A tour from Nepal to Bhutan offers a wonderful opportunity to explore these two Himalayan nations, which sit high up in the Himalayas. Both countries boast spectacular Himalayan peaks and diverse landscapes, along with unique cultures, traditions, and warm hospitality.
Nepal and Bhutan tour packages let you experience some great culture, traditions, and time-honored festivals. Visit many temples, shrines, Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and monastery fortresses, all of which UNESCO has designated as World Heritage sites.
Nepal was open for tourism in the late 1960s, whereas 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 being 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, located there.
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 to Bhutan from Nepal?
1. Visit two nations in one journey
Both countries are located at a closer distance, even if not sharing land borders. The flight from Kathmandu in Nepal to Paro in Bhutan is just 1 hour 20 minutes approx. En route to 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 when flying from Kathmandu to Paro and also on the left side when flying back from Paro to Kathmandu.
In Kathmandu, you can visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Swayambhunath, the ‘Monkey Temple’; Patan Durbar Square; Bhaktapur Durbar Square; Pashupatinath; and Boudhanath. If time allows, a delightful treat will be a visit to the beautiful lakeside city of Nepal and a jungle safari at Chitwan National Park.
Besides, you can add on an Everest mountain flight by plane or an Everest helicopter tour, paragliding in Pokhara, a day hike in Kathmandu, a bungee jump in Kathmandu, white water river rafting at the Trishuli River, etc., to make your Nepal visit even more interesting.
Afterward, fly from Kathmandu to Paro, landing at Paro International Airport in Paro town. Visit some of the interesting locations in Bhutan, like Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, and Phobjikha Valley, and hike to Taktsang Monastery, the ‘Tiger’s Nest.’
Further exploring Bhutan, one can visit Bumthang Valley, which is considered the cultural heartland of Bhutan, with its age-old monasteries, temples, and shrines. A day excursion to the Ura and Tang valleys in Bumthang is also an enriching affair.
2. Get a Bhutan visa easily
No individual can directly apply for the Bhutan visa and needs to come through a registered travel agency in Bhutan or its international partners. A travel agent in Nepal handles the Bhutan visa process, which costs 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 the high tourist season. This cost includes everything from accommodation to all meals, fees, transport, and tour guide fees.
How to apply for a Bhutan visa?
To apply for a Bhutan visa, choose a local Bhutan operator or one of its 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 made before your arrival date in Bhutan.
Your travel agent will forward the visa clearance letter to you while you are in Kathmandu. Upon submitting this letter at Paro International Airport, a visa for Bhutan is issued.
When should one 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 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, when the skies are clear with beautiful Himalayan views. The same goes for Bhutan, with clean and clear weather and some wonderful mountain panoramas. Since Bhutan is a carbon-negative country, the air here is so clean, and the environment is fresh.
The monsoon starts in June and ends in August, when traveling can be unpleasant. 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 snow-covered trekking trails. In Bhutan, it may snow in central towns like Paro and Thimphu.
How to get from Nepal to Bhutan?
There are two ways to enter Bhutan from Nepal: by land or by flight, with the latter being more popular and easier.
Traveling to Bhutan overland from Nepal
If you are planning to drive to Bhutan from Nepal, you will need to connect with India, as Bhutan shares its border with India. The first step is getting a bus from Kathmandu to Nepal’s Indian border town, Kakarbhitta. From Kakarbhitta, take a local bus or drive a private vehicle to Siliguri.
From Siliguri, take a train from New Jalpaiguri to Hasimara, the nearest train station to the Bhutanese border at Phuentsholing, from where you can enter Bhutan. Upon reaching Hasimara, 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 need 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 keep in mind that no other international airlines operate there. Only two airlines fly to Bhutan, and they do so only from certain cities in South Asia, such as Kathmandu, Delhi, Singapore, or Bangkok.
These two airlines are Druk Air, Bhutan’s national flag carrier, and Bhutan Airlines, a privately owned company. Both Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines have their offices in Kathmandu, where you can book flights to Bhutan. However, your travel agent will also be happy to book these flights for you if you wish.
How much does a Bhutan trip cost?
The price of the Bhutan tour package depends on several factors. It can vary based on the size of your group, the month you choose to travel, the number of days you want to spend in Bhutan, and the type of accommodation you prefer. Accommodation options range from 3-star hotels to luxurious resorts.
Our prices can range from US$ 200 to US$ 2000 per night, depending on the hotel category you wish to stay in, the number of travelers in a group, etc. You can contact us to get a special discounted Bhutan tour cost.
Email: info@tourinbhutan.com
WhatsApp: +14013281478
