Flights to Bhutan

Most Frequently Asked Questions on Bhutan Flights and Tickets

1. When is the best time to fly to Bhutan?

Bhutan has a distinct climate with both wet and dry seasons, which occurs across the entire country, though in varying degrees. In the north, the wet season is really not very wet, while in the south, the area is more affected by the Indian monsoon from June to September. The best time to fly to Bhutan is normally in the dry season, which is the peak season in the kingdom, although the depths of winter, from December to February, are one of the low seasons for Bhutanese tourism. Most travelers to Bhutan visit in the spring and autumn, from March to May and October to November, when the weather is drier and the skies are clear with bright sunny days.

2. How long is the direct flight to Bhutan? And how about the Bhutan flight cost?

Flight from Dhaka Bangladesh to Paro Bhutan
One of the nine airports from which the Bhutanese airlines fly to Bhutan, flights from Dhaka, in Bangladesh, run only on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, departing at around 9:20am from the Zia International Airport, and arriving at the Paro International Airport in Bhutan at around 10:20am. This non-stop flight takes around an hour for the 425-kilometer flight to Bhutan, and costs from around 230 US dollars per person for an economy one-way flight.

Flight from New Delhi India to Paro Bhutan
Flights from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport run seven days a week to Bhutan, departing the Indian capital’s airport at around 4:45am and arriving in Paro International Airport at around 7:15am, after a 2 hour 30 minute flight. The flight covers a distance of 1,216 kilometers, and costs from around US$ 338 per person for the one-way economy flight.

Flight from Kolkata India to Paro Bhutan
The Netaji Subhas Chandra International Airport in Kolkata provides four days a week, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the flight takes around 1 hour 40 minutes to get to Paro. The flights leave at around 9:25am and arrive in Bhutan at 11:05am, and tickets for this 551-kilometer flight cost from around US$ 242 per person.

Flight from Bagdogra India to Paro Bhutan
Flights from the Bagdogra International Airport in Siliguri, West Bengal run only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and take around 1 hour 10 minutes to make the 151-kilometer trip to Paro in Bhutan. Flights cost from around 124 US dollars per person for the one-way economy flights that leave at around 9:00am, getting to Paro at 10:10am.

Flight from Guwahati India to Paro Bhutan
A flight of 270 kilometers that takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to get from Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to the Paro International Airport in Bhutan, there are only four flights per week, on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday, which cost from around 140 US dollars. The flights leave at 9:10am and arrive in Paro at around 10:30am.

Flight from Gaya India to Paro Bhutan
Flights from India’s Bodhgaya International Airport to Bhutan are seasonal and only run in the peak months of the tourist season in Bhutan. There are normally four flights per week from Gaya to Paro in the peak weeks, running on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, which cost from around 140 US dollars per person for the 536-kilometer flight.

Flight from Kathmandu Nepal to Paro Bhutan
Flights from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal run seven days a week in the peak season, leaving Nepal at around 2:30pm and arriving in Paro 1 hour and 20 minutes later at around 3:50pm. The flights, which cover a distance of around 404 kilometers, cost from 230 dollars per person.

Flight from Changi Singapore to Paro Bhutan
A six-hour flight, the Singapore Changi International Airport offers four flights per week, on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The 3,289-kilometer has one stop at Guwahati, and the flight costs from around US$ 1,185 per person for an economy flight, making it one of the most expensive flights to Bhutan.

Flight from Bangkok Thailand to Paro Bhutan
Flights from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport run daily to Paro in Bhutan, departing Bangkok at around 5:00am and arriving two hours later at around 7:00am. The flights, which cover a distance of 1,907 kilometers, cost from around 530 US dollars per person.

