Local Transport

For all foreign visitors excluding nationals from India, Bangladesh and Maldives, local transportation from one region of the country to another is arranged on a private vehicle with an experienced driver or a guide as per the travel itinerary fixed with the tour operator. The cost of the local transportation is already included in the daily tourism fees which the tourists pay to their tour operator. At present, foreign visitors are not permitted to rent a car or drive in Bhutan.

In general, there are no trains in Bhutan and most of the public transport is available by bus service within the different districts. Taxis may be found in the major tourist cities, but you do not have to worry about the hassles of a taxi ride unless you really want to experience the bumpy ride on the long and winding hair-pin bends on the mountain roads. To experience this, you need to inform your tour operator before you actually arrive in Bhutan. You need to inform them that you wish to have an authentic local experience of traveling either by a taxi or in a local bus on a particular day of your tour.

There are domestic flight services in Bhutan, but the services are limited. At present the internal flights in Bhutan connect Paro to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yongphula. Also, the Royal Bhutan Helicopter Service runs chartered flights as well as sightseeing trips including medical evacuations, especially if you are trekking in Bhutan’s remote trails. It is a common sight to see travelers on a bicycle trip. Many tourists bring their own mountain bikes while coming to Bhutan so that they get to indulge in short mountain biking tours during the days when sightseeing tours are complete by early afternoon.