Six days in Bhutan is enough for the three places most people come for: two nights in Thimphu, one in Punakha over the Dochula pass, and two in Paro with a full day for the Tiger's Nest. That is the shape of our six-day trips that fly into Paro. If you go in by road from Bagdogra instead, the same six days pay for the drive in and out through Phuentsholing, and Punakha drops out. This 6 day Bhutan itinerary gives both versions, with the drives, the monument fees and where to stay, as of September 2026.
The plan at a glance
| Day | Night in | The main thing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thimphu | Land at Paro, drive to the capital |
| 2 | Thimphu | Buddha Dordenma, dzongs, the takin |
| 3 | Punakha | Dochula, Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong |
| 4 | Paro | Drive to Paro, Kyichu Lhakhang |
| 5 | Paro | The Tiger's Nest hike |
| 6 | Home | Fly out of Paro |
This is the route of our 6 Days Bhutan Sightseeing Getaway, with a private car, a driver and the certified guide Bhutan requires.
Days 1 and 2: Paro to Thimphu, and the capital
Day 1. Paro flights run in daylight only, from Delhi and Kolkata every day on Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. The morning Kolkata flight lands around 10 am Bhutan time and the Delhi flights between about 3:20 and 3:50 pm; Bhutan is 30 minutes ahead of India. There is no flight from Hyderabad, Bengaluru or Chennai, and on separate tickets many travellers reach Delhi or Kolkata the night before. After immigration your guide drives you about 46 km, typically an hour to an hour and a half, to Thimphu. If you arrive early on a working day, Tashichho Dzong has had a visitor hour of 5 to 6 pm (Nu 500); your guide confirms the timing. Otherwise, take an evening walk on the main street.
Day 2. A full day in the capital:
- National Memorial Chorten, the white stupa where many residents walk their prayer rounds: Nu 500.
- Buddha Dordenma, a 54-metre gilded bronze Buddha on the hill above the city: free.
- The Takin Preserve at Motithang: Nu 300.
- Tashichho Dzong on the Wang Chhu, the seat of the civil government, in its early-evening visitor hour if you missed it on day 1: Nu 500.
- Simtokha Dzong (free) and the Folk Heritage Museum (Nu 100 for Indians).
At dzongs and temples, wear clothes that cover shoulders to knees.
Days 3 and 4: Dochula, Punakha and on to Paro
Day 3. Punakha is about 74 km from Thimphu, usually two and a half to three hours over the Dochula pass at about 3,100 metres, with its 108 chortens and, on clear days between October and February, a line of Himalayan peaks. Near Punakha, walk about 20 minutes through village fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility temple on a round hillock about 10 km from Punakha (Nu 500). Then Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 and 1638 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet, the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and the venue of the 2011 royal wedding (Nu 500). Punakha sits at about 1,200 metres, so the evening is warmer than in Thimphu.
Day 4. This is the longest drive: back over Dochula and past Thimphu to Paro, about 115 km and typically around four hours with stops. In the afternoon, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples, traditionally dated to the 7th century and about five minutes' drive north of Paro town (Nu 500). Our trip adds the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong in the upper valley, with a view of Jhomolhari on a clear day.
Days 5 and 6: the Tiger's Nest and home
Day 5. Start early. Paro Taktsang clings to a cliff at 3,120 metres, about 900 metres above the Paro valley, and the hike up and back takes most of the day, with a tea stop at the cafeteria viewpoint. Entry is Nu 1,000. Walk slowly and drink water; it is high. If your legs allow on the way back, cross the covered bridge to Rinpung Dzong, consecrated in 1646 and free to enter with your guide, with the National Museum in the Ta Dzong watchtower on the hill above (Nu 300). If not, see them on the afternoon of day 4.
Day 6. Transfer to Paro airport for the flight to Delhi or Kolkata. Drukair closes check-in strictly one hour before departure. Low cloud can delay Paro flights, so leave a generous gap before any onward flight booked on a separate ticket.
