Bhutan Travel

How do I get to Bhutan?
The best way to enter Bhutan is by Druk Air, the national air carrier, which links Bhutan’s only airport at Paro Valley with flights to Bangkok (thrice/week), Delhi (twice/week), Kathmandu (twice/week), Dhaka (once/week), and Calcutta (twice/week).

Connecting to Druk Air?
You will need to arrange international air tickets to and from whatever place you choose to connect to Druk Air. Bangkok is the best place to connect if you are coming from North America, Australia or Asia. The U.S. carrier with the most frequent flights is Northwest Airlines. It has direct service through Tokyo (with a minimal stopover) from New York, Detroit, Seattle, Dallas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. British Airways flies nonstop to Bangkok from London. Delhi is the best place to connect if you are coming from Europe or the Middle East. A connection via Kathmandu will give you an opportunity to visit Nepal and/or Tibet before flying to Bhutan. Other connections from Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Calcutta (India) are possible, but these are off the routes of direct flights for major airlines, and few discounted airfares are available for these places.

Will Insiders' Bhutan handle all my airline ticketing?
As soon as we confirm your reservation on one of our trips, we book Druk Air seats for you. You can buy Druk Air tickets from their agents abroad or we can buy here and send them to you by express mail. For more details on Druk Air, check their website - drukair.com.bt

As most travelers like to use frequent flyer awards, or book air tickets through their preferred agents or internet site, we leave International air ticketing up to the guests to arrange on their own.

If you are using Bangkok as the gateway city to connect to Druk Air
The U.S. carrier with the most frequent flights is Northwest Airlines. It has direct service through Tokyo (with a minimal stopover) from New York, Detroit, Seattle, Dallas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Thai Airways International has direct flights from the West Coast of the United States and from London, and also flies daily to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan. East-coast travelers departing from New York or Washington, DC, may consider using Virgin Atlantic/Thai Airways via London for 19-hour flights to Bangkok. British Airways flies nonstop to Bangkok from London.

Approximate Flying Times
Bangkok is 18 hours from Seattle, 17 hours from San Francisco, 20 hours from Chicago, and 22 hours from New York. Add more time for stopovers and connections, especially if you are using more than one carrier.

Transportation option between the Airport and Town
The road is often congested with traffic. Be prepared for a 90-minute journey by taxi, though there are times when it can take less than 40 minutes. The quickest way downtown is the helicopter that lands at the Shangri-La Hotel. Anyone who will pay the $200 fare is welcome aboard. Other mode of transport includes airport bus service that costs B70, Thai Airways has a minibus service that costs B100 and taxi that costs B300 to B350.

How to buy airline tickets online

1. Check several websites selling tickets online

2. Check an airline's official site for any deals offered only through the airline itself

3. Choose the site that offers the best deal

4. If the site offers you a choice of delivery options, choose the one that's best for you. An e-ticket option is usually the best, because you don't have to pay any shipping charges

5. Pay by credit card on a secure server or by check.

Tips for Finding Low Fares
The following websites offer great low fare search options to make finding low fares easy. Simply tell them where you want to go, and they'll search for the lowest fares offered and present available dates in an interactive calendar from which you can select your preferred travel dates. These sites also offer online hotel and car rental, flight status tracking with a real-time departure and arrival information services.

Expedia (Click here)
A full service travel website with features to check out the best airfares for a particular route, as well as the availability of these flights. Using their fare compare tool, you can compare fares across different flights.

Orbitz (Click here)
Owned by the World's Leading Airlines, Orbitz brings you the latest in fare-finding technology, plus great values on rental cars, hotel rooms, and more.

Travelocity (Click here)
A full service travel website with slick interface, savvy tools and computerized reservation system. You can even reserve flights from a phone.

World Airport Guide (Click here)
Information about airports with advice on getting to and from the airport by car and public transport, and also phone numbers of local hotels and car hire companies.

Druk Air - the Bhutanese national airline
Druk Air, the Bhutanese national airline, is the only airline that serves Bhutan.
Click here to check out Druk Air's flight schedule and airfare online.

