Do you like road trips? (I mean who doesn’t like them?) If yes then you have landed on the right page. How does a road trip to Bhutan sound? Scary? Thrilling? Exciting? All of the above? Well, I felt all those things and more.

Read all about my Bhutan road trip if you are even a teeny tiny bit curious.

After exploring India by road it was time for a change. I had read stories of people taking road trips to foreign countries. Sounds exciting! Sign me up.

My family and I planned our Bhutan road trip. We didn’t have a fixed schedule for travelling. Therefore we didn’t apply for permits beforehand.

We were in no rush to reach Bhutan. We took our time exploring different cities and sampling new foods on our way to Bhutan. But that’s a story for another day.

This post will cover everything from routes to entry permits, immigration process etc.

MY TRAVEL ROUTE

I was travelling from Pune. We had to cross several states to reach the Indo-Bhutan border. It took us 3 days to reach Siliguri, West Bengal.

We reached Siliguri on a Friday. I knew that Bhutan’s immigration office would be closed for the weekend so we decided to explore neighbouring cities.

We reached Phuntsholing bright on Monday morning.

It took us 4 days to reach Phuntsholing had we not reached Siliguri on Friday.

Depending on your location, driving speed and any detours you might take, your travel time will alter.

JAIGAON, INDIA

Jaigaon is India’s border town. You have to travel to this town to enter Bhutan.

Jaigaon is accessible by road, rail and air.

AIR: Bagdogra airport in Siliguri is the nearest airport to Jaigaon (153.8 km away). It takes 4 hours to reach Jaigaon from here.

TRAIN: Jaigaon doesn’t have a train station. Hasimara is the closest railway station to Jaigaon (16.3 km away). It takes 30 minutes to reach Jaigaon.

ROAD: There are several routes to reach Jaigaon. Siliguri is 149.5 km away and takes 5 hours to reach.

If you plan to travel to Bhutan in your vehicle then this town will lead you to Phuntsholing, Bhutan. Those travelling to Bhutan by air will be issued their entry permit at Paro airport.

PHUNTSHOLING, BHUTAN

Phuntsholing is the gateway to the land of the Thunder dragon.

This is one of the entry points into Bhutan. There are other entry points into Bhutan.

A huge gate marks the entry into the Kingdom of Bhutan. However, finding this gate on Google Maps can be a bit confusing. If you search “Asian Kitchen Hotel and Bar”, Phuntsholing you should easily find the gate.

As soon as you arrive in Phuntsholing you will notice a change. It’s as if you have entered a whole new world.

This town is so quiet and peaceful it’s as if someone pressed the mute button.

If time permits explore this beautiful town.

IMMIGRATION OFFICE IN PHUNTSHOLING

TIMINGS: 9 am – 5 pm; 1 pm – 2pm Lunch Break

OPEN: Monday to Friday

The immigration office in Phuntsholing is a huge building and is unmissable. The office is a few meters from the entry gate.

*TIP: The office is opposite Asian Kitchen Hotel and Bar. There is a petrol pump beside the office.

Here all the required permits are issued.

There are long queues for issuing permits on Monday and Friday. Depending on the queue it takes a few hours to a full day to issue the permit.

It took us almost the entire day to get out permits. I asked people in line how to go about acquiring permits. I received different answers and it led to confusion. If I wasn’t so confused I might have saved some time.

Below I have listed all the documents required for acquiring permits either online or physically at Phuntsholing.

ENTRY PERMITS OR E-PERMIT DOCUMENTS

Entry permits are permits that allow you entry into other Bhutanese cities except for Punakha. You need a separate permit for visiting Punakha.

The documents listed below are required for either an Entry permit at Phuntsholing or e-permits.

1. Passport of all individuals travelling. Passport should have at least 6 months validity.
2. Hotel booking for any Bhutanese city from the day you enter Bhutan. If you don’t have hotel bookings for the same day then you will not be allowed beyond the checkpoint. You will have to stay in Phuntsholing.
3. Voter’s ID for Indian citizens
4. Passport size photos have to be attached to the application form
5. Undertaking for solo travellers.

This permit is valid for up to 15 days.

ROUTE OR E-PERMIT DOCUMENTS

The route permits or e-permits are for those who are travelling in their vehicles such as I or will be renting a self-driving vehicle in Bhutan.

The documents listed below are required for acquiring either route permits at Phuntsholing or online route permits.

1. Driver’s licence of all individuals who will be driving. The driver’s license should have at least 6 months validity.
2. Car Insurance
3. Vehicle Registration documents (RC)
4. A recent PUC Certificate. Bhutan is a green country. They are very strict about this.
5. Vehicle rental bookings. This is if you plan to rent a vehicle for self-driving in Bhutan.

