Bhutan Tour Packages from India: Itineraries, Costs & Permits (2026)

Bhutan tour packages typically run 3 to 10 nights and cover Thimphu, Punakha and Paro, ending at the Tiger’s Nest hike. Indian nationals need an entry permit (no visa) and pay an SDF of INR 1,200 per night; foreign nationals pay USD 100 per night. eSikkim Tourism’s Bhutan packages start from INR 10,999 per person.

KEY TAKEAWAYS (TL;DR)

• Indian nationals: no visa, but you need an entry permit (free to apply online at immi.gov.bt) plus the SDF of INR 1,200 per person per night.
• Foreign nationals: a visa (USD 40 application) and an SDF of USD 100 per person per night, booked through a licensed Bhutanese operator.
• Best seasons: spring (March–May) for rhododendrons and Paro Tsechu; autumn (late September–November) for the clearest Himalayan views and Tiger’s Nest.
• Getting there: fly into Paro (from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati or Bagdogra) or drive in via the Phuentsholing land border, the route most of our guests from Bagdogra/NJP take.
• A standalone Bhutan trip needs 5 nights minimum to do Thimphu, Punakha and Paro without rushing the Tiger’s Nest day.

What do Bhutan tour packages include?

A standard Bhutan tour package is close to all-inclusive by law. Because the government requires tourists to stay in Department of Tourism certified hotels and travel with a registered guide, a typical package covers accommodation, a licensed guide, private transport with driver, entry permits and route permits, monument fees and most meals. What it usually does not cover is your flight or train to the entry point, the SDF (sometimes quoted separately), travel insurance, and personal expenses like the pony at Tiger’s Nest or hot-stone baths.

eSikkim Tourism’s Bhutan packages include accommodation in base-category rooms on MAP basis (breakfast and dinner), a private cab for all transfers and sightseeing, and local drivers, with no hidden charges on cabs or monument entry tickets. Always read the inclusions line by line, because the cheapest grid prices you see elsewhere are often land-only, road-based, and quote the SDF on top. We itemise everything in writing so there is no checkpoint surprise.

Sample Bhutan tour packages and itineraries

These are real Bhutan circuits eSikkim Tourism runs, with prices starting from INR 10,999 per person. Prices below are per person on a land-only basis and depend on season, hotel category and group size; the SDF (INR 1,200 per night for Indians) is additional.

Thimphu & Paro — 3 Nights / 4 Days

Route: Thimphu (1N) – Paro (2N).

Cost: from INR 10,999 per person.

Best for: a short fly-in trip that still gets you to Tiger’s Nest.

Day 1 lands you at Paro and drives roughly two hours to Thimphu for the Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong and the Memorial Chorten. Days 2 and 3 cover Paro: Kyichu Lhakhang, a local farmhouse visit and the Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) hike, before you fly out on day 4. Tight but satisfying if time is short.

Phuentsholing, Paro & Thimphu — 5 Nights / 6 Days

Route: Phuentsholing – Paro – Thimphu.

Cost: from INR 20,999 per person.

Best for: first-timers driving in from Bagdogra or NJP; the sweet spot we recommend most.

A night in Phuentsholing to clear permits, then up to Paro and Thimphu with a full day held for Tiger’s Nest. Enough time to see the big three sights without a punishing daily drive. This is the package we point most first-timers towards.

Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Wangdue, Punakha & Paro — 6 Nights / 7 Days

Route: Phuentsholing – Thimphu – Wangdue – Punakha – Paro.

Cost: from INR 24,999 per person.

Best for: travellers who want Punakha and Dochula Pass added in.

Adds the crossing of Dochula Pass (108 chortens, and on a clear morning a wall of Himalayan peaks) and a night in the warmer Punakha–Wangdue valley with its magnificent Punakha Dzong. Our most popular week-long option.

Thimphu, Wangdue, Punakha & Paro — 7 Nights / 8 Days

Route: Thimphu – Wangdue – Punakha – Paro.

Cost: from INR 29,999 per person.

Best for: a slower pace with more time in each valley.

The same western highlights with breathing room: extra time in Thimphu and Punakha, less driving pressure, and an unhurried Tiger’s Nest day.

Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Wangdue, Punakha, Bumthang & Paro — 9 Nights / 10 Days

Route: Phuentsholing – Thimphu – Wangdue – Punakha – Bumthang – Paro.

Cost: from INR 39,000 per person.

