The Ultimate Bhutan Travel Guide

Bhutan draws visitors for myriad reasons: it’s exclusive, mysterious, mountainous, culturally unique, and fascinating. On top of that, its geography lends well to outdoor activities, the primary of which is hiking and trekking and includes rafting, climbing, and Bhutan’s national game of dha. Your guide will take you wherever you want to go, so here’s a short breakdown of the best things to do to help you plan your itinerary.

Hiking and Trekking

If you type “Bhutan” into Google, the top result shows images of Tiger’s Nest Monastery. As one of the top attractions in Bhutan, you won’t miss it during your trip (and you shouldn’t). To reach this impressive religious complex that clings to a cliffside above a vast valley, you’ll endure a 5–8 hour hike out and back.

Besides this famous temple, you can get your hiking fix all around Thimphu and in the national parks comprising more than half the country. Some of the best hikes include the Phajoding Monastery, which gives you insight into the rural lifestyle in the mountains, or the challenging Talakha Hike that will take your breath away figuratively and literally. For a life-changing trek through the Himalayas, consider the Jomolhari Trek, which takes you up to 16404ft over 10 days.

Keep in mind that mountaineering is forbidden in Bhutan at elevations past 19685ft. The mountains are sacred, and the kingdom has decreed that they will remain untouched. They are the homes of gods and goddesses and should not be disturbed.

Rafting and Kayaking

Not far from Paro, where you enter Bhutan at the only international airport, you can quickly get to two mighty rivers for some exhilarating water adventures. The Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu (chhu = river) wind through lush vegetation through the Punakha Valley, where you’ll pass by temples, under prayer flags, and Class II, III, IV, and V rapids. From beginners to experts, there’s a section of the river ready for you in Bhutan.

Mountain Biking and Motorcycling

Thrill-seekers can explore this country on two wheels—either human-powered or motor-powered. Various tour companies can include mountain biking excursions in your itinerary, visiting the highlights around Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha Valley. You’ll find some gnarly downhill sections, but be prepared to pedal uphill a lot, too, as chairlifts aren’t a thing in Bhutan. For those seeking a greater thrill, check out tour companies that offer motorcycling tours. Whizz through the mountains on treacherous roads where you’ll be stunned by the epic views around every corner. Fair warning, motorcycling in Bhutan is not for the faint of heart, and you should have a motorcycle license from your home country.

Rock Climbing

Although the climbing options in Bhutan are few, they are nonetheless impressive. The giant climbing rock above the capital, known as “the Nose,” offers 13 climbing routes ranging in difficulty from 4B to 7B and extends up to 89ft. All routes are safely bolted, and your climbing guides will secure the rope and belay for you.

A fun bike tour-type option is the 7-10 cycle from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Stay in charming guesthouses along the way!

Other thrilling options include cycling the Annapurna Circuit (usually takes 11 or more days) and the Lower Everest Region (5 or more days).

Cultural Activities and Wildlife Watching

Unsurprisingly, Bhutan’s wildlife abounds as much of the country comprises protected land and natural habitats. For a glimpse into the majestic animal world roaming the lands, look into tours that include wildlife watching and safaris. See the section on Bhutan’s outdoors for more information on biodiversity and what kinds of animals you might encounter. Birdwatchers will want to figure out a way to stop blinking to see all the fantastic wildlife flying above; and you’re sure to come across yak, cattle, and takin, Bhutan’s national animal.

Bhutan’s national sport is one must-do cultural activity that incorporates the historically relevant skills of archery. The game is called dha, and visitors are encouraged to participate in this popular activity. Teams of 13 archers and 2 benchers take turns aiming across a 476ft long field at a target set up at the other end. Points are awarded based on where they hit on the target (3 points = bullseye, 2 points = on the target, 1 point = within an arrow’s length of the target—but some points cancel others out). The first team to reach 25 points wins. Even if you’re too chicken to suit up and play, make sure to witness a match or two while in Bhutan.

Bhutan’s Outdoors

This is why you came here because this is what Bhutan has worked so hard to protect. A carbon-negative country is synonymous with a flourishing environment and biodiversity. Forests cover more than 70% of the small country, and the highest peaks have been climbed only once or twice above 19685ft—it’s now forbidden to go past that height. The wildlife and nature will entice even those barely interested in wildlife, especially Bhutan’s mystical national animal.