*NOTE: Your vehicle should not be more than 10 years old.

This permit is valid for 7 days.

Below I have explained the process for acquiring route and entry permits at Phuntsholing. The process for acquiring permits online has been explained later on.

PROCESS FOR ISSUING ENTRY AND ROUTE PERMITS AT PHUNTSHOLING

This process is for when you arrive in Phuntsholing without any permits. Back in 2019, when I visited Bhutan there were no e-permits. So I had to apply for permits upon arriving in Phuntsholing.

This process is time-consuming because there is always a long queue outside the immigration office. I’ve simplified the process.

If you have any questions ask the proper officials instead of asking fellow travellers waiting in line so that you won’t be confused like I was.

First, collect entry and route (if you need one) permits forms for all individuals at the immigration office. Attach all the above-mentioned documents and fill in the details correctly.

Second, Submit the entry permit forms for verification. This might take a while. However, the route permit forms have to be submitted at the RTO in Phuntsholing (this can be done after acquiring the entry permits).

Third, your biometrics and fingerprints are scanned and documents are verified for entry permits. After a while, you will be granted your permits.

These permits can be reissued at the immigration office in Thimphu.

PROCESS FOR ISSUING E-PERMITS

Back in 2019, when I travelled to Bhutan there were no e-permits. Bhutan government from 2020 has launched e-permits to make acquiring permits easier.

This is a very simple process.

All you have to do is contact a government-approved tour operator in Bhutan. Submit all the documents listed above. Mention all the permits you want to acquire. He will then submit the documents to the immigration office. Within a few days, you will have your e-permits.

For the latest news visit Bhutan’s official website.

SELF-DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN BHUTAN

Bhutan road trip was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. It’s a pleasure to drive through scenic and stunning views.

Driving in a foreign country sounds a bit daunting but it’s the same as driving in India. Bhutan strictly follows traffic rules. If you are a decent driver you should have no problem navigating the mountain roads in Bhutan.

Below I have listed a few things to remember while driving in Bhutan.

1. No Honking. There is a strict no Honking policy in Bhutan.
2. Bhutan is a left-side driving country like India.
3. Always keep your permits and other documents ready. There are several checkpoints along the roads.
4. Follow traffic rules at a times. Bhutan strictly follows traffic rules. Breaking them results in heavy fines.
5. Always make sure your car has sufficient fuel. Petrol pumps are easily available in major cities. But will have to search gas stations in smaller towns.
6. Carry spare tires or air compressors for emergencies. Repair shops are available in cities.
7. Avoid travelling at night in Bhutan. They are mountain roads and can be difficult to navigate.

These are some points to heed while driving in Bhutan.

*NOTE: Most of the roads in Bhutan are mountainous. You should be a decent driver to navigate the mountain roads.

BENEFITS OF SELF-DRIVING IN BHUTAN

Self-driving is the best way to explore not just Bhutan but any country in the world. My Bhutan road trip was a completely new experience for me.

I have been on several road trips around India but never to a foreign country. And I am so glad I went on this road trip.

There are several benefits of self-driving. I’ve listed a few below.

1. It’s an amazing experience. If you are passionate about driving like me then you will love this road trip. And you get to brag about your adventurous road trip.
2. You decide your itinerary. I travelled to Bhutan without a fixed schedule because I didn’t want to rush from one place to another. I wanted to take my time exploring this beautiful country.
3. You can stop hundreds of times for pictures. And believe me, you will want to stop. There are plenty of instagrammable spots along the way.

On the way back from a monastery we came across a river flowing beside a row of green fields. The mountain in the background painted a scenic picture. We had to stop.

It was supposed to be a quick photo stop but somehow we ended up spending a few hours.

My siblings and I went to dip our feet in the cold river and soon a water fight broke out.

This is a fond memory of the Bhutan road trip.

WHY BHUTAN SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION

Bhutan should be on your bucket list. It is one of the most scenic and peaceful countries in the world.

Bhutan road trip will always be one of my favourite travel memories.

Instead of listing all of the reasons why Bhutan should be your next travel destination I’ll let the pictures do the convincing.

The Tiger’s Nest is a scenic hike and therefore quite popular among tourists and travellers.

I will conclude by saying that the new rules for regional tourists might have made travelling to Bhutan a tad bit expensive. But I would suggest that despite the extra cost Bhutan should be visited at least once.

I hope the snapshots ignited your wanderlust. 😉