Best for: repeat visitors and anyone wanting central Bhutan.

Pushes east to the Bumthang valleys, Bhutan’s spiritual heartland and its cluster of ancient temples. Long drives, but the most complete picture of the country. eSikkim also runs a 10 Nights / 11 Days version extending through the same central valleys.

Want a different length or a Sikkim add-on? eSikkim Tourism also runs 4-night Thimphu and Phuentsholing-Thimphu-Paro itineraries, plus a combined Gangtok-with-Bhutan trip. Tell us your dates and we will build a custom plan and quote.

How much does a Bhutan tour package cost for Indians?

For Indian nationals, eSikkim Tourism’s Bhutan tour packages start from INR 10,999 per person for a 3-night trip, rising to around INR 20,999 for 5 nights, INR 24,999 for 6 nights, INR 29,999 for 7 nights and INR 39,000 for a 9-night central-Bhutan itinerary, all per person on a land-only basis. On top of the package you pay the Sustainable Development Fee of INR 1,200 per person per night, and your own transport to the entry point.

The single biggest variable is how you enter. Driving in via Phuentsholing keeps costs down and is why road packages look cheaper. Flying into Paro saves one to two days but the Paro flight is among the more expensive short-haul sectors in the region, so the all-in cost rises sharply. Hotel category is the next lever: a jump from base-category to 4-star or boutique can add 40 to 60 percent.

What is the Bhutan SDF and who pays it?

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a daily tourism levy the Bhutanese government charges every visitor. As of June 2026, Indian nationals pay INR 1,200 per person per night and foreign nationals pay USD 100 per person per night. Children aged 6 to 12 get a 50 percent concession (around INR 600 for Indians), and children under 6 are usually exempt. The SDF funds free healthcare, education and conservation, and it is non-negotiable.

A useful detail: visitors who stay only in the border towns of Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar for up to 24 hours are not charged the SDF. The moment you head up to Thimphu, it applies to every night.

Do Indians need a permit or visa for Bhutan?

Indian nationals do not need a visa for Bhutan, but they do need an entry permit. You can apply online in advance at the official immigration portal (immi.gov.bt) or get it on arrival at Paro airport or the Phuentsholing land border; applying online is now strongly recommended to avoid long checkpoint queues. To travel beyond Thimphu and Paro you also need a route permit, which your operator arranges.

What documents do Indian citizens need for Bhutan?

Indian citizens need either a valid Indian passport (with at least six months validity) or an original Voter ID card to enter Bhutan. Aadhaar and driving licences are not accepted. Children under 18 should carry a passport or a birth certificate in English and must travel with a parent or legal guardian. Carry several passport photos for the permit.

Entry requirements for foreign nationals

Foreign nationals (everyone except Indian citizens) need a visa, applied for online through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator or the official portal, with a USD 40 application fee, plus the USD 100 per night SDF. The visa is approved before travel and checked at Paro. Foreign visitors must book through a registered operator and stay in certified hotels for the whole trip. eSikkim Tourism handles this end to end.

How do you get to Bhutan from India?

There are two ways into Bhutan from India: fly into Paro or drive over a land border. Paro has the only international airport, with direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Bagdogra. By road, most travellers enter at Phuentsholing (across from Jaigaon in West Bengal), the closest border to Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station, or at Samdrup Jongkhar in the east from Assam.

For guests already exploring Sikkim or the Northeast, the road route through Phuentsholing is the natural choice. The drive from Bagdogra or NJP to the border takes roughly 4 to 5 hours, then you clear permits and continue up to Thimphu, around 6 hours of mountain road. The Paro flight is the time-saver, and the landing itself, threading between ridgelines, is one of the most dramatic approaches anywhere.

Bhutan for Indian Travellers: Entry Rules, Costs, and the Season That Changes Everything

Bhutan is the one destination in the region that most Indian travellers want to visit but feel uncertain about planning. The questions are always the same: do Indians need a visa, what is the daily fee, what does it cover, and is Tiger’s Nest actually doable? Here is a clear, practical answer to each.

Entry Rules for Indian Nationals

Indian nationals do not need a Bhutan visa. You do, however, need an Entry Permit, which records your personal details, travel dates, and planned destinations. It is checked at immigration on arrival and exit. The Entry Permit can be obtained at the border crossing points of Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Gelephu, or at Paro International Airport. If you are flying into Paro, the permit process is handled at the airport on arrival. If you are travelling by road from India (via Siliguri to Phuentsholing, which is the most common overland route), it is obtained at the border office.

