Travel to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal - Yak Holidays Int'l
This blog features tips on flights to Bhutan/travel to Bhutan from Kathmandu (Nepal), Bhutan visa, tours, trekking and festivals in Bhutan and more.
The international tourists wishing to travel to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal should book a prepaid holiday package with one of the Travel Agencies / Tour Operators in Bhutan like us (Yak Holidays International). The same local Bhutan Travel Agency will make the entire travel arrangements like:
- Processing visa for Bhutan.
- Booking the hotels / resorts.
- Tour guide and transportation including airport pick up and drop.
- Booking your flights to Bhutan (You can also book directly from Drukair and Bhutan Airlines’ website).
- Arranging ponies and yaks for trekking / camping.
- Cooks, helpers, trekking equipment and more.
The Tiger’s nest monastery (Taktsang).
The package rates for visiting Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal.
The visitors wishing to travel to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal or any other country (Except for Indian nationals) have to pay US $ 100 per person per night as Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) to the Royal Government of Bhutan. Besides the Sustainable Development Fee, the tourists have to pay entry fees for monuments and festival visits which depends on your itinerary.
Our package rates given below are inclusive of Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). These rates apply uniformly to trekking, cultural tour or festival trips.
- Solo traveler: US $ 340 per night.
- 2 persons in a group: US $ 280 per person per night stay in Bhutan.
- 3 persons or more in a group: US $ 270 per person per night stay in Bhutan.
The Beautiful Dochula pass (3140 m).
The daily package rates are same for tours, trekking, festival tours and other activities. Please check our Bhutan Travel links for more information on tours, festivals, trekking and other related information.
6 Simple steps to get Bhutan visa for International tourists:
- Book your Bhutan trip with a Local Tour Operator such as Yak Holidays (us).
- You have to wire transfer full payment to the account of your Tour Operator in Bhutan.
- Please send a copy of the wire transfer receipt.
- You have to send the scanned copy of the photo page your passport (s).
- Your Bhutan Travel Agent / Tour Operator will process the e-Bhutan visa on your behalf which normally takes a week. The local Tour Operator will e-mail you a copy of the e-Bhutan visa once it is approved. You are now eligible to travel to Bhutan.
- The actual visa is stamped in your passport upon arrival in Bhutan at the Paro International airport.
The duration of visa depends on the length of the Bhutan trip booked with your Tour Operator.
Bhutan visa cost is US $ 40 per person per trip. It is payable along with your Bhutan trip cost.
A sample of passport copy for Bhutan visa.
Please note that no Embassies or Missions abroad can issue Bhutan visa for tourists except the Department of Immigration, Thimphu Bhutan.
Flights to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal or other cities:
There are direct flights to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal on daily basis.
Bhutan has only one International airport in Paro valley and the airport code is PBH.
Bhutan Airlines and Drukair are the only two Bhutanese airlines that operate flights in and out of Paro International airport in Bhutan. These airlines operate flights to nearby cities like Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati, Gaya and Bagdogra (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand), Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Singapore.
Please contact us for the schedules and timings.
Bhutan Flight Fares:
Drukair and Bhutan Airlines have kept the flight fares at par. The fares given below are for round trip.
- Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu fare: US $ 464 (Economy class) & US $ 752 (Business class).
Cabin Baggage / Hand carry:
- 5 Kg in Economy class & 7 Kg in Business class.
Passport validity for travel to Bhutan:
The validity of passport for travel to Bhutan should be minimum of 6 months.
The view of Paro International airport.
Excess baggage charge:
The charge per kg of excess baggage is equivalent to 1.5 % of one way Adult fare.
Check Baggage allowance on Bhutan Airline & Drukair:
- 30 Kg in Economy class & 40 Kg in Business Class.
- Infants paying 10 % of the applicable fares are not entitled for any baggage allowance.
The view of the Himalayas from your flight:
The seats on the Bhutan flights are allocated on the “First come, first serve” basis at the check-in-counter at the port of entry into Bhutan.
Your flights to and from Bhutan are scenic and are your ultimate mountain flights. The passengers always scramble for the best seats in your flight. You can see the up-close view of the Himalayan ranges including Mt. Everest. Yes, you heard it right.
If you are flying in from Kathmandu, request the ground staff at the check-in-counter to allocate the seat on the left, possibly by the window. You will see a beautiful mountain panorama. One can see five mountain peaks all above 8000 m, Mt. Everest (8848 m), Mt. Makalu (8463 m), Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586 m), Mt. Lhotse (8516 m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8188 m) and finally Jomolhari (7326 m).
Your chances of seeing these scenic high points on the surface of the earth will be better if you travel in early spring or winter or in autumn. The morning flights are even better as there will be less or no clouds to obstruct the mountain ranges.
Leave a message.
No, you cannot travel from Kathmandu to Paro Bhutan without Bhutan visa. Travelers without Bhutan visa will not be permitted to board the flight to Bhutan from Kathmandu airport.
Bhutan Airlines also referred to as Tashi Air and Drukair are the only two Bhutanese Airlines that operate flights to Paro Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal.
The duration of flight from Kathmandu to Paro Bhutan is 57 minutes and it is a non-stop flight over the Himalayas.
The distance covered on a flight from Kathmandu to Paro Bhutan is 506 Kilometers.
The round trip flight fare for Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu is US $ 464 in economy class and it is same for both Bhutan Airlines and Drukair.
Drukair operates flights to and from Kathmandu to Paro Bhutan on daily basis and Bhutan Airlines operate three flights a week (Sunday, Tuesday and Friday).
The view of Himalayas from Drukair flight.
COVID-19 update on travel / flights to Bhutan from Nepal:
Travel to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal or any other country is permitted now. The visitors to Bhutan need not undergo quarantine for COVID-19 and RT-PCR test is not required to enter Bhutan.
