- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan packing list 2027
What to pack for Bhutan: a practical list for every season
Clothes for cold mornings and warm afternoons, what to wear in dzongs and at festivals, shoes for Tiger’s Nest, and the customs rules on what you can bring in.
- Written by guides in Thimphu
- Season by season
- Customs rules included
The one rule
Pack for three climates in one day
A day in Bhutan can start below freezing on Dochula pass at 3,100 metres and end in shirtsleeves in Punakha at about 1,200 metres. That is why the best packing advice is boring but true: layers. A thin base layer, a fleece and a light down or padded jacket will cover almost every trip outside deep winter or a high trek.
The second thing to plan for is the dress code. Bhutan is relaxed about what you wear in town, but dzongs, temples and festivals expect long sleeves, long trousers or a long skirt, and no hats inside. If you pack with that in mind from the start, you will not need to buy anything here.
- Layers you can add or remove in the car
- One smart, modest outfit for dzongs and festivals
- Shoes with grip for the Tiger's Nest trail
The core list
Bhutan packing checklist
This is what we suggest for a 7 to 10 day cultural trip in spring or autumn. Adjust for the season using the table further down.
Clothing
2 to 3 long-sleeved shirts, 1 thermal top, 1 fleece, 1 warm jacket, 2 pairs of long trousers, a long skirt or dress if you wear them, socks for cold floors.
Footwear
Broken-in walking shoes or light boots for hikes, plus easy slip-on shoes, because you take them off at every temple.
Weather gear
A packable rain jacket, a warm hat and thin gloves for early starts, and a sun hat for midday.
Sun and skin
High-factor sunscreen, lip balm with SPF and sunglasses. UV is strong at altitude, even on cloudy days.
Health kit
Your prescriptions in original packaging, painkillers, rehydration salts, blister plasters, and anything you take for stomach upsets.
Electronics
A universal adapter for type D, F and G sockets, a power bank, and spare camera batteries. Power is 230 V.
Documents
Passport valid 6 months beyond your exit date, your visa approval letter printed or on your phone, insurance details and a copy of your itinerary.
Money
US dollars in newer, undamaged notes or Indian rupees, plus a Visa or Mastercard. Carry small notes for markets.
Extras
A reusable water bottle, a cloth shopping bag, a small daypack and a head torch for early festival mornings.
Season by season
What to pack for each season in Bhutan
Temperatures are rough guides for Paro and Thimphu at around 2,200 to 2,400 metres. Punakha is noticeably warmer, and passes are colder.
| Season | Typical weather | Add to your bag | You can leave out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring, March to May | Mild days, cool nights, occasional showers | Light fleece, rain jacket, sun hat | Heavy down jacket |
| Summer, June to August | Warm and humid, rain most afternoons | Waterproof jacket, quick-dry clothes, insect repellent, leech socks for hikes | Thermals |
| Autumn, September to November | Clear, dry, cold mornings | Warm layers for dawn, gloves for passes, good sunglasses | Heavy rain gear |
| Winter, December to February | Sunny days, nights well below freezing in Paro and Thimphu | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves, warm socks for dzong floors | Shorts and sandals |
Hotels in Paro and Thimphu are heated, but older buildings and farmhouses can be cold at night. Ask for an extra blanket if you need one.
Dress code
What to wear in Bhutan's dzongs, temples and festivals
Dzongs are working government offices as well as monasteries, so they keep a formal dress code. Bhutanese wear the gho or kira with a ceremonial scarf. Visitors don’t have to dress like that. Turn up in shorts, a sleeveless top or a cap, though, and the gate staff will send you back.
What works
- Long trousers or a skirt below the knee
- A shirt or top with sleeves, ideally long
- A collared shirt for men if you have one
- Closed shoes you can slip off easily
What to avoid
- Shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops
- Hats, caps and sunglasses inside
- Clothes with large slogans or images
- Very tight or see-through clothing
Festivals
A Tshechu is the one day of the year when Bhutanese wear their best gho and kira. Turning up smartly dressed is a sign of respect, and locals notice. Some guests buy or borrow a gho or kira for the day. Your guide can help you put it on, which takes practice.
For trekkers
Extra kit for treks and long hikes
On a camping trek, the crew carries tents, kitchen and food. You bring personal kit.
Boots
Waterproof, broken-in boots with ankle support. Bring spare laces.
Sleeping bag
Rated to about minus 10 °C for high treks such as Jomolhari. Ask us if you prefer to hire one.
Warm layers
A down jacket, insulated gloves, a warm hat and thermal leggings for nights in camp.
Water
Purification tablets or a filter bottle, plus electrolyte powder.
Poles
Trekking poles save your knees on long descents, including the Tiger's Nest trail.
Head torch
With spare batteries. Camps have no electricity.
Customs
What you can and cannot bring into Bhutan
Bhutan customs rules are simple for most visitors. Fill in the declaration form on arrival if you carry anything dutiable.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Personal effects | Used personal items such as clothes, cameras and laptops are free of duty. |
| Alcohol | One bottle of up to one litre duty-free. |
| Tobacco | Small amounts for personal use are allowed but must be declared and are charged duty. Smoking in public places is banned. |
| Cash | Declare amounts above USD 10,000 or the equivalent on arrival and departure. |
| Medicines | Bring prescriptions in original packaging with a copy of the prescription. Some medicines need an import permit. |
| Drones | Not allowed without approval from the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority. Leave it at home unless approval is arranged. |
| Prohibited | Narcotics, pornography and antiques cannot be brought in. Antiques and wildlife products cannot be taken out. |
Rules summarised from published customs guidance and checked in October 2026. If you are carrying anything unusual, ask us before you fly.
Small things
Things people wish they had packed
After hundreds of trips, our guides have a list of things guests ask to borrow. Earplugs come up a lot, because village dogs bark at night. So do warm socks for padding around temple floors in winter, and a small towel for hot stone baths. A head torch is useful for power cuts and for walking to the thongdrel before dawn at a festival.
Bring a reusable water bottle. Most hotels refill them, and it keeps plastic out of the valleys. A cloth shopping bag is useful too, because Bhutan has long restricted plastic bags in shops.
And what to leave at home
- A drone, unless approval has been arranged
- Expensive jewellery
- More cash than you need, as cards work in hotels
- A hair dryer from a 110 V country without a converter
Bhutan packing questions
Layers you can adjust during the day, and long sleeves with long trousers or a long skirt for dzongs, temples and festivals. In town, casual clothes are fine.
In towns and on hikes, yes. Not in dzongs, temples or at festivals.
Not necessarily. Good walking shoes with grip are enough for most people. The trail is steep and dusty in the dry season and muddy after rain.
Days are often sunny and pleasant, but nights in Paro and Thimphu drop well below freezing. Pack a proper warm jacket, hat and gloves.
A small amount for personal use, declared at customs and subject to duty. Smoking in public places is banned.
A universal adapter covering type D, F and G sockets. Power is 230 V.
Keep planning
More Bhutan travel guides
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