A tour from Nepal to Bhutan is a wonderful opportunity to explore the two Himalayan nations tucked high up in the Himalayas. Both countries are blessed with spectacular Himalayan peaks and diverse landscapes with unique cultures and traditions coupled with warm hospitality. Nepal Bhutan tour packages is to experience some great culture, traditions and festivals which are time immemorial. Visit many temples, shrines, Buddhist monasteries and stupas, monastery fortresses which are considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nepal was open for tourism in the late 1960s’ whereas as tourism started in the mid-1970s in Bhutan. Bhutan has been following a strict tourism policy to protect its environment, culture and traditions. Bhutan also known as ‘the land of the thunder dragon is also the only Buddhist Kingdom in the world. It is known for its pristine natural beauty, rich culture and heritage and gross national happiness as well as the only carbon negative country in the world. Equivalently Nepal is the land of the Himalayas with some of the world’s tallest mountains including Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world, are located. Nepal has diverse landscapes from the high Himalayas to low mountains with beautiful valleys and the Terai plains connected with India. From amazing ancient temples in Nepal to massive monastery fortresses in Bhutan, both countries continue to fascinate their visitors.
Why travel Bhutan from Nepal?
1. Visit two nations in one journey
Both of the countries are located at a closer distance even if not sharing the land borders. The flight from Kathmandu in Nepal and to Paro in Bhutan is just 1 hour 20 minutes approx. En-route this flight, you can also notice the world’s tallest mountains including Mt. Everest. Be sure to sit on the left side of the plane while flying from Kathmandu to Paro and while flying back from Paro to Kathmandu on the left side.
In Kathmandu you can visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Swayambhunath ‘Monkey Temple’, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. If time allows going further to the beautiful lakeside city of Nepal and Jungle Safari at Chitwan National Park will be a nice treat. Besides you can add on Everest mountain flight by plane or Everest helicopter tour, paragliding in Pokhara, a day hike in Kathmandu, bungee jump in Kathmandu, white water river rafting at Trishuli River etc. to make your Nepal visit even more interesting. Afterward, fly to Paro from Kathmandu landing at the Paro International Airport in Paro town. Visit some of the interesting locations in Bhutan like Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Phobjikha Valley, hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest. Further exploring Bhutan deeply one can visit Bumthang Valley which is considered the cultural heartland of Bhutan with age-old monasteries, temples and shrines. Day excursion to Ura and Tang valleys in Bumthang is also an interesting affair.
2. Get Bhutan visa easily
No individual can directly apply for the Bhutan visa and needs to come through a registered travel agency in Bhutan or it’s international partners. The Visa process for Bhutan can be handled by a travel agent in Nepal which cost US$40 per person. Besides the tour cost is US$200 per person per night in the off-season and US$250 per person per night during high tourist season. This cost includes all from accommodation to all meals, fees, and transport and tour guide fees.
How to apply for Bhutan visa?
To apply for the Bhutan visa choose the local Bhutan operator or it’s sub-operators in Kathmandu. You need to send a colored scan of your passport, which is valid for at least another six months, along with the tour deposit (10%) and visa fee. Your operator will then process the visa by applying it to the Tourism Council of Bhutan. An official visa clearance letter is then issued a month before the tour’s departure with a full tour payment that needs to be done before your arrival date in Bhutan. Your travel agent will forward the visa clearance letter to you or whilst you are in Kathmandu. Upon submitting this letter at Paro International Airport visa for Bhutan is issued.
When to visit Bhutan from Nepal?
Bhutan and Nepal comparatively share the same kind of weather conditions. Though both of the countries can be visited round the year the high season is in the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November with the low season being the months of January, February, June, July, August, and December. The high tourist season in Nepal is the best time to travel during when the skies are clear with beautiful Himalayan views. That goes the same with Bhutan with clean and clear weather with some amazing mountain panorama. Since Bhutan is a carbon-negative country, the air here is so clean and the environment fresh. Monsoon starts in June and ends in August when traveling can be not pleasant. But you can visit and trek in the lower rain shadow areas of Nepal like Mustang which receives less rain. Winter is from December to February when it will be colder and even more freezing cold in Bhutan. The high trekking locations in Nepal will have a snow-bound trekking trails. In Bhutan, it may snow in central towns like Paro and Thimphu.
How to get from Nepal to Bhutan?
There are two options to enter Bhutan from Nepal, one by overland and another by flight though the latter one is more popular and easy.
Traveling Bhutan overland from Nepal
If you are planning to drive to Bhutan from Nepal then you need to connect with India since Bhutan shares it’s border with India. The first step is getting a bus from Kathmandu to Nepal and Indian border town – Kakarbhitta. From Kakarbhitta drive to Siliguri by a local bus or private vehicle. From Siliguri, get a train from New Jalpaiguri to Hasimara, the nearest train station to the Bhutan border of Phuentsholing from where you can enter Bhutan. Upon reaching Hasimar, get on the local bus to Jaigaon (the Indian town next to Phuentsholing), do the visa formalities at Phuentsholing and start your journey to Bhutan.
Nepal to Bhutan flight
This is the most convenient and easy way to get to Bhutan from Nepal. By going overland from Nepal to Bhutan, you will also require to apply for an Indian visa. So directly flying from Kathmandu in Nepal to Paro in Bhutan is the best choice. The flight time is just about 1 hour and 20 minutes. While booking flights to Bhutan please also bear in mind that no other international airlines operate in Bhutan. Only two airlines fly to Bhutan that too from certain cities in South Asia like Kathmandu, Delhi, Singapore or Bangkok. These two airlines are Druk Air – Bhutan’s national flag carrier and Bhutan Airlines – a privately own company. Both Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines have their office in Kathmandu from where you can book Bhutan flights from Kathmandu. Though your travel agent will also be glad to book these flights for you if you wish.
