Paro Airport Bhutan: The Only International Airport in Bhutan for Bhutan Tours

Of the four airports in Bhutan, Paro Airport is the only international airport in the kingdom for all international travelers to enter Bhutan by air. Located in the Paro Valley and surrounded by mountains over 5,500 meters, Paro Airport is said to be one of the most challenging airports for landing and takeoff in the world.

But you don’t need to worry too much about the safety of taking a flight to Paro airport. Now, the airport sees more than two dozen international flights a day landing and taking off from the airport, and handles more than 6,700 flights a year, ferrying over 397,000 passengers to Bhutan.

In order to let you know more about Paro Airport in Bhutan, here we provide you with a comprehensive and practical Paro Airport Guide for your Bhutan tour.

History of Paro Airport in Bhutan

Listed with the IATA code PBH, Paro International Airport was constructed from the former military airport that was built in 1968 by the Indian Armed Forces, and the first international flight landed at Paro International Airport on January 14, 1983, flying from Kolkata in India.

When the first commercial flights ran from the airport, Paro Airport had just one short runway and a small air-traffic control building. The departure lounge was on the grass at the front of the check-in building. The first airline in Bhutan, DrukAir, began running regular flights to and from Kolkata in February of the same year and was responsible for the running of the airport until the establishment of the Department of Civil Aviation in 1986.

Where is Paro Airport?

Location of Paro Airport in Bhutan

Paro International Airport lies around six kilometers south of the town of Paro and lies in a deep valley on the banks of the Paro Chhu. The airport lies at an elevation of around 2,235 meters above sea level and is surrounded by mountains, some of which reach up to around 5,500 meters.

Considered to be the world’s most challenging airport for take-off and landing, only a selected number of pilots are qualified to land at the airport. All flights to and from the airport takeoff or land during daylight hours only, and the pilots land visually, instead of by instruments.

Distance from Paro Airport to Major Attractions in West Bhutan

Route	Distance	Drive Time
Paro Airport to Tiger’s Nest Monastery	18.2 km	35 min
Paro Airport to Thimphu	48 km	1 h 20 min
Paro Airport to Punakha Dzong	111 km	2 h 52 min

International Flights to Paro Airport in Bhutan

Paro International Airport hosts international flights to Bhutan from nine airports in five countries across Asia, all of which are offered by either DrukAir, the flagship carrier, or Bhutan Airlines, the only private airline in the kingdom. However, not all of the flights run direct, and some have a layover in other airports on the way to Bhutan.

International Direct Flights to Paro Airport

Direct flights to Paro International Airport run from Bangkok in Thailand, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, and Guwahati in India, Kathmandu in Nepal, and Dhaka in Bangladesh. Flights from Singapore travel via Guwahati in India, with a 40-minute layover, while flights from Gaya only run in the peak season. While flights from Bangkok and Kathmandu run seven days a week, flights from other cities are limited to between two and five weekly flights.

Flight Schedule of International flights to/from Paro Airport

Route	Duration	Frequency	Airlines
Kathmandu - Paro	1hr 5min	Daily	Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines
Singapore - Paro	6 hrs (with 40 min layover in Guwahati)	2 Weekly	Druk Air
Bangkok - Paro	2 hours	Daily	Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines
Dhaka - Paro	1 hour	3 weekly	Druk Air
New Delhi - Paro	2 hrs. 50 min	5 weekly	Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines
Kolkata - Paro	2 hours	5 weekly	Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines
Guwahati - Paro	1 hr. 40 min	4 weekly	Druk Air
Bagdogra - Paro	1 hr. 10 min	2 weekly	Druk Air
Gaya - Paro	1 hr. 40 min	3 weekly	Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines

Bhutan Domestic Flights from/to Paro Airport

Flight from Paro Airport to Bumthang Airport in Central Bhutan

Flights run daily between Paro International Airport and Bumthang Airport in Jakar. And on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, there are two flights in the day. The flights are all run by DrukAir, the Bhutanese flagship airline, and take around 35 minutes each way.

For those who want to extend their Bhutan tours to central Bhutan within one week, it is the best way to take a domestic flight from Paro to Bumthang, instead of taking a 1 to 2 days land journey via Punakha and Trongsa.

Flight from Paro Airport to Yonphula Airport in Eastern Bhutan

Flights from Paro to Yonphula Airport, which lies just outside the town of Trashigang in the Trashigang Dzongkhag, run twice a week, on Thursday and Saturday. The flights offered by DrukAir take around 45 minutes to cross Bhutan to the far east of the kingdom.

