Getting Around Bhutan
How you travel within Bhutan: by road with a driver and guide, realistic driving times, and domestic flights.
Travelling by road
Bhutan has no railways, and almost every journey is by road. One main highway runs east to west across the country, with roads branching north and south into the valleys. Roads are narrow and winding, and they cross high passes, so distances take longer than a map suggests.
As a guide, Paro to Thimphu takes about 1.5 hours, Thimphu to Punakha about 3 hours over the Dochula pass, and the drives across central Bhutan are full days with stops along the way.
With Dhungkar Tour
Transportation within Bhutan is included in our regular price: all airport transfers and sightseeing drives, with a driver, and a licensed Bhutanese guide throughout your journey.
Domestic flights
Drukair operates a small number of domestic flights from Paro, for example to Gelephu in the south. Domestic flights can save a long day on the road, but schedules are limited and change by season. Ask us whether a flight is running for your dates.
Road conditions
During the summer monsoon, landslides can temporarily close roads, and in winter snow can affect the high passes. Your guide and driver follow road conditions every day and adjust the plan when needed.