Bhutan being the landlocked country, it was not accessible until the 1960s due to the dense forests in the South and high frozen passes in the North. However with planned economic development, today it is accessible through road and air.
By Air
Most tourists and travelers going to Bhutan prefer going by flight. Paro International Airport is the only international airport to enter Bhutan by air. There are direct flights to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Guwahati, Singapore, and Mumbai. Flying to Paro International Airport is also known to be an exciting experience as Paro being surrounded by mountains. The most common route of flying to Paro is from Kathmandu which offers magnificent views of Himalayas – Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Kanchenjunga.
By Road
While the majority of travelers enter Bhutan by flight, it is also possible to enter Bhutan by bus or car. There are only three international border areas open to tourists – Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar. The most common overland route is through Phuentsholing which is the second biggest town in Bhutan. It takes up to 6 hours to reach Thimphu from Phuentsholing. The other two overland entry points to Bhutan are Samdrup Jongkhar in southeastern Bhutan and Gelephu in south-central Bhutan. The Gelephu entry point is approximately 250 km from Thimphu and takes about 10 hours. The journey passes through sub-tropical and alpine areas of Bhutan. Tourists entering Bhutan through Samdrup Jongkhar take up to three days to reach the capital (Thimphu).