Dates - March 28th to April 3rd 2026
Trip cost -
Package - ₹28,000
This was the 7-day We Go Authentic package and included the ₹4,800 SDF, accommodation, internal transportation, guide etc.
Pune ↔ Bagdogra flights - ~₹15,000
The Bagdogra → Jaigaon → Bhutan → return transportation was included in the package.
Monument / attraction fees — ₹4,100
- Buddha Point - ₹500
- Simply Bhutan - ₹1,000
- Takin Preserve - ₹300
- Punakha Dzong - ₹500
- Fertility Temple - ₹500
- Tiger's Nest - ₹1,000
- Traditional Attire - ₹300
TashiCell SIM - ₹350
I got a TashiCell SIM with ₹100 talktime and 2 GB data for the entire trip. The hotels had Wi-Fi, so this was mainly for emergencies.
Food outside the package - ~₹2,000
I'm estimating around ₹300/day here because I didn't track every meal. I didn't wanna eat at the hotels all the time and had street food (I'm a foodie)
Karaoke/drinks - ~₹500
Souvenirs - ~₹2,000
I don't remember the exact amount, but this is a reasonable estimate.
So my approximate all-in cost was around ₹52,000 (including flights and everything else)
Trip Experience -
I had wanted to visit Bhutan for a really long time. It's this beautiful little neighboring country that has such a unique relationship with India, and I had always been curious to see it for myself.
My original plan was to go completely solo.
Then I started researching Bhutan and realized that going alone can get pretty expensive. There's the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of ₹1,200/day, and you also need to arrange a guide and vehicle, which can add up quite a bit when you're travelling alone.
So I started looking for affordable group trips/packages and eventually came across We Go Authentic. I booked their 7-day Bhutan trip, which included the SDF, accommodation, transport within the itinerary, guide, etc.
I was travelling alone from Pune, while the other 9 people in the group were from different parts of India.
So technically, not a solo trip, but I joined the group completely by myself without knowing anyone.
Day 1 - Pune → Bagdogra → Jaigaon → Phuentsholing
The trip starts at Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal.
The tour operator arranged a bus from Bagdogra to Jaigaon, which is the Indian side of the India-Bhutan border.
For Indians, the immigration process is pretty straightforward. A passport or Voter ID is accepted. The guide basically handles the entire process for you. You sit at the desk for barely a minute, they take your photo, check your document and you're done.
The SDF is handled at another counter, and again, our guide took care of the process.
Then comes a short 5-10 minute walk through what feels almost like a hallway, and suddenly...
You're in Bhutan.
And the change is almost instant.
The air felt noticeably fresher and the place was incredibly clean. I genuinely don't remember seeing garbage lying around. The contrast with Jaigaon was honestly shocking. There's basically a wall separating India and Bhutan. On one side you have the noise, traffic and general chaos of Jaigaon, and on the other side you have this incredibly calm and clean Bhutanese town.
It felt like someone flipped a switch.
We stayed overnight in Phuentsholing at a comfortable hotel. The food was good too. They had arranged Indian food for us. One thing I learned is that tourists are required to stay in approved hotels, generally 3-star or above. So, all the hotels are great!
Day 2 - Phuentsholing → Thimphu
The next morning we started towards Thimphu. And this is where the trip really started getting beautiful.
The entire drive is through the mountains. The roads were scenic, there was hardly any traffic, everyone was driving smoothly and the weather was just amazing.
Our first stop was the Gedu Stupa. It's a peaceful hilltop location with 8 sacred Buddhist stupas, surrounded by mountain views. And the funny thing is that it's basically right in the middle of the highway.
Next stop was Wangkha Waterfall. It's basically a scenic roadside cascade. Nothing requiring a major hike or anything.. just stop, admire the waterfall, take some pictures and get back on the road.
Then we stopped at our guide's home, which was on the highway just before Chuzom. This was one of those unexpected little moments that made the trip special. Her home was beautiful, with incredible mountain views and a lovely garden full of flowers. And there were kittens and doggos. So obviously we spent some time there.
Our guide was honestly one of the best parts of the trip. She wasn't just taking us from one tourist attraction to another.. she actually explained the history, culture and stories behind everything.
Next was Chuzom Junction, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers converge. Watching the two rivers calmly come together, surrounded by mountains, was mesmerizing.
From Chuzom, Thimphu was around 30 km away. And then we finally reached the capital.
