Bangkok is the main gateway to Bhutan. Both Bhutanese airlines fly from there to Paro, and travellers from all over the world pass through on their way in. For people who live in Thailand that makes Bhutan one of the easiest Himalayan countries to reach: a morning flight, and you are among the mountains before lunch.
The flight from Bangkok
Drukair and Bhutan Airlines both fly between Bangkok and Paro. Some flights stop on the way in India without passengers changing aircraft. Departures are early in the morning, so travellers from Chiang Mai, Phuket and other cities usually spend the night before in Bangkok. More about the airlines and the airport is on our page about getting to Bhutan.
Paro is surrounded by mountains and is used only in daylight and good weather. Now and then a flight is delayed to the next day, so do not plan anything that cannot move for the day you return.
Visa and the nightly fee
Thai citizens need a visa for Bhutan, and it must be approved before you fly. The cost is US$40. We apply for it when you book: we need a scan of your passport, valid for six months after the trip, and a photograph. Every visitor also pays the Sustainable Development Fee, US$100 a night for an adult and US$50 for a child of 6 to 11. Our prices, in US dollars, include both. Foreign residents of Thailand travel on the rules for their own passport, which for most nationalities are the same.
A country of the same faith, a different tradition
Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom, but its Buddhism is the Vajrayana tradition of the Himalaya, and Thai visitors often say that is what interests them most: the great fortress-monasteries, the butter lamps, the masked dances of the festivals. Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro is one of the oldest temples in the country, and the walk to Tiger’s Nest is a pilgrimage for Bhutanese people too. If you would like time for prayer or offerings at particular temples, tell us and we will plan the days around it.
How long to stay
Four to six days is usual from Thailand. The four-day trip covers Paro and Thimphu; five days add Punakha and its dzong at the meeting of two rivers. A longer holiday can reach Bumthang, the religious heart of the country.
Climate, time and money
Bhutan is one hour behind Thailand, and a great deal cooler. From November to February the nights in Paro and Thimphu are near or below freezing, and even in April you will want a warm layer in the evening. Songkran falls in spring, one of the two best seasons; see Bhutan in April. Bring US dollars for spending money, as they are the easiest notes to change.
Travelling from somewhere else?
We have written the same kind of page for travellers from the USA, the UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, France, India and Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Ask us
Tell us your dates and where you are flying from, and we will reply within 24 hours with a route, an outline of the days and a price. Send an enquiry, or start from a tailor-made trip.
Visa and fee checked against the Department of Tourism on 12 October 2026, and the cities with flights to Paro against Drukair on 3 October 2026. Airline timetables change with the season, so check the days before you book.