FAQ
About Bhutan
Bhutan is a small, landlocked kingdom nestled in the eastern Himalayas, between India to the south and China to the north. Its landscape ranges from subtropical plains and lush forests in the south to alpine valleys and snow-capped mountains in the north. Predominantly Buddhist, Bhutan is renowned as one of the world’s last remaining strongholds of Vajrayana Buddhism, with spirituality deeply woven into the country’s culture, traditions, and everyday life.
Bhutan is a linguistically diverse country, with 19 languages spoken across its different regions. Dzongkha is the national language, while English is widely spoken and understood and is used alongside Dzongkha in Bhutan’s education system.
Bhutan is a year-round destination, with four distinct seasons: spring (March to May), summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), and winter (December to February). However, the country’s varied altitudes create significant differences in climate, from the warm, subtropical south to the cool valleys of central Bhutan and the snowy high mountains of the north.
Spring brings blooming flowers and pleasant weather, while summer transforms the valleys into lush green landscapes, although the monsoon can bring rain, particularly in the south. Autumn is known for clear skies, pleasant temperatures and many festivals, making it one of the most popular times to visit. Winter brings crisp, sunny days and colder nights, with clear mountain views and snowfall at higher elevations.
There is no single best time to visit Bhutan—it depends on what you would like to experience. Whether you are interested in festivals, trekking, wildlife, clear Himalayan views, or simply exploring the valleys at a leisurely pace, we can recommend the best time to visit based on your interests.
Bhutan’s official currency is the ngultrum (Nu.), which is pegged at a 1:1 rate with the Indian rupee. Indian rupees and US dollars are also widely accepted, particularly at hotels, shops, and other tourist establishments. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in urban areas, although it is advisable to carry some cash when travelling to more remote parts of the country.
Bhutan uses three types of electrical plugs: Type C (two round pins), Type D (three round pins) and Type G (three rectangular pins). The standard electricity supply is 230V and 50Hz. We recommend bringing a universal travel adaptor, particularly if you are travelling from a country that uses a different plug type.
Bhutan’s international country calling code is +975. When calling a Bhutanese number from abroad, add +975 before the local telephone number.
Planning Your Trip
Trails of Bhutan will arrange the Visa on your behalf or you can apply online for a visa here. For more informations do contact our team.
Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives requiring a visa can apply either online before travelling or in person upon arrival in Bhutan.
No, there are no restricted nationalities in Bhutan.
Before travelling, visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives can apply for a permit (Indian nationals) or visa (Bangladeshi or Maldivian nationals). You may also apply at the point of entry, but please be aware that there may be a long wait depending on the number of applicants at the time. We recommend arranging your permit/visa beforehand.
A correctly input visa application can take up to five days to process.
There is a one-off fee of US$40 for the processing of your application. This is payable at the same time as your Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), as part of the process of submitting your visa application.
Yes, provided the extension is applied for before the original visa or permit expires.
Visitors can extend their stay via the online visa application portal, using the same log-in details that were used to process their original visa.
The fees for processing your extension application, and daily SDF for the duration of your extended stay, will be payable via the same portal.
Yes, it is possible to use your credit card to pay for your visa and SDF online. However, we strongly recommend that you notify your bank prior to making the credit card transaction to ensure that the payment is processed successfully. If they are not informed in advance, sometimes international banks will block online payments to Bhutan as part of the bank’s online security measures.
No. The requirement for mandatory travel insurance was lifted on April 23, 2024. However, it is strongly recommended that all guests to Bhutan have travel insurance before visiting the Kingdom as a precaution in case of unforeseen situations.
There is a charge of Nu. 4,500 per car, per day. A guide is also mandatory and will be at an additional charge.
If guests want to bring their own car, the cars must meet the requirements of Bhutan’s Roads Safety and Transport Authority, and must also have a valid driver’s license, insurance documentation, pollution control documentation, an entry permit, and a vehicle in reasonable condition. A valid Indian driver’s license is accepted for self-driving within Bhutan. The same fees and rules apply for motorbikes.
In case the vehicle is not owned by the guests travelling to Bhutan, an authorisation letter is required.
The country has one international airport located in Paro. Flights operated by Drukair and Bhutan Airlines arrive and depart from destinations including Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodhgaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati and Singapore. Private jets or charters can fly into Bhutan after obtaining the relevant approvals.
There are also domestic airports in Yonphula in eastern Bhutan, Bumthang in central Bhutan, and Gelephu in south-central Bhutan.
Trails of Bhutan will arrange the transportation according to the size of the group. It is not possible to hire a self-drive vehicle in Bhutan.
Domestic flights are often the fastest way to travel longer distances within Bhutan. Domestic airports operate flights to and from Yonphula in eastern Bhutan, Bumthang in central Bhutan, and Gelephu in south-central Bhutan.
