highly landslide-prone area. The journey is nearly 190 km and takes around 7 hours to complete.

At S. Jongkhar, you exit and enter into Indian territory, and as soon as you do that, the roads turn into the better state (with no mountain range at all). It’s a good idea to be staying in S. Jongkhar in Bhutan if you’re planning to spend a night there, rather than on the Indian town of Sashipur (the other side of the border) as it’s less chaotic and offers better accommodation option.

Pro Travel Tip : Do not forget to check this complete travel guide for traveling to Central Bhutan .

Buffer Days

I have kept a couple of buffer days, for you to indulge in some hikes and also keep a day additional in case your permits don’t come up in time.

Important tips for making the most of your journey

It is always best to get the Bhutan permits from Kolkata before the trip itself .
Since there are enough petrol stations on the way, and every day you will be riding a max of 300 km, there is no need to carry extra jerkins for petrol.
There are no repairing shops between any two destinations, so it’s a good idea to stay prepared and carry extra equipment.
Most of the roads (except for the famous highways connecting Paro and Thimpu ) are wrong in shape, so we advise you to go for a ride only if you have an enjoyable riding experience.

Pro Travel Tip : Are you wonder how much will be the cost of Bhutan trip? Check our detailed guide on how to calculate the cost or budget of Bhutan trip ?

Self-driving through Bhutan on a road trip

Although most people have guided and planned tours, Indian Nationals are lucky not to worry about that. If you are fortunate enough to design your travels. Also, you should know that roads are the only option to travel within the cultural kingdom , car rental service in Bhutan is the first important thing that you should take care of to explore and uncover more of the mysterious nation.

Bhutan has no shortage of travel agencies who provide unbeatable travel services in an instant. Car rental agencies also offer the best alternatives for self-drive car rental services in Bhutan. So, here are some useful tips you must not forget while booking a car rental for the Bhutan tour.

For booking a self-driving car in Bhutan, bring your valid personal ID proof and your driving license. Bring Xerox-copy for each of your required documents, and bring along your passport size photos.

Book Bhutan car rental services before 6-7 months before your visit for the best prices and best vehicles. Also, this is applicable for any self-drive rental bookings across countries – do check reviews, prices, and services online before paying for any XYZ Bhutan travel agency.

Pro Travel Tip : Do not forget to check this complete travel guide for traveling to Eastern Bhutan .

Things to keep in ming for driving in Bhutan

If you’re planning for self-driving in Bhutan, remember the speed limits- which are 8 km/h – 20 km/h. The maximum speed limit in cities is 30 km/h, and the maximum speed limit in the country is 50 km/h.

Also, all passengers and drivers must wear set-belts. Overtaking vehicles from the left or unsafe distance is strictly prohibited. It is compulsory to give way to pedestrians, and your minimum driving age for light vehicles should be 18 years.

I will go so far as to say that you should not be driving at night and avoid it as much as you can. Bhutan is in the process of developing its infrastructure, and you might hit portions on the road where there are no street lights or markings or villages nearby. Further, during monsoons, there is a risk of landslides that can block roads , causing inconvenience.

Bhutan is perfection for any duration. However, if you’re so persistent that you must go and don’t have the luxury of time, then indulge in this slightly hectic 7-day version.

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions on traveling to the Himalayas.

So, happy vacation and enjoy safe and delightful driving in Bhutan.

About Unplugged Life Founded in the summers of 2016, Unplugged Life is a travel company specializing in bespoke leisure tours for domestic & inbound tourists traveling in India and parts of Asia. We see ourselves as artists who love to create unique travel experiences that our guests will cherish for a lifetime. Why Choose Us? We're bridging the gap between the locals & city folks. Having traveled extensively across every region we operate in, we have developed an understanding of the needs of our guests, their stay preferences, and travel styles. We also have a deep insight on the on-ground realities, the way a local would. Our itineraries and accommodations are chosen to create an experience for our guests. From visiting the most beautiful places to providing the best hotels, guest houses, and homestays, we ensure that with Unplugged Life every guest goes back happy and smiling.

Chindi & karsog – an offbeat place travel guide [himachal pradesh], garhwal in uttarakhand – most common itinerary [day by day plans], harsil – gangotri trip | most common itineraries [day-by-day plans].

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I have been doing some homework before starting on my trip on this Saturday to Bhutan

Few confusions -

1 - is it safe to drive from jaigaon to paro after sunset?

2- how are access roads to tourist sites? Are they easily approachable?

3 - where can I find the list of govt approved hotels?

4- I am a nature lover! Where should I stay? Paro or Thimpu or 2 day's each?

5- Can I get a tourist guide?

6- Do's and don't s ?

If you start this Saturday, then you might have some problems:

The border office is open only on weekdays, so only Monday you can enter.

At the border you'll have to show all your hotel reservations.

The only possibility for this trip as I see it is to contact a Bhutanese agent and let him do all the paper work, and hotel bookings, then you'll have to take a guide with him too.

No, don't drive in the dark, the roads are curvy and not lit.

Thanks buddy! Was informative!

Do connect if you ever need some assistance in East India

You need to get all your hotels confirmation before you can enter Bhutan.

Try http://www.hotel.bt

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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BHUTAN BY ROAD

The ‘Land of Druks’ or the ‘Land of Thunder Dragons’ as we call it, Bhutan boasts as one of the most pristine and untouched travel destinations in the entire world. Enchanted by the gracious charm of Eastern Himalayas and its fascinating snow-capped peaks, this beautiful country can be easily reached from Indian territory via multiple mediums; air, train, and roadways.

However, if you are yearning for the most exciting way to reach Bhutan, you should always opt for a roadway journey. Sharing its borders with Indian state of Assam and West Bengal, this Happiest Kingdom in the Himalayas can be easily accessed via three entry points – Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar. Among all these three points, the town of Phuentsholing is known to be the most popular. While Phuentsholing town is the only entry point in West Bengal, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar are the two popular entry points to reach Bhutan by road from Assam.

Bhutan by Road Via West Bengal:

In case you want to reach Bhutan by road via West Bengal, you should first reach Kolkata or any other closest Indian town in the state. Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and other towns in West Bengal can also be ideal options to embark on a roadway journey to Bhutan. Following your arrival in any of these destinations, you can hire private vehicles or board the regular buses to reach Jaigaon town in Alipurduar district of West Bengal. Sharing border with Bhutan via Phuentsholing town, Jaigaon is the most preferred entry point to Bhutan. Once in this town, you can easily acquire a valid Bhutanese Visa (if applicable) and make you way to reach Bhutan by road.

Distance between Jaigaon and other destinations:

Kolkata – Jaigaon : 702km (17 Hours via NH-12)

New Jalpaiguri – Jaigaon : 153km (4 Hours via NH-17)

Siliguri – Jaigaon : 150km (4 Hours via NH-17)

Cooch Behar – Jaigaon : 67km (1.5 Hours via NH-17)

New Alipurduar – Jaigaon : 56km (1.5 Hours via NH-317)

Hasimara – Jaigaon : 16km (1 Hour via NH-317A)

Bhutan by Road via Assam:

For those, who plans to reach Bhutan via Assam, they can enter the Land of Thunder Dragons either through Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar. If Gelephu is in your mind, you should traverse to Bongaigaon town in Assam, which is around 50km (1 Hour’s drive) away from Gelephu via NH-127C. And if Samdrup Jongkhar is in your mind, you should travel all the way to Guwahati, and embark on a roadway journey to reach Samdrup Jongkhar to reach Bhutan by road by driving through NH-27 and NH-127D. This roadway journey usually covers 103km (2.5 Hours).

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