Travel to Bhutan from Philippines (Manila) - Yak Holidays
This blog features information on Flights/Travel to Bhutan from Philippines (Manila), Bhutan visa for Philippines/Filipino citizens/nationals and more.
The Philippines / Filipino nationals / citizens wishing to travel to Bhutan should book a pre-paid holiday package with one of the Travel Agencies / Tour Operators in Bhutan like us (Yak Holidays International). The same 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 yaks and ponies for trekking.
- Trekking staff.
- Trekking equipment and more.
The Tiger’s nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).
The Daily Tourist Tariff for visiting Bhutan from Philippines:
The visitors wishing to travel to Bhutan from Philippines 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 depend 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 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 Philippines / Filipino citizens / nationals:
- 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 after 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 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 Philippines / Filipino citizens / nationals except the Department of Immigration, Thimphu Bhutan.
Flights to Bhutan from Philippines (Manila):
There are no direct flights to Bhutan from Philippines (Manila). 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) and Dhaka (Bangladesh).
Drukair and Bhutan Airlines have kept the flight fares at par. The fares given below are for round trip.
The most recommended options for flight to Paro, Bhutan are:
- Fly to Bangkok (Thailand) and connect your flight to Paro Bhutan.
There is flight to Paro from Bangkok on daily basis. The flights are usually in the morning.
The flight fare for Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok is US $ 951 (Economy class) & US $ 1290 (Business class).
- Fly into Bhutan from Kathmandu (Nepal).
For those wishing to combine trip to Nepal, fly to Kathmandu and then fly into Bhutan. There are flights to and from Bhutan to Kathmandu on alternate days.
- Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu fare: US $ 466 (Economy class) & US $ 710 (Business class).
Bhutan has only one international airport in Paro valley and the airport code is PBH.
Please contact us for the schedules and timings.
Baggage allowance:
- 30 kg for economy class, 40 kg Business class.
- Hand carry is 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.
Cabin Baggage / Hand carry:
- 5 Kg in Economy class & 7 Kg in Business class.
Excess baggage charge:
The charge per kg of excess baggage is equivalent to 1.5 % of one way Adult fare.
Note for Passengers traveling to & from Bangkok: Drukair & Bhutan Airlines fly to and from Suvarnabhumi international airport.
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).
But if you enter Bhutan from Bangkok or Kolkata, then you will see the panoramic Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Jomolhari. You may request for a seat on the right.
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.
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No, there is no direct flight from Manila, Philippines to Paro Bhutan. All travelers to Bhutan from Philippines should fly to Bangkok and make flight connection to Paro Bhutan by Drukair or Bhutan Airlines.
No, the Royal Government of Bhutan does not have an Embassy / Consulate in Manila, Philippines.
No, it is not possible to get Bhutan visa for Filipino citizens / nationals upon arrival in Bhutan.
No, you cannot travel to Bhutan from Philippines as a back packer. You have to book a guided Bhutan trip with one of the registered and licensed Tour Operators in Bhutan.
The most recommended Bhutan tour Itineraries are:
The view of Himalayas from Drukair flight.
COVID-19 update on travel / flights to Bhutan from Philippines (Manila):
Travel to Bhutan from Philippines (Manila) or any other country is allowed now. The visitors to Bhutan need NOT undergo quarantine for COVID-19 and RT-PRC test at the Paro international airport is not required.