Beyond Thimphu and Paro, a Route Permit is required for every additional district you visit, including Punakha, Wangdue, Bumthang, and Haa. Most tour operators include this in their packages. Verify before booking that your chosen itinerary’s route permits are arranged by the operator.

The SDF: What Indian Travellers Actually Pay

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for Indian nationals is INR 1,200 per person per night as of 2026. This is significantly lower than the USD 100 per night charged to most international visitors. The SDF is paid in advance as part of the permit/tour booking process and goes toward Bhutan’s conservation and social development funds. Children aged 6 to 12 receive a 50 percent discount; children under 6 are exempt.

The SDF is separate from your package cost. Make sure your tour operator quotes both figures clearly so there are no surprises.

Tiger’s Nest: What to Expect

Paro Taktsang, known as Tiger’s Nest, is the defining image of Bhutan, a cluster of monastery buildings clinging to a granite cliff face at 3,120 metres. The hike is six kilometres round trip with approximately 900 metres of elevation gain, and takes three to four hours for most reasonably fit walkers. It is a moderate trek, not a technical climb, and the path is well-maintained. Start by 8am to avoid the afternoon heat and peak visitor traffic. Photography is not permitted inside the shrine rooms, and shoes must be removed before entering. Dress with shoulders and knees covered.

For travellers who cannot or prefer not to hike, horses are available for hire from the base up to the cafeteria point, roughly halfway. From there, the final section to the monastery must be walked.

The Season That Transforms Punakha

Punakha Dzong is the winter capital of Bhutan’s Central Monk Body and one of the most photographed buildings in the Himalayas. In March and April, the jacaranda trees that line the Pho Chhu river below the dzong bloom in deep purple, producing one of the most striking seasonal scenes in Bhutan and the subject of countless photographs. This coincides with the Paro Tshechu festival (March to April), featuring five days of masked Cham dances inside Rinpung Dzong in Paro, and the unveiling of the Thongdrel, a giant sacred thangka displayed at dawn.

Autumn (September to November) offers the clearest skies for mountain views and the harvest season across the valleys. Both windows are outstanding. The decision between them often comes down to whether you prioritise the festivals and spring colour or the high-altitude clarity of autumn.

Bhutan is one of those trips that repays careful planning, from getting the permits and SDF in order to choosing the right season for your priorities. Our travel experts at eSikkim Tourism have been organising Bhutan tours for over ten years, and we can put together a customised Bhutan tour package that fits your travel dates, budget, and the experiences that matter most to you. Get in touch and we will take care of the details.

What is the best time to visit Bhutan?

The best time to visit Bhutan is spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November). Spring brings rhododendron blooms, mild days and the Paro Tsechu festival. Autumn delivers the clearest skies, the sharpest Himalayan views and the famous Thimphu Tsechu, which is the country’s most attended festival. These two windows are peak season for a reason.

If you mainly want the Tiger’s Nest with clean mountain backdrops, our local team rates October above everything. Summer (June to August) is monsoon when Bhutan is green and quiet but with clouds, leeches on trails and the odd landslide on the approach roads. Winter (December to February) is cold and some high passes can close, but skies are crisp, crowds vanish and rates drop, which suits budget travellers who do not mind the chill.

Is the Tiger’s Nest hike hard?

The Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Monastery) hike is moderately challenging but manageable for most reasonably fit travellers. It is a steep climb of roughly 900 metres elevation gain over about 4 to 6 km each way, taking 4 to 6 hours round trip. There is a cafeteria roughly halfway, and ponies can carry you up to that point (not down). Go early, pace yourself, and carry water. 

Why plan your Bhutan trip with eSikkim Tourism

eSikkim Tourism is a Sikkim-based operator working the Eastern Himalaya every season, so Bhutan sits naturally within our patch. We handle the entry and route permits, hold relationships with certified hotels and the licensed Bhutanese guides the rules require, and we know the Phuentsholing crossing and the Bagdogra/NJP feeder routes from running them year-round. We will tell you honestly when a 3-night trip is too tight, when to fly versus drive, and which season fits what you most want to see. Everything is itemised in writing, the permits are sorted before you travel, and the itinerary is built around your dates rather than a fixed grid.

Tell us your travel dates and what you want out of Bhutan, and we will send a custom itinerary and quote. Plan your Bhutan trip with eSikkim Tourism.