Most “Bhutan tour from India” pages assume one entry point and gloss over the rest. The truth is there are three legitimate road crossings, each genuinely suited to travellers from different parts of the country. Phuentsholing, reached via Bagdogra Airport or Siliguri in West Bengal, is by far the most popular and best-connected — roughly 165–170km from Bagdogra, a 4–5 hour drive. Gelephu, in south-central Bhutan, suits travellers from Assam, reached via New Bongaigaon, with the border itself roughly 60km and 2 hours from there. Samdrup Jongkhar, in the far southeast, is the gateway for travellers from Guwahati — about 3 hours away — and uniquely offers direct overland access into eastern Bhutan via Trashigang, bypassing the western valleys entirely if that route ever interests you.

This itinerary uses the Phuentsholing route, the most established and straightforward of the three. As an Indian national, you need no visa — only a valid passport or voter ID, hotel booking details, and your travel itinerary, presented at the Immigration Office to obtain your entry permit. Here is the detail many itineraries skip: this basic permit only covers travel within Thimphu and Paro. Punakha, Phobjikha, and — critically for this 13-day tour — Bumthang all require a separate Special Area Permit, applied for once you arrive in Thimphu. We process this for you as early as your itinerary allows, specifically so it never becomes a source of delay.

Reaching Bumthang itself is a genuine undertaking — Punakha to Bumthang is roughly 212km and 8–9 hours of mountain driving via Trongsa, or alternatively a short 25-minute domestic flight from Paro on the return leg, which we factor into this itinerary’s structure.