Cultural
Paro Valley
Taktsang Monastery, Rinpung Dzong, and the country’s only international airport.
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Getting to Bhutan,
and getting around it
Paro International Airport is served by two carriers. Overland entry is possible at Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar. All visitors other than nationals of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives must book through a licensed operator.
National Carrier
Druk Air, Royal Bhutan Airlines
Bhutan’s flag carrier, operating from Paro to Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Singapore, Dhaka, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra and Gaya. Domestic services connect Paro with Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula.
- Baggage and seating rules differ from most carriers, so brief your guests early
- Left-side seats give the best Himalayan views on the Kathmandu approach
- Weather delays are normal in monsoon; build a buffer day before international connections
Private Carrier
Bhutan Airlines, Tashi Air
Bhutan’s first private international airline, connecting Paro with Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi and Kolkata. Schedules are seasonal and change between the summer and winter timetables.
- Confirm the operating timetable before quoting group itineraries
- Paro is a visual approach airport, so only certified crews may operate it
- Daylight-hours operation only; there are no night landings at Paro
Paro International Airport (PBH)
2,235 m
Elevation1 hr
Drive to ThimphuVFR
Daylight only2
Carriers servingPlaces of Interest
Where members take their guests
Explore Bhutan
Tourism experiences, not just itineraries
Members build trips around what a guest actually wants to do. These are the experience categories most commonly requested.
Trekking
Multi-day routes from the gentle Druk Path to the three-week Snowman Trek, crossing passes above 5,000 m with full camp support.
Hiking
Day walks around Paro, Thimphu and the central valleys — accessible ways to reach dzongs, lhakhangs and viewpoints without a multi-day itinerary.
Birding
Over 700 recorded species across altitude bands, from the black-necked cranes of Phobjikha to Zhemgang’s broadleaf forest specialists.
Textile & Craft
Backstrap weaving in Khoma and Lhuentse, thangka painting, and the thirteen traditional arts practised across the dzongkhags.
Architecture
Dzong fortresses, cantilever bridges and rammed-earth farmhouses — Bhutan’s building tradition read through the guides who explain it.
Ecotourism
Protected corridors and community-managed forest linking more than half the country, supporting wildlife tourism that funds local conservation.
Homestays
Registered village homestays that put visitor spending directly into rural households, alongside the standard hotel and lodge network.
Plan Sustainably
How much will your trip cost the climate?
Estimate your itinerary’s carbon footprint in under a minute, and get Bhutan-specific ways to lower it — hydropower EVs, eco-lodges and more.
Guides & Support Services
Guides in Bhutan
Every visitor group travels with a licensed Bhutanese guide. Guides are certified by category: cultural, trekking and specialist endorsements such as birding, and must hold current certification to work.
For treks, horse contractors provide pack animals and handlers. ABTO maintains the horse contractor list used by members when planning multi-day routes, alongside the campsite allocation rules set out in the trekking regulations.
Why Use a Tour Operator?
It is not only a requirement
Booking through a licensed operator is required for most nationalities, but it is also the practical route. Your operator handles visa processing, route permits for restricted areas, transport, licensed guiding, accommodation and the Sustainable Development Fee.
They also carry local knowledge that changes an itinerary from adequate to memorable: which valley is at its best this week, which festival dance is worth waiting for, and which trail is passable after rain.
Find a Member OperatorBest Time to Visit
Four seasons, four different Bhutans
There is no single best month, only a best season for what you want to see. Your operator will match the trip to the season, not the other way around.
Spring
Rhododendrons and magnolia bloom across the mid-hills, skies clear after winter, and the first major tshechus of the year draw crowds to Paro and Punakha. Comfortable trekking at low and mid elevation.
Summer
The monsoon fills the valleys with rice-planting green and fewer visitors. Higher passes turn muddy or close, but this is the season for lowland culture, waterfalls and quieter dzongs.
Autumn
Bhutan’s peak season: the clearest mountain views of the year and the largest tshechus, including the Thimphu Tshechu. The reliable window for high-altitude treks such as the Snowman.
Winter
Cold, dry and quiet, with crisp light over the dzongs and the black-necked cranes wintering in Phobjikha. Lower valleys such as Punakha stay mild even as high passes close.
Bhutan rewards a visit in any month: festivals, trekking windows, wildlife and crowd levels each peak at a different time of year, so the right season depends on what you want from the trip, not a single calendar window. Bhutan is a year-round destination.
Visitor FAQ
Before you travel
Yes, with the exception of nationals of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives, who require a permit rather than a visa. Your tour operator applies on your behalf once the trip is confirmed.
A per-night levy paid by most international visitors. It funds free healthcare, free education and conservation work. Your operator will confirm the current rate and any applicable concessions.
It depends entirely on the route. Day walks around Paro and Thimphu suit most people. High routes such as the Snowman Trek cross passes above 5,000 m and demand serious preparation. Discuss honestly with your operator.
Independent travel is not permitted for most nationalities. You travel on a licensed operator's programme with a guide, though the itinerary itself can be built entirely around your interests.