How to Plan Bhutan Travel: The Most Complete Guide to Travel Bhuan

Known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan is renowned in the tourism industry as the ultimate in environmental and ecological tourism, and is one of the most exclusive destinations in Asia. A landlocked nation on the southern edge of the Tibetan plateau in the East Himalayas, Bhutan remained an isolated kingdom for centuries, only opening up to tourism in 1974. Classed as one of the most unique destinations in the world, this beautiful country is as unique as its people and culture, and is famous for having the longest and hardest trek in the world. However, planning a trip to Bhutan is not as hard as some people may think. With a requirement for using travel agencies and tour guides, Bhutan has taken away the need to plan your own travel, and made planning a trip to Bhutan as easy as picking up the phone.

Why Travel to Bhutan

Located on the southern edge of the Tibetan plateau, Bhutan has one of the most unique landscapes and environments in the world, with smaller mountains abound, and the hilly landscape gives way to lush deep valleys where the climate is completely different from the surrounding countryside. But most of all, the unique Bhutanese culture is a major attractions to foreign travelers, and is the main reason people visit this spectacular country. A unique and amazing Buddhist religious culture, Bhutan is a country where the simplistic lifestyle is still the most important way to live for the people. Mobile phones, TVs, and cars may be present everywhere these days, but the traditional way of life of the local Buddhist people still prevails, and the general idea that happiness is better than being rich still holds true in this stunning kingdom. Experiencing what it is like to live the simple life is one of the best experiences of all Bhutan tours, and there is nowhere on earth that holds overall happiness above everything else.

How to Travel Bhutan

Two things are required to travel to Bhutan for normal tourists: a Bhutan Entry Visa and a private tour organized by a registered travel agency in Bhutan. Before anything else, you need to contact a travel agency and book your tour. Individual travel is not permitted everyone except nationals from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, so booking on a tour is the only way to travel to Bhutan. It is also the only way to get a visa for entry to Bhutan, as there are no Bhutanese embassies that issue visas in other countries. Travel agencies can help you decide on where and when to travel, and can tailor the tour to your own requirements. Unlike some tours, in Bhutan a private tour is the only option, and the tour will not have strangers traveling with you. You will get your own private car, driver and guide, making your trip much more flexible.

Once you have found a reputable travel agency, you can book your tour, and will need to pay the entire amount of the tour cost in advance. Once the fees are paid, the travel agency will forward your Bhutan visa application to the Immigration Department and the Tourism Council of Bhutan, who will approve the visa and forward a Visa Approval Letter to the travel agency, the immigration desk at Paro International Airport, and both national airlines. The travel agency will then send a copy of the letter to you for booking your flight and for use at the airport when you arrive.

Please Notice:
After receiving the Visa Approval Letter by email, you need to print it out and carry it with you, because you will need to show your copy when you board the flight, as well as at the immigration desk when you arrive, where the visa stamp will be entered into your passport.

When to Travel Bhutan

When to travel to Bhutan largely depends on when you are free and what you want to do when in the kingdom. Bhutan is a destination that can be visited throughout the year, with different areas and activities being better in some seasons than others. Spring and autumn are the peak periods for Bhutanese tourism, and run from March to May and September to November. This is also the best time for trekking in Bhutan, as there are more of the higher-altitude treks open, which often close in the depths of winter and the summer monsoon season.

It is possible to visit Bhutan in the summer and winter as well, though July and August can be very wet in Bhutan, as it is subject to the effects of the southwest Monsoon from the Indian Ocean. However, since most of the monsoon rain in Bhutan normally falls in the late afternoon and evening in the lower areas, and less often than that in the mountains, the monsoon should not spoil your trip. Just be prepared with raincoats for the odd daytime downpour.

Winter is a good time for clear skies and fresh air, and the views of the mountains to the north in the wintertime are absolutely spectacular. Winter is not as cold in Bhutan’s major tourist areas as it is in the higher mountains, though it can get down to well below freezing at night in some places. Daytimes are chilly but sunny, and traveling in the winter also means low-season prices.

