How to Plan a Budget Bhutan Travel? Travel Bhutan at Low Cost

Traveling to Bhutan is often considered to be one of the most expensive trips you can take in South Asia. Normally, the cost of a trip to Bhutan is set according to the Minimum Daily Package, which is either 200 or 250 dollars per day, depending on the season. However, there are ways to travel to Bhutan on a budget, reducing the overall costs of the trip to something more affordable for normal people.

Stay in Low-cost Accommodation: 3-star and Homestay

Bhutan does not really have Budget accommodation for international travelers in the same way most other Asian countries do. Unlike travel in other areas of Asia, you cannot get a bed for the night for just 5 dollars. A budget travel to Bhutan includes at least three-star accommodation or homestay holidays, which is the minimum allowed on the standard package. Anything higher than three star costs more.

However, staying in the lower-cost three-star hotels can ensure that your Bhutan tour cost does not rise exponentially. While it may be nice to stay in a luxurious hotel for a few nights, by sticking to the cheapest hotels available within the Minimum Daily Package (MDP), you can stay within a reasonable budget.

As a popular option for many travelers to Bhutan, Homestays cost no more than your low-end three-star hotel. Homestays also allow you to experience the local Bhutanese culture better, as you will be staying in a local home with the family that lives there. You will eat with them and sleep in the house, and travel with your guide and driver during the day. For those that want to learn more about the unique Bhutanese culture, this is the best option.

Travel Bhutan in Low Season

Bhutan has two high seasons and two low seasons, and there is a difference between the costs of the MDP depending on which season you are traveling in. The low seasons in Bhutan run from December to February and June to August, which are the summer monsoon season and the winter season.

The high season cost of a trip to Bhutan starts at US$250 per person per night, while the low season cost is just US$200 per person per night. On an average five day tour in Bhutan, this can cut your costs by as much as 250 dollars, which is a huge saving.

While the summer can be a little wet, after all it is the monsoon season, it is still possible to enjoy a Bhutan tour in the summer. Most of the rainfall in Bhutan’s monsoon season falls in the late afternoon and evening, or even overnight, and you will only find the occasional day where it rains all day long. This means you can travel around through most of the day without getting wet. Just take a raincoat to wear in case it does rain.

Winter in Bhutan is also not as cold as you might think for somewhere that is located in the Himalayas. Most of the tourist areas in Bhutan are below 3,000 meters, so the daytime temperatures are similar to those of northwest European countries. The nights can be a little colder than you might be used to though. Temperatures can drop to around freezing or below in some areas, but a good woolen sweater and a nice warm jacket can easily counter that. And the benefit of the winter low season is the lower volume of tourists.

Try not travel alone, invite one or two more friends or family members to join in you to avoid the surcharge of traveling alone.

Traveling alone to Bhutan, you are ever really alone, as you have your guide and driver with you every day. However, if you are a solo traveler, you will be subject to additional charges, on top of the MDP amount. For solo travelers, there is a US$40 per day surcharge, and for two travelers together, it is reduced to just US$30 per person per day.

If really want to save money on the cost of the trip, traveling with at least two other people means that the surcharge is waived, and your MDP is set. Also, as with most tours of this kind, mainly in Tibet and Bhutan, a gratuity, while not compulsory, is often expected when a tour has been handled well by the guide and driver. Having others in your party means you can split the gratuity that you give your guide and driver for an excellent tour.

If you can’t find anyone else to travel with you and are willing to share your tour with others, please feel free to contact us to help you collect group members from our website.

Choose the overland drive if traveling to central Bhutan instead of domestic flights

If it is your first time to visit Bhutan and you want to strength your journey to central Bhutan, it is suggested to take the overland tour from the western Bhutan. The domestic flight from Paro to Bumthang takes only around 40 minutes and costs from 192 USD per person (Reference only). While it is the fastest way to travel to central Bhutan, there is something to be said for the overland drive.

