Bhutan, one of the most isolated and intriguing countries in Asia, is drawing closer to Israelis for the first time without the need for a connecting flight. The kingdom's national airline, Drukair, will operate five direct flights from Israel to Bhutan during February and March, in a move expected to make the exotic destination accessible to Israeli travelers.
These are seasonal and exclusive flights organized by the Caminos travel company, with plans for them to operate until mid-March, while the airline and tourism officials plan another project toward the end of 2027. The flight from Israel to Bhutan is expected to take about seven hours and will be operated on an Airbus A320 aircraft configured with approximately 110 seats. Alongside economy class, business class seats will also be offered with an option to upgrade.
Bhutan is a small mountainous kingdom in South Asia, situated between India and China in the heart of the Himalayas. The country has a population of about 800,000, and its capital is Thimphu. Bhutan is known for its mountainous landscapes, Buddhist monasteries, and traditional culture that has been preserved over the years. The country opened to international tourism only in 1974, and since then, it has maintained a policy that limits the volume of tourism in order to preserve its unique character.
A country that still keeps the brakes on
Bhutan is not just another destination that suddenly opened to tourists. For years, it was almost closed off to the world, and even today, the country maintains a tourism policy aimed at limiting visitor numbers and preserving its unique character.
The Bhutanese policy is known as "High Value, Low Volume" - fewer tourists, but those who pay more and receive a high-quality travel experience. Among other things, international visitors are required to pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100 per person per night. This rate is currently in effect until August 31, 2027. The implication is that Bhutan is not trying to become the next Thailand. On the contrary - the country wants tourism, but wants to control its quantity.
The organized tours that will be marketed around the direct flights will be eight days long, in small groups of up to 16 travelers. The packages include accommodation in five-star hotels or hotels considered the best in each region, on a full-board basis.
The price of the trip stands at $5,395 per person based on double occupancy, and according to the organizers, the price also includes visa costs and the Bhutanese tourism tax. Flight upgrades to business class will be available.
Only a limited number of pilots are certified to land in the kingdom
Those flying to Bhutan will also experience one of the most impressive landings in the aviation world at the end of the flight. An aircraft landing in Bhutan arrives at Paro International Airport, which is located inside a narrow valley at an altitude of about 2,200 meters above sea level. Surrounding it rise the Himalayas, some reaching heights of around 5,500 meters.
The approach to Paro is considered one of the most challenging in commercial aviation. Pilots are required to navigate through valleys surrounded by mountains, with the runway not visible to them during most of the approach. The airport lacks a standard ILS system for landing, and flights are restricted to suitable visibility conditions and daylight hours. Only a limited number of pilots are certified to perform landings at the airport.
In other words, this is not a landing where the pilot aligns the aircraft with the runway and waits for the system to do the work. The pilot must know the mountains, the valleys, and the landmarks along the way, execute a series of turns, and locate the runway within the mountainous landscape. The runway itself is about 2.2 km long, and the airport is in a valley surrounded by high peaks. Due to the altitude, topography, and wind conditions, the aircraft's performance is also affected by the environment.
Therefore, the pilots operating flights to Paro undergo dedicated training and certification. Even Drukair describes the arrival at Paro as "one of the most spectacular runways in the world" - a rare combination where the journey to the destination is itself part of the attraction.
Kingdom of the 'Thunder Dragon'
Bhutan, also known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," offers a combination that is hard to find today: Dramatic Himalayan landscapes, Buddhist monasteries and fortresses, traditional villages, and a local culture preserved for centuries.
The capital, Thimphu, is located about 54 km from Paro Airport, and the road to it passes through mountain valleys and landscapes that make arrival in the country an integral part of the trip.
For Israelis, the direct flights are expected to transform accessibility to a destination that until now was significantly complex to reach. Instead of starting the journey with connecting flights through destinations in Asia, travelers will be able to board a direct flight in Israel - and land about seven hours later in the heart of the Himalayas.
And this time, unlike most flights, it is even worth looking out the window during landing. There is a good chance it will be a landing you won't forget.