How to Get to Bhutan

Travel to Bhutan from Kathmandu, Nepal

Flights from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport run daily to Paro in Bhutan. Druk Air operates its flights to Paro on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in the low season, and daily in the peak months. Meanwhile, Bhutan Airlines only operates flights to Paro from Kathmandu on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the year. Flights from Kathmandu to Paro cost from around US$230 per person for a one-way economy flight.

Travel to Bhutan from New Delhi, India

The main airport in India for flights to Bhutan, flights to Bhutan run from the capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport daily, with flights running from DrukAir every day of the week except Sunday, and Bhutan Airlines flights running only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. At around US$338 per person for a direct economy flight, the price is not too expensive either.

Travel to Bhutan from Bangkok, Thailand

Flights to Paro from Bangkok run from the capital’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Paro International Airport from Sunday to Friday, with no direct flights running on Saturdays. Flights from Bangkok are actually the second most expensive flights to Paro, costing from around US$560 per person for a one-way economy flight.

Travel to Bhutan from Bangladesh

Only three flights per week run from Bangladesh to Bhutan, and all are offered by the flagship airline, DrukAir. Flights from Dhaka are comparable with flights from Nepal, and cost from only 230 US dollars per person for an economy one-way flight.

Travel to Bhutan from Singapore

Singapore has four flights per week to Paro International Airport. Flights run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and can cost from as much as US$ 1,185 per person for a one-way economy flight.

How to Get Around Bhutan and Road Condition

Traveling around in Bhutan is actually the easiest thing in the world. International travelers are not permitted to use public transport in Bhutan, so in order to go anywhere while you are there, your Bhutan travel agency provides a private vehicle, complete with tour guide and driver, usually the same person for small groups or single people.

Bhutan is not actually noted for its roads, except for the distinct lack of them and has only around 8,050 kilometers of roads across the entire country. Of that, only around 60 percent are actually paved, and in most of the rural areas and the foothills, the roads are just dirt or gravel tracks. However, in the main tourist areas around Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, the roads are in very good condition, to make things easier for tourists traveling in the area.

Where to Stay for Bhutan Travel

Hotels in Bhutan from 3-star to 5-star

Hotels are the normal kind of accommodation for travelers to Bhutan, which are included up to 3-star in the Minimum Daily Package. Bhutan now has a wide range of hotels, from 3-star to 5-star luxury accommodation, and where you stay is entirely up to you and how much you are willing to pay extra. Every city has a range of hotels from 3-5 stars, such as the Le Meridian in Paro, the Gangtey Lodge Hotel in the Phobjikha Valley, and the Druk Hotel, Hotel Norbuling, and Osel Hotel in Thimphu.

Bhutan Resorts

Resorts are another form of hotels, and also come in a variety of classes, from 3-star and 4-star budget to 5-star luxury. The stunning Amankora resorts in five major tourist areas in Bhutan are prime examples of luxury resorts, while the Tenzinling Resort, the Naktsel Resort, and the Kichu Resort Paro are fine examples of 3 and 4 star resorts.

Bhutan Homestay

In Bhutan, homestay or farmstay accommodation is usually only used for tourists that want to experience the normal daily lives of the Bhutanese people. Most of the homestay and farmstay guesthouses are run by local families, and the family actually lives in the house you will stay in. You will get a real understanding of how the daily lives of the locals are and can enjoy the amazing hospitality and ancient traditions of the Bhutanese families. Most of the best homestays are found in places like Haa, Lhuntse, Wangdue, Bumthang, and Gasa.

What to Eat while Traveling in Bhutan

Bhutanese Dishes

If you are into trying new things, then trying out the unusual and unique Bhutanese cuisine is a must for your Bhutan visit. Normally, your guide or travel agency have already planned your restaurant visits when out and about in Bhutan, but you can change those as you wish if you want to try out some of the delicious local dishes.

Local hotels and restaurants that serve authentic real Bhutanese dishes are not always as hygienic as your hotel, but will definitely test your tolerance of chilies. If you really want to try out the local restaurants where the local people eat every day, then your guide can make the necessary arrangements for you.