Paro Airport to Gelephu in Southern Bhutan near the Border with India

Flights to Gelephu Airport in the Samtenling Gewog in Sarpang Dzongkhag of Bhutan run three times a week each way, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Offered by DrukAir, the flagship airline of Bhutan, the flights from Paro take around 40 minutes

Book the flight to Paro Airport with us at a better local price

While it is possible to book your flights to Paro yourself from the departure airport of your choice, we can actually handle this for you as well, giving you a complete service for the arrangements of your tour to Bhutan.

Booking your flight to Bhutan through us, as a local travel agency in Bhutan, means we can get a better deal on the cost of the flights, which is not available to those booking from outside the country.

What’s more, when you book your tour with us, we will handle all of the requirements for your Bhutan visa, and make the application on your behalf. The Visa Approval Letter is required for booking and boarding your flight to Paro.

Things to Do upon Arrival at Paro Airport

1. Take Photos of the Paro Dzong from Paro Airport

While it does lie around 4km from the airport, the Rinpung Dzong in Paro can be clearly seen from the Paro International Airport, and this is an ideal opportunity to get some unencumbered shots of the Dzong before you leave the airport and head to your first destination in Bhutan.

2. Exchange your money to Bhutan Ngultrum before passing through the Custom

It is possible to change money after arriving in Thimphu, and some luxury resorts and hotels even accept US dollars, while almost everywhere accepts Indian rupees. However, you can actually get a better exchange rate at the money changers inside the arrivals lounge at the Paro International Airport, so it pays to exchange some of your currency for local Ngultrum before you pass out of the airport. <

3. Get your Bhutan Visa Stamped on your Passport

The Bhutan Visa is not stamped into your passport when it is approved. Instead, you get a Visa Approval Letter, and when you arrive in Paro, your passport will have your visa stamped into it by the immigration officials as you pass through.

4. Buy Local Mobile SIM card at Paro Airport

There are no mobile phone agreements for the Bhutanese cellular networks with networks from other countries, except India, so you may find that roaming charges in Bhutan are going to be extortionately expensive.

The best option here is to buy a local Bhutanese SIM card when you arrive at the airport, which can be used in your unlocked mobile phone and gives you coverage all over the kingdom. SIM cards for tourists can be purchased at several counters inside the airport, and normally have loaded on them already, as part of the deal, so you can make calls immediately.

5. You can either get to Thimphu directly from the airport or stay in nearby hotels in Paro town.

When you arrive in Paro, where you go first depends on the tour you have chosen to take. For those that are on certain tours, you will travel to Thimphu first, and tour in the other areas before coming back to Paro before you leave for some sightseeing.

The distance from Paro airport to Thimphu is around 48 kilometers, which takes about 1.5 hours to drive. It is convenient to drive to Thimphu directly after you arrive at Paro Airport. On the way from Paro Airport to Thimphu, you can visit the famous Tamcho Lhakhang, a private temple of the bridge-builder Thangtong Gyalpo.

Actually, it is quite flexible to arrange your first stay in Bhutan upon arrival at Paro Airport, either driving to Thimphu or stay in a hotel near Paro Airport. Just fell free to tell your travel consultant your travel ideas, and we will help you arrange the best travel to Bhutan according to your needs.

Tips for Taking a Flight Departing from Paro Airport

Departing from Paro Airport is a sad affair, for both you and us, and while we are sad to see our friendly clients go, we do everything we can to make the last minutes of your trip to Bhutan special. Including giving you a few tips on departing from the airport.

1. It is suggested to get to Paro Airport 3 to 4 hours in advance for a Window Seat

While most airports require you to check-in at least two hours before your flight is due to board, if you get to the airport a little earlier, say 3-4 hours before your flight is due to leave, you can arrange to have a window seat for the flight over the Himalayas, to give you a better view of the mountains as you depart this beautiful kingdom, since all Bhutan flights cannot be selected for online check-in.

2. There are souvenir shops and coffee shop in Paro Airport

While you are waiting, you can always stop and get a coffee and a light snack in the airport’s lounge, which has cafes and small shops for pastries, snacks, etc. The departure lounge of the airport also has several small souvenir shops, so you can get that last-minute gift for friends or family back home.

Conclusion of Paro Airport Travel Guide

Paro International Airport in Bhutan may be a small airport, but with almost 400,000 passengers a year passing through its small gates, it is a rather busy airport.

The location of Paro Airport may make it hard for the pilots to land, and require them to be specially trained to land in the deep valley, surrounded by high mountains, but it does give you a lasting impression of the beauty of this unique isolated kingdom, both on arrival and departure.

Only a few cities offer direct flights to Paro Airport and it is suggested to book the flight to Paro through a local travel agency, like us, which can offer a better local price and help you apply for your Bhutan Visa that required for booking your flight to Bhutan.