- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan travel guide 2027
Bhutan travel guide 2027: everything you need to plan a trip
How to visit Bhutan step by step: visas, the SDF, flights, where to go, when to go, costs, rules and culture. From a licensed tour team in Thimphu.
- Updated October 2026
- For first-time visitors
- Government-checked facts
209,376
Tourist arrivals in 2025
157
Countries they came from
USD 100
SDF per adult per night
5 nights
Average stay for non-Indian visitors
Why Bhutan
A country that decided to do tourism differently
Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom between India and China, with about 780,000 people and forest over roughly 70 per cent of the land. It measures progress by Gross National Happiness, keeps its dzongs as working monasteries and government offices, and asks every visitor to pay a daily fee that funds the country.
In 2025 it welcomed 209,376 tourists from 157 countries. That sounds like a lot until you see Punakha Dzong on a weekday morning with a handful of visitors in its courtyards. This guide covers what you need to know to plan a trip here, with links to our detailed pages on each topic.
- Constitutional monarchy since 2008
- Dzongkha is the national language, English widely spoken
- Most visitors arrive by air at Paro
How to visit Bhutan
Visiting Bhutan in eight steps
Choose your month
Spring and autumn for weather and festivals, winter and summer for quiet and lower rates.
Decide how long
Five nights for the highlights, seven for comfort, ten or more for central Bhutan.
Pick an operator
A licensed Bhutanese operator arranges your guide, hotels, visa and SDF.
Agree an itinerary
Get a day-by-day plan and an itemised price, then pay a deposit.
Book flights to Paro
Drukair or Bhutan Airlines from Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok and other hubs.
Get your visa
Your operator pays the SDF and applies. Approval usually takes about 5 working days.
Pack in layers
And bring clothes that cover arms and legs for dzongs and festivals.
Land in Paro
Your guide meets you at arrivals. Everything after that is taken care of.
Essentials
Bhutan travel essentials
Visa
USD 40, arranged before travel. Indian visitors get an entry permit.
SDF
USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027.
Currency
Ngultrum, pegged to the Indian rupee. Bring US dollars and a card.
Time
UTC+6, half an hour ahead of India.
Power
230 V, sockets D, F and G.
Phones
B-Mobile and TashiCell SIMs at Paro airport, or an eSIM.
Guide
A licensed guide is required beyond the first checkpoint.
Emergency
Dial 112 for an ambulance. Your guide and our office are on call.
Where to go
The places most visitors see
Most first trips focus on the western valleys. With more time, add central Bhutan.
Paro
The airport valley, Rinpung Dzong and the hike to Tiger’s Nest.
Thimphu
Bhutan’s capital, with Tashichho Dzong, Buddha Dordenma and the weekend market.
Punakha
Capital until 1955, with a riverside dzong and rice terraces.
Phobjikha
A glacial valley and winter home of the black-necked crane.
Bumthang
Ancient temples, buckwheat fields and the Burning Lake.
Haa
A quiet valley over the Chele La pass from Paro.
Daily life
What travelling in Bhutan is actually like
A typical day
Breakfast at the hotel, then your guide and driver pick you up around nine. You might spend the morning in a dzong, have lunch in a local restaurant, walk to a temple on a ridge in the afternoon and be back at the hotel by five. Evenings are free. Drives between valleys take two to four hours, broken by tea stops and viewpoints.
Food
The national dish is ema datshi, chillies cooked in cheese. Red rice comes with most meals. Try momos, buckwheat noodles in Bumthang and butter tea, which is salty. Hotels and restaurants also serve Indian, Chinese and continental food, and vegetarians eat well. Tell us about allergies and we pass them on.
Hotels
Tourists stay only in certified accommodation. Most 3-star hotels are family-run, clean and warm, with Bhutanese decoration. Farmhouse homestays give a closer look at village life. At the top end, lodges such as Amankora, COMO Uma and Six Senses rank among the best in Asia.
Money and phones
The ngultrum equals the Indian rupee, and rupees are accepted in many places. Cards work in hotels and larger shops, and there are ATMs in towns. Buy a SIM at Paro airport for data. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels.
Safety
Bhutan has low crime, and you travel with a guide. The main risks are winding mountain roads and altitude. Thimphu has the national referral hospital, and serious cases may be evacuated to India or Thailand, which is why we recommend insurance with evacuation cover.
At a glance
When to go and what it costs
| Question | Short answer | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Best time to visit? | March to May and late September to November | Best time to visit Bhutan |
| How much does it cost? | About USD 2,500 to 3,200 per person for 7 days in 3-star hotels | Bhutan travel cost |
| How do I get there? | Fly to Paro with Drukair or Bhutan Airlines, or cross by land from India | Flights to Bhutan |
| What are the rules? | Visa, SDF, licensed guide and certified hotels | Bhutan travel rules |
| What should I pack? | Layers and modest clothes for dzongs | What to pack for Bhutan |
| Do I need insurance? | Not required, but strongly recommended | Bhutan travel insurance |
| Festival dates? | Paro 18 to 22 Mar, Thimphu 10 to 12 Oct 2027 | Festival calendar 2027 |
Sample plan
A classic 7-day itinerary
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Land in Paro, drive about an hour to Thimphu, gentle walk |
| Day 2 | Thimphu: Tashichho Dzong, Buddha Dordenma, Memorial Chorten, crafts |
| Day 3 | Over Dochula pass to Punakha |
| Day 4 | Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang, a valley walk |
| Day 5 | Back to Paro: Rinpung Dzong, National Museum, Kyichu Lhakhang |
| Day 6 | Hike to Tiger's Nest, farmhouse dinner |
| Day 7 | Fly out of Paro |
Rules for 2027
What every visitor pays and needs
These apply to every tour in Bhutan, whoever you book with. We checked them against Department of Tourism notices in October 2026.
SDF: USD 100 a night
The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027. Children under 6 pay nothing and older children pay a reduced rate. The government has not yet said what the rate will be after August 2027.
Visa: USD 40, once
Most nationalities need visa clearance before they fly. It costs USD 40 per person and usually takes about 5 working days. We apply for you.
Indian visitors
Indian nationals need only an entry permit and pay an SDF of INR 1,200 per night. Bangladeshi and Maldivian visitors follow separate regional rules.
Licensed guide
A Department of Tourism notice of 8 April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide beyond the first checkpoint.
Certified stays only
On 22 October 2026 the Department reminded all hotels and village homestays that they need its certification before hosting tourists. We book only certified places.
Insurance is optional
Travel insurance has not been compulsory since 23 April 2024. We still recommend cover for medical treatment and evacuation.
Rates can change. We confirm the SDF and visa fee in writing before you pay anything.
Bhutan travel guide: common questions
Yes. Bhutan is open to all nationalities. Most need a visa arranged before travel and pay the SDF.
You need a licensed guide and certified hotels, so most visitors book through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
Five nights covers the highlights. Seven is more comfortable. Ten or more lets you reach central Bhutan.
Yes. Crime is low and you travel with a guide.
Dzongkha is the national language. English is widely spoken, especially by younger people and in towns.
Most of our guests say yes: uncrowded sites, a living culture, mountain scenery and a private guide who opens doors.
Keep planning
Detailed guides
Free trip planning
Plan your Bhutan trip with us
Tell us your dates and interests. We will turn this guide into a day-by-day plan with one clear price.
- Free personalised consultation
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
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