Travel to Bhutan

All info from a friend -

How to get there

It's a deceptively large country! If you want to see all of Bhutan, then exit from east Bhutan to Guwahati, while entering from Phuentsholing. An overnight train from Calcutta can get you to Hasimara Junction. From there it's a short jeep or bus ride into Jaigon, the Indian border town. Stay in Jaigoan, or drive into Phuentsholing in Bhutan. Stay overnight, or drive upto Thimphu, if you can leave early enough for the 6 hr ride. Permits are done in Phuentsholing. It takes half-a-day. Within Bhutan, it is best to hire a cab and drive around. There is public transport, but is very sketchy.

Another option is to enter Bhutan from Guwahati and exit from Phuentsholing. Entry permits from Guwahati might be harder to get, but it's worth checking.

Recommendations

Contact: Mindup, an experienced tour operator at : mindupg@yahoo.com or 17609768 or Dorji, a seasoned driver and guide at 17621214

Always go with a Bhutanese Travel Agency for everything – car, guide, reservations. There are Indian operators, but they are mostly out of their depth, as we discovered rather expensively. Any operator that you pick will take care of both the permit and the accomodation.

Different regions will need separate permits, as also the different monasteries. A impulsive trip will be difficult to pull off, you're better off knowing where you want to go, at least broadly.

Prices

Coffees and teas might seem expensive (going from India), but food is affordable, and the portions are always large, and substantial. The cabs start at Rs 12 per km if you drive more than 100 kms a day or a flate rate of Rs 1200 per day. Hotels range from Rs 800 per night all the way to Rs 12,000.

Indian currency is accepted everywhere, and in fact, Bhutanese currency is accepted in Jaigaon.