Bhutan

Bhutan
Bhutan🇧🇹

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Traveling to Bhutan? Land Connected.

Land at Paro International Airport, activate your eSIM, and have data before the mountain road to Thimphu begins. No airport SIM queue and no waiting for hotel Wi-Fi to reach your guide, check a map, or share that first Himalayan view. Your connection is ready for dzongs, valleys, and the hike to Tiger's Nest.

Choose the Plan That Fits Your Trip

  • Short cultural trip: pick a small plan for messaging your guide, maps, and photo sharing in Paro and Thimphu.
  • Classic west Bhutan route: choose a mid-size plan for days split between Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha.
  • Festival trip: add data for festival days, when you will be out from morning to evening and away from hotel Wi-Fi.
  • Longer valley journey: pick a larger plan for multi-day travel into central Bhutan, where Wi-Fi is less certain.
  • Traveling with family: keep one plan per phone so everyone can stay in touch on hikes and at busy festival sites.

Travel Highlights

  • Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), the cliffside monastery above the Paro Valley and Bhutan's most famous hike.
  • Punakha Dzong, the riverside fortress at the meeting of two rivers, known for its whitewashed walls and ornate woodwork.
  • Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu, a large seated Buddha statue overlooking the capital valley.
  • Dochula Pass, a mountain pass with 108 memorial chortens and, on clear days, views of Himalayan peaks.
  • Phobjikha Valley, a wide glacial valley known for its wintering black-necked cranes and quiet walking trails.

Getting Around

  • Airport to city: most visitors travel from Paro International Airport to Thimphu by road in a vehicle arranged through their tour operator, since Paro is the country's main international gateway.
  • City transport: Thimphu is walkable in its center, local taxis cover short trips, and longer journeys are made in a tour vehicle with a driver.
  • Ride-hailing: there is no Uber-style service for most visitors, and DrukRide is a local app for booking local transport, but most trips are arranged through a tour operator or a car rental company with a driver.
  • Driving note: it is not possible to hire a self-drive vehicle in Bhutan, so plan on a vehicle with a driver, and expect mountain roads that are slow and winding.

Safety and Practical Tips

Take altitude seriously, since Paro and Thimphu sit above 2,200 meters: pace yourself on arrival, drink water, and take the Tiger's Nest hike slowly. Mountain weather can change quickly, so allow extra time for flights and road journeys, especially in the monsoon season and in winter when high passes can be affected.

Dress modestly at dzongs and monasteries, with shoulders and legs covered, and remove hats and sunglasses inside sacred courtyards. Ask before photographing people or inside temples, and follow your guide's advice, since a guide is required for trekking and for journeys beyond Thimphu and Paro.

Entry and Visa

Most visitors need a visa arranged before travel, except citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, who have different arrangements. The visa fee is USD 40 per person, plus a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per adult per night, and applications are made through the Department of Immigration portal or a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, with a guide and confirmed accommodation required for much of the trip.

Official information: Bhutan Travel - FAQs.

Weather and Climate

  • Climate zones: Bhutan's climate varies with altitude, from subtropical warmth in the south to alpine cold in the high north, with temperate valleys in between.
  • Thimphu normals: Thimphu sits above 2,300 meters, with spring temperatures roughly from 4 to 23 degrees Celsius, summer from 15 to 28 degrees Celsius, autumn from 4 to 20 degrees Celsius, and winter from minus 1 to 15 degrees Celsius.
  • Best months: March to May and September to November are the best times to visit, with clearer skies, pleasant temperatures, and many festivals, while June to August brings monsoon rain.
  • Packing: pack layers for every season, including a warm jacket for cool nights even in summer, rain gear for monsoon showers, and sun protection for high-altitude daylight.

Money and Payments

  • Currency: the ngultrum (BTN) is the official currency, pegged to the Indian rupee, and Indian rupees are also widely accepted.
  • Card acceptance: cards are accepted mainly at larger hotels and larger handicraft shops, so carry cash for small purchases, monastery donations, and tips, since ATMs for foreign cards can be scarce outside Thimphu and Paro.
  • Tipping: tip in cash, since card-based tipping is not generally available, and small cash tips for guides and drivers are the norm.
  • Cash tips: bring US dollars or Indian rupees in cash for exchange, and keep small ngultrum notes for daily spending.