Planning Bhutan by road? We provide private cars with an experienced Bhutanese driver, with or without a licensed guide: Hyundai Creta and Kia SUVs, Toyota HiAce vans for groups, and taxis for transfers. We pick up in Bagdogra, Siliguri and NJP, at the Phuentsholing border, at Paro Airport, and on the eastern side in Guwahati, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu.
Many travellers from India, Bangladesh and Nepal only want a reliable car, a driver who knows the mountain roads and someone to handle the permits. That is exactly what this service is for: you choose the places and the pace, and we take care of the driving and the paperwork.
Get a quote on WhatsApp
Opens WhatsApp with your trip details filled in. We reply with a quote for the vehicle, driver and guide.
Our vehicles
| Vehicle | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Creta SUV | Couples and small families | Five-seat SUV with good ground clearance for mountain roads |
| Kia SUV | Families wanting extra comfort | Roomy SUV for long days on the road |
| Toyota HiAce | Groups and large families | Group van with space for everyone and their luggage |
| Taxi | Short trips and transfers | City rides, airport runs and one-way drops |
Not sure which vehicle fits? Tell us how many people are travelling and how much luggage you have, and we will suggest one.
As a rough guide, the Hyundai Creta suits couples and small families who travel light. The Kia SUV gives a little more room to stretch out on long mountain days. The Toyota HiAce is the sensible choice for larger families, friends travelling together and anyone carrying trekking bags or plenty of shopping. Taxis are ideal when you only need an airport run, a one-way drop or a ride around town.
Where we pick you up
- Bagdogra, Siliguri and NJP to Bhutan: the most popular route for travellers from India, via Jaigaon and Phuentsholing.
- Phuentsholing to Thimphu: meet us at the border gate after your entry permit.
- Paro Airport transfers: we meet your Drukair or Bhutan Airlines flight.
- Guwahati, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu: for travellers entering from Assam and exploring central and eastern Bhutan.
If you are already in Thimphu, we can also collect you from your hotel. Wherever you start, the same car and driver can stay with you for the whole trip, which means your luggage stays in one place and your driver gets to know how you like to travel.
Car with driver, or car with driver and guide?
Under current rules, every tourist, including visitors from India, needs a licensed Bhutanese guide to travel beyond Thimphu and Paro, and a route permit for districts such as Punakha, Haa, Wangdue and Bumthang. Your guide arranges the route permits. Rules change from time to time, so we confirm the latest position for your travel dates when you book.
Our guides speak English, Hindi and Nepali, and Bengali-speaking guides are subject to availability. Read more about hiring a licensed guide in Bhutan.
The two roles are different. Your driver concentrates on the road: the bends, the weather and getting you safely from one valley to the next. Your guide looks after everything else: route permits, entry tickets, the history of each dzong, where to eat and how to behave in temples. If you stay only in Thimphu and Paro, a car and driver can be enough. For anywhere further, plan on both.
Sample road trips
Every trip we arrange is built around your dates and interests, but these outlines give a feel for what is possible by car. Driving times in the mountains depend on weather and road works, so we always leave room for stops.
Five days: Thimphu, Paro and Chele La
Arrive at Paro Airport or come up from Phuentsholing and settle into Thimphu. Spend a day on the capital, with Buddha Dordenma, the weekend market and the Memorial Chorten. Drive to Paro, visit Rinpung Dzong and Ta Dzong, the National Museum, and stop at Tachog Lhakhang with its old iron bridge on the way. Spend a morning on the road up to Chele La for mountain views, then finish with the hike to Tiger's Nest before you leave.
Seven days: adding Punakha and Phobjikha
Follow the five-day plan, then cross Dochula, with its 108 chortens, to Punakha, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from Thimphu. See Punakha Dzong at the meeting of two rivers and walk through the fields to Chimi Lhakhang. Continue to the wide, quiet Phobjikha valley, where black-necked cranes spend the winter, before returning west.
Nine days: into central Bhutan
With more time, carry on east over the passes to Trongsa, whose great dzong once controlled travel between east and west, and on to Bumthang, the valley of old temples, farmhouses and buckwheat fields. This is where a comfortable SUV and an unhurried driver really make a difference. Tell us your dates and we will suggest a realistic pace.
