Bhutan Tour Itinerary For Indians | 5 Days in Paro and Thimphu

The quick answer

You are asking	The answer
Do Indians need a visa?	No. You get a free entry permit at the Phuentsholing border or Paro airport, or apply online in advance at bhutan.travel. Carry an Indian passport (six months' validity) or your voter ID card; other ID cards are not accepted.
What do Indians pay to enter?	The Sustainable Development Fee: ₹1,200 a night for each adult, ₹600 for children from 6 to 11, nothing under 6 (Department of Tourism, as of October 2026). Hotels, guide, car and food are on top.
Do I need a guide?	Plan on one. The Department of Tourism says a licensed guide must be with you, and hotels must be on its approved list. Most Indian visitors book through a licensed Bhutanese operator, as I did in May 2025.
How many days?	Four nights covers Paro and Thimphu, as below. Add a night for the Tiger's Nest hike if you want it unhurried, and two for Punakha.
Fly or drive?	Fly to Paro to save a day, or fly to Bagdogra and drive about 160 km (4 to 5 hours) to Phuentsholing, then about 5 to 6 hours up to Thimphu. We went by road in May 2025.
Is Punakha worth adding?	Yes, if you have two more days: it is about three hours from Thimphu over the Dochula Pass, and Punakha Dzong, where two rivers meet, is the finest in the country.

Before you go (October 2026)

• The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). Indians pay ₹1,200 (or Nu 1,200: the ngultrum is pegged to the rupee) per person, per night. Children from 6 to 11 pay ₹600; children under 6 pay nothing. It began on 23 September 2022. A day visit to Phuentsholing alone, under 24 hours, needs no SDF. Visitors from most other countries pay US$100 a night, fixed until 31 August 2027.
• Documents. An Indian passport with at least six months left, or the original voter ID card. Children under 18 need a passport or a birth certificate in English, and must travel with a parent or guardian. Carry two passport photographs.
• The permit. Free. It is issued at the pedestrian terminal in Phuentsholing (open round the clock) or at Paro airport, or you can apply online beforehand. Separate route permits for places beyond Paro and Thimphu are no longer needed, but national parks need their own permit, which can be had online.
• Guides and hotels. The Department of Tourism says a licensed guide must be with you and that you may stay only in hotels or campsites it has approved. On 14 September 2026 it posted a new notice on hiring guides at land ports, Phuentsholing among them; read it on bhutan.travel/announcements before you book.
• Insurance stopped being compulsory on 23 April 2024. It is still sensible.
• Driving your own car. An Indian car may go as far as the Rinchending check post above Phuentsholing at no charge; beyond it, a green tax of Nu 4,500 a day applies, and the car must be under ten years old with its papers in order.

Bhutan Itinerary– After coming from Bhutan, I would certainly say that Bhutan is the Land Of The Thunder Dragon and The happiest place on Earth. Read my below Bhutan tour itinerary & save money.

I updated the post with the latest mandatory fee for Indian to Bhutan starting July 2020. (2026: the fee came in on 23 September 2022; today's figures are in Before you go.)

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Why Am I Sharing My Bhutan Itinerary?

Because I want you to experience Bhutan in the way it should be & not confined to useless package that feels more to travel with certain conditions & boundaries. Please take a moment and read on my day to day break up and the cost of traveling in Bhutan.

Either you can follow my suggested trail or build your own.

Bhutan Permit Fee for Indian

As per the latest news, the Bhutan government is going to end the free travel for Indian passport holders. Add Rs 1,200 per day to your trip (for adults) and Rs 600/- per day for kids from July 1st, 2020. (2026: it came in on 23 September 2022, at those rates: ₹1,200 a night for adults, ₹600 for children from 6 to 11, nothing under 6.)

Why I Traveled Bhutan

The beautiful kingdom of Bhutan lies on the eastern edges of the Himalayan foothills – far away from the chaos and frenzy that rules the present-day world. Bhutan calls itself the land of happiness.

I traveled to Bhutan because I wanted to know what it means when it says that. And my short trip of 5 days rationalized every bit of it so well. Spectacular landscape, amazing people, a great environment and so much more.

Why You Should Plan ?

Every part of this kingdom is shrouded in mystery and you will love unveiling the truth behind them. Nature lovers will find the truest meaning of sublime natural beauty.

This place is a must-go if you really want to know how it would be to stay in a place untouched by industrialization and pollution.

Bhutan National Tariff

Let’s talk about the famous Bhutan mandatory national fee. In order to visit Bhutan, visitors are charged a “minimum daily package.” The national tariff rule is not applicable to Indian.

