Flights to Bhutan

Getting to Bhutan

Bhutan has one single airport, at Paro and only one airline, Druk Air. The schedule is seasonal, but there are regularly scheduled flights from New Delhi, via Kathmandu, and at least one daily flight from Bangkok, through Dhaka or Kolkata. There are two festivals, one in October in Thimphu and one in April in Paro, during which the airline may schedule additional flights to handle the influx of passengers. Be aware that the single runway at Paro Airport is located in a steep-sided valley with restricted VFR (visual flight rules) approaches. During the monsoon season, flights are often delayed by cloud cover. The airline replaced its two aging BAe 146 four-engine jets in 2004 with the faster and more roomy Airbus A319-100 aircraft. The airport has one passenger terminal, one cargo terminal and two aircraft hangars. There are also four check-in desks and one gate.

Airports

As there is only one airport, and one that requires pilots and aircraft with special equipment, the Paro airport may or may not have flights landing daily. The airport sits at an altitude of just over 7,000 feet in a steep valley on the bank of the Paro river. With surrounding peaks as 18,000 feet, it is considered to be "one of the world's most challenging airports." Weather conditions greatly affect aircraft landings and departures.

Airlines

Druk Air does not have a huge fleet, as Bhutan is still a somewhat 'secret' destination, but you can guarantee that flying into Paro will be an adventure and that the pilots of Druk Air must be highly skilled. According to Travel and Leisure, only eight pilots in the world are certified to land at the airport.

Other Money-Saving Tips

Bhutan, at first glance, appears to be one of the most expensive countries in the world to travel to. Visitors in groups of three or more must pay a minimum USD200.00, per day, an all inclusive tariff. This daily tariff includes all of your accommodations, meals, the services of guides and porters, land transport within Bhutan, pack animals for treks and cultural programs. This fee also entitles you to travel singularly and to arrange your own itinerary through a Bhutanese tour company. Start planning way in advance as you will be faxing and emailing back and forth for an extended time, but this will prevent unforeseen issues once you are in country. A USD65 government tax comes out of this fee in order to fund health, education, infrastructure and other programs. In the low season, which is July through August, this tariff is reduced to USD165. Discounts are offered for extended stays: 10 to 20 days gets a 10% discount and 20% from day 21 on. Check closely with your tour company though, as there can be additional fees for parties departing at different dates and other amenities might cost extra, such as horse back riding, bottled water, and luxury items, such as a Bhutanese hot-stone bath. Each detail should be ironed out ahead of time and all questions answered so as to enjoy your time in Bhutan without unexpected surprises.

In Closing

Bhutan, one of the happiest places in the world, besides that famous amusement park conglomerate, is a rare Asian treasure, not to be experienced in a couple of days, but to be thoroughly savored at your leisure. Enlist the aide of a tour company to take care of all the little details, then just enjoy...enjoy...enjoy.

Bhutan is called Druk Yul by the locals, which means "Land of the Thunder Dragon". This is a land-locked kingdom in South Asia, bordered by the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Himalayan Mountain Range. Bhutan struggles to balance modernization with its ancient culture, but seems to be coming to grips with the modern world's influence and even with the convenience of some of the most recent developments, such as cell phones and computers. It's not uncommon to see monks in traditional garb transcribing ancient texts to computer for preservation. The government strives to preserve the nation's identity, its ancient culture and its environment. A university study names Bhutan as one of the happiest countries in Asia and the eighth happiest in the world. Hiking is a national past time here, as the locals are in touch with the natural world. At Taktshang Goemba, hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery, which sits on the pinnacle of a sheer rock cliff. Take the Jhomolhari Trek to distant villages where you can capture breathtaking views of Bhutan's most sacred mountain. In Gasa, soak in a hot spring and delight at the sight of blue sheep. You will find Bhutan's earliest and most revered Buddhist sites in Bumthang, while the more athletic can challenge themselves on a 25-day, high-altitude Snowman Trek to Lunana. Whatever your pleasure, Bhutan and its people will do everything in their power to make your trip memorable!