Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package: Routes, Permits & Itineraries for Mumbai Travellers

If you live in Mumbai and have been quietly eyeing Bhutan, the first thing to understand is that a Mumbai to Bhutan tour package is not one flight and a hotel voucher. It is a handoff. You get yourself from Mumbai to a connecting airport, and we take over the moment you land in Paro or cross the border at Phuentsholing. From there the guide, car, permits, hotels and meals run as one piece.

Most of the questions we get from Mumbai travellers are about that handoff: which route, which day, which ID. So this guide is written the way we would explain it across a desk to a friend from Bandra or Pune, with plain routes, honest travel times, the paperwork, four itineraries and the seasons that fit Mumbai holiday calendars. There are no prices here on purpose. Cost moves with season, hotel level and group size, and a written quote for your dates is more useful than a number that goes stale.

Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package at a Glance

How to Reach Bhutan from Mumbai

Bhutan has a single international airport, in Paro, served by the Bhutanese carriers Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. A non-stop Mumbai to Paro service has run in the past, yet flight trackers in mid-2026 list no scheduled non-stop on the route, so plan around a connection and check both airlines' current timetables before you book anything. Approximate flying times are below; real schedules and layovers vary.

For most people starting in Mumbai we lean towards Kolkata or Delhi, which tend to offer more Paro departures to choose from, so you are likelier to find a timing that fits your Mumbai flight. Guwahati and Bagdogra make more sense when you are stitching Bhutan onto Assam, Darjeeling or Sikkim. The road option via Bagdogra costs an extra day, but some travellers prefer it because the climb from the plains to Thimphu is a good way to feel the country change.

One rule worth repeating: Paro's airport operates in daylight and clear visibility, so delays and cancellations happen. On the way home, never schedule a tight onward flight to Mumbai on the same day you leave Paro. Leave a buffer, even if it means a night in Kolkata or Delhi.

Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package Itineraries Compared

Nights below are counted inside Bhutan, with your Mumbai flights on top. We finish every route in Paro, which keeps Tiger's Nest from hanging over your last morning and puts the departure flight a short drive away. Thimphu comes first because it is slightly easier on a sea-level body than going straight up to the monastery.

Mumbai Express Break

Short & Easy

4 Nights / 5 Days · Thimphu · Paro

Thimphu · 2NParo · 2N

Long weekend plus leaveFirst international tripCouples

• Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong and a slow old-town evening in Thimphu
• Tiger's Nest saved for the second-last day, with the airport a short drive away
• Short drives only: Thimphu to Paro is around 90 minutes

Best for: Mumbai professionals with a long weekend and a couple of leave days, or anyone who wants a first taste of Bhutan before committing to more nights.

See the day-by-day plan

1. Day 1Land in Paro from your Mumbai connection, meet your guide and drive to Thimphu. Easy evening, early night.
2. Day 2Thimphu day: Buddha Dordenma, Memorial Chorten, Textile Museum and Changangkha Lhakhang, then a free evening on Norzin Lam.
3. Day 3Drive back to Paro, with Rinpung Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang in the afternoon.
4. Day 4Tiger's Nest hike at your own pace, then a celebratory dinner in Paro.
5. Day 5Early transfer to Paro airport for your onward flight.

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Mumbai Classic Western Bhutan

Balanced

5 Nights / 6 Days · Thimphu · Punakha · Paro

Thimphu · 2NPunakha · 1NParo · 2N

Couples & friendsParents travelling togetherFirst-timers

• The 108 chortens of Dochula Pass on the Thimphu to Punakha crossing
• Punakha Dzong and the long suspension bridge in the warmer valley
• Paro last, so Tiger's Nest comes after you have adjusted to the altitude

Best for: A dependable first-trip shape: the three big western valleys without spending the whole holiday in a car.

See the day-by-day plan

1. Day 1Arrive Paro, transfer to Thimphu. Quiet evening.
2. Day 2Thimphu sightseeing: Memorial Chorten, Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong.
3. Day 3Cross Dochula Pass to Punakha, stopping at Chimi Lhakhang on the way down.
4. Day 4Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge, then the drive to Paro (around 5 hours with stops).
5. Day 5Tiger's Nest hike and Kyichu Lhakhang. Free evening to pack unhurried.
6. Day 6Transfer to Paro airport and fly out.

