Last update: Oct 22, 2026
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Bhutan Summary
These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.
"Best for" scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
"Your personal" scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.
"Suited for" badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travelers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.
Suited for
Bhutan – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type D , Type G
Type D:
  Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) $1 ≈ BTN 95.03 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 2/5
Cashless payments are not widely accepted in Bhutan, and cash is generally preferred, especially in rural areas. Credit cards are accepted in larger cities.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: |
Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not mandatory in Bhutan, but it is appreciated. A 5-10% tip is common in restaurants and for hotel staff. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is not common in Bhutan, and alcohol consumption is generally restricted to private spaces or licensed venues. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is banned in most public areas, and Bhutan has some of the strictest tobacco laws in the world, although the ban on tobacco sales was lifted in 2021. Smoking is allowed in private places. |
| Bhutan National Day (December) |
Expect celebrations with parades and festivals in the capital, Thimphu. |
|---|---|
| Tsechu Festival (October) |
Tsechu is an important religious festival, attracting large crowds for traditional dances and performances. |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Numbers: 113 (Police), 112 (Ambulance), 110 (Fire) |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | Tashi Taxi |
| Other: | Bhutan is known for its stunning monasteries, trekking trails, and commitment to preserving its unique culture and environment. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for Bhutan, Bhutan
Tshechu festivals: Paro usually in March or April, Thimphu in September or October, masked dances at the dzongs
Daily Sustainable Development Fee applies to most visitors, tours must be booked through a licensed operator
Monsoon June to August: landslides can block roads, high trekking routes best in spring and autumn
Don't miss
- 🏔️ Hike to the cliffside Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro
- 🎉 Join a colorful Buddhist festival at Punakha Dzong
- 🌄 Admire Himalayan panoramas from Dochula Pass’ 108 chortens
- 🛍️ Stroll through Thimphu’s weekend market and meet locals
- 🏯 Visit the fortress-like monastery of Tashichho Dzong
- 🍲 Taste traditional ema datshi and butter tea in a farmhouse
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to Bhutan?
Bhutan has living Buddhist culture and high mountain scenery. Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, is on a cliff above the Paro valley and takes a few hours to hike. Dzongs are fortress monasteries that also house local government offices. They're in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha and are still used for festivals and daily life. Temples, prayer wheels and prayer flags line nearly every road. Thimphu is a small capital with a giant Buddha statue, a weekend market and traditional craft shops. Punakha is in a warmer valley and its dzong is where two rivers meet. Farther east the Bumthang valleys hold old temples and quiet farm villages. The country has no inscribed UNESCO World Heritage sites yet but it has several on its tentative list. Trekking is also popular. Routes range from short walks in the Paro and Thimphu valleys to long treks over high passes. Mountaineering is banned, so the peaks stay untouched. Travel is organized and a daily fee applies, so trips cost more than elsewhere in the region. A week covers Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Ten days or more lets you add Bumthang or a multi-day trek.
🏯Places worth seeing
🎡Places for activities
🏞️Natural landmarks
🛍️Shopping
-
1
Centenary Farmers Market
🎈Events
-
Paro Tshechu
-
Thimphu Tshechu
-
Punakha Drubchen
-
Punakha Tshechu
-
Jambay Lhakhang Drup
-
Haa Summer Festival
-
Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu
-
Bumthang Domkhar Tshechu
-
Black-Necked Crane Festival
-
Lhuntse Tshechu
Knowledge before you go
- Arrange your visa and fee payment through an operator before flying.
- Outside Paro and Thimphu you need a guide, so plan your route with an operator.
- Keep spare days in your plans because weather can delay flights and landslides can block roads.
- Rest on your first day and drink plenty of water because altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the country.
How to travel to Bhutan
Almost everyone arrives by air at Paro International Airport (PBH), which is the country's only international airport. Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly in. Direct routes run from Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu daily and from Kolkata, Singapore, Dhaka, Guwahati and Bagdogra on fewer days a week. No long-haul flights land here directly, so you connect through a regional hub. Flights land in daylight only and weather can cause delays, so avoid tight onward connections. Paro to Thimphu is about 31 mi and takes one to one and a half hours by road. By land, Phuentsholing is the traditional crossing from India and is 4 to 5 hours from Bagdogra airport. Samdrup Jongkhar in the southeast is open to third country travelers. Your operator usually greets you at the gate. You need a visa to enter and leave. Apply in advance through a Bhutanese tour operator or hotel or through the Department of Immigration website. The visa is pre-approved and issued on arrival. Your passport must be valid for six months after your planned departure.
Access summary
- Fly to Paro Airport (PBH) via Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Singapore.
- From India/Nepal: connect via regional hubs to Paro on Drukair/Bhutan Airlines.
