There's a certain old-world charm to reaching a Himalayan kingdom by train instead of flying straight in. This Bhutan Tour Package from Mumbai takes that slower route deliberately, letting the landscape shift gradually beneath you, from Mumbai's chaos to Bhutan's stillness, before you even set foot in the mountains. Garhwal Himalayan Expedition has put together this 8-day itinerary (4 of which are spent sightseeing actively) precisely because the journey itself deserves as much attention as the destination.

Day 1 and 2: Settling Into the Rails

The trip begins at either Lokmanya Tilak Terminus or Panvel Railway Station, where travellers board the 22511 Karmabhoomi Express or the 11031 APDJ Amrit Bharat Express, the choice largely dictated by which day you're setting off. Departure usually falls somewhere between late morning and early afternoon.

What follows is a full day and a half of watching India unfold from a train window, Maharashtra giving way to Chhattisgarh, then Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and finally West Bengal. It's less about ticking off sights and more about settling into the rhythm of long-distance rail travel, something increasingly rare in how people travel today.

Day 3: Crossing Into Bhutan

Arrival at Hasimara Railway Station marks the shift from train to road. From here, it's roughly a five to six-hour drive covering about 170 kilometres, first to Jaigaon for immigration formalities, then across the border into Phuentsholing, and onward through winding mountain roads toward Thimphu.

This stretch is where Bhutan starts announcing itself, waterfalls tucked into hillsides, forest viewpoints opening up unexpectedly, and rivers tracing alongside the road for long stretches. By the time you reach Thimphu, the pace of the trip has changed entirely.

Day 4: A Day Inside Bhutan's Capital

Thimphu doesn't overwhelm the way most capital cities do. The day's sightseeing takes in the Buddha Dordenma, a massive golden statue watching over the valley, followed by the Memorial Chorten, a stupa that locals visit daily as part of their routine rather than as a tourist stop. The Tashichho Dzong, still functioning as a seat of government, sits alongside the National Folk Heritage Museum, which does a good job showing what everyday rural life in Bhutan actually looks like. A stop at the Motithang Takin Preserve introduces visitors to the takin, Bhutan's rather odd looking national animal, before the day winds down at a local craft bazaar.

Day 5: Onward to Paro

The drive from Thimphu to Paro Valley is short but the shift in scenery is noticeable, terraced farmland and pine-covered slopes replacing the more urban feel of the capital. Rinpung Dzong dominates the day's sightseeing, a fortress monastery with views across the valley that are hard to rush past. The National Museum of Bhutan, built into what was once a watchtower, adds context to everything seen so far. There's a stop at the Paro Airport viewpoint too, worth it if only because Paro's airport is genuinely one of the more dramatic landing strips in the world, hemmed in by mountains on all sides. Kyichu Lhakhang, among Bhutan's oldest temples, and a walk through the local market round out the day. Travellers with time to spare can attempt a short hike toward the Tiger's Nest viewpoint before the light fades.

Day 6 and 7: The Return Journey

After breakfast on Day 6, the route reverses, back through Phuentsholing, through border formalities once more, and onward to Hasimara Railway Station to board the overnight train home. Day 7 is spent entirely on the rails again, retracing the same stretch of country in the opposite direction.

Day 8: Back in Mumbai

The tour wraps up with arrival in Mumbai, the journey having covered thousands of kilometres by rail and road combined, and left behind a fairly thorough introduction to Bhutan in just four active sightseeing days.. For anyone weighing up a Mumbai-to-Bhutan Tour, this rail-and-road format is the part people remember almost as fondly as the mountains themselves.

What's Included

• Train tickets (Sleeper or 3AC depending on booking)
• all railway station transfers
• three nights of hotel accommodation, daily breakfast
• a private vehicle for the entirety of the Bhutan leg
• all sightseeing listed in the itinerary
• an experienced local driver
• assistance with Bhutan's entry permit
• the Sustainable Development Fee where it applies
• Parking and toll
• driver allowance charges

What's Not Included

Lunch and dinner, personal spending, entry fees to monuments and monasteries, guide charges unless stated otherwise, camera fees, travel insurance, tips, and any costs arising from delays or disruptions due to weather or road conditions.

Pricing Per Person

Groups of 2 pay ₹39,850, groups of 4 or more pay ₹33,750, groups of 6 to 8 bring the cost down to ₹30,750, and larger groups of 8 to 12 pay ₹28,000 per head.

For those drawn to slower, more immersive travel, this is exactly the kind of trip Garhwal Himalayan Expedition specialises in. Get in touch to check availability and lock in your dates.