Bhutan Tour Packages from Ahmedabad
Dzongs, prayer-flag passes and the climb to Tiger's Nest – reached from SVPI by the Bagdogra road route or a flight into Paro, with the SDF, permits and a licensed guide built into one quote.
Bhutan feels further from Ahmedabad than it is. Within a day of leaving SVPI you can be walking under prayer flags in Thimphu, where traffic is directed by hand, buildings follow traditional design by law, and the pace is slower than anywhere else in the region. For Gujarati travellers it has a particular appeal: no visa, rupees accepted at par with the local currency, and a calm, clean country that suits grandparents and honeymooners equally.
It is also the most rule-bound holiday in our region. Indian visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee for every night, carry an entry permit that covers only Thimphu and Paro, need a separate route permit for Punakha and beyond, and must have a licensed guide for monuments and inter-district travel. This page explains how those rules shape a trip from Ahmedabad, compares the two ways in, gives three day-wise plans, sets out how seniors can handle Tiger's Nest, and covers the food question honestly. Packages listed here show live prices, and every trip is private, with your own vehicle, driver and guide.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
Bhutan packages you can book now
All 12 Bhutan packages on Vibrant Holidays — 3 to 7 nights. Every package can be customised for departure from Ahmedabad.
What Bhutan costs from Ahmedabad (2026)
Our Bhutan packages currently start at ₹24,000 per person. The bands below are per person with two in a room and include government-certified hotels with breakfast and dinner, a private vehicle with driver, a licensed guide, permits handling and the Sustainable Development Fee at the Indian rate. Flights from Ahmedabad are not included.
| Plan | Standard (3-star certified) | Deluxe (4-star) | Premium (5-star / luxury lodge) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 nights by road: Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Paro | ₹32,000 – 40,000 | ₹42,000 – 55,000 | ₹85,000 – 1,40,000 |
| 6 nights: Paro in and out, with Punakha | ₹38,000 – 48,000 | ₹50,000 – 65,000 | ₹1,00,000 – 1,70,000 |
| 8 nights: Punakha, Gangtey (Phobjikha) and Haa valley | ₹50,000 – 64,000 | ₹66,000 – 85,000 | ₹1,35,000 – 2,30,000 |
The SDF in rupees: as of October 2026, Indian nationals pay ₹1,200 (Nu. 1,200) per person per night. Children aged 6 to 12 pay half; under-6s pay nothing. For a couple on a six-night trip that is ₹14,400; for a family of two adults and a 9-year-old on five nights, ₹15,000. Our quotes show the SDF as a separate line so you can see it is not a hidden markup.
Flights from Ahmedabad: a return non-stop ticket to Bagdogra usually costs ₹11,000 – 19,000 per person when bought five or six weeks out. Flying into Paro via Delhi or Kolkata costs more, typically ₹30,000 – 50,000 per person return in total, because Drukair and Bhutan Airlines are the only carriers into Paro and seats are limited.
Usually extra: monument entry fees where not bundled, the pony on the Tiger's Nest trail, Chele La or Dochula picnic lunches, archery or hot-stone bath experiences, lunches and tips for the guide and driver.
Two ways into Bhutan from Ahmedabad
| Road route via Bagdogra and Phuentsholing | Flight into Paro via Delhi or Kolkata | |
|---|---|---|
| First leg from SVPI | Non-stop Ahmedabad–Bagdogra on Akasa Air or SpiceJet, about 2¾–3 hours | Ahmedabad–Delhi or Ahmedabad–Kolkata, about 1½–2½ hours |
| Into Bhutan | About 160 km by road to Jaigaon and the Phuentsholing gate, 4–5 hours | Drukair or Bhutan Airlines to Paro; about one flight a day from Delhi and several a week from Kolkata |
| Then | Phuentsholing to Thimphu, about 150 km of mountain road, 5–6 hours | Paro to Thimphu, about 1 hour |
| Permit issued at | Immigration office, Phuentsholing | Paro International Airport |
| Days used in transit | About 1½ days each way | About 1 day each way |
| Suits | Budget-conscious families, travellers who like scenery, those combining Bhutan with Darjeeling or Gangtok | Seniors, short trips, honeymooners |
- Bagdogra–Paro by air: Drukair flies this sector about twice a week in about 50 minutes. When it lines up with the Ahmedabad–Bagdogra non-stop, it gives you the cheap first leg and avoids the long road.
