The things we end up saying on every phone call, written down once. No fluff, no affiliate links.
Six things decide how a Bhutan trip goes: the permit and the Sustainable Development Fee, the month you pick, how much cash you carry, the altitude, what you wear into a temple, and what is in your bag. Each has a full guide below.
What you actually need to enter Bhutan, and what it costs.
The seasons behave very differently at 300 m and at 3,900 m.
Bhutan is more cash-driven than most visitors expect.
Nothing on our standard routes is technical, but the numbers are real.
Bhutan is relaxed about most things and firm about a few.
Layers, and better shoes than you think you need.
No visa is required. Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals travel on a permit issued at Phuentsholing or Paro, and we handle the paperwork for you. Bring a valid passport or a Voter ID card, plus passport photographs.
The SDF is a nightly levy the Bhutanese government charges every visitor; it funds free healthcare, education and forest conservation. For Indian nationals it is currently ₹1,200 per adult per night and ₹600 per child. It is billed separately from the tour cost.
Spring (March to May) for rhododendron and clear valleys, and autumn (September to November) for the sharpest mountain views and the biggest tsechu festivals. Winter is cold but very clear, and it is the only season for the black-necked cranes in Phobjikha. Monsoon runs June to August.
It is a 900 m ascent over roughly 4 km each way, on a well-made path with a cafeteria at the halfway point. Most reasonably fit people manage it in four to five hours return. Ponies are available for the first half of the climb.
Yes. Every route on this site is a starting point. Tell us how long you have, what you care about, and who is travelling, and we will rebuild it around that.
Ask us anything about Bhutan, even if you never book. We would rather you arrive well prepared.
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