Getting to Bhutan and Away (Air, Surface)
Druk Air or the Dragon Airlines is the only of its kind that serves flight in and out of the country. So all the Dragon guest are initiated into the kingdom in its care. We take care of your ticketing arrangements on Druk Air and after purchasing it, we dispatch them to your requested destination. Druk air fly regularly to Paro, Bhutan’s only international Airport from Bangkok and from Delhi. Although, being the only international Airport in the country but it is still the only Airlines that fly in and out.
However, if you wish to visit the country by road, there is only one authorized entry point which will be from the West Bengal in North India via the border town of Phuentsholing south west. Sometimes it is also known as the “Gate-way to the Dragon Kingdom”. The travel time for the 176km stretch from Phuentsholing to Thimphu can be more than six hours but can be a lot less after the construction of the new by-pass Between Thimphu and Phuentsholing .
Until 2006 it has become possible to exit only, but cannot enter via the second road access point at Samdrup Jongkhar in the far Southeast of Bhutan. This D-tour, bordering the Indian State of Assam gives plenty of room for the visitors to avoid the long drive back westward to Paro.
Passport and Visa
Travelers Travelling to Bhutan must book well in advance through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Although tourism in Bhutan is highly regulated by the Royal Government of Bhutan with the impact of High value, Low volume. Your tour operator will cater your tour with the best of interest within limited resource, taking care of everything – including your Bhutanese visa, Druk Air tickets, guides, hotels, transport, permits, etc.
Your visas have to be approved prior to your visit to Bhutan. After which the original visas are then issued only when you arrive in the country, either at Paro airport or (if by road) at Phuentsoling. Your visa will be applied only after the confirmation of your trip to Bhutan. The following details is required by the local agent while applying for visas:
01: Your full name (as it appears in your passport) –
02: Permanent address –
03: Profession –
04: Nationality –
05: Passport number –
06: Date of issue and expiration of passport –
07: Date and place of birth
When to visit Bhutan
Visiting the Dragon Kingdom solely depend on the kind of interest you have and the season. You can also visit Bhutan any time of the year. There is no ‘appropriate season’ as such, which means that Bhutan’s warm and temperate climate, never-ending festivals and rich and abundant heritage sites provide visitors ample of chance to experience the country any given time.
WINTER (November-January): The days are full of sunshine while evening and early morning can be nippy. Dry and pleasant conditions make this the best time of year for bird watching in the jungles. The endangered Black-necked Crane spend the winter in the high valley of Bumdelling (in the eastern Bhutan) and Phobjikha (in the western Bhutan). The winter landscapes offers great deal of Himalayan snow-capped mountains and the pristine evergreen valleys. Soft tufts of cloud drape lazily over mountains tops as if waiting for new life to blow it’s across the landscape.
SPRING (February-April): Spring is a botanist’s delight as rhododendrons, magnolias, wild azaleas, and mass of wildflowers including the edelweiss cover the meadows like carpet. Bhutanese Spring also allow one to experience kayaking, water rafting and trekking in moderate altitudes. One of the most glamorous and religious Paro dance festival takes place in the spring.
SUMMER(May-August): Summer brings with it the monsoon, but this should not dissuade any travelers as it gives time and space for the flowers to bloom and valleys stay evergreen, and treks in high mountain areas are characterized by mild temperatures and vibrant flora.
AUTUMN (September-October): Autumn in Bhutan is traditionally considered peak season. Hosting one of the highest number of festivals ever held in the country. The rice paddies ripen to golden brown under crisp blue skies, meanwhile the merry pink and white cosmos flowers means a picturesque landscape and changing color.
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Culture
Bhutanese Cultural tour help you provide firsthand experience of many Bhutanese aspects on life and culture. These tours welcome you to unique aspects of Bhutanese history and preserved culture with visits to Dzong(Fortress) which is approximately five hundred to six hundreds old and temples dating back as early as 7th century. Religious dance festival, pilgrimage sites, museums, fascinating excursions to villages and monasteries. It also include an insight into the distinct culture, age old traditions and the life style of the deeply spiritual and mystical Kingdom. Visitors also get a chance to witness some of the most picturesque natural landscape of the great Himalaya’s and its valley. -
Trekking;
The best periods for trekking in Bhutan are October- November and March- May for all high altitude treks going over 4,000m. Some short treks like the Druk Path, Bumthang, Gantey can be undertaken almost every season. In the autumn, clear warm days prevail affording the mountain views. In spring mixed weather patterns prevail with clear spells followed by occasional thunder showers and light rain. Spring is the best because rhododendrons, magnolias and other plants are in bloom.
