Phobjikha and Gangtey to Bumthang
Your options
Ways to make the journey
7–8 h
Leave Phobjikha early, climb back to the highway and cross Pele La, stop at Chendebji Chorten for tea, and reach Trongsa for lunch and the dzong. The afternoon drive over Yotong La to Jakar takes 2.5–3 hours, through the Chumey valley known for yathra weaving. It is a long day; only do it if your plan is tight.
4 h + 2.5–3 h
Our preferred plan. Drive about 120 km and 4 hours to Trongsa, see the dzong and the Ta Dzong museum in the afternoon, sleep in Trongsa, and drive 68 km over Yotong La to Jakar the next morning. You arrive in Bumthang fresh, and nobody spends eight hours in a car.
≈ 30 min flight
There is no flight between Phobjikha and Bumthang, but Bathpalathang airport near Jakar has domestic flights to Paro on some days. Many travellers drive east and fly back, saving two long days. Schedules are limited and weather-dependent; check current status before you travel.
Worth a stop
- Pele La pass, about 3,390 m
- Chendebji Chorten, built in the Nepali style
- Trongsa Dzong viewpoint and the dzong
- Ta Dzong museum, Trongsa
- Yotong La pass and the Chumey valley weaving villages
Questions people ask
Good to know
How long is the drive from Phobjikha to Bumthang
About 7–8 hours of driving for roughly 190 km: about 4 hours to Trongsa over Pele La, then 2.5–3 hours over Yotong La to Jakar. With stops for Chendebji Chorten and Trongsa Dzong it becomes a full day of 9–10 hours. We suggest splitting it with a night in Trongsa.
Is it worth stopping in Trongsa
Yes. Trongsa Dzong is the largest dzong in Bhutan and the ancestral seat of the Wangchuck kings, and the Ta Dzong museum above it tells their story. Even a 2–3 hour lunch stop is worthwhile; a night lets you see both without rushing and splits the long drive into two easy halves.
Can I fly to Bumthang instead of driving
Yes, there are domestic flights between Paro and Bathpalathang airport near Jakar on some days, taking about 30 minutes. Fares are about ₹6,000–12,000 one way, indicative 2026. Many travellers drive out via Phobjikha and Trongsa and fly back to Paro. Schedules are limited and can be cancelled for weather; check current status before you travel.
How high are the passes between Phobjikha and Bumthang
Pele La, between Phobjikha and Trongsa, is at about 3,390 m, and Yotong La, between Trongsa and Bumthang, is at about 3,425 m. Both are cold and often foggy, with snow possible in winter. Carry a warm layer in the car. The road between them drops to about 2,200 m at Trongsa.