For special itineraries, helicopter services can be arranged. For more information about helicopter services, visit the Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services page or contact your travel partner.
A local guide will help you see the best that the country has to offer and will ensure your safety when exploring unfamiliar terrain and altitude. It is mandatory to be accompanied by a guide for any journey or any trek beyond Thimphu and Paro. Guides are also mandatory for visitors who enter Bhutan via our land borders and plan to travel beyond the border towns.
Guests no longer require a Route permit to travel around the country, so long as they are accompanied by a guide certified by the Department of Tourism. Please contact our hosts for the Department of Tourism’s list of approved tourism services.
While guides aren’t necessary for all experiences, such as dining out and shopping, we strongly recommend that guides accompany visitors for experiences such as visiting temples and local places of interest. It is mandatory to have a guide when visiting monuments such as dzongs, for instance.
If you are following an itinerary or taking part in a trip organised by your hotel, you will not need to book a guide as one will be arranged by the hotel.
Bhutan offers a wide range of accommodation, from luxurious five-star hotels to cosy homestays in traditional village settings.
Bhutan is a very safe place to visit, even if you’re travelling alone. There is very little crime experienced by locals or visitors, although we advise you to take care of yourself and your belongings. In some areas you may encounter stray dogs – please be cautious around them as they are not domesticated. They normally keep their distance, but please stay away from them as much as possible, especially if travelling with children. Please don’t feed or pat these or any other wild animals.
Bhutan’s physical environment presents occasional safety hazards, including flooding and landslides. From June to September the monsoons can affect transport and services. Check with your hotel or tour operator for possible disruptions.
During Your Trip
Yes – Bhutan’s Department of Tourism has a dedicated visitor centre at Paro International Airport. Others may be found at the four border entry points.
You can change your local currency for ngultrum upon arrival at Paro International Airport or at banks, larger hotels and authorised currency exchange businesses in Thimphu.
You may bring cash equivalent to US$10,000 into the country.
ATM and banks accept Visa and Mastercard. International credit cards are widely used in urban areas of Bhutan. However this service may not be available in other parts of the country. Visitors can download the digital wallet app goBoB launched by the Bank of Bhutan, which can be used with a local SIM card and is widely accepted throughout the country. Another option is the MyPay digtal wallet app launched by Bhutan National Bank. Both apps can be connected to international credit cards and used widely.
Cash in US dollars and Indian rupees is also widely accepted. We advise bringing some cash in either of these currencies, or in Bhutanese ngultrum.
Most hotels have Wi-Fi in Bhutan, but we recommend obtaining a guest SIM card for more convenient access to data and a more reliable internet connection. Mobile data in Bhutan can also be expensive. You can find the B Mobile SIM in mobile stores in larger cities, which you can easily top up using the Bank of Bhutan app goBoB. This app also facilitates other payments within the country.
SIM cards can be purchased from the Paro International Airport’s visitor information centre on arrival, or from branch offices of Bhutan Telecom and TashiCell, or from authorised agents in towns.
There are no rules about what visitors should wear. However if you are planning to visit places of religious significance, respectful smart-casual clothing that covers your body from shoulders to knees is appropriate and appreciated.
Yes, a guide is required to enter monuments and Dzongs in Bhutan. While some of the monuments and Dzongs have no entry fee, others have a fee on arrival, which can be paid in cash or via the GoBob app.
There are plenty of places to shop for special objects, from high-end pieces to small mementos. Many visitors enjoy shopping at the Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) Market and the Centenary Farmers’ Market. The Textile Museum shop has a wonderful selection of artisan-made textiles and homewares, as do the nearby Tarayana and Craft galleries. Our OGOP shops are also excellent places to find food, drink and handcrafted products sourced directly from the country’s artisans and farmers.
Keeping important antiques and artefacts in Bhutan is a key part of how we preserve our heritage for future generations. We have a law that sets out which artistic, historic, cultural, religious, social, archaeological and technical objects you may not take with you when you leave. To ensure any items you acquire comply with the law, you will need an Export Permit for Non-Antique Artefacts.
A permit, which must be applied for in advance, is required to fly a drone either recreationally or commercially in Bhutan. Please email media@tcb.gov.bt to find out more about the regulations.
Yes. A guide is required at all times for all guests who drive their own cars to Bhutan. It is highly recommended to pre-book guides before arriving at the borders. If you need help with arranging a guide, please contact our host services team here.
Yes, permits are required to enter National Parks in Bhutan. However the process can be done online and the permit should be issued quickly. Please contact us for more information
While most monuments in Bhutan are free, some are chargeable. Children below 18 years will have a 50% concession and children aged five years and below will be exempted. Most monuments are open from 9am – 5pm each day. In June 2023 it was announced that foreign visitors can now visit monuments whenever they are open to the general public, without any restrictions.