Traveller questions, answered

A local guide will help you see the best that the country has to offer and will ensure your safety when exploring unfamiliar terrain and altitude. It is mandatory to be accompanied by a guide at all times in Bhutan. Guides are also mandatory for visitors who enter Bhutan via our land borders and plan to travel beyond the border towns. Guests no longer require a Route permit to travel around the country