Bhutan›From Thimphu›Gelephu
Thimphu to Gelephu by flight, bus or road
About 250 km. The flight is fastest at 4.5 h; the bus is cheapest, from ₹440 per person.
Fastest
Flight
Car to Paro airport + Drukair to Gelephu
4.5 h door to door
Cheapest
Bus
Public bus from the Thimphu / town bus terminal
from ₹440 per person
Best value
Flight
Car to Paro airport + Drukair to Gelephu
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private car | Car with driver / guide's vehicle via Dochula, Tsirang, per vehicle | 9.3 h | ₹7,500–₹14,950per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Bus | Public bus from the Thimphu / town bus terminal | 12.5 h | ₹440per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Flight | Car to Paro airport + Drukair to Gelephu | 4.5 h | ₹12,410–₹19,870per person | A few a week | flight search ↗ |
- Bus, Public bus from the Thimphu / town bus terminal: For Indian visitors with a route permit: tourists on a visa travel in their operator's vehicle. Buy tickets a day ahead at the bus terminal; long routes leave early in the morning and some run only on certain days.
- Flight, Car to Paro airport + Drukair to Gelephu: Drukair ATR flights a few times a week; the 2026-27 days could not be confirmed, so check drukair.com.bt before planning around one. Flights are cancelled in bad weather, so keep a day spare before an international flight.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Private car · Car with driver / guide's vehicle via Dochula, Tsirang, per vehicle | ₹7,500–₹14,950 | ₹7,500–₹14,950 |
| Bus · Public bus from the Thimphu / town bus terminal | ₹880 | ₹1,760 |
| Flight · Car to Paro airport + Drukair to Gelephu | ₹24,820–₹39,740 | ₹49,640–₹79,480 |
Once you’re in Gelephu
- Best time: November – March
- Typical stay: 1 day
- November: Good month: November is at the start of the recommended season (November – March).
Related
Plan Thimphu and Gelephu
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.