Here's How You Can Plan Your Next Bhutan Trip

I took a flight to Bagdogra from Mumbai. I reached Bhutan by road.

You can take a flight to Paro, Bhutan. There are no direct flights to Paro. You have to take a connecting flight from Bagdogra.

You can check out early morning from your hotel, cross the border and enter Phuentsholing. The first thing first is to get the permit. The Immigration office opens at 9 AM in the morning. Make sure you reach before 9 AM and keep your documents handy.

You can do sightseeing in Phuentsholing. You don’t need a permit to travel to Phuentsholing. You can purchase a sim card from any local shop in Phuentsholing.

There are many places you can visit in Phuentsholing. There are a few joints that offer a good meal. Shopping options are also available. I purchased Gho. The Gho is the national dress for men in Bhutan.

Make sure to book your bus tickets from Phuentsholing Bus Station in advance. Coaster buses are comfortable compared to other buses.

You can spend a night in Phuentsholing or Jaigaon. I tried K5 and Bhutan Grain Whisky. These 2 whiskeys are famous in Bhutan. Bhutanese people enjoy either of these whiskeys. You can purchase these whiskeys from any liquor shop in Bhutan.

You can take a bus to Thimphu from Phuentsholing Bus Station. Thimphu is 147 KM far from Phuentsholing. This bus journey was absolutely stunning. After an hour or so It was snowing. I was enjoying snow, beautiful landscapes with Bhutanese music.

The bus stopped at a cafe after the Chukha check post.

I had breakfast at the hotel and went sightseeing. I traveled to many places in Thimphu.

You need a permit to visit Dochula Pass and Punakha. You can obtain the permits in advance to save time.

I spent some time at Simply Bhutan. It is a heritage museum. Here at Simply Bhutan, you can see the culture and tradition of Bhutan through household tools, food, and other items of Bhutanese origin.

I reached Paro at 6 PM. I went to my hotel. I had an amazing meal at the hotel.

Today, I planned to trek Tiger’s Nest also known as Paro Taktshang.

You can start early in the morning. As the sun gets up it becomes hard to trek. You can take a shared cab from the taxi stand.

You have to purchase a ticket to visit the Paro Taktshang Monastery. If you just want to trek to the peak point you don’t need the ticket.

Today was my last day in Bhutan.

I left the hotel after having breakfast. I took an early morning bus from Paro to Phuentsholing.

So, this is how I traveled to Bhutan.

I would suggest taking a private cab from Bagdogra to Bhutan and back to Bagdogra if you are traveling with your family. They will take care of your permits, stays, sightseeing, etc. You will save so much of your time. But if you are a solo traveler and on a very tight budget like me then I would suggest traveling through local transport and plan your trip on your own. You will save a lot of money and trust me you will have a great experience.

Looking for some more inspiration?

Have a look at my A Trip to Bhutan - Land of the Thunder Dragon photoblog!