Indians don’t need a visa or a passport for Bhutan. You need a passport or an original Voter ID, an entry permit issued at the border or at Paro airport, and a Sustainable Development Fee of ₹1,200 per person for each night you stay. A first trip covers Thimphu, Punakha and Paro, with the climb to Tiger’s Nest, in 5 to 7 nights. You can fly into Paro from Delhi or Kolkata, or come by road through Phuentsholing from Bagdogra or Hasimara, which adds a day each way but costs much less. We arrange the permit paperwork, a licensed Bhutanese guide, hotels and a car for the whole trip.
Bhutan packages at a glance
| Package | Nights | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutan by road | 7N / 8D | Bagdogra or Hasimara, Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Punakha, Paro and Tiger’s Nest | Families watching the budget, groups from Mumbai and Pune by train |
| Fly-in Bhutan with Haa | 6N / 7D | Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, a day over Chele La to Haa, Tiger’s Nest | Couples, families short on leave |
| Paro and Thimphu short break | 4N / 5D | Fly to Paro, two nights each in Thimphu and Paro, Tiger’s Nest | A long weekend plus two days |
| Festival trip | 5N / 6D | The classic route timed around the Paro or Thimphu Tshechu | Anyone who wants the masked dances |
The full day-wise plan for Bhutan by Road 7N/8D is on its own page. The other formats are built from it, adding or dropping days, and any of them can be changed to suit you.
Bhutan entry rules for Indians
Bring one of two documents, get a permit when you arrive, and pay the fee for every night. The details below are from the Indian Embassy in Thimphu and Bhutan’s Department of Tourism.
- ID: a valid Indian passport with at least six months left on it, or an original Voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India. Bhutan does not accept Aadhaar, PAN or a driving licence. Children under 18 who don’t have a passport need their original birth certificate.
- Entry permit: issued at Paro International Airport if you fly in, or at the regional immigration office in Phuentsholing (also Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse) if you come by road. It can also be applied for online in advance, which saves a long wait at the counter.
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF): ₹1,200 per person per night of stay for Indian nationals. Children pay less; we confirm the age bands when we quote.
- Guide: Bhutan’s Department of Tourism reissued a notice in April 2026 saying every tourist must be with a licensed guide at all times beyond the first checkpoint, including at monuments. This applies to Indians too, so self-guided road trips are not an option.
- Cash: Indian rupees are accepted at par with the ngultrum. The embassy says notes up to ₹500 are fine up to a total of ₹25,000 per person; above that, carry ₹100 notes or smaller.
Good to know: Since 5 November 2026, India’s Home Ministry also requires Indians leaving for or returning from Bhutan, by road or air, to show a listed ID to Indian immigration. In practice that means the same passport or Voter ID. Carry the original for every adult; photocopies and phone screenshots are not accepted.
The usual route: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro
Almost every first trip loops through these three valleys, because Paro has the only international airport and the roads east are long.
- Thimphu. The capital. The Buddha Dordenma statue above the city, the Memorial Chorten where older Bhutanese walk circuits all day, Tashichho Dzong in the evening, and the weekend market.
- Dochula and Punakha. The road east climbs to Dochula pass, at roughly 3,100 m, with its 108 chortens and, on a clear winter morning, a long line of Himalayan peaks. It then drops to Punakha, which is lower and warmer. Punakha Dzong, at the meeting of two rivers, is the most handsome building in the country.
- Paro. Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum, Kyichu Lhakhang (one of Bhutan’s oldest temples) and the base of the Tiger’s Nest trail.
- Haa. A quiet valley west of Paro over Chele La, Bhutan’s highest road pass, at around 3,800 m.
Tiger’s Nest: can everyone do it?
Paro Taktsang clings to a cliff at about 3,100 m, and the only way up is on foot. Most reasonably fit adults take 2 to 3 hours to climb and a bit less to come down, so plan on the whole day. Ponies can carry you to the cafeteria about halfway; after that you walk, including a long flight of steps down and then up to the monastery gate. Save it for your last full day in Paro, after a few days at altitude. Grandparents who would struggle can ride to the cafeteria, which has the classic view across the gorge, and wait there.
Flying to Paro or coming by road through Phuentsholing
Flying saves two days. The road costs less, and it’s the usual choice for families coming by train.
By air: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly to Paro from Delhi and Kolkata, and Drukair also flies from Bagdogra and Guwahati. Paro’s runway sits in a narrow valley between high ridges, and flights can be held up by cloud, so don’t plan a tight connection on the day you fly out. From Mumbai or Pune you connect through Delhi or Kolkata.
By road: fly or take the train to Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri, or take the train to Hasimara, which is the closest station to the border. From there it’s a drive to Jaigaon on the Indian side and Phuentsholing across the gate. You stay a night in Phuentsholing, get the permit in the morning, then drive up to Thimphu, which takes most of the day.
Best time to go, and Tshechu dates for 2027
March to May and October to November have the clearest weather. Spring brings the rhododendrons, and autumn has the sharpest mountain views. June to August is the monsoon, with leeches on trails, cloud over Dochula and the odd landslide on the Phuentsholing road. December to February is cold but dry, and fine if you pack properly.
The big festivals are the tshechus, with masked dances in the dzong courtyards. The Department of Tourism’s tentative list for 2027 gives:
| Festival | Where | 2027 dates (tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong | 16 to 18 February |
| Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 18 to 22 March (thongdrel shown on the last day) |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu | 10 to 12 October |
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can move, and hotels in Paro fill up months ahead for the Tshechu. Thimphu’s October festival falls in the Indian festive season, when Bengali and North Indian families travel too, so book early if you’re aiming for that week.
Notes for senior citizens
- Thimphu is at about 2,300 m and Paro a little lower. Take the first day slowly, drink water, and tell us about heart or breathing conditions before booking.
- Dzongs have steep wooden stairs and high thresholds. Guides are used to slower groups.
- Dress codes apply in dzongs and temples: long sleeves, long trousers or skirts, no caps.
- Food is easy for vegetarians. Bhutanese food is chilli-heavy, so ask for mild dishes.
Questions people ask before booking
Can I go to Bhutan on Aadhaar?
No. Bhutan only accepts a passport or an original Voter ID from Indian adults. Children without a passport use their original birth certificate.
How much is the SDF for a family of four?
For four adults on a 6-night trip, 4 × 6 × ₹1,200 comes to ₹28,800. Children pay less, and the fee is shown separately on our quote so you can check it.
Is a day trip to Phuentsholing charged?
Bhutan has run a waiver for short visits that stay inside the border towns, including Phuentsholing. Whether it’s in force on your dates is something we check when we quote, since it is renewed for a fixed period.
For the full list of documents, see the Indian Embassy’s page on information for Indian nationals entering Bhutan, and the official Bhutan tourism site.
Checked November 2026. ID rules, the SDF and the currency limit are from the Embassy of India in Thimphu; the guide rule and 2027 festival dates from Bhutan’s Department of Tourism; the border-town waiver from Bhutan’s Department of Immigration; and the 5 November 2026 Home Ministry order from news reports of the gazette notice. Flight routes are from airline schedule listings and change by season. We confirm fees and festival dates when we send your quote.