Geography

Bhutan shares the Himalayas with its neighbouring countries, with its highest peak soaring at 24836ft. Bhutan has just about everything in between down to a river basin at just 318ft above sea level—that’s impressive for a country that only spans 38,394 km²!

Bhutan is landlocked and has no coastline, but river systems and lakes dot the country’s landscape. Four major river systems flow out of the Himalayas through Bhutan, later joining the systems in India and Bangladesh. Bhutan boasts an impressive number of glacial lakes, about 2674, and at least 59 natural mountain lakes.

Northern Bhutan comprises the eastern part of the Himalayas, and 22966ft peaks line the border. Western Bhutan draws the most visitors where the geographical highlands cover the land. It’s the most accessible region, and the capital, Thimphu, sits in the heart. Here, you’ll encounter several rivers, forests, and valleys, an ideal region for hiking and trekking. In the south, the geography resembles northeastern India, full of agricultural land, savanna, and grasslands.

Biodiversity

The soaring peaks and deep gorges create a myriad of habitats for fauna to flourish. Pair that with the government’s well-intentioned visiting restrictions, and you have yourself a super biodiverse kingdom. When you travel to Bhutan, keep your eyes on the skies for one of its 678 species of birds. You’ll also catch a glimpse of stunning butterflies with the country’s near 900 species flying around. You’ll be impressed by the wildlife, too, with more than 200 mammals roaming the land, including tigers, one-horned rhinos, snow leopards, and the takin, which is Bhutan’s national animal. It looks like a cross between a cow and a goat. No matter why you venture to Bhutan, you’re sure to encounter some majestic life forms.

If you’re interested in travelling to Bhutan, you’ll need to save some serious cash. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to travel to Bhutan on a budget. To mitigate environmental destruction and protect the local culture, the Bhutan government requires all tourists to purchase a guided tour to visit the country (excluding nationals from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives).

The government of Bhutan sets a minimum price per day for each tourist visiting.

The list below shows prices per day per person for groups of three people or more:

• $200 USD per person in January, February, June, July, August, December
• $250 USD per person in March, April, May, September, October, November

Surcharges for solo travellers or groups of two people:

• $40 USD per solo traveller per day
• $30 USD per person per day in a group of two

There’s no denying that your trip to Bhutan will add up quickly—but we’ll make the case that it’s absolutely worth the money.

So what do you get for this price? Everything you need! You’ll have a driver, transportation, accommodation, and any camping equipment you may require during your trip.

• Minimum 3-star accommodation (anything above may require a surcharge)
• All meals
• A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for your entire trip
• Camping equipment and transport for trekking tours
• Sustainable Development Fee ($65 USD)

Your funds will feed into government programs like free education, universal healthcare, and alleviating poverty. Rest assured that your economic contribution will bolster Bhutan while ensuring that an overload of tourists doesn’t ruin this pristine kingdom. You’re expected to wire transfer your total trip costs, along with your $40 USD visa fee, to the Tourism Council of Bhutan before you go.

Overall, when you travel to Bhutan, you’re in safe conditions. Because tourism in Bhutan is a privilege, guests in the country are treated as such, and crime is very low across the nation. When you travel, other earthy threats exist like weather patterns, altitude, and the lack of water treatment infrastructure, among the other common minor threats that exist in every country.

In the mountains, monsoons cause mudslides and unfavourable conditions for trekking and hiking. Check the best time to visit Bhutan to get an idea of which months to avoid due to weather, especially if you plan to hike. To ensure a pleasant trip in higher elevation, take some time to acclimatize before heading high into the peaks. The other safety concerns in the mountainous regions come in the form of winding roads that are poorly lit and seem to cling to the cliffs unfathomably. Car accidents are common here, so always wear your seatbelt and ask your driver to avoid driving at night, if possible.

When you’re spending time in the cities and towns, you’ll notice several street dogs around. Even if you love animals, do your best to let them be as there’s a risk of rabies. The drinking water should only come from bottled or filtered sources—the tap water does not get treated in most parts of Bhutan and could cause sickness if ingested.

Also, like everywhere (and we often give this advice in our travel guides), protect your personal belongings. Bhutan is safe, but people are people no matter where you go in the world. We always recommend obtaining health and medical insurance before travelling anywhere internationally. We’ve been using World Nomads for years. They offer excellent coverage geared towards nomadic folks and travellers and have insurance packages for Bhutan.

Be sure to check your government’s travel advisories for Bhutan. Some areas near the border have rising tensions, like in the far southeast. It’s best to avoid these areas, but if it’s part of your itinerary, make sure to read the latest news before heading in that direction.