- Night at Phuentsholing: on the road route, the Ahmedabad flight lands around midday, so we usually stop overnight at Phuentsholing and drive to Thimphu the next morning, after the permit formalities.
- Train option: a few weekly expresses run from Ahmedabad to New Jalpaiguri in about 40 hours, about 4 hours from Phuentsholing. We suggest it one way only.
- The landing at Paro is famous for its approach between ridges and runs only in daylight; afternoon flights can be delayed by wind, so we never plan Tiger's Nest on arrival day.
If you are also considering the eastern Himalaya in India, our Sikkim and Darjeeling page from Ahmedabad uses the same Bagdogra flight; a combined Darjeeling–Bhutan trip of nine or ten nights works well.
Permits, SDF and the guide rule – how they shape your days
The rules below are as of October 2026; rules change – we check before you book.
- Documents: each adult needs an Indian passport valid for six months or an original Election Commission Voter ID, with recent passport photographs. Aadhaar, PAN and driving licence are not accepted for adults. Children under 18 without a passport carry their original birth certificate.
- Entry permit: issued at Phuentsholing for road arrivals and at Paro airport for air arrivals, and can be applied for online in advance through the operator. It covers Thimphu and Paro only.
- Route permit: Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang, Haa and other districts need a route permit from the immigration office in Thimphu, which works Monday to Friday. In practice this means we never plan a Saturday Punakha day without the permit secured earlier in the week.
- Licensed guide: Indian visitors need a licensed Bhutanese guide for monuments, temples and museums, for travel outside Thimphu and Paro, and between the border towns and the interior. Our packages include the guide for the whole trip.
- SDF payment: paid with the permit application. A short visit within Phuentsholing itself has a 24-hour waiver, but any trip to Thimphu or Paro pays for every night.
- Hotels: tourists must stay in hotels certified by the Department of Tourism, which is why very cheap guesthouses do not appear in Bhutan quotes.
Three Bhutan itineraries for Ahmedabad travellers
5 nights / 6 days – Bhutan by road from Bagdogra
- Day 1: Non-stop Ahmedabad–Bagdogra; drive through tea gardens to Jaigaon and Phuentsholing. Overnight at Phuentsholing.
- Day 2: Permit formalities, then the climb to Thimphu with tea stops. Evening at the Clock Tower square.
- Day 3: Thimphu: Buddha Dordenma, the Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong in the evening, the Folk Heritage Museum and the takin enclosure.
- Day 4: Drive to Paro (1 hour); Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum, Kyichu Lhakhang.
- Day 5: Tiger's Nest at your own pace; hot-stone bath in the evening.
- Day 6: Drive back to Phuentsholing and on to Bagdogra for an evening flight, or stay one more night if the flight is early.
6 nights / 7 days – fly into Paro with Punakha
- Day 1: Ahmedabad–Delhi, then the morning Paro flight. Rest day in Paro.
- Day 2: Drive to Thimphu; city sights.
- Day 3: Over Dochula pass (108 chortens, Himalayan views on clear days) to Punakha. Punakha Dzong at the river confluence, the suspension bridge.
- Day 4: Chimi Lhakhang through the rice fields, Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten; return to Paro via Thimphu.
- Day 5: Tiger's Nest.
- Day 6: Chele La pass towards Haa, or a free day in Paro town.
- Day 7: Fly Paro–Delhi–Ahmedabad.
8 nights / 9 days – slow Bhutan for seniors
Fly into Paro and rest a full day before anything strenuous. Two nights in Thimphu, two in Punakha with a valley-view hotel, one in Gangtey for the Phobjikha valley (black-necked cranes from about November to February), and three in Paro with the Tiger's Nest day placed late, when everyone has adjusted. Drives stay under four hours a day, and the guide plans each dzong visit around the steps involved.
Every itinerary is private and customised. Large families and friends travel as a private group on their own dates, with a coaster bus or two vehicles and a guide who stays with the group throughout.
Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang) for seniors and first-time hikers
The monastery clings to a cliff about 900 m above the Paro valley floor, and the trail climbs roughly 500 m from the car park. Fit adults take 2–3 hours up and 1½–2 hours down. For travellers from flat Gujarat, the altitude (the monastery is about 3,100 m) matters more than the distance.
| Option | What it involves | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| View from the base | Short walk near the car park and prayer wheels, with a clear view of the monastery | Those with knee problems or heart conditions |
| Pony to the cafeteria | A hired pony carries you uphill to about the halfway point; the cafeteria has a direct view of the monastery | Most seniors; the walk down is on foot |
| Viewpoint above the cafeteria | A further walk to the point opposite the monastery, before the steps | Active seniors and parents with young children |
| The full climb | Around 700 steps down and up across the gorge to reach the monastery itself | Healthy adults with time to go slowly |
- Start at 7.30–8 am, before the sun is high; carry water, a walking stick (rented at the base) and a light jacket.
- Keep Tiger's Nest for the end of the trip, after several days at altitude in Thimphu and Paro.
- Ponies only go uphill; going down on a pony is not allowed for safety.
- Bags, cameras and phones are left in lockers at the monastery entrance; dress modestly with covered shoulders.
Best months for Bhutan, matched to Gujarat holidays
| Period | Bhutan conditions | Holiday fit from Ahmedabad | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| March – April | Mild, rhododendrons on the passes; Paro Tshechu festival usually falls in spring | Holi break, post-exam trips | Festival week fills Paro hotels early |
| May | Warm days, cool nights | Gujarat summer vacation | Busy; book by February |
| June – August | Monsoon; landslides on the Phuentsholing–Thimphu road | Short Paro-only trips | Road route not advised |
| September – October | Clearing skies; Thimphu Tshechu usually in this window | Navratri week, couples | Festival dates follow the Bhutanese calendar |
| November | Dry and clear; best mountain views from Dochula | Diwali vacation – Diwali is 8 November 2026 | Peak demand; book by August |
| December – February | Cold, clear; occasional snow at Dochula and Chele La; cranes in Phobjikha | Christmas break, Uttarayan weekend | Good rates; hotels need proper heating |
Food in Bhutan for vegetarian and Jain families
Bhutanese food is more vegetarian than most visitors expect, but it is spicy and dairy-rich in ways Gujarati palates need to be warned about.
- Ema datshi, the national dish, is green or red chillies cooked in local cheese – vegetarian, but fiery. Ask for the milder version.
- Kewa datshi (potato and cheese) and shamu datshi (mushroom and cheese) are gentler; red rice comes with every meal.
- Indian vegetarian food is easy in Phuentsholing and Thimphu, where several restaurants serve dal, sabzi and roti, and most certified hotels cook an Indian veg buffet.
- Jain meals are harder: potato and onion appear in many dishes. Hotels in Thimphu and Paro will cook Jain food when briefed in advance; in Punakha and Gangtey choice is narrow, so carry thepla, khakhra and dry snacks.
- Kitchens: meat is cooked in most hotel kitchens, though slaughter is not carried out in Bhutan itself. Tell us if a strictly veg kitchen matters and we will say honestly where it is possible.
Money and practical tips
- The ngultrum is pegged to the rupee and Indian notes are widely accepted; carry ₹100 and smaller notes, as some shops are reluctant to take larger ones.
- Card acceptance is limited outside Thimphu and Paro; keep cash for small purchases.
- Dzongs require full sleeves and long trousers or skirts; no caps or shorts.
- Smoking in public places is restricted; tobacco brought in is subject to duty.
- Bhutan is 30 minutes ahead of Indian time.
Why book your Bhutan trip with Vibrant Holidays
- One quote, nothing missing: SDF, permits, licensed guide, certified hotels and transfers on separate lines, so you can compare it with any other offer.
- Route chosen for your family: we tell you honestly when the cheaper Bagdogra road route saves money and when the Paro flight is worth it for elders.
- Permit timing handled: route permits for Punakha and beyond are secured on weekdays before you need them.
- Veg and Jain requests in writing to every hotel, with a frank note on where choice is limited.
- Based in Ahmedabad since 2015, at our C G Road office, with 24×7 on-tour support and a Thimphu partner. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
See all Bhutan packages with live prices, compare with Nepal from Ahmedabad, or browse all tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Plan your Bhutan trip with an Ahmedabad team
Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling. We reply with a day-wise plan and a clear price, usually the same day.
Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Bhutan tour from Ahmedabad: FAQs
How much does a Bhutan tour package from Ahmedabad cost?
Our Bhutan packages currently start at ₹24,000 per person for 3 nights. Most of our Bhutan packages fall between ₹37,100 and ₹51,499 per person. The final cost depends on the travel month, hotel category, number of travellers and whether flights from {$from} are added. Open any package below to see exactly what is included, or ask us for a quote with flights.
What is the fastest way to reach Bhutan from Ahmedabad?
Fly Ahmedabad–Delhi or Ahmedabad–Kolkata and connect to Paro on Drukair or Bhutan Airlines; you reach Paro the same day or the next morning. The cheaper option is the non-stop flight to Bagdogra followed by about 4–5 hours by road to Phuentsholing, usually with a night there before the 5–6 hour drive to Thimphu.
How much is the SDF for Indians visiting Bhutan?
As of October 2026, Indian nationals pay ₹1,200 (Nu. 1,200) per person per night. Children aged 6 to 12 pay half, and children under 6 pay nothing. A couple on a six-night trip pays ₹14,400 in total. Our quotes include the SDF as a separate line. Rules change – we check before you book.
Can we enter Bhutan with a Voter ID instead of a passport?
Yes. Adults can use an original Election Commission Voter ID or an Indian passport valid for six months. Aadhaar, PAN and driving licences are not accepted for adults. Children without a passport carry their original birth certificate. Bring recent passport photographs for everyone, and keep originals in your cabin bag.
Do Indians need a guide in Bhutan?
Yes, for most of a typical holiday. A licensed Bhutanese guide is required for visiting monuments, temples and museums, for travel outside Thimphu and Paro, and between the border towns and the interior. All our Bhutan packages include a guide for the whole trip, so this is already in the price you see.
Can senior citizens visit Tiger's Nest?
Many do, at a level that suits them. Ponies carry visitors uphill to the cafeteria, roughly halfway, which has a direct view of the monastery. Fitter seniors continue to the viewpoint; the final section has about 700 steps. Those with knee or heart problems can view it from the base. We place the hike at the end of the trip.
Is there a direct flight from Ahmedabad to Bhutan?
No. There is no flight from Ahmedabad to Paro. As of October 2026 the closest non-stop is Ahmedabad–Bagdogra on Akasa Air or SpiceJet, about 2¾–3 hours. From Bagdogra you can drive to Phuentsholing, or take Drukair's Bagdogra–Paro flight, which runs about twice a week. Other routings connect through Delhi or Kolkata.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Bhutan?
Mostly yes. Ema datshi, kewa datshi and shamu datshi are vegetarian cheese dishes, and Thimphu and Phuentsholing have Indian veg restaurants. Bhutanese food is very spicy, so ask for mild versions. Jain meals need advance notice because potato and onion are common; outside Thimphu and Paro, carry thepla and dry snacks.
How many days are enough for Bhutan from Ahmedabad?
Five nights covers Thimphu and Paro by the Bagdogra road route. Six nights flying into Paro adds Punakha and Dochula pass. Eight nights allows Gangtey and Haa valley at an easy pace and suits seniors. Shorter trips are possible by air, but the SDF and flight cost make very short stays poor value.
Can we combine Bhutan with Darjeeling or Sikkim?
Yes. Both share the Bagdogra flight from Ahmedabad. A typical plan is three nights in Darjeeling or Gangtok, then the drive to Phuentsholing and five nights in Bhutan, flying home from Bagdogra or Paro. Allow nine or ten nights in total and carry a passport or Voter ID for the Bhutan part.
Can I use Indian rupees in Bhutan?
Yes. The ngultrum is pegged one to one with the Indian rupee, and rupees are widely accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants. Carry ₹100 and smaller notes, as some shopkeepers hesitate over larger ones. Cards work in bigger Thimphu and Paro hotels, but cash is needed for small purchases and in the valleys.
When should we book Bhutan for Diwali from Ahmedabad?
By August. November is clear and popular, the Bagdogra non-stops fill early, and Paro flights have limited seats. Certified hotels in Thimphu and Paro also sell out in Diwali week. For May vacation, book by February. Outside these windows, five to six weeks is usually enough to secure flights and hotels.
