Bhutan
Bhutan limits mass tourism with a nightly Sustainable Development Fee, and the result is a Himalayan kingdom of whitewashed dzongs, prayer-flagged passes and archery matches rather than tour-bus crowds. Hike up to Paro's cliff-hanging Tiger's Nest, cross the covered cantilever bridge to Punakha Dzong, and time your visit for a tshechu, when masked dancers fill monastery courtyards.
Overview
Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom of fewer than 800,000 people, folded into steep north–south valleys between India and Tibet, where districts are still run from dzongs, fortress-monasteries shared by monks and civil servants. Almost every trip starts at Paro, the only international airport, and heads east: Paro and Thimphu first, then over the Dochula pass to Punakha, on to the crane valley of Phobjikha and, with more time, across high passes to Trongsa and the temple-filled valleys of Bumthang. A week covers the west comfortably; ten days or more lets you reach the centre without spending every day in the car.
Travel here works differently from anywhere else in the Himalayas. Most visitors book through a Bhutanese operator who arranges hotels, a car with driver and a licensed guide, and the nightly Sustainable Development Fee comes on top, so even a simple trip costs far more than Nepal. In return you get uncrowded trails, immaculate temples and a country where the knee-length gho and ankle-length kira are everyday dress in offices and schools. Distances look short on the map but mountain roads are slow, and the altitude makes the Tiger's Nest climb hard work. It suits walkers, photographers and anyone curious about Gross National Happiness.
Map of Bhutan
Top 5 highlights
- 1Sacred site
Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
Clinging to a cliff about 900 metres above the Paro valley, this monastery marks the cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated after flying in on a tigress. The steep trail takes two to three hours up, with a cafeteria halfway.
- 2Architecture
Punakha Dzong
Built in 1637–38 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet, Bhutan's most beautiful dzong was the seat of government until the 1950s and hosted the king's wedding in 2011. Jacaranda trees bloom violet around it in spring.
- 3Wildlife
Phobjikha Valley
A broad glacial valley of dwarf-bamboo marsh where rare black-necked cranes spend the winter, roughly November to February. Gangtey Goenpa overlooks the valley floor, and the gentle Gangtey Nature Trail makes a lovely half-day walk.
- 4Sacred site
Bumthang Valley
Four high valleys regarded as Bhutan's spiritual heartland, dotted with some of its oldest temples, including Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang. Expect buckwheat pancakes, locally brewed Red Panda beer and Swiss-style cheese made in Jakar.
- 5Nature
Dochula Pass
At about 3,100 metres on the road from Thimphu to Punakha, 108 memorial chortens crown the pass. On clear mornings between October and February, the snow peaks of the eastern Himalaya, including Gangkhar Puensum, line the northern horizon.
Biggest cities
Thimphu
One of the few capitals without traffic lights, where a policeman directs cars at the main junction. See the Centenary Farmers' Market, Tashichho Dzong and the giant Buddha Dordenma above town.
Phuentsholing
The southern border town facing Jaigaon in West Bengal is Bhutan's trading hub and the main overland entry from India; most travellers stay a night rather than linger.
Paro
A low-rise valley town of painted wooden shopfronts near the airport, and the natural base for the Tiger's Nest hike, Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum.
Figures are 2017 census town populations; Bhutan is still largely rural, and no other town tops 10,000.
When to go to Bhutan
Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov.
Average climate in Thimphu
Festivals & events
- Mar–AprParo Tshechu
Five days of masked cham dances at Rinpung Dzong each spring, ending before dawn on the final day with the unveiling of a giant thangka, or thongdrel, of Guru Rinpoche.
- Sep–OctThimphu Tshechu
The capital's biggest festival, three days of sacred dances at Tashichho Dzong in autumn, draws families in their finest gho and kira along with joking atsara clowns; book hotels early.
- NovBlack-necked Crane Festival
Held on 11 November in the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa in Phobjikha, with schoolchildren's crane dances and folk songs welcoming the birds back from Tibet for the winter.
How much does Bhutan cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Ema datshi
The national dish: fiery green or red chillies stewed with soft local cheese, eaten with nutty Bhutanese red rice. Guides can ask kitchens to tone down the heat.
