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← Bhutan ☏
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Bhutan trip planner for Indian families

Written by The Trip Keeper team Content updated 30 Oct 2026 Facts last checked 30 Oct 2026
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Bhutan is the Himalayan holiday Indians can drive to: a 2 hour 20 minute nonstop from Delhi to Paro on Drukair or Bhutan Airlines, no visa for Indian citizens - just an entry permit on a passport or Voter ID - and a time zone only 30 minutes ahead of home. The one big planning item is money: Indians pay a Sustainable Development Fee of 1,200 rupees per person per night (children under 6 free, 6 to 12 at half), which is what keeps Bhutan's valleys quiet and its forests untouched. In return you get the Tiger's Nest monastery on its cliff, the riverside dzong at Punakha, crane-filled Phobjikha valley, and mountain air at its cleanest. Vegetarian families manage well - the national dish, ema datshi, is chillies and cheese, and potato and mushroom datshi are everywhere. Visit October to November for clear skies and the Thimphu Tshechu, or March to May for rhododendrons and the Paro Tshechu; carry layers everywhere, Bhutan is hill-station cool even in summer.

Visa for IndiansNo visa for Indians; entry permit requiredchecked 22 Oct 2026 Best monthsMar to Apr, Oct to Novchecked 23 Oct 2026 CurrencyBTNchecked 24 Oct 2026 Flight time2 h 20 min nonstop from Delhichecked 30 Oct 2026

Everything we have on Bhutan

Visa

Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Bhutan, and how to get it.

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Best time to visit

Which months suit your family, month by month.

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Travel essentials

What to pack, how to pay and how to stay connected.

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Food

Vegetarian and Jain food, and how to order it.

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Phrases

The words worth knowing, with how to say them.

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Flights

Who flies there, how long it takes, and where the layovers are.

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Events

Festivals and seasons worth planning a trip around.

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Flights to Bhutan

Flights from Delhi to Bhutan

Trips to Bhutan

We have no open trip to Bhutan right now. Tell us your dates and we will help you find one.

Quick questions

Do Indians need a visa for Bhutan?

No visa - but an entry permit, which you get online in advance at bhutan.travel or on arrival at Paro airport or the Phuentsholing border terminal. Carry an Indian passport (6 months validity) or an original Voter ID; children under 18 can travel on a birth certificate with a parent. The real cost is the SDF: 1,200 rupees per person per night, with children under 6 free and ages 6-12 at half.

How far is Bhutan from India?

Delhi to Paro is a 2 hour 20 minute nonstop on Drukair and Bhutan Airlines - one of the world's most spectacular landings, through a mountain valley. By road, the main gateway is Phuentsholing opposite Jaigaon in West Bengal, about 4-5 hours from Bagdogra. Bhutan is just 30 minutes ahead of India (UTC+6).

Is Bhutan good for vegetarian and Jain families?

Better than its reputation. Bhutan's famous datshi dishes - ema (chilli), kewa (potato), shamu (mushroom) - are vegetarian by default, though rich in cheese and chilli. Many Bhutanese observe meatless days, and Thimphu and Paro have vegetarian and Indian restaurants. Vegans need advance notice (cheese is everywhere), and Jain families should ask about onion and garlic.

What is the best time to visit Bhutan?

October to November: post-monsoon clarity, festival season including the Thimphu Tshechu, and perfect walking weather. March to May: spring rhododendrons, warmer days and the Paro Tshechu. December to February is cold but sunny and uncrowded; June to September is monsoon.

Do we need a guide and pre-booked hotels in Bhutan?

For Indians planning their own trip, yes: current rules require Department of Tourism certified accommodation for the whole trip, plus a licensed guide, travel insurance and transport arranged - most families book through a tour operator who handles all of it, including the permit and SDF. This keeps the trip smooth rather than restrictive.

How many days do we need in Bhutan?

Five to seven nights covers the classic west: Paro (Tiger's Nest hike, doable by most families with ponies part-way for elders), Thimphu (the capital's dzong, markets and Buddha Dordenma), Punakha (the riverside dzong and suspension bridge), and Phobjikha valley if you have a night extra. Winter visitors can see black-necked cranes in Phobjikha from November to February.

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