The distance from Paro to Bumthan is about 313 kilometers, and it generally takes around 9 hours by car. For most Bhutan tours, the overland drive is usually finished in 2 or 3 days with sightseeing tours to the amazing sights along the way. It is a classic journey from western Bhutan to central Bhutan from Paro to Bumthang via Thimphu, Punakha, and the Phobjikha Valley.

Flying from Paro to Bumthang means that you will miss out on some of the most outstanding and memorable attractions in Bhutan, including the Tashichho Dzong, the Dochula Pass, the Gangtey Valley and Monastery, The Punakha Dzong, and so much more. And the road conditions along the National Highway to Bumthang from Paro are much improved on what they were a few years ago. The entire Lateral Road is now completely paved and a very smooth ride.

Also, there are just five scheduled flights from Paro to Bumthang a week. If you miss the flight, you need to stay in Paro few more days for the next flight to Bumthang, which will cost more on MDP.

Have breakfast and dinner in the hotel

All meals are provided for in your hotels as part of the MDP. This is one of the benefits of a Bhutan tour that people rarely realize when they tell you Bhutan is expensive. While the daily cost of Bhutan tour is rather high, there is nothing else to pay for on the actual tour, and by taking your breakfast and dinner at the hotel every day, you can reduce your personal spending whilst in the kingdom.

Lunches are dependent on the itinerary, and are sometimes packed lunches, depending on where you are going and what you are doing. However, these are also usually included as part of the cost of your Bhutan tour package, and your guide will know the most cost-effective places to eat, so that you do not have to spend extra on lunches in posh restaurants.

Please Note: Soft drinks and alcohols need to be paid by yourself.

Only stay for 5 days to see the best of Bhutan has to offer

How long you stay in Bhutan is also a major contributing factor to the high cost of a Bhutan tour. Even with the low-season prices, ten days in Bhutan is going to amount to a trip that will cost you in excess of 2,000 US dollars per person. To reduce the cost of the trip, you can take one of the shorter Bhutan tour packages that give you the best options for travel around the kingdom and visits to the main sites and attractions.

A five-day tour of Bhutan, such as our amazing 5 Days Popular Highlights of Bhutan Tour, gives you the best of Bhutan’s major cities and tourist attractions. The main cities to visit in Bhutan include Paro, where you land, the Capital city of Thimphu, and the stunning Punakha Valley area, where the most beautiful Punakha Dzong is. This kind of shorter tour can take you to all of the main attractions, such as the Paro (Rinpung) Dzong, Punakha Dzong, the Kyichu Lhakhang, and the famous Taktshang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest.

Take the economy class flight to get to Paro

If taking an overland journey is not to your liking, or you are restricted for time, then an economy flight is the next best thing. DrukAir and Bhutan Airlines do offer economy seats, and if you book in advance, you can often get a better deal on the flight cost. Another way to save on flights is to book the flight from one of the airports that offer cheaper flights to Paro. Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri, India is the cheapest, costing around 124 dollars per person, while flights from Dhaka in Bangladesh or Kathmandu in Nepal can cost from as little as 230 dollars per person. It is best to avoid flying from Bangkok or Singapore, as these are the most expensive flights to Bhutan.

Please Note: For international travelers, they can only book the flight to Bhutan with the Visa Clearance Letter. The most convenient way is to ask your travel agency to book the flight for you.

Conclusion of How to Plan a Bhutan Travel on Budget

While Bhutan may have a Minimum Daily Package for tourists, there are still ways to reduce the overall cost of traveling to Bhutan, to make it a much more affordable tour.

Taking a shorter tour in low season and stay in basic 3-star hotels are the most common ways to keep your tour cost lower. Also, you can travel with a group of more than two people to avoid the additional charges for solo travelers.

Choosing to take the economic class flight to Bhutan and going to the central Bhutan by land are the ways to reduce your spend on transfer. And for your daily travel in Bhutan, having your meals in hotels and restaurants as arranged, and sticking to the inclusive items in the itinerary, you can travel to Bhutan for a lot less than you think.