- Drukair and Bhutan Airlines based at Paro; neither in major alliances.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in Bhutan
Most visitors book hotels as part of a tour package arranged with a Bhutanese operator, which simplifies the visa and the daily fee. Paro, Thimphu and Punakha have the widest choice, from simple guesthouses and mid-range hotels to luxury lodges in the valleys. Paro suits the first and last night since it's close to the airport and the Tiger's Nest trail. Thimphu has the most hotels, restaurants and shops and works as a base for the capital. Punakha has hotels with river and rice terrace views. Farther east, Bumthang has smaller hotels and farm stays. Farmhouse stays let you eat local food and see daily rural life. Remote areas have fewer rooms, so confirm bookings in advance. Adults pay a Sustainable Development Fee of $100 ($100) per night, with a lower rate for children. Check what your tour price includes, such as meals, transport and guide fees. Spring and autumn fill up quickly, so book well ahead for those seasons.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
How to get around Bhutan
Bhutan's main road links Paro, Thimphu and Punakha and then continues east toward Bumthang. Distances look short on a map but drives take hours, since roads go through steep valleys and there aren't any traffic lights. Most visitors travel in a car with a driver arranged by their tour operator.
Car with a driver:
Rental cars come with a driver. If you bring your own vehicle you must hire a guide. The run from Paro to Thimphu covers 31 mi yet needs over an hour.
Road conditions:
Avoid night travel where you can since car accidents are a major cause of injury. In the monsoon, landslides can cut roads for days, so keep a spare day in your plans.
Flights, taxis and walking:
Domestic flights from Paro serve Bumthang, Yonphula and Gelephu and can save a long drive. Without a guide you can only explore Paro and Thimphu, while elsewhere a guide is required. Taxis work in Thimphu and Paro. Towns are small enough to walk around.
Food in Bhutan
Bhutanese food is simple and spicy. Chilies are treated as a vegetable rather than a seasoning. Most hotels and restaurants serve a buffet with Bhutanese dishes alongside Indian and Chinese options. Local food can be very spicy, so ask for mild dishes if you aren't used to chilies. Vegetarians can eat well since many dishes are based on vegetables and cheese. Take care with food and water hygiene to avoid stomach problems.
Ema datshi:
The national dish is ema datshi, a stew of chilies and local cheese that appears at almost every meal.
Rice and momos:
Rice is the staple and is often red rice served with vegetable dishes, meat or dried pork. Momos, filled dumplings, are a popular snack in towns.
Drinks:
Butter tea and milk tea are served in homes and temples. Local drinks include ara (a grain spirit) plus locally brewed beer. Alcohol is legal but there are limits on how much tourists can buy at one time.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
Daily expenses in Bhutan are around 66% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (USD to BTN) is 17% better than in recent years. That means traveling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.
Travel costs
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
Daily cost summary
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation | |||
| 🏨 Accommodation per night, per person | |||
| 🍝 Food per day | |||
| 🚕 Transportation per day |
Notable additional fees:
Sustainable Development Fee $100 ($100) per person per night (held to Aug 2027), plus a one-off $40 ($40) visa fee. Ages 6 to 12 pay half, under-5s free. You must book through a licensed Bhutanese operator.
Food & Drink
| 🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person | |
|---|---|
| 🍛 Lunch Set, per person | |
| 🍟 Fast food combo | |
| 🍝 Preparing your own food, per day | |
| ☕ Cappuccino | |
| 🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz |
Transportation
| 🚌 Public transport ticket | |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi | |
| ⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal |
Other
| 🎞️ Movie ticket | |
|---|---|
| 👩⚕️ Doctor's consult | |
| 🤧 Cold medication | |
| 💇 Basic haircut |
Safety information overview
General safety
Crime levels are low and terrorism hasn't been a recent concern. The main risks are road accidents, landslides in the monsoon, earthquakes and wildfires. Drug penalties are strict and littering is illegal. Dress respectfully at temples and dzongs and avoid criticizing the King.
Health & Medical
Healthcare is basic outside Thimphu and complex cases may need evacuation to India or Thailand. High altitude can cause sickness and dengue occurs. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines are advised. Insurance with evacuation cover is essential and 112 calls an ambulance.
Accessibility
Accessibility is limited. Monasteries and dzongs have steep steps and uneven stone paths and the Tiger's Nest needs a long uphill hike. Roads are winding and ramps are rare. Travelers with reduced mobility do best with a private driver and carefully chosen sights.
Tap water
Tap water isn't generally recommended for drinking. Travelers should take care with water hygiene, which also lowers the risk of hepatitis A and typhoid. Use bottled or filtered water and avoid ice from unknown sources. Hotels and shops sell bottled water in towns.
Packing recommendations for Bhutan
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
🥾
Hiking boots
📷
Camera
🌞
Sunscreen
🚰
Reusable water bottle
🧥
Rain jacket
especially June–September
🕶️
Sunglasses
🪰
Insect repellent
👛
Cash in small denominations
🧕
Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees
for temple visits
🔋
Power bank
🩹
Basic first aid kit
💊
Altitude sickness medication
📃
Travel insurance
🪪
Copies of passport and important documents
🧥
Fleece mid-layer
for variable temperatures
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal power adapter
🩺
Prescription medication
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
🛂
Passport
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