Phaksha paa
Strips of pork, often fatty, stir-fried with dried red chillies and radish or greens; a staple of home cooking and roadside restaurants.
Momos
Tibetan-style steamed dumplings stuffed with cheese, cabbage or minced meat, sold in snack bars across Thimphu and Paro with a sharp chilli sauce called ezay.
Getting around
There are no railways, so almost everyone travels by private car with a driver, usually arranged with the guide through a tour operator. The main east–west road is paved but slow: allow about three hours from Thimphu to Punakha and two days from Paro to Bumthang. Drukair runs short domestic hops to Bumthang and Gelephu, and Thimphu has plentiful taxis. Overland visitors cross from India at Phuentsholing.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CDFG230V — UK plugs fit
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +975
- Time zone
- UTC+6 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the left
- Tipping
- Not expected in restaurants or shops, but guides and drivers are customarily tipped at the end of a tour, ideally in an envelope.
- Etiquette
- Walk clockwise around chortens, prayer wheels and temples, remove shoes and hats in shrines, and don't photograph temple interiors. Dzong visits require long sleeves and long trousers or skirts.
- Main airports
- Paro International Airport (PBH), Paro
Visas & entry for Bhutan
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must have a visa to enter and leave Bhutan.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaCholeraDengueHepatitis BJapanese encephalitisRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- Low risk of malaria
- There is a low risk of malaria in the southern belt districts of Bhutan along the border with India: Chukha, Geyleg-phug, Samchi, Samdrup Jonkhar and Shemgang: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Bhutan
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | Dassain |
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | Coronation of His Majesty the King · Descending Day of Lord Buddha |
| Wed 11 Nov 2026 | Birth Anniversary of the 4th Druk Gyalpo - Constitution Day |
| Thu 17 Dec 2026 | National Day |
| Sat 2 Jan 2027 | Winter Solstice |
| Fri 8 Jan 2027 | Traditional Day of Offering |
| Sun 7 Feb 2027 | Losar |
| Mon 8 Feb 2027 | Losar |
| Sun 21 Feb 2027 | Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King |
| Mon 22 Feb 2027 | Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King |
| Tue 23 Feb 2027 | Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King |
| Fri 16 Apr 2027 | Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung |
| Sun 2 May 2027 | Birth Anniversary of the 3rd Druk Gyalpo |
| Thu 20 May 2027 | Lord Buddha's Parinirvana |
| Sun 13 Jun 2027 | Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche |
| Fri 6 Aug 2027 | First Sermon of Lord Buddha |
| Fri 24 Sep 2027 | Blessed Rainy Day |
| Sat 9 Oct 2027 | Dassain (date may shift) |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Dzongkha
| English | Dzongkha | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | སྐུ་གཟུགས་བཟང་པོ་ལགས། | koo-zoo ZANG-poh la |
| Thank you | བཀའ་དྲིན་ཆེ་ལགས། | ka-DRIN-chey la |
| Please | ང་ལུ་གནང་། | nga-loo NANG |
| Excuse me | Atsi zur nang | AH-tsee zoor nang |
| How much is this? | འདི་ག་དེམ་ཅིག་ཨིན་ན? | dee GA-dem chi IN-na |
Know before you go
- On Kathmandu–Paro flights, left-hand window seats usually give the best views of Everest and Kanchenjunga; the steep valley approach into Paro is memorable in itself.
- The Sustainable Development Fee is charged per night on top of hotels and guiding; check the current rate on the Department of Tourism's official website before comparing operators' quotes.
- Bring cash: card acceptance and ATMs that take foreign cards are patchy outside Thimphu and Paro, and Indian rupees are accepted at par alongside the ngultrum.
Bhutan travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Bhutan?
The best time to visit Bhutan is generally Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Peak months are March, April, October and November. Average highs in Thimphu range from 12°C to 25°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Bhutan cost per day?
Roughly £180 a day on a tight budget, £300 mid-range and £650+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Bhutan?
Bhutanese ngultrum (BTN).
What plug type does Bhutan use?
Type C, D, F and G sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Bhutan?
Traffic drives on the left in Bhutan — the same as in the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Bhutan?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Bhutan?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must have a visa to enter and leave Bhutan. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Bhutan before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bhutan/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Bhutan?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Cholera, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
