Blog · 29 October 2026
Bhutan from India: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, how many days, and what a trip costs
Bhutan is a small, quiet country of monasteries, prayer flags and pine forests, and it's one of the few places abroad where Indians need no visa. Roads are slow and winding, towns are small, and the pace is gentle, so it suits families and couples who want mountain air and calm more than nightlife. The one thing that makes it different from Nepal is the daily fee every tourist pays, which is why the number of nights matters more here than anywhere else.
How many days do you need?
Plan on five to seven days. Most trips start in Paro, where the only international airport is, then drive to Thimphu, the capital, about an hour and a half away. Punakha is another three hours over the Dochula pass. Two nights in each of the three places makes a relaxed first trip. Keep the Tiger's Nest hike for the end of your stay in Paro, once you've had a few days to get used to the altitude. If you have only four or five days, skip Punakha and split your time between Paro and Thimphu.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 4-day Bhutan trip in December comes to about ₹1,12,200, or ₹56,100 per person. That covers return flights, a car with driver between Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, the hotel, food, the attractions we pick for you, the Sustainable Development Fee for every night, travel insurance and a 10% buffer. Flights into Paro are few and fill up early, so they are often the biggest single cost.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel, cities and attractions on our Bhutan trip cost page and see every line update.
Things worth paying for
- Tiger's Nest monastery hike: about ₹500 per adult. The monastery clings to a cliff above the Paro valley; the walk up and back takes most of a day, so start early and carry water.
- Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum in Paro: about ₹300.
- Chele La pass drive: about ₹1,500, for the highest road in the area and, on a clear morning, views of the snow peaks.
- Buddha Dordenma and Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu: about ₹500 together. The giant seated Buddha looks over the whole valley.
- Takin preserve and folk heritage museum: about ₹300, to see Bhutan's odd-looking national animal and how village homes were built.
- Punakha Dzong: about ₹300. It sits where two rivers meet and is the most beautiful fortress in the country.
- Mo Chhu river rafting in Punakha: about ₹2,500, gentle enough for beginners.
- Archery experience in Thimphu: about ₹1,500. Archery is the national sport, and it's fun to try.
Free and cheap things to do
Walk Paro's main street in the evening, with its painted wooden shopfronts. In Thimphu, visit the weekend market for local food and crafts. On the way to Punakha, stop at Dochula Pass to see the 108 chortens and, if the sky is clear, a long line of Himalayan peaks. In Punakha, cross the long suspension bridge over the river, and take the short walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang for about ₹300.
When to go
March to May and October to November are the best months: clear skies, mountain views and the big festivals, with rhododendrons in spring. These are also the busiest and most expensive weeks, and Paro flights sell out. September is a good shoulder month as the monsoon ends. June to August is the monsoon, with rain most days and clouds on the peaks. December to February is cold, with nights below freezing in Paro, but the skies are often clear and it's the cheapest time.
Visa for Indians
Indian citizens don't need a visa for Bhutan. You get a free entry permit when you arrive, for which you need a passport valid for at least six months or a voter ID card from the Election Commission. Children need a birth certificate, or their passport. You also pay the Sustainable Development Fee for every night you stay; children under six don't pay it and children from six to twelve pay half. The permit covers Paro and Thimphu, and you need an extra permit, issued in Thimphu, to travel on to Punakha. Check with your airline before you fly, because some may only accept a passport.
Tips that save money
- Book your Paro flights as soon as your dates are fixed; there are few of them and fares rise fast in spring and autumn.
- Count your nights carefully, since the daily fee is per person per night. A tight five-night trip costs noticeably less than a loose eight-night one.
- Share a car with driver between towns rather than paying for separate day tours.
- Carry Indian rupees in smaller notes; they are accepted widely alongside the local currency, and cards don't always work outside hotels.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Bhutan trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.