For outdoor adventures, the best time to visit Bhutan is from October to December and March to April. During the northern hemisphere’s fall, the weather in Bhutan promises crisp, clean air and sunny skies and high temperatures that hover around 15–20°C. For flora admirers, you’ll want to consider heading to Bhutan in the spring when the meadows are blooming with rhododendrons and other vibrant flowers.

January and February are snowy and cold, with low temperatures reaching just below 0°C, but these months still see some visitors—especially photographers. The rainy season runs from June to September when monsoon rains shroud the mountains and any outdoor fun you want to have.

Since you can only enter Bhutan on a guided tour, you will have a driver and private car for the duration of your trip included in the price of your package.

Best Places to Stay in Bhutan

Where you stay in Bhutan will depend on the tour package you’ve selected for your trip and what kind of experience you want. If you choose hotels for your journey, they’ll be a minimum of 3-star up to 5-star luxury resorts.

For a more authentic exploration and to get acquainted with the Bhutanese people, you can choose farm-stays or home-stays, where you’ll receive home-cooked meals and contribute to their tasks if you want. If you plan to trek, your camping equipment will be provided.

Food and Drink in Bhutan

Spicy, spicy! Be prepared to encounter chilies at every meal—yes, breakfast, too! Chilies grow abundantly in the agricultural land in Bhutan and have snuck their way into Bhutanese cuisine in many forms, along with rice, potatoes, and ginger as the other staples. You’ll also have rich cheese, butter, and milk from cattle and yak. Since Bhutan’s religious beliefs prohibit any animal from being killed, Bhutan imports meat and fish from India for those who consume more than a plant-based diet, and you will find meat on the menu.

Now, let’s get down to the details. The national dish you’ll surely taste in several iterations is ema data, a red rice bowl with farmer’s cheese and chilies, topped with ezay salsa, concocted from dried chilies. For anyone who loves a good stuffed snack, you’ll be happy to feast on dumplings-a-plenty. These are delicious little morsels made from a flour-based dough that’s wrapped around some sort of filling, usual potato, cheese, or sometimes meat, then steamed to cook. Carnivores shouldn’t miss shakam paa, a dish of dried beef cooked with chilies and radish.

To wash it all down, you can choose from a couple of rich beverages, both of which incorporate butter (keto diets will be welcome here). First is the traditional butter tea, a warm elixir of unpasteurized yak milk, butter, black tea, and a pinch of Himalayan salt. (If that doesn’t sound appealing, just think of it like Bulletproof coffee, the coffee trend that incorporates grass-fed butter.) Then, there’s the body-warming alcoholic mix with yak butter, eggs, and rice whiskey. It’s a bit of a ceremony that involves the mixture being poured into a pot, lit on fire, then ladled into mugs to enjoy.

Useful Travel Tools

The process to plan your trip to Bhutan will be different than planning for other international trips. Because of the government’s “high value, low impact” tourist mandate regulations to protect their culture and environment, you must book a licensed Bhutanese tour to explore this country.

To Book Accommodation

When you’re planning your trip to Bhutan, you can choose from hundreds of licensed tour operators. Each offers a different experience. Whether you want a culture and luxury trip or multiple nights spent on a trek, you can customize your package to suit your travel preferences. Trekking nights won’t be as remote as some might hope because you’ll have a cook, possibly a horse to carry your gear, and a guide. Start your search on Bhutan Travel’s Tour Operators page.

To Book Flights

To fly to Bhutan, you’ll land in the Paro Airport, which will be an exhilarating journey in itself as it sits at 7300ft. Two carriers operate flights to Bhutan: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. You’ll find connections from major airports in India, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, and Singapore (but not Tibet or China), so look for international flights with those connections. The most exciting flight path is between Kathmandu, Nepal, and Paro, Bhutan, where you’ll fly above the Roof of the World, including Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu! Find great deals on your flights to Bhutan using Skyscanner or CheapOair.

To Get Gear

Bhutan beckons travellers to appreciate and explore its beauty and pristine nature, and you won’t have much time to be shopping around for the proper gear once you arrive. Get set up before you go with some top-quality threads from Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and Helly Hansen. For biking and trail running, browse the styles at Salomon and the Running Room. For any remaining gear, check MEC, Trail Outdoor Leisure, Blacks or MSR, but remember, if you’re trekking in Bhutan, your tour package will include camping gear.