Western Food available in most Bhutan Hotels

The western food available in the hotels in Bhutan is fine, but is designed not to offend anyone, and as with most western food, can be rather bland. Most hotels will offer a choice of western and continental dishes, most of which do not contain rice, as well as Chinese, Indian, and buffet foods. Most of the food in 3-4 star hotels are normally buffet meals, and while continental breakfasts and light lunches are available for international guests, these are normally the same things you can get in any hotels anywhere in the world.

Cost of Bhutan Travel

Working out the cost of a trip to Bhutan is the easiest thing in the world, thanks to their policy of “Low Volume, High Value” tourism. Everything you might possibly need - with the exception of your own personal expenses for things you want such as alcohol, souvenirs, and snacks - is included in the price of the standard tour.

Bhutan tours have only two basic costs. In the peak season (spring and autumn) the cost of the Minimum Daily Package is US$250 per person per day, which includes everything from meals and three-star accommodation to driver and guide, private vehicle, entrance to attractions, etc. The only additional expense comes when you decide that you want to upgrade the hotel to four or five stars, which costs a little more, depending on the hotel. If you are happy with three-star hotels, most of which are of a very good standard, then your maximum tour cost is the same.

In the low seasons, usually summer and winter, the cost of the Minimum Daily Package drops to just US$200 per person per day.

Safety in Bhutan

Bhutan is probably the safest destination in Asia for international tourists. The streets are free of the usual beggars and opportunist thefts, and scams are almost unheard of in the kingdom. Apart from the odd stray dog that you may come across, and some bad weather at times, the most dangerous thing is altitude sickness. And even this can be controlled by proper acclimatization. Crime does happen, though it is still minimal in Bhutan. While thefts may be minimal, as with everywhere else in the world, it is growing in Bhutan as the population gets bigger, so it is advisable to be careful with your belongings.

Top Places you Should Visit in Bhutan

Places to Visit in Paro

Paro is most well-known for the Taktshang Monastery, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which lies around 300 meters above the Paro Valley on the side of a cliff. One of the most unique monasteries in the country, this amazing goemba is located on the site where Padmasambhava first came to Bhutan.

Places to Visit in Thimphu

The modern capital of Bhutan, Thimphu is the largest city in the kingdom and is the political and economic center of the kingdom. The most notable attraction of the capital is the amazing Motithang Takin Nature Preserve, where the wild Takin, the national animal of Bhutan, is cared for.

Places to Visit in Punakha

The former ancient capital of Bhutan from the 8th century, Punakha is not only renowned for its mild climate, but for the amazing Punakha Dzong, rated to be the most beautiful Dzong in the kingdom. Known locally as the Pungthang Dewachen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness), it is the winter residence of the Je Khenpo and the Central Monastic Body of the Council of Bhutan.

Places to Visit in Bumthang

Of all the Dzongkhags in Bhutan, Bumthang is the most historic and contains more temples and ancient religious sites than anywhere else in the kingdom. Located over the four main mountain valleys of Ura Valley, Chumey Valley, Tang Valley, and Choekhor Valley, the whole area is known collectively as the Bumthang Valley. Bumthang is also the location of the Jambay Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built by Songtsen Gampo to hold the amputated remains of an ogress to the ground forever.

Places to Visit in Phuentsholing

One of the southernmost towns of Bhutan, Phuentsholing is the main border crossing town for entry to Bhutan from India. A booming border town, it lies next to the Indian state of West Bengal and is the location of the seat of Chukha Dzongkhag.

Places to Visit in Trongsa

Trongsa Dzongkhag is located in central Bhutan and is known as the “Vanguard of the Warriors” because of its strategic defensive location. Located on a steep ridge above deep valleys, Trongsa is the traditional seat of power of the Wangchuk Family, the modern Royal Family in Bhutan.

Conclusion of Bhutan Travel Plan

Overall, planning a Bhutan travel is not as hard as you might think, despite it being an exclusive destination in the Himalayas. Simply customize your Bhutan tour with us, our professional Bhutan travel consultant will help you arrange your entire Bhutan trip, including providing a registered professional tour guide and arranging your visa for entry to the kingdom.