Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

Query Approved

You don't need a visa for Bhutan. You need Indian government ID Card based on which you will be given a permit.

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

[MENTION=13846]Sarvajit[/MENTION] [MENTION=72198]Balgi[/MENTION] something for us here?

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

Yes subscribing. Hope to join!

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Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

For the Sikkim leg, you can take inputs from @phanikar who had done the route a year back

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Bhutan was recently done by [MENTION=17529]rubber_stamp_champ[/MENTION]

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

Thank you bro for the info, but still one question, what is permit? is it permit to enter Bhutan and visit particular places?

thanks bro yes reading his Log

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

Yes, you need to fill out the paperwork they give and you will be given a permit to visit certain places. I am unsure of the specifics though.

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride


Okay. before I answer your queries, please note the below points:

To Save time, Ill put in a few pointers below:

1. Go with a mindset that you'll get your permit rejected. Apologies for demoralizing, but its better to prepare for the worst.

2. Be prepared to answer baseless questions about your religion, your family, your profession and what not.

3. NEVER EVER UTTER THE WORD "BUSINESS" IN PHUENTSOLING. All in all, they would assume that you're here for business, no matter what.

4. Have a confirmed booking with you. Take printouts. Email confirmation would not do. The best would be to request the hotel to send you a scanned copy of the reservation on their letterhead, stamped and signed.

5. Reach before 9:00 am BST. 8:30 IST at the immigration office.

6. NEVER EVER SAY YOU'RE A BIKER. Else, get your permit rejected straight away. Do not dress up like one. Better dump your luggage at the hotel and dress soberly.

7. Government officials are least helpful managing the most chaotic immigration office I've ever seen. Its crowded, haphazard, mis managed.

8. Government officials and some policemen are simply hostile against Indian tourists.

9. Polighteness and a smile is the key to get things done. Be ready to lose your self respect.

10. They won't give a f*** during their lunch hour. Hostility increased 2 folds. Be ready to face a cold shoulder at 1:00 pm BST.

11. RSTA and immigration office close at 3:00

12. Carry photocopies of all your documents in advance. A couple of passport size photographs too. And I say again, Do not forget the hotel booking printout.

13. Most important thing: IF THIMPHU-PARO IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, DON'T GO. Its just not worth all the hassle. Better explore the North East.

14. Make sure while exiting you surrender your permit. No body will stop you, its your duty. I've heard stories of people being fined 20000 and the likes on the next visit just because they did not surrender the permit the last time.

Now to answer your questions.

1. Visa: Its a permit in our case. Only a "human" permit can be arranged in advance and that too only when you're not driving your own vehicle. If you arrange the permit in advance, sounds so convenient, you would not be able to get your RSTA permit for the vehicle. then you go and cancel the existing permit and get a fresh one, waste of time.

2. Time of the year: Anything apart from rains and winters. March would be good. Since you're from Mumbai, carry some warmers. You might feel chilly.

3. Safety is not a concern at all. Be sure.

4. Transporting the bikes: Better transport to Hashimara. 18km short of P'ling and stay there. thid would ensure that you reach the immigration office in time. I still would prefer to ride through. Do not transport to Jalpaiguri, its out of way. Hashimara/Siliguri would be better and more convenient.

5. Suggested itinerary: Finish your Sikkim part and head towards P'ling. arrange permits by the afternoon and and spend the night there. If you can finish up the permits by 12, which is impossible, Thimphu is just 6 hours' ride. Supposing you spend the night in P'ling, next day head to Thimphu, reach by the evening and spend the night there. Next day explore Thimphu, stay there for second night. Day 3 in Bhutan, leave very early and head to Tiger's Nest, then Haa valley and head to Paro to stay for the night, stay at Hotel Khamsum. Day 4, leave early for Hashimara/Siliguri and load your bikes in train to be sent back. Fly down to Mumbai.

If any further assistance is required, lemme know. Below is the link to my channel just in case you wish to know what's in store for you:



And here is the thread for my travelogue (day 3)

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

Hi. I'll give my 2 cents. The permit rules change haphazardly. I had decided to travel Bhutan on a bike. The day prior to our arrival the rules changed, preventing indian bikers from applying for vehicular permits. A couple of guys from Kerala wasted their 3 days trying. I was fortunate as I had an acquaintance in Jaigaon and parked my vehicle at his place. Be sure about the permits at least 5-6 times. Sometimes I found that they are very warm towards Indians and sometimes the other way.


At the Coronation bridge while returning.

Re: Itinerary for Bhutan and North East Ride

Perhaps. But we will need Vinay's help since he's been there and would surely know about this whole "permit" debacle.