Other Useful Travel Services

Bhutan is a long way away, and if you’re leaving your car at the airport, the charges could rack up quickly. Save some money by finding a stay-and-park deal at your home airport on Airport Parking Reservations.

Visa Requirements When Travelling to Bhutan

Because of its strict visitor regulations, all international tourists who travel to Bhutan must obtain a visa. When you book your tour package to Bhutan, this will be part of the process and must be done before your arrival. You must have a valid passport with at least one empty page and a six-month validity beyond your departure from Bhutan. The Bhutan visa costs $40 USD for all travellers except Indian, Bangladeshi, or Maldivian, exempt from the cost, and may obtain a visa upon entry to Bhutan.

Interesting Facts About Bhutan

Since Bhutan does not see the same number of travellers as many other top destinations, the facts about this country are lesser-known. Here are a few quirks and exciting facts to familiarize you with this elusive country before you go.

• Bhutan is the only country in the world that is carbon negative, meaning it cleans more greenhouse gasses than it emits.
• There are no traffic lights in Bhutan. They tried to install one in the capital, Thimphu, but there was such public backlash that they took it down.
• Bhutan is the first country to implement constitutional regulations to protect its environment.
• Bhutan banned plastic bags in 1999, waaaaay before it was cool.
• It is illegal to sell tobacco and smoke cigarettes in Bhutan.
• Even if you’re hungry, don’t accept food on the first offer. Traditionally, you should say meshu, meshu, and cover your mouth. After two or three offers, you can accept.
• If you mess with the nation’s endangered and highly-revered black-necked crane, you could face life in prison.
• Bhutan only opened to tourism in the 1970s.
• TV and the internet were banned in Bhutan until 1999.
• The Bhutanese symbol for good luck resembles an… eggplant emoji. The phallic shape, often carved from wood, is donned on doorways and walls to ward off evil spirits.
• Forget your birthday! Everyone becomes one year older on New Year’s Day.
• It’s legal for men and women to have multiple spouses.
• Bhutan has never been conquered or colonized.
• Bhutan has been recorded as the happiest country in Asia. Of course, this is subjective, and there are several “happiness tests” and results that list numerous other countries. But Bhutan takes a different approach to measuring their country’s worth. Instead of Gross National Product, they measure progress by Gross National Happiness.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bhutan

This travel guide alone won’t answer all your questions about Bhutan since it’s such an exclusive travel destination. Here are a few more frequently asked questions about this Kingdom that will help round out your knowledge.

Where is Bhutan?

Landlocked between India and Tibet, Bhutan sits in the eastern part of the Himalayas.

Do they speak English in Bhutan?

Dzongkha is the official national language of Bhutan, but English is widely spoken as all Bhutanese schools teach the majority of subjects in English. You’ll also hear Hindi among the younger generations influenced by Bollywood movies from India.

Do I need to use a tour operator to book a trip to Bhutan?

Yes—it’s a government regulation that all visitors to Bhutan must book a tour through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.

Is there a limit on how many tourists can visit Bhutan per year?

There is no limit on the number of tourists, but the high cost of visiting the country helps with crowd control and ultimately feeds into protecting Bhutan’s culture and environment.

What are some quick tips to cultural etiquette in Bhutan?

• Astrology is an essential part of Bhutanese culture, so be respectful of this belief, even if you think it’s silly.
• Pack appropriate clothing to visit Dzongs (half temple, half municipal office) or monasteries. All visitors should wear long pants and shirts that cover their shoulders. Jeans are acceptable, as long as they cover your legs. Close-toed shoes are required. No hats inside the building, and don’t even think about tying your jacket around your waist. If it’s on, it’s zipped or buttoned, and if it’s off, it’s not on your person.
• When speaking to Bhutanese people, including your guide, steer clear of taboo subjects and do not disrespect the royals.
• Check with your guide before taking photos or filming inside dzongs, temples, monasteries, or other religious buildings, as it is forbidden in some, and you should respect the local customs.

Other Related Stories

Ready to plan your trip to Bhutan? Use this guide and the following related stories for inspiration.

• Chele La Pass Hike
• Buddha Point Hike
• Cheri Monastery Hike
• Pomola Hike
• Dodeydrak Monastery Hike
• Thari Goempa Hike
• Tango Hike
• Lungchutse Hike

Are we missing something? Get in touch with us to leave your comments! Have you been to Bhutan and want to share your experience?