Main airlines servicing Bangkok, Thailand
Thai Airways International (800/426-5204), United Airlines (800/241-6522), Northwest Airlines (800/447-4747), Singapore Airlines (800/742-3333), British Airways (020/8897-4000; 0345/222111 outside London), Cathay Pacific (800/233-2742), Japan Airlines (800/525-3663), Qantas (0345/747767 or 0800/747767), Asiana Airlines (800/227-4262).
China Airlines (800/227-5118), EVA Air (800/695-1188), Gulf Air (800/553-2824), Korean Air (800/438-5000).

Thai Airways International (Click here) Phone: 800/426-5204 (*)
We recommend Thai Airways International for transpacific travel. It has direct flights from the West Coast of the United States and from London, and also flies daily to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan. East-coast travelers departing from New York or Washington, DC, may consider using Virgin Atlantic/Thai Airways via London for 19-hour flights to Bangkok.

Bangkok Don Muang (BKK) International Airport (Click here)

Tour Programs for Transit Passengers at Bangkok Airport, Bangkok (Click here)

Main airlines servicing Kathmandu, Nepal
Tribhuvan International Airport (977) 1 471933), about 7 km (4.12 miles) from the hub of Kathmandu, is the only international airport in Nepal.

Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, China Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL), Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Nepal Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.

Main airlines servicing Delhi, India
The Indira Gandhi International Airport is about 38 kilometers (23 miles) from the city.

Air Canada, Air France, AirIndia, Alitalia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swissair, and United Airlines.

Main airlines servicing Calcutta, India
Dum Dum Airport, is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city.

Air Canada, Air India, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Tower Air, United Airlines, British Airways, and Thai Airways.

Information, Advice & How-To Tips

Guide to Sleeping in Airports! (Click here)
The budget travelers Guide to Sleeping in Airports helps you plan which airports you can sleep in or avoid altogether.

International Flight Booking

Reconfirming Your Seat
For international flights, reconfirming your seat and travel times is important. You should contact the airline about 72 hours before departure.

Electronic ticket
If you buy your air ticket online (e-ticket customer) from a recognized e-travel company like Orbtz, Travelocity, Biztravel.com, or Expedia.com, don't foget to take with you to the airport, a printed confirmation for an electronic ticket, or an airline or agency generated itinerary confirming your electronic ticket.

Make your reservation early
The best international fares often require a reservation at least 30 days in advance. Airlines sell only a limited number of seats at the lowest fares. When those seats sell out, the price goes up.

One airline is better than two
It's almost always less expensive to use only one airline for a trip instead of two.

At the Airport

Allowing Yourself Enough Time to Check In

With the increased airport security, you're going to take longer to get on a plane than it used to. Here are some tips to make sure that you don't miss your flight.

1. Confirm your flight status before proceeding to the airport. You can do this online at most of the online travel websites like Orbitz.com, Travelocity, Biztravel.com, Expedia.com, or by calling the airline directly.
2. In cities outside the USA a two & half to three hour check - in is often required. If you're flying within the United States, you should arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of time to check-in.
3. Remember, if you check in late, the airline has the right to allocate your seat to someone else on an overbooked flight.
4. Even if you manage to get on a flight for which you've arrived late, your baggage may not make it.

Dealing with Jet Lag
After flying across several time zones, you know how the first few days in Bhutan, a new time zone, can be: You're sleepy all day, but when it's time to sleep, you can't do it. To avoid wasting a part of your trip recovering from the flight, it helps to take some preventive measures.

1. It's a good idea to spend one or two easy days in any of the gateway cities (Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi..), before joining a trip in Bhutan. Breaking up the trip helps the body adjust more readily.

2. Start adjusting your sleeping and eating patterns to the new time zone a couple days before your flight.

3. Keep yourself as hydrated as possible - drink plenty of fluids.

4. Try not to drink alcohol and caffeine before and during the flight.

5. Try to get as much sleep as you can on the plane.

6. After your arrival and once you get settled, take a walk and spend time in the sun to help reset your body's internal clock.

7. Follow your new time schedule immediately. Try not to go to sleep until the evening even if you're tired.

8. As a last resort, consider anti-jet lag or sleeping medicines on the market.

Enroute Stopover Hotel Booking

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