There is no flight between the United States and Bhutan, and there never has been: only two airlines, both Bhutanese, land at Paro. A Bhutan trip from the USA is therefore two journeys, one across the world to a city in Asia and one short flight into the mountains. This page sets out how American travellers usually do it and what it involves.
Which way to fly
Flights to Paro leave from Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Dhaka and Dubai, among others. From the west coast most people cross the Pacific and connect in Bangkok or Singapore. From the east coast and the Midwest the shorter way is usually eastwards, to Delhi or Dubai. Our page on getting to Bhutan lists every city.
Either way you will be travelling for a day or more, so plan a night in the connecting city before the flight to Paro. It breaks the journey, and it protects you if the first flight runs late. On the way home a night is more important still, because Paro can be closed by weather.
If you connect through Delhi or Kolkata and leave the airport, you are entering India and will need an Indian visa. Check the entry rules of whichever country you pass through before choosing the route.
Visa and the nightly fee
US citizens need a visa for Bhutan, approved before travel. It costs US$40, and when you book with us we apply for it: you send a copy of your passport, which must be valid for six months beyond the trip, and a photograph. Every visitor also pays the Sustainable Development Fee, US$100 for each night in the country and US$50 for a child aged 6 to 11. Both are already inside the prices on our tour pages.
The time difference
Bhutan is six hours ahead of Greenwich and keeps the same time all year. That puts it ten hours ahead of New York in summer and eleven in winter, and thirteen or fourteen ahead of Los Angeles. Day and night are close to reversed, so expect to be awake early for the first mornings. We keep the first day gentle for that reason and because Paro stands at 2,200 m.
How long to stay
Having come so far, most American guests stay seven to ten days. A week takes in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and the crane valley of Phobjikha: our 7-day tour of western Bhutan is that trip. Ten days reach Bumthang in the centre, as the Grand Cultural Tour does. If you have less time, our article on how many days you need in Bhutan is frank about what four or five days can hold.
Money and practical things
You already carry the easiest currency to change in Bhutan. Bring clean, undamaged dollar notes for spending money; meals, hotels, guide and vehicle are in the price. The electricity supply is 230 volts, so check that your chargers accept it (most phone and laptop chargers do), and bring an adaptor: American flat-pin plugs do not fit. Travel insurance is no longer a condition of the visa, but we strongly advise it, with cover for cancelled flights.
When to come
Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) have the clearest weather and the main festivals. Thanksgiving week falls in a fine month, and so does spring break in most years. The summer vacation is the monsoon: green, quiet and cheaper to reach, but with cloud over the mountains. Our guide to the best time to visit Bhutan goes month by month.
Travelling from somewhere else?
We have written the same kind of page for travellers from the UK, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, 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.