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Exploring Bhutan

Travel Essentials

Below is our list of Bhutan travel essentials: visas, money, language, tipping, keeping in touch, and more. We suggest consulting additional resources such as your preferred guide book, clicking through to the helpful links below, and of course, chatting with your friendly Fleewinter Bhutan specialists who will help you prepare for your trip to the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Visas & Fees

All visitors to Bhutan (except those from India) must have a visa to enter Bhutan. As part of your Fleewinter holiday, we will acquire this for you after your balance is paid. To do this, we will require a scanned color passport copy, a digital passport photo, and proof of valid travel insurance. We will send you a visa clearance document 10 days – 2 weeks before your arrival in Bhutan and you will need this to check-in for your flight to Bhutan. You may be asked for a printed passport sized photo and travel insurance certificate when you arrive in Paro where the actual visa will be stamped into your passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your departure from Bhutan and you must apply for the visa with the passport on which you will travel.

As you will need to spend a night in a gateway country on your way to and from Bhutan, please ensure that you have any necessary visas for those stays. Our Thailand, India, Singapore, and Nepal pages are helpful resources if you’re passing through those countries.

All visitors to Bhutan except for children under the age of 6 are required to pay a Sustainable Development Fee to support Bhutan’s development. This fee is allocated to a variety of projects including infrastructure, education, and healthcare. As of April 2024, the SDF is US$100 per person, per night spent in the country. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 are half that amount. We will include this fee in your Bhutan holiday package price.

 

Insurance & Health

Full travel insurance is required to obtain a visa to Bhutan and must be maintained throughout your stay. If your holiday includes a trek, your insurance must include emergency evacuation by helicopter and provision for repatriation. Please visit our page on travel insurance for general guidance on obtaining a policy.

As no member of our team is a medical doctor, we advise you to make a travel appointment with your local medical team for the most up-to-date and accurate information. Malaria is not generally a risk and for most travellers, having your normal jabs up-to-date will suffice. The NHS Fit for Travel page is an excellent resource on suggested vaccines and other health advice for travel to Bhutan.

The tap water is not safe to drink in Bhutan so ice cubes and un-boiled water are best avoided. Safe drinking water is readily available for purchase throughout the country.

Money Matters

The Ngultrum (Nu) is the currency of Bhutan and is fixed to the value of Indian rupees. There are ATMs in most towns although the withdrawal limits tend to be low and these are not always reliable. The best currency to bring is US Dollars although British Pounds can easily be exchanged in Thimphu and Paro. Larger US notes receive a better exchange rate than smaller bills. All five star hotels accept credit cards as do some of the four and three star properties. Cash is necessary in most restaurants and many shops.

Restaurant and hotel bills include a 10% gratuity and there is generally no expectation of a tip on top of this. If your drivers and guides make your holiday more enjoyable, tips are much appreciated. We recommend USD$5-10 per day for drivers and US$10-20 per day for guides.

Within monasteries and temples, there are many boxes and areas where donations and offerings are commonly given. If you’d like to donate, please speak with your guide about the best way to do this. A monk may offer you a blessing in thanks. Follow your guide’s lead on how to accept the blessing.

Language & Clothing

While Dzongkha is the national language, there are 19 dialects spoken around the country. The geographic divisions of the land with its high mountains and valley settlements, led to this diverse collection of languages so as you move from west to the centre, to the east, and to the south, you’ll hear the changes. We will provide you with an English-speaking guide who will be able to assist you throughout your time in Bhutan.

Given the range of climates you’re likely to encounter as you move through different altitudes, layers are essential. Breathable, quick-drying layers are ideal and if you’re visiting in winter, you’ll want long johns and other base layers. When visiting dzongs, monasteries, and other religious institutions, please dress respectably and remove any hats or caps. Long trousers or ankle-length dresses and long sleeves are best although with a collared shirt, shorter sleeves are permissible so long as shoulders are fully covered. At the Tiger’s Nest and elsewhere, the security staff will decide whether your attire is acceptable before allowing entry and some individuals are more strict than others. It’s best to have long sleeves with you at all times to avoid being denied access.

Communication, Time, and Electricity

Most hotels have WiFi available to guests, at least in the main areas although speeds and reliability vary greatly throughout the country. If you want to be connected throughout your stay, it’s best to pick up a local SIM card on arrival at the airport. You can also pick these up at Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell authorized agents in town.

Bhutan is 6 hours ahead of GMT and has only one time zone with no change for the summer or daylight savings.

Round two-pin and three-pin power outlets are standard in Bhutan and plug adapters are nearly impossible to find outside Thimphu so please ensure you bring the correct adapters for your electronics. In newer hotels, you’ll find universal outlets and USB ports. Electricity runs on 220/240 volts.

festival-bhutan

Festivals

If you are fortunate enough to witness a religious festival during your time in Bhutan, please be respectful of these sacred events. These are not staged for entertainment or pageantry so visitors are asked to act considerately. Any obtrusive, disrespectful or discourteous behavior including eating, drinking, and talking or laughing loudly at inappropriate times may result in being asked to leave and future visitors being prohibited. Please see our Festivals page for more information and this page for a personal recounting of attending festivals.

 A few bonus tips…

As Bhutan is unlike anywhere else in the world, we highly recommend picking up a book or two about life in this mountain kingdom before you go. Some of our favourites are Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli, Married to Bhutan by Linda Leaming, Treasures of the Thunder Dragon by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Queen of Bhutan, and Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa.

The culture of Bhutan is unique and there is quite a lot to consider as you prepare for your holiday. When you book with Fleewinter, we’ll give you our handy answers to FAQs with guidance on how much money to bring, what to pack, what not to bring (hint: please leave out the pens, sweets, chewing gum or other items to give children), where it’s ok to photograph and where it isn’t, and more.

Paro
Home to the country's only international airport and the well-known cliffside Paro Taktsang or Tiger's Nest monastery, your holiday will almost certainly start and end here.
Thimphu
This capital city is the largest in the nation and although it's becoming more modern, it maintains its historic character and charm. Home to many museums and other sights that provide insight into Bhutanese culture, Thimphu is worth at least two nights on your holiday.
Punakha
Generally considered the most beautiful fortress in a country full of stunning buildings, Punakha Dzong alone makes it worth visiting this small city in a subtropical valley. The drive over mountain passes is memorable and on a clear day, the views are spectacular.
Gangtey
If you're hoping to see black-necked cranes, the Gangtey region will be on your itinerary. Late October is typically the best month to see these rare birds coming through although you may see them all the way into February.
Bumthang
Many call this the cultural heart of the country, and if time allows for a visit to Bumthang, you'll be well rewarded. Bring good walking shoes as some of the best sights are seen on foot.

Your adventure starts here!

Do you fancy having a chat about Travel Essentials? Personally, it's one of our favourite things to talk about.

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