All international tourists are required to get a visa to enter Bhutan. It’s all handled online by a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. One-time fee of 40 dollars for the processing of your application. Visa approval takes 5 working days, with a visa fee and a mandatory Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of 100 dollars per person per night. Documents needed while entering are a passport valid for at least 6 months.
Citizens of India don't need a visa; they are issued a permit and a mandatory Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of Nu 1200 per person per night. Citizens of Bangladesh and the Maldives require a visa which are issued at the port of entry. Documents needed to enter Bhutan for Indian citizens are a passport or a voter ID. Under the age of 18, a passport or a birth certificate.
The official currency of Bhutan is Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN), which is pegged 1:1 with the Indian rupee. Indian rupees are widely accepted, but only notes of 500 and below. Bhutan is still cash-based, especially outside Thimphu and Paro, so make sure you carry enough cash. Dollars are also accepted for exchange. Credit/debit/visa/Master cards are accepted at high-end hotels and souvenir shops. Newer payment methods, are Crypto payment via Binance pay is accepted.
Bhutan has four distinct seasons that vary dramatically with altitude: Spring (Mar-May), Summer (Jun-Aug), Autumn (Sep-Nov), and Winter (Dec-Feb). Most of the districts visited by tourists are colder regions like Thimphu, Paro, Haa, Phobjikha, and Bumthang, whereas Punakha and Phuntsholing will be on the warmer side. Always expect to experience multiple seasons in one day.
Since Bhutan is a landlocked country, you can enter Bhutan either by air or overland. If you’re planning by air, then Bhutan has only one international airport called Paro International Airport, located in Paro Valley surrounded by huge mountains at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level. Only two airlines are flying there: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Most travellers connect through Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, or Kathmandu.
By land, there are 3 official road entry points from India: Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jonkhar. Most advisable is to come via Phuntsholing, which connects with west bangle of Jaigon town.
For those who are planning a visit to Bhutan, the best traveller’s tip that saves them from headaches is:
For international tourists, book your visa and SDF through license travel agent from Bhutan because you cannot enter without a pre-approved visa and pre-paid SDF.
Prepay for your accommodations, monuments, lunches, transportation, guide service, and other activity fees you’re planning, so a shortage of cash does not hinder your travel journey in Bhutan. ATM are unreliable, and cards work only at 5-star hotel, rest expect cash. Bhutan is still cash-based. Unused activity fees shall be returned on the last day.
Do not expect high-speed internet service. You can get a local Tashicell and B-Mobile SIM from Paro airport, or we can arrange an e-SIM.
At the heart of Bhutan’s distinctive approach to tourism lies the sustainable development fee (SDF). This policy mechanism embodies the nation’s philosophy of “high value and low volume,” which was initiated in 1974.
On June 20, 2022 Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) replaced the earlier system of a minimum daily package tariff, which had been in place for decades. While the previous system bundled the fee with accommodation, meals, and guided services, the current model separates the SDF as a distinct charge, giving guests more flexibility.