In this guide
You can fly into Paro from several cities in India and other regional gateways. If your starting city has no Bhutan service, connect through one of them. You can also enter overland from India. This guide covers both routes, Paro airport and what to arrange before you travel.
We arrange your visa and the Sustainable Development Fee, and we time your trip around your arrival and departure. We can also book your flights into and out of Paro with Drukair or Bhutan Airlines, so the flights and the trip are planned together. If you'd rather book them yourself, we'll tell you which route fits your plans.
The short answer
Most visitors on our western Bhutan itineraries fly into Paro International Airport with Drukair or Bhutan Airlines. Bhutan Travel also lists Gelephu as an international airport; check the airport and onward route before booking. Depending on where you start, you can fly from a gateway city such as Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok or Singapore, or connect there first. A smaller number of travellers enter overland from India through the town of Phuentsholing.
Flying into Paro
Drukair, the national carrier, and Bhutan Airlines operate scheduled passenger flights into Paro. Travellers starting in a city they serve may be able to fly to Paro without changing planes. From Europe, North America or Australia, you will need to connect through a gateway city and take a Bhutanese airline for the final leg.
Agree your tour dates with us before booking flights. Paro has a limited schedule, so check your Bhutan flight first, then arrange any connecting flight to reach the gateway in good time.
The main gateway cities
You can start your journey at one of these airports or connect there from elsewhere. Routes and frequencies can change, so check the airline's schedule for your travel date before booking.
Flights from India to Paro
Drukair's destination guide lists these Indian gateways for Paro:
- Delhi (DEL). Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Kolkata (CCU). Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
- Bagdogra (IXB). Bagdogra Airport, an option if you are travelling through northern West Bengal.
- Guwahati (GAU). Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Assam.
Check Drukair's current flight schedules for the route and date you need. You can also compare available services with Bhutan Airlines. The two airlines do not necessarily serve the same airports or operate on the same days. Our Drukair vs Bhutan Airlines guide compares their routes, baggage and schedules.
Other regional gateways
- Kathmandu, Nepal. Popular if you are combining Bhutan with Nepal. On a clear day you get big Himalayan views from this leg.
- Bangkok, Thailand. A hub for connections from East and Southeast Asia, Australia and North America.
- Singapore. Drukair's service between Singapore and Paro includes a stop in Guwahati. Check the current schedule for operating dates and stops.
- Dhaka, Bangladesh. An option for journeys starting in or connecting through Bangladesh.
If you are not sure which gateway suits your route, tell us where you are flying from and we'll point you to the sensible options. Flying from the US? Our page on Bhutan tours from the US covers the usual routings.
Private tour · 5 days · Paro · Thimphu · Punakha
Bhutan Highlights in 5 Days
Flights sorted? Our five-day trip meets you at Paro airport.
Why Paro's schedule is limited
Paro sits in a narrow valley ringed by high mountains, and the approach is one of the most demanding in commercial aviation. Only a small number of pilots are certified to fly it, landings happen in daylight with good visibility, and flights cluster in the morning before the afternoon winds pick up.
In practice, that means:
- Give yourself a buffer. Do not book a tight onward connection on your departure day, because weather can move the schedule.
- Arrive at your gateway city the day before your Bhutan flight if the connection is close.
- Flying in from Kathmandu on a clear morning, ask for a seat on the left side for the mountain views, and the right side on the way out.
Coming overland from India
You can also enter Bhutan by road from India. The main land border is at Phuentsholing, which sits next to Jaigaon in West Bengal. The nearest Indian airport is Bagdogra and the nearest major railhead is New Jalpaiguri, both a few hours' drive away. There are two other crossings in the south and east, at Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar.
Overland entry suits travellers who are already in northeast India, or who want the scenic drive up into the hills. It takes longer than flying, and because you travel through India first, Indian entry rules apply to that part of the journey. If this route interests you, we can plan the timing and the handover at the border.
Guides meeting tourists at Phuentsholing have to be registered with the Tourism Information Office there. Since a Department of Tourism announcement on 14 September 2026, a guide arranged in advance must be registered at least 48 hours before you cross, up from 24. If you arrive without a guide, the walk-in registration for the next day opens at 6 p.m. the evening before. When you travel with us, we handle the registration, so just send us your crossing date early.
Comparing fares and separate tickets
Compare the full journey: the Bhutan flight, any connecting tickets, baggage, transit requirements and any overnight stay at the gateway. Flights are priced separately from our Bhutan packages, and fares change with the date, so use current quotes from Drukair and Bhutan Airlines rather than a fixed estimate.
We book flights on both airlines. Tell us your gateway city and dates when you enquire and we'll find the flight that suits your trip, whichever airline it is. If weather moves your Paro flight, we change the trip around it.
If you book the flights on separate tickets, check who pays for a missed connection and whether bags can be checked through. Weather can delay a Paro flight, so leave a buffer on the return journey too. Our visa guide explains the paperwork to prepare before departure.
What you need besides a flight
Besides a seat on the plane, every visitor needs:
- A visa or entry permit. Most international visitors need an advance visa with a USD 40 application fee. Indian nationals need a permit, while Bangladesh and Maldives nationals have different visa arrangements. Check the official entry requirements for your nationality. We can apply on your behalf when this service is included in your quote.
- The Sustainable Development Fee. This is currently USD 100 per adult per night for most international visitors, with reduced rates for children. It is included in our packages, and you can see how it adds up on our Bhutan trip cost page. The official visa information is worth a read too.
Neither of these is part of your airfare, so budget for them separately unless they are already in your quote.
How we help
We handle the visa and the Sustainable Development Fee, and we build the itinerary around your arrival and departure so no day is wasted. We can book your Drukair or Bhutan Airlines flights to and from Paro, and your guide meets you when you land. Connecting flights to the gateway city are yours to book. Your itemised quote shows what we arrange.
When you are ready, browse our Bhutan tours or tell us your dates for a free itemised quote.
Ready to see it for yourself?
Bhutan Highlights in 5 Days
Private tour · 5 days · Paro · Thimphu · Punakha
Flights sorted? Our five-day trip meets you at Paro airport.
Official sources
- Bhutan Travel: airports and entry routes
- Drukair: destinations and routes
- Drukair: current flight schedules
- Bhutan Airlines: routes and current schedules
- Department of Tourism: announcements (guide registration at Phuentsholing, 14 September 2026)
Check the official rules and schedules for your nationality and travel dates before making fixed bookings.