When to travel by road
Spring, from March to May, brings rhododendrons and clear mornings. Autumn, from September to November, is the most popular season, with crisp air and wide mountain views. Winter is cold but often bright and quiet, and it is the season for the cranes in Phobjikha. Many of the big festivals fall in spring and autumn, so check our Bhutan festival calendar if you would like to see one.
The monsoon runs roughly from June to September. The valleys are green and the hotels are calmer, but heavy rain can bring landslides and fog that slow the roads, especially on the climb from Phuentsholing. Our drivers watch conditions closely, and we build spare time into monsoon itineraries.
Tips for comfortable road days
- Motion sickness: mountain roads have many bends. Eat a light breakfast, sit near the front if you can and take any medicine before you set off, not halfway.
- Altitude: the high passes are much higher than the valleys. Drink water, move slowly at viewpoints and tell your guide if you feel unwell.
- Layers: it can be warm in the valleys and cold and windy on a pass on the same day. Keep a jacket in the car, not in the boot.
- Snacks and water: villages are spread out on some stretches, so carry a few snacks and a refillable bottle.
- Documents: keep your passport or Voter ID and permit copies in a day bag, as they are checked along the way.
Children, older travellers and groups
Travelling with children or grandparents? Tell us when you ask for a quote. We can plan shorter driving days, more stops and hotels with easy access, and our guides are used to a gentler pace. For groups, the Toyota HiAce keeps everyone together in one vehicle, which makes stops, meals and photo breaks much simpler than juggling several cars.
Etiquette and tipping
Dress modestly for dzongs and temples, with shoulders and knees covered, and remove hats inside. Walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels, and ask before photographing people or inside shrines, where it is often not allowed. Tipping your driver and guide is optional but customary in Bhutan if you are happy with their service. There is no fixed amount; give what feels right to you.
Fees to budget for
Indian nationals pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of INR 1,200 per person per night. Most other nationalities pay USD 100 per adult per night. Work out your fees with our Bhutan Trip Cost Calculator. Your car quote shows clearly what is and is not included.
The USD 100 rate is confirmed until 31 August 2027. Fees and rules can change, so we confirm the current position for your dates when you book. If you are still shaping the trip, our free Bhutan Trip Planner is a good place to start.
How booking works
- Send us your pickup point, dates, number of travellers and rough plan on WhatsApp or by email, or use the form above.
- We confirm the vehicle, driver, guide language and the permits your route needs.
- You receive a clear quote. Once you are happy, we lock in the car and guide for your dates.
- Before you arrive, we share your driver's details so you can reach each other easily.
Ready to plan? Message us on WhatsApp on +975 17661648 or email [email protected]. Your quote lists exactly what is included, so there are no surprises later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a car with a driver in Bhutan without booking a full tour?
Yes. You can book a car and driver on its own, add a licensed guide, and choose your own hotels and sightseeing. Outside Thimphu and Paro a licensed guide is required under current rules.
Which vehicles do you have?
Hyundai Creta and Kia SUVs for couples and families, Toyota HiAce vans for groups, and taxis for transfers and city rides.
Can you pick us up in Bagdogra or Siliguri?
Yes. We pick up at Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri and NJP railway station and drive you into Bhutan through Jaigaon and Phuentsholing.
Do your guides speak Hindi or Bengali?
Yes. Our guides speak English, Hindi and Nepali, and Bengali-speaking guides are subject to availability. Tell us your language when you request a quote.
How do I get a price?
Fill in the quote form on this page. It opens WhatsApp with your trip details, and we reply with a quote for the vehicle, driver and guide.
What is the best time of year for a road trip in Bhutan?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) usually have the clearest roads and views. From June to September the monsoon can bring landslides and fog that slow the drive, so we plan extra time.
Can the same driver stay with us for the whole trip?
Yes. Most travellers keep the same car and driver from pickup to drop-off, whether they start in Bagdogra, Phuentsholing, Paro or Guwahati.
More guides: 5-day itinerary; 7-day itinerary; 10-day itinerary; Tiger's Nest hike guide.