How much does a Bhutan trip cost?
It depends upon the tourist season (high or low) you travel and the choices of hotels you use (4* or 5*). The Royal Government of Bhutan has set minimum selling prices for packages to Bhutan which comes as below:
The minimum daily package for tourists traveling in a group of 3 persons or more is:
– USD $200 per person per night for the months of January, February, June, July, August, and December.
– USD $250 per person per night for the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November.
The minimum daily package rate includes all the following services.
- Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle.
- 3-star accommodation (4 & 5 stars may require an additional premium).
- Three meals per day during your stay in Bhutan
- A licensed Bhutanese tour guide
- All land transportation by private vehicle
- Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Monuments entrance fees where applicable
- Drinking water
- All internal taxes and charges
- A sustainable development fee of $65. (This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.)
Excludes in the package during Bhutan tour
- Airfare & Travel Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature, Tips to guides and drivers
- Expenses occurred due to unavoidable Events i.e. road wrecks, flight delays, etc.
Is there any surcharges for Bhutan besides the daily rate?
Tourists traveling in a group of two (2) persons or less shall be subject to a surcharge, in addition to the minimum daily package rates which are:
– Single individual – US$ 40 per night
– Group of 2 persons only – US$ 30 per person per night
The above rates include accommodations in government-approved 3* star hotels throughout your stay in Bhutan. If you want to use 4* or 5* star hotels then an extra cost is added on the daily rate.
Luxury Bhutan tours
Besides the 3* star hotels which the minimum daily rate covers Bhutan has some of the world-class luxury hotels. Luxury hotels in Bhutan are Le-meridian, Taj Tashi, Uma chain of hotels, Dhensa Boutique hotel etc. These are some of the best hotels to stay in Bhutan. Bhutan luxury tour package is to stay at these luxury hotels and explore Bhutan. These packages are customized to give you what you are looking for and provide high-end services. Though Bhutan still being a developing nation the country has some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, spas, and resorts. Luxury hotels offer more extravagant meals and the best rooms which go above the standard rate. The cost can go up to $500 USD per day per person for a luxury Bhutan tours. Luxury, comfort and style is what luxury private tours of Bhutan is all about. One model itinerary for Bhutan luxury tour is as below:
Bhutan luxury tour package
Day 01: Arrival Paro (2250m) – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 02: Thimphu – Punakha (1310m)
Day 03: Punakha (1310m) – Gangtey (Phobjikha Valley) (2320m)
Day 04: Gangtey (Phobjikha Valley) – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 05: Thimphu – Day excursion to Haa Valley (2740m) – Paro
Day 06: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)
Day 07: Paro depart
Besides the above if you want to follow the itinerary of luxury hotels having their chain in different parts of Bhutan then the following are suggested:
– 4 Days Uma Paro Himalayan Escape
– 5 Day Amankora Journey
– 6 Days Amankora Journey
– 11 Days Uma Journey
– 7 Days Six Senses Khamsa
– 7 Days Como Itinerary – Himalayan Immersive
– 8 Day Uma Paro Bhutan Through Lens
Bhutan Nepal tour package
Bhutan and Nepal touring packages can be beautifully combined making one great vacation in the Himalayas. Explore around Kathmandu visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and drive/fly to Pokhara – another most popular tourist destination and a lakeside city in Nepal. Witness amazing sunrise over the Himalayas from Sarangkot viewpoint in Pokhara and go for Pokhara Sightseeing tour visiting the natural and cultural locations. Back to Kathmandu and fly to Paro Bhutan for another great holiday in the land of the thunder dragon. In Bhutan visit Thimphu – the new capital, Punakha – the old capital then go for the most popular hike to the Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ in Paro.
9 Nights 10 Days Bhutan Nepal tour and travel
Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu (1,400m)
Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Day 3: Kathmandu to Pokhara (1,400m) Drive or Fly
Day 4: Pokhara: Sarangkot (1,600m) Sunrise and City Tour
Day 5: Drive or Fly to Kathmandu
Day 6: Fly to Paro (Bhutan) and drive to Thimphu
Day 7: Drive from Thimphu to Punakha (1,310m)
Day 8: Drive from Punakha to Paro
Day 9: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3,120 m)
Day 10: Destination Home
For 5 nights 6 days Bhutan tour and travel, the itinerary looks like as below:
5 Nights 6 Days Bhutan tour
Day 01: Arrival Paro (2250m) – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 02: Thimphu – Punakha (1310m)
Day 03: Punakha – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 04: Thimphu – Day excursion to Haa Valley (2740m) – Paro
Day 05: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)
Day 06: Paro depart
Bhutan tour from Singapore
Since there are now three flights into Bhutan from Singapore, you can directly fly to Paro from Singapore and start your Bhutan journey. The airline that will be flying from Singapore is Bhutan’s national flag carriers ‘Druk Air’. Bhutan tour package from Singapore itinerary looks like as below:
Day 01: (TUE/THU / SUN) FLY SINGAPORE – via KOLKATA – TO PARO- Drive to Thimphu (2350m)
Day 02: Thimphu – Punakha tours (1310m)
Day 03: Punakha – Gangtey (2320m)
Day 04: Gangtey – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 05: Thimphu – Haa – Paro (2250m)
Day 06: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ (3120m)
Day 07: (MON/WED / SAT) FLY PARO via KOLKATA – TO SINGAPORE KB500 0720/1515 B – Final Departure OR Extend your tour to Nepal
