Get Ready for the 19th Biennial IASE Conference in Thimphu, Bhutan

Registration is now open for our 19th Biennial International Conference in partnership with the Royal Thimphu College in Thimphu, Bhutan which is scheduled from June 21-26, 2026

With the New Year underway, it is the time to start organizing your trip and involvement in the IASE 19th Biennial International Special Education Conference in conjunction with the Royal Thimphu College in Thimphu, Bhutan which will be held from June 21-June 26 2026.

You should start thinking about your conference travel and lodging options. So please note the information below regarding these important issues.

For additional Information regarding the entire conference feel free to access it on our website: iase.org

*Important  ALL PRESENTERS MUST BE REGISTERED BY March 1, 2026

TRANSPORTATION Information

International Airlines that fly into Paro, Bhutan:

Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) website: drukair.com.bt and

Bhutan Airlines, website: www.bhutanairlines.bt

The local conference committee has suggested using Dehli or Bangkok airports for flights to Paro airport in Bhutan (see below). It is very important that you register for the conference as soon as possible in order to start the visa process and reserve your flights as there are only the two airlines that fly into Paro airport from Delhi or Bangkok and other airports in India and the surrounding countries.

inside Paro Airport

Currently, Drukair has one scheduled daily direct flight from Delhi, India to Paro that leaves at 12:30 pm. In addition, a daily flight with one stop (Kolkata, India) from Bangkok that leaves at 5:00am arriving at 7:15am. In addition, there are also a direct flight from Dubai at 4am arriving at Paro at 10:30am.

Please, always check the Drukair website for the most current flight schedules and information as these flight schedules change.

Bhutan Airlines has two daily flights from Bangkok at 6:30 am and/or at 1:30pm depending on the day and from Delhi at 1:30pm or 2;20pm depending on the day. Again, always check the airline website for the most accurate and current flight information.

For those of you that are flying internationally and you need to stay overnight, there are a number of hotels located within and surrounding the Dehli International Airport and a hotel within the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International airport (Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport).

For those who are flying to Paro thru India you will most likely need to obtain an Indian Tourist e-Visa for either 30 days or a year. Please speak with your airline about India's nationality requirements.

If you are flying thru Bangkok, Thailand you will need to get a Digital Arrival Card thru sites like www.ivisa.com

Again, Bhutan has very strict visa requirements, so our conference committee has gone to great lenghts to help conference delegates get the proper visa documentations. So when you pay your conference registration fee, you will get an email containing the proper links to the visa application form. If there are any issues with your application, you will be notified.

Please note that your registration includes everything from your visa application and processing, lunches, the High Tea Welcome Ceremony, the Gala Dinner, transportation to an from Paro airport, to hotels, the university as well as to all cultural and school/site visits. However, registration excludes optional pre- and post- conference excursions.

If you have any questions, Please contact us at iaseconference2026@gmail.com

There is additonal information regarding the Conference on our website: www.iase.org

Check out your IASE Bhutan experience Q&A, Check out your visa updates and process and Check out preparing your trip to Bhutan.

Lodging and Currency Information

For hotel and lodging information go to the website conference page and click on Lodging.

The IASE website conference lodging link: 

(link to: https://www.iase.org/_files/ugd/6cc07a_e1be247145bf4621bf0b9124be813afa.pdf)

For this conference, lodging will be offered in 5 hotels, all of which have been reviewed for their affordability, accessibility and closeness to the University.

Please keep in mind the rates are for the fiscal year 2025, so the rates reflected may increase for 2026.

You must check the hotel options on our website and send them an email. When you get to Thimphu, you will have to pay them. Since most of them do not accept credit cards, you will only be able to pay them in cash.

So make sure you have the proper currency.

Currency exchange booth at Paro Airport

Therefore, be ready to use cash in Bhutan for hotel, food, and other expenses. You can obtain currency at the aiport in Paro or at banks in Thimphu. Additionally, the hotels will take Bhutanese Ngultrum, Indian Rupee, US dollars or Europeran Euros.

ATM machine at Paro airport

Some facts about Bhutan: Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion. The capital, Thimphu has no traffic lights. GNH Bhutan uniquely prioritizes holistic well-being through its Gross National Happiness index. Archery is the popular national sport.

Thimphu elevation is 7,545 feet

More information to come thru this Blog. On behalf of the IASE Board and Conference Committee members please take care and we look forward to welcoming you to Bhutan in June, 2026.