The $200 per day (January, February, June, July, August) and $250 per day (March, April, May, September, October, November) package includes a minimum of 3-star accommodations, costs for food, an experienced local, trained guide, and transportation within the country. (2026: this minimum daily package ended in 2022. Visitors from most countries now pay an SDF of US$100 a night, fixed until 31 August 2027, and book hotel, guide and car separately; it never applied to Indians.)

Indian Nationals Traveling to Bhutan through the road? check out this piece of information directly from the Indian consulate

Also included in the price is a $65 per day Sustainable Development Fee that goes towards free education, free healthcare, and poverty alleviation. (2026: US$100 a night now, and ₹1,200 for Indians.) All of these services will be arranged by your tour operator. For full details on the daily tariff & other detail, visit the Bhutan tourism website.

Approx Cost of the Trip with X Days Y Nights

It has not been too long for Bhutan to open its gates to the rest of the world. Because of its geographical location, Bhutan for a long time was not a known place in the world. As soon as this lovely land got discovered, it quickly became a place of major attraction to tourists from different parts of the world.

Bhutan is a tiny country. But it has a lot to be explored. If you are fit enough to trek through the rocky mountains and indulge in other adventurous activities, it’s good if you plan at least 8 nights 9 days trip to  Thimphu and Paro.

If you want to skip the adventure part, then a trip of 4 nights 5 days is more than enough to enjoy the beauty of Thimphu and Paro. Bhutan is not a very expensive place. You can have a really nice time (with 3-star accommodation) at a budget of 20,000 INR for a couple. This does not include your flight fare and personal shopping expenses. (2026: the SDF alone now adds ₹9,600 for a couple's four nights; see What it costs now.)

Ways to Reach Bhutan (Through India)

To reach Bhutan you can either cut down the transit time and fly directly to Paro international airport (only the airport of Bhutan) (2026: still the only international one) or take the more adventurous road trip to reach Bhutan through the road route.

I preferred the road route because Paro airport is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world. I wrote a detailed post on my exclusive experience about the road & air routes to Bhutan. Read my post on Bhutan blog

Day 1: Arrival at Paro

Whatever route you take in arriving at this beautiful country, let’s start your journey from the breathtaking Paro. Paro is a small town surrounded by a valley and a breathtaking landscape. The famous cover poster of the hilltop monastery you see in the glossy Bhutan tour package is located in Paro.

I suggest check-in in Khamsum Hotel (3.3 Km from Paro Airport). (2026: still open, as Hotel Khamsum, on the main street.) This hotel is in one of the best locations in the town. The hotel is very close to some of the popular tourist attractions in Paro.

Later That Day

Walk or ride around and explore the nearby area. Check out the local temples ( Tibetan Temple), visit the Paro Peak, and enjoy the beautiful aerial view of the valley from the top.

In the evening you can explore the market. If you are traveling during the winters it’s good to be back at the hotel early. The chilly wind won’t let you stay out for long no matter how packed you are in warm clothes.

Day 2: Paro Dzong, National Museum, Tiger’s Nest

Start your day very early and go directly to the Tiger’s Nest valley foot. If you want to trek all the way up, you better extend your stay by another day. It takes about 3 hours to reach the top and about 1.5 hrs to climb back down.

You will have to go there by foot so decide properly if you want to take this adventure trip or not. (It is better you skip it if you are above 40 years old). (2026: fitness matters more than age; ponies can be hired for the first part of the climb. The entrance fee is Nu 2,000; see What it costs now.)

You can then visit the National Museum which can be covered in about an hour. From there check out the Paro Dzong which is just next to the museum. It must be afternoon by now, so head on for some great authentic Bhutanese cuisine. As a bonus, check out these Bhutan Monasteries famous for meditation.

You then have an option here, enjoy the evening in Paro or head towards Thimphu after checking out from the hotel, I would suggest do not rush while you travel and take a break in Paro itself. Pamper yourself with great local Bhutanese food and some drink!

Day 3: Checkout & Head Towards Thimphu

After breakfast, you can start your drive to Thimphu the capital of Bhutan, which is about 2 hours from Paro. On your way to Thimphu, stop by at the Paro Chu tourist spot and breath some fresh cool air as you enjoy the beauty of this river. The water of this river is so clear that you can even see the rocky river bed.

If it’s not too late you might even want to take the low hanging ropeway that will take you to the other side of the river. Do not worry. There is nothing to see on the other side. So it won’t take you much time at this place. Consider spending about 30-40 minutes here and hit the road again to Thimphu.

Another Nice Stop on Way to Thimphu

You can then stop at the Chhuzom. This is just at the place where the road from Paro takes a sharp turn to the road leading to Thimphu. Do not miss the Chhuzom view. IT is the place where the Paro river meets the Thimphu river. Treat your eyes with this stunning view that I bet you will rarely get to see in your everyday life. By the time you reach Thimphu, it is going to be afternoon.