3. If my home country has no direct flight to Bhutan, where should I fly from?

If you do not have a direct flight to Bhutan from your home country, you have the choice of nine airports in five countries to choose from, and while some are cheaper than others, it really depends on when you are traveling. Bagdogra, Guwahati, and Gaya have the cheapest flights to Bhutan, but are not daily, and flights from Gaya are seasonal, so are not useful in the low season. The best daily flights are from Nepal’s Kathmandu, which has the cheapest daily flights to Bhutan, and which often have additional flights in the peak months to cover demand. However, the choice is yours, and should depend on your budget, location, and flight cost to the city of your choice for your flight to Paro.

4. Where to book flights to Bhutan? And how to find the cheap flights to Bhutan?

Flights to Bhutan can be booked in one of three ways: online through the airlines’ own websites, online through third-party booking agents, or through your local travel agent. Booking through travel agencies and online agents will usually incur a fee for their services, and while you can get a good deal from the comparison websites, they are not always the cheapest. Some of the comparison websites cannot even make the bookings, and you will find that they cannot offer flights for your required dates. In this case, it is better to book direct with either Bhutan Airlines or Drukair - Royal Bhutan Airlines.

5. Why should I book Bhutan flight ticket with Tibet Vista?

As one of the premiere tour operators for Bhutan that are not Bhutanese operators, we have a unique relationship with the airlines, so that we can book your flight to coincide with your dates of departure, without you having to make all the arrangements yourself. As we already make all the arrangements for your Bhutan tour, including the visa and permits, it is just a simple matter to include your flights, as we will already have your visa approval letter from the Tourism Council of Bhutan to provide to the airline to book your tickets.

6. Can I cancel the Bhutan flight booking? And how about the cancellation policy and refund rules?

Tickets booked for a flight to Bhutan can be canceled, and the cancellation policy of the airlines applies. All flights canceled more than 30 days before the date of travel will be refunded at 75 percent of the paid amount, and tickets canceled between 30 and 10 days before the flights will be refunded at 50 percent. For tickets cancel-led up to 3 days before travel, a 25 percent discount is given, and for less than three days, there is no refund at all. There will also be an administration fee on each ticket canceled.

7. Are the foods and drinks included in Bhutan flight tickets?

Depending on where you are flying from, food and drink are provided on board all the Bhutanese flights, and while some may be a meal, others will be simply snacks. Water is provided free, and on longer flights, coffee or tea is also included, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not included in the flight cost.

8. What travel documents do I need when boarding the flight to Bhutan?

In order to board your flight to Bhutan, you will need to have your valid passport, your Letter of Invitation from the Tourism Council of Bhutan (which would be sent to your email by us once we receive it), your proof of booking for the tour (which we will also send you), and your flight ticket booking details, which will be converted to your boarding pass once you check in at your designated airport.

9. What is the baggage allowance on Bhutan flights? And how much should I pay for the excess baggage?

Depending on where you are flying from and your ticket class, your baggage allowance can be slightly different. For most airports, the baggage allowance is 30kg for economy class and 40kg for business class. However, for the Gaya-Paro flights, only 30kg is allowed for business class and 20kg for economy class. Carry-on luggage is permitted at a maximum of 5kg, and can also include a lady’s handbag, camera bag, laptop bag, and any medical needs you may require on top of the standard cabin baggage allowance. If you exceed your allowed baggage weight, the excess baggage charge is rated at the local cost per kilogram. The following rates apply:
Bangkok to Paro - USD 5.40/kg
Kolkata to Paro - USD 1.60/kg
Delhi to Paro - USD 2.80/kg
Kathmandu to Paro - USD 1.60/kg
Other Departure Locations - based on the local rates at the time of flight.

10. How many airports does Bhutan have? Where is international flight to Bhutan landing?

Bhutan has only four airports across the country, which are located in four different areas of Bhutan, to cover domestic flights from one region to another. The four airports are: Gelephu Airport in Gelephu Town, Sarpang Dzongkhag; Bathpalathang Airport in Jakar, Bumthang Dzongkhag; Yongphulla Airport in Trashigang Town, Trashigang Dzongkhag, and Paro International Airport in Paro, the seat of Paro Dzongkhag. Paro is also the only international airport in Bhutan.