Bhutan Tours from the USA: Travel to Bhutan from the United States

1. When is the best time to visit Bhutan from the USA?

Bhutan has a typical four-season climate, and it does also experience the tropical monsoon, which comes in from the Indian Ocean. The best time to visit Bhutan from the United States is in the spring and autumn months.

From March to May, at the time of Bhutan's spring, the peach blossoms and alpine rhododendrons are blooming in the mountains. From September to November, when the weather is clear and bright and there is less to no rain. Temperatures are generally warm enough to be comfortable. But it can get a little colder at night, especially in the higher altitude areas.

Of course, you can see different natural scenery when you travel at different times. Just avoid visiting Bhutan during the monsoon season from late June to August.

What’s more, Bhutan is also well known for its festivals, and the top festivals in the country are the Tsechus. If you want to experience the festivals, February, March, September, October, and November are your choice.

For those who want to experience the Tshechu in Bhutan, the traditional festivals of this country, the best time for a Bhutan festival tour is early April (Paro Tshechu) and early October (Thimphu Tshechu).

2. Is traveling to Bhutan from the USA expensive?

Most tourists think it is too expensive to visit Bhutan because there is minimum daily tariff of USD 250 per person per night in peak season (March, April, May, September, October and November) and USD 200 per person per night during the low season(January, February, June, July, August, and December).

In fact, the daily tariff covers almost everything in your Bhutan tour, including 3-star accommodation, all meals, a licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the entire extent of your stay, all internal transport, and all internal taxes. You need to pay any extra money for your travel in Bhutan, except for some personal expenses like drinks, laundry and tips for the guide and the driver.

3. How to plan a Bhutan tour from the USA on a budget?

A budget tour to Bhutan from the USA is possible if you decide what time to go and how long you want to stay in Bhutan before your actual visit. Visiting Bhutan in low season with a group of 3 or more people is the cheapest way to go, since there is an surcharge you need to pay if you travel alone or just in a group of 2 people.

Surcharge for Single Individual: USD 40 per night
Surcharge for Group of 2: USD 30 per person per night

Some tips for cutting down your expenses:
1. Book your flights from the US to the transfer city through your domestic travel agency and let us book the flight to Bhutan so that you can get the local price for both sections.
2. Avoid traveling alone. Or you need to pay a surcharge of US$40/30 under 3 people.
3. Enjoy the meals and drinks included in your tour package. Anything else is an extra expense.
4. There are ATMs in the main towns in Bhutan but the banks’ surcharge is at a high price. You can prepare enough cash for the sake of safety.
5. Ensure you have prepared everything you need for your Bhutan journey. This way, you need not buy any other things in Bhutan.

4. Can I use the US dollar in Bhutan? Can I use my card in Bhutan?

Bhutan's official currency is Ngultrum and US dollars can’t be used in Bhutan. US dollars can be easily exchanged to Ngultrum at Paro international Airport or Banks in Thimphu. What’s more, cards are accepted at major handicraft stores and some of the larger hotels in Thimphu and other towns, but you will often be charged a surcharge of up to 5% to cover the fees.

5. What is the time difference between the USA and Bhutan?

Bhutan has a different time zone with the US. The time in Thimphu is 10 hours ahead of Washington in the United States. When you have a journey in Bhutan, please make sure you reset your watch when you arrive at local time.