Check-in to my suggested hotel called Namseling Boutique hotel. The hotel is nice & not very costly, check out the actual user’s review on booking.com. Get some rest in the hotel & awesome lunch in or outside the hotel of your choice.

Shopping Tip! Just next to the Namseling hotel, there is a fashion store. You will find amazing stuff at a really cheap price. It closes at 8:30 in the evening. If you can make it, you will have a lot of clothes to take back home!

Day 4: Dochula Pass & Thimphu Local Sightseeing

You can start exploring Thimphu from today. The first place that you might want to go to is the captivating Dochula Pass. This place is about 45 minutes drive from the hotel. So plan your timings accordingly. This place is a major tourist attraction where 108 memorial stupas are built. This place is so beautiful, I am sure you won’t want to come back from it very soon.

So consider spending about 4 hours of your day here (including travel time). So if you leave by 9 am you can be back by 1.

You can then check out the Buddha Dordenma. This is one of the largest statues of Buddha in the entire world, with a height of about 52 meters. The statue is made of bronze and beautifully gilded in gold. You will have to climb about 208 stairs to reach this statue which sits magnificently overlooking the city.

Later in the Evening

By the time you are done, it will be time for lunch. Treat yourself to some good food and then head straight to the Norzin Lam. This is where the main Thimphu market is. The clock square is located here. So go check it out.

You can check out the handicrafts in the handicraft market lane just opposite the Taj hotel. The National Textile Museum is also located in this area you can spend some time there if you are interested in textiles. Head back to the hotel after dinner. By the time you reach, you will not want to do anything but hit the pillow. If that does not happen you can head out to take a walk around the area.

Day 5: Memorial Chorten, Simtokha Dzong & Changangkha

You can start your day with a visit to the Thimphu Chorten Memorial which is about 10 minutes away from the hotel. This place is dedicated to tantric Buddhism. It is a great place to have a peep at the Buddhist culture and tradition. The walls are adorned with beautiful paintings and artwork that you will surely love.

The next place that you can head towards is the Simtokha Dzong. This is one of the oldest dzong (fortresses) in Bhutan and was constructed in the early 1600s. This Dzong is now converted into a learning institution.

The 3rd place to see here is the Changangkha Lhakhang. This is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu. It is believed that people who do not have children come here to get the blessing so that they can have a kid. Make sure you throw the dice inside the temple and ask the monk what your fortune holds.

Later in the Evening

As this is your last evening in Thimphu and eventually Bhutan I strongly recommend you to take it easy and enjoy the atmosphere by having hot chocolate, tea, coffee or drink with your friends and family.

Must-Try Local Cuisine! Do not forget to try out the red rice. It is a special kind of rice found mostly in Bhutan. I also loved the thukpa (soupy noodle with veggies and meat of your choice). The rice ball is another dish you may want to try.

Final Thought Before I Sign Off

An inspirational quote by Mark Twain about the value of Spread Your Wings (2026: often credited to Twain, but it comes from H. Jackson Brown Jr.'s P.S. I Love You, 1990): “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ”

Final Conclusion on Itinerary

Do not stay out for too long at night. Bhutan is a cold country and because of its high altitude, there is a constant wind blowing that makes it even colder (during winters). If you are from a hot country like India you might not like this cold very much.

What it costs now (October 2026)

What	Cost	Note
SDF, adult	₹1,200 a night	Indian passport or voter ID. Paid in rupees or ngultrum (equal value).
SDF, child 6 to 11	₹600 a night	Under 6: nothing.
Entry permit	Free	At Phuentsholing or Paro airport, or online in advance.
Tiger's Nest (Taktsang)	Nu 2,000	Under 18 half price, 5 and under free (rates revised July 2022).
Paro Dzong, Tashichho Dzong, Buddha Dordenma, Memorial Chorten, Punakha Dzong	Nu 1,000 each	Same concessions (July 2022).
A couple, four nights (this itinerary)	₹9,600 in SDF	Before hotels, guide, car, food and entry fees.
Two adults and a child of 6 to 11, four nights	₹12,000 in SDF	With a child under 6, ₹9,600.

Kaveri's ₹20,000 for a couple, before the SDF, no longer covers the trip. Ask a licensed operator for a written quote for your dates, with the SDF shown on its own line.

Nilabh's trip, May 2025

We were three: two adults and a child. We took a morning flight from Bangalore to Bagdogra and went in by road through Phuentsholing. The SDF was ₹1,200 for each adult. Our Bhutanese partner handled it, which made the crossing and our travel inside Bhutan easy.

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