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Mumbai Western Bhutan with Phobjikha

Scenic

7 Nights / 8 Days · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha · Paro

Thimphu · 2NPunakha · 1NPhobjikha · 2NParo · 2N

Nature loversPhotographersSlow travellers

• Two nights in Phobjikha, the glacial valley where black-necked cranes spend the winter
• Gangtey Monastery and an easy valley-floor nature trail
• Breathing room for a farmhouse lunch or an archery session

Best for: Travellers who want more than the standard circuit and don't mind one longer drive on the way back to Paro.

See the day-by-day plan

1. Day 1Arrive Paro, drive to Thimphu.
2. Day 2Full day in Thimphu.
3. Day 3Dochula Pass, Chimi Lhakhang and overnight in Punakha.
4. Day 4Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge, then the climb to Phobjikha (about 3 hours).
5. Day 5Gangtey Monastery and the valley nature trail, with a slow afternoon.
6. Day 6Drive from Phobjikha to Paro, a long day of roughly 6 to 7 hours with stops.
7. Day 7Tiger's Nest hike.
8. Day 8Depart from Paro.

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Mumbai Grand Bhutan with Bumthang

Unhurried

9 Nights / 10 Days · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha · Bumthang · Paro

Thimphu · 2NPunakha · 2NPhobjikha · 1NBumthang · 2NParo · 2N

Culture & templesRetired couples with timeReturn visitors

• Bumthang's Jambay and Kurjey Lhakhang, among the most sacred temples in the country
• Pele La and Trongsa Dzong on the crossing east
• Two nights in Bumthang to recover from the long drive

Best for: Travellers with ten days who want Bhutan's old heartland, not just the western valleys. Expect long, scenic driving days.

See the day-by-day plan

1. Day 1Arrive Paro, drive to Thimphu.
2. Day 2Full day in Thimphu.
3. Day 3Dochula Pass, Chimi Lhakhang and overnight in Punakha.
4. Day 4Punakha Dzong, then on to Phobjikha.
5. Day 5Over Pele La and past Trongsa Dzong to Bumthang, around 6 hours with stops.
6. Day 6Bumthang: Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and a village walk.
7. Day 7Drive back west to Punakha, the longest day of the trip, split with stops.
8. Day 8Punakha to Paro via Dochula Pass.
9. Day 9Tiger's Nest hike.
10. Day 10Depart from Paro.

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Each route can be reshaped once we know your dates and who is travelling. Bringing children or grandparents? Our guide to Bhutan family tour packages covers pacing by age.

What Day 1 Looks Like When You Start in Mumbai

Picture the morning: an early flight out of Mumbai, a connection at the hub, and a window seat for the descent into Paro, which threads between ridges closer than you would expect. Door to door that is often six to nine hours depending on the layover. Your guide is at arrivals with your name on a sign, the driver has the car, and the permit work is already done.

Then we slow everything down. On the first day there is nothing to tick off, just a drive to Thimphu or a stroll in Paro, a hot dinner and an early night. The altitude is moderate, around 2,200 to 2,300 metres in Paro and Thimphu, but a body used to sea level appreciates a gentle first evening.

What a Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package Includes

Everything inside Bhutan is bundled, because the country's tourism rules require a guide, a vehicle, permits and the government fee for every visitor. What you buy separately is the flight from Mumbai and your lunches.

What Shapes the Cost of a Bhutan Trip from Mumbai

We keep numbers off this page, because the same route can cost quite differently depending on a handful of choices:

• Number of nights and valleys. Bumthang adds more driving, hotel nights and guide days than a Paro and Thimphu break.
• Season. October, November and spring festival weeks are priced and booked differently from the monsoon.
• Hotel category. Heritage lodges and farmhouse stays sit in a different bracket from standard three-star hotels.
• Group size and room sharing. A bigger group splits the vehicle and guide across more people.
• Ages of travellers. Children get concessions on the Sustainable Development Fee, and very young ones are exempt.
• Taxes and add-ons. Ask whether a quote is tax-inclusive, and whether optional extras such as a hot stone bath or festival seating are inside it.

