Bhutan
Bhutan Travel Guide: Planning details
Budget notes, transport, where to stay, ideal trip length, and local tips for your trip.
Bhutan
Plan smarter in Bhutan
Tiger's Nest, prayer flags, and Gross National Happiness - how to plan a guided Bhutan trip from India.
Spring/Autumn: 10–22°CSummer: 15–25°C
Live weather
Thimphu
17°C
Heavy rain showers
Humidity 99%Wind 1 km/h
Typical climate
Himalayan climate varies by altitude. Valleys are mild in spring and autumn; winters are dry and cold. Monsoon (Jun–Aug) brings clouds and rain.
Map
Thimphu
Quick budget notes
- Daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) applies to visitors.
- Packages usually include guide, driver, hotels, and meals.
- Handicrafts are fixed-price in government emporiums.
Getting around
- All travel is with a licensed guide and private vehicle.
- Roads are winding-plan short daily drives.
- Paro is the main international gateway airport.
Where to stay
- Paro for Tiger's Nest access.
- Thimphu for capital sights and museums.
- Punakha for riverside dzong and valley walks.
Ideal trip length
- 5–6 days: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha loop.
- 7–9 days: add Phobjikha or Bumthang.
Must book ahead
- Tour operator and visa weeks ahead.
- Flights Paro–Delhi/Kolkata/Bangkok.
- Festival dates if you want a tsechu experience.
Local tips
- Photography restricted inside many temple halls.
- Remove shoes and hats before entering dzongs.
- Ask before photographing monks and locals.
Safety & common scams
- Book only through authorized Bhutan tour operators.
- Carry permits for restricted zones if trekking.
- Acclimatize before strenuous hikes.
Connectivity & money
- Wi-Fi in hotels; patchy on mountain roads.
- Indian rupees in 500 and below notes work well.
- Download offline maps for remote valleys.