The road version: in and out through Phuentsholing
Bagdogra fares are often lower than a Paro connection, and as of September 2026 the airport has non-stops from Hyderabad (two a day) and Bengaluru (one, early in the morning), while from Chennai you need a one-stop flight. The six days then run like this:
- Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station to Phuentsholing, 162 km, usually four to five hours. Night in Phuentsholing.
- Permit check at the immigration office, then 144 km to Thimphu, typically five to six hours with stops.
- Thimphu sightseeing, then the drive to Paro.
- The Tiger's Nest hike. Night in Paro.
- Back down to Phuentsholing.
- Exit formalities, then Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri.
You give up Punakha and spend two days mostly on the road, in exchange for cheaper flights. Apply for the permit online beforehand so the Phuentsholing stop is a check rather than a queue, and in the monsoon remember that landslides can slow the highway.
Where to stay and how you get around
Tourists may stay only in hotels approved by the Department of Tourism. Stay in Thimphu for the capital's restaurants and evening streets, in Punakha for the warmer valley, and in Paro for the airport and the Tiger's Nest trailhead. A certified 3-star room in Thimphu or Paro was about ₹2,200 to ₹4,500 a night for mid-October 2026, and a 4-star about ₹5,000 to ₹8,000; our Sightseeing Getaway uses three-star rooms with breakfast and dinner.
Self-drive hire is not an option in Bhutan, and beyond the taxis at Paro airport there is no public transport to plan around, so the days are built on a car, a driver and the certified guide. On the Sightseeing Getaway the transfers are in a private vehicle and the English-speaking guide stays with you inside Bhutan.
Which of our trips follow this plan
| Trip | Route | From, per person |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Days Bhutan Sightseeing Getaway | Fly to Paro, with Punakha | ₹39,290 |
| 6 Days Bhutan Sightseeing Honeymoon | Fly to Paro, with Punakha | ₹41,290 |
| 6 Days Bhutan Escape from Siliguri | Road via Phuentsholing | ₹38,990 |
| 6 Days Bhutan Escape from Siliguri Honeymoon | Road via Phuentsholing | ₹40,990 |
| 6 Days Bhutan Paro Thimphu Escape | Road via Phuentsholing | ₹28,500 |
Prices are per person on twin sharing, without flights, as published in September 2026. The Sustainable Development Fee of ₹1,200 per adult per night is extra on the road trips; the Sightseeing Getaway's trip page lists it among the inclusions, so confirm it on your quote. The honeymoon versions add room decor and a candlelight dinner. With five days, the 5 Days Bhutan Paro Thimphu Getaway (from ₹28,500) drops Punakha; with seven, the 7 Days Bhutan Punakha Dochula Escape (from ₹45,499) goes in by road and adds Punakha and Chele La.
Questions we are asked most
Is 6 days enough for Bhutan?
Yes, for Thimphu, Punakha and Paro with a full day for the Tiger's Nest, if you fly into Paro. Going in by road through Phuentsholing, six days covers Thimphu and Paro; add a day or two for Punakha or the Gangtey valley.
How long does the Tiger's Nest hike take?
Give it a full day. The monastery sits at 3,120 metres, about 900 metres above the Paro valley, and the hike up and back takes most of a day. Start early, walk slowly and carry water. Entry is Nu 1,000 as of September 2026.
Should we fly to Paro or go by road from Bagdogra?
Fly to Paro if time is short: you skip two long road days and fit in Punakha. Go by road if cost matters: Bagdogra has non-stop flights from Hyderabad and Bengaluru, then about four to five hours to Phuentsholing.
The whole budget for this plan is in the Bhutan trip cost from India guide, the permit and fee in Bhutan permit and SDF for Indians, and the right month in the best time to visit Bhutan. To book it, start from the Bhutan tour packages and tell the planner your dates, your city and whether you would rather fly to Paro or drive in; the days are then fitted to your flights, and flights are quoted separately if you want them.
