Bangkok Bhutan Tour: Best Travel to Bhutan from Thailand

1. How to plan a Bhutan tour from Thailand?

If you are planning a Bhutan tour from Thailand, then you will need to have a good and reputable travel agency to book the tour through. Our professional and friendly tour consultants can help you with deciding on where you want to go and what you want to see and will help you set out your itinerary for the tour. Once you book your tour with us, we will make the application for your visa, and the approval letter will be forwarded to your email address once we receive it from the TCB.

Once you have your visa approval letter, you will need to book your flight to Paro from Thailand. As the prices are the same whichever airline you choose, the only thing you have to decide on between the airlines is which has a flight on the day you will be traveling.

You will also need to decide where to fly from, but with Bangkok having daily flights to the kingdom, it is easy to get a flight to Bhutan. However, if the cost is an issue, then you can take connecting flights to certain other airports that can make the total cost of getting to Bhutan from Thailand a little cheaper. However, this can take longer, and sometimes you may have to wait a day in the connecting airport for the connecting flight to Paro.

2. When is the best time to visit Thailand and Bhutan?

The best way to enjoy a Thailand Bhutan tour with the best weather is to visit Thailand before the end of the general dry season in February and then continue to Bhutan to get the early spring weather, or travel to Bhutan first in November to December, and then head for Thailand to take advantage of the dry weather in December.

In general, the best time to visit Thailand is from November to April, which is the cooler season in the northeastern and central areas of Thailand. However, in the south, the dry season runs from December to February on the east coast and from November to March on the west coast, while the north has its dry season from late September to early February.

The best time to visit Bhutan is normally in the spring and autumn, from April to May and September to November, though it is still possible to visit in the winter months, from December to March, as it is not too cold in most of the tourist areas. Summer can be a little wet in Bhutan, especially in some of the lower-altitude areas of the valleys. However, it is still possible to visit, as most of the summer monsoon rains fall in the late afternoon and evening, leaving the days free for sightseeing. Just remember to bring a light raincoat. Trekking is best done in spring and autumn, when the weather is at its best, with clear skies and almost no rain.

3. Do I need to apply for Thailand Visa for a Bhutan tour from Thailand?

If you are a Thai citizen, then the need for a visa is irrelevant. However, some countries will require you to have a visa for the trip to Thailand to get to Bhutan. If you are only transiting through Thailand to get to Bhutan, and will not be leaving the airport, then a visa for Thailand is not necessary. However, if you are stopping in Thailand for a while before traveling on to Bhutan, then a visa is required for some.

The nationals of 64 countries can travel to Thailand without the need for a visa for periods of between 14 and 90 days, depending on your country of origin. Of the remaining countries, 15 can apply for the Thai Entry Visa on arrival at any of the country’s airports or land border crossings, while the rest are required to have their visa approved and stamped into their passports before traveling.

4. Where to visit in Bangkok before my flight to Bhutan?

For those that are stopping over in Bangkok for a day or two, there are some great places to see in the amazing and multi-cultural Thai capital. The number-one must-see location in Bangkok is the Grand Palace, the ancient royal compound that was the royal residence from 1782 and which also contains the famous Wat Phra Kaeo and the amazing Jade Buddha. To the south of the Grand Palace lies the temple of Wat Pho, built by King Rama I in the 16th century, and was the first university in Thailand, as well as being the location of the famed Reclining Buddha Statue. Their close locations make these two sites ideal for a short half-day tour of the best sites in Bangkok.

If you have more time to travel around the city, you can also include such amazing sites as Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn that has an unforgettable view of the sunset from the top; the temple of Wat Traimit, known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha, as the original Buddha statue that was thought to be made of plaster turned out to have a 5.5 –ton, 3.5-meter solid gold statue inside; and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, located in Ratchaburi, just outside Bangkok, and is known as the “Venice of the East”, which makes a great day tour.

5. How about the time difference between Thailand and Bhutan?

Bhutan lies at around 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), while Thailand is seven hours ahead of GMT. This means there is a one-hour time difference between Thailand and Bhutan. When you reach Bhutan, you will need to put your watch back one hour to conform and adjust to local time in the kingdom.

6. What currency used in Thailand and Bhutan?

Thai currency is the Thai baht (B), which has an exchange rate of around 30-31 baht to the dollar. The baht has been the traditional currency of Thailand since its decimalization in 1897, and was based on the original bullet coins known as “phot duang” from around the 13th century. However, Thailand is renowned for its continuing use of US dollars in many places, and you can use dollars for most higher-priced purchases, including hotels.

The national currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum (Ng), though this is not the only currency in the kingdom. Dollars can be used for high-priced purchases, and Indian rupees are commonplace across the country. On average, there are around 71-72 Ng to the dollar, while the Ngultrum is closely linked to the Indian rupee in value, with 1 rupee equaling 1 Ngultrum. You will even find that you will get rupees in your change if you use large bills for payment.

It is suggested to exchange currency at Paro Airport upon your arrival. Since your Bhutan tour is all-inclusive with the exception of beverages, tips, and personal purchases, you just need to need to exchange what you think you will spend. 

7. Thailand Travel Tips

Being a devout Buddhist country, Thailand does have some taboos that you should watch out for, as such actions or words can lead to insults and offended locals. The main taboos in Thailand are as below.

Never touch a person's head. The head is the holiest part of the body in Buddhism, and touching the head is offensive.

The soles of the feet are considered the dirtiest part of a person's body, so when crossing your feet, take care that your soles are not pointed directly at a person, statue, or shrine. You should also refrain from picking up or moving objects with your feet unless you are playing football.

The Thai royal family is very popular in Thailand, and one should ever criticize or insult the king or any member of the royal family. This is a serious offense and carries the punishment of imprisonment if caught by authorities insulting the king.

While you can take photos of holy relics and statues, it is forbidden to touch or climb on them.

It is also forbidden for females to touch a monk at all and should remain a polite distance from monks when meeting them. You should also ask before taking photos of monks.

8. Bhutan Travel Tips

Bhutan also has several taboos that you should be aware of, several of which are similar to those of Thailand, being devout Buddhists also.

Avoid pointing the soles of the feet at people, statues, and shrines, do not touch the heads of people, especially monks, remove your shoes before entering a temple or monastery, and always remember to walk clockwise around holy sites.

Women also need to dress modestly in Bhutan at all times, as the country is a modest place. Bare shoulders and legs are not illegal, but are frowned upon, and may cause offense.

It is also forbidden to take photos in temples and monasteries, and you should ask before taking photos of the local people and monks.