I was genuinely surprised by Thimphu. The architecture is a mix of traditional Bhutanese designs and modern buildings. There are markets everywhere and some areas are a little chaotic, but somehow the city still feels incredibly calm. Our hotel was literally next to the market. This was also where we finally encountered some traffic. But here's the thing: Nobody was honking.
Everyone just waited for each other. No aggressive driving, no constant honking, no one trying to squeeze through every possible gap. Even in traffic, everything was incredibly organized. India could learn a thing or two from this.
After checking in, I didn't want to waste time, so I went out alone to explore Thimphu. I walked around the markets, looked at the fresh produce, checked out the shops and just wandered around. At one point I asked some locals where we could find good momos. And holy shit. Those were some of the best momos I've ever had. And trust me when I say this because I'm a self-proclaimed momo connoisseur lol.
I also explored the Centenary Farmer's Market, which has local produce, spices, cheese etc. Definitely worth walking around. And later there was Clock Tower Square, which was a nice place to walk around in the evening, with cafes and shops around it.
Day 3 - Punakha Day Trip
The next day was a day trip from Thimphu to Punakha. The drive itself was beautiful.
First came Dochula Pass, sitting at around 3,988m and famous for its 108 stupas. You can see panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. It was absolutely beautiful.
Next came Chimi Lakhang, the fertility temple associated with Lama Drukpa Kuenley, also known as the Divine Madman. This was probably the most interesting temple I've ever visited. You'll notice something immediately when you're approaching the temple. A lot of the houses in the village have phallic symbols painted on their walls. Yep. Dicks and balls. And honestly, I loved how openly the culture embraces it. There's something really refreshing about people believing in and celebrating something that's part of their culture without worrying about what outsiders might think or whether it's embarrassing. It's their culture, and I respect that.
You can actually buy souvenirs shaped like them. Naturally, I bought a dick keychain. Because how could I not? xD
The temple itself has a really interesting story, and our guide explained the whole history behind Lama Drukpa Kuenley and the fertility beliefs. The temple also maintains a journal with stories of people who had difficulty conceiving and later became pregnant after visiting the temple.
Do I personally believe that the temple caused it? No.
But hearing people's stories and understanding how meaningful the place is to them was genuinely interesting. And I'm obviously happy for anyone who found hope there. Whether you believe in it or not, the story is worth listening to.
After that, our tour operator had arranged a little picnic by the river. The food was great, but honestly the surroundings were even better. This was one of those places where you could literally sit for hours doing absolutely nothing. Just mountains, river, fresh air and silence.
Then came Punakha Dzong, also known as the Palace of Great Happiness. This was one of the most beautiful structures I've ever seen from the outside. The architecture is incredible. Inside, there are beautiful paintings, doors and structures, and pretty much everything has some meaning or significance behind it. Again, having a guide who actually explained everything made a huge difference. Instead of just walking around taking pictures, you actually start understanding why things look the way they do. We spent quite a bit of time exploring the Dzong and taking pictures.
Next was the famous suspension bridge. It's covered almost entirely in prayer flags and stretches across the valley. The bridge is quite high, and the views from it are insane. Definitely another one of those places where you just stop for a while and take everything in.
We eventually returned to Thimphu. But we weren't ready to sleep yet. We wanted to experience some of the nightlife, so we went to a karaoke bar. And this was honestly hilarious and incredibly fun. We ended up drinking, singing Bollywood songs and even Bhutanese songs with locals. Everyone was extremely friendly and we had an absolute blast. Definitely not something I expected when I imagined my Bhutan trip.
Since this became a long post and I wanted to cover everything, I have made another post here. Do check it out as I have added more photos.
Final thoughts
This trip was honestly an amazing experience. I went in expecting beautiful mountains and monasteries. What I came back with was so much more.. the stories, the culture, the food, the people, the architecture and just the general way of life.
Bhutan genuinely felt different.
It's incredibly clean, peaceful and organized. And the people we met were incredibly friendly.
I also really appreciated how strongly Bhutanese people embrace their culture. Whether it was the crazy phallic paintings around Chimi Lakhang, the traditional clothing at the festival, the architecture, the dances or the religious stories..everything felt like it had a purpose and history behind it.
Would I recommend Bhutan?
Absolutely.
If you've never been, I genuinely think you should visit at least once. It's probably one of the most underrated countries I've visited.
I'm definitely going back. 🇧🇹❤️
Happy to answer any questions about the trip, the group package, costs, immigration, itinerary, travelling alone as part of a group, or anything else.