Permits, ID and Entry Rules for Mumbai Travellers

Indian nationals do not need a Bhutan visa, which is why so many Mumbai families and couples choose it. There is still a short paperwork trail for every traveller, and it is worth getting right because the rules are checked at the airport counter. The official overview lives on the Tourism Council of Bhutan website.

• Passport or voter ID for every adult: A passport with at least six months' validity, or an original voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India. If you are flying, a passport is the safer choice because some airlines are fussy about voter ID.
• Birth certificate for children under 18: Carry the original if a child does not hold a passport.
• Entry Permit: Arranged by us once dates and ID details are confirmed, and issued at Paro airport or the Phuentsholing immigration office. On its own it covers Thimphu and Paro.
• Route Permit: Needed for Punakha, Phobjikha, Bumthang and other places beyond Thimphu and Paro. We apply for it as part of your package.
• Passport-size photographs: Carry a few spares in case a form asks for one at the border.
• Sustainable Development Fee: Indian nationals pay a nightly SDF, with concessions for children. Your written quote already accounts for it.
• Travel insurance: Not compulsory for Indian nationals, but sensible for senior travellers and for weather-delayed flights.

Best Time for a Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package

Two calendars matter: Bhutan's weather and festival rhythm, and the school and office breaks you are actually planning around. The Diwali break and the April to June holidays are the windows most Mumbai travellers use.

Tshechu festival dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar and shift every year, so confirm the exact week before you fix your flights. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is the exception, held on 11 November each year at Gangtey Monastery in Phobjikha.

Packing and Health Tips for Mumbai Travellers

• Layers beat bulk. Mornings and evenings turn cold even in May. A fleece, a windproof jacket and a warm cap go far; winter travellers need proper thermals.
• Shoes with grip. Monastery steps and the Tiger's Nest trail are uneven, so trainers with a decent sole beat sandals.
• Motion-sickness tablets. The roads to Punakha, Phobjikha and Bumthang twist for hours.
• Sun cover. UV is strong at altitude, so carry sunscreen and a cap, plus a light rain jacket for the monsoon months.
• Medicines and cash. Carry your regular medication for the whole stay, since pharmacies thin out beyond Thimphu, and keep some cash for lunches and shopping.
• Dress respectfully. Dzongs and temples expect covered shoulders and knees, and no hats or shoes inside.

Mistakes Mumbai Travellers Make

1. Assuming there is a non-stop flight. Many people discover the connection only at the checkout page.
2. Booking flights before the Bhutan dates are confirmed. Hotels in Paro and Thimphu fill early for October, November and festival weeks.
3. Cramming too much into four nights. Trying to cover Punakha and Phobjikha on a short break turns the trip into a car ride.
4. Forgetting the Route Permit. The Entry Permit alone stops at Thimphu and Paro.
5. Leaving no buffer on the return. A same-day onward flight to Mumbai leaves no room for a weather delay at Paro.
6. Packing a Mumbai wardrobe. Bhutan's evenings are far colder than the forecast suggests.

How to Plan a Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package in Six Steps

1. Choose your dates and nights. Aim for 5 to 7 nights in Bhutan if you can, and decide whether you are working around Diwali, a summer break or a festival.
2. Pick your route from Mumbai. Decide between flying via Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati or Bagdogra, or flying to Bagdogra and driving in. The hub you choose shapes your first day.
3. Send ID details for the permits. Share each traveller's passport or voter ID details so the Entry Permit and Route Permit can be applied for together.
4. Review the written quote. Check the hotels, the inclusions and the exclusions, especially Mumbai flights, lunches and entrance fees.
5. Book Mumbai flights with a buffer. Book the Mumbai-to-hub and Paro flights once the Bhutan dates are confirmed, and leave slack for weather delays, especially on the return.
6. Pack for the mountains. Layers, grip shoes, motion-sickness tablets and regular medication matter more than anything fashionable.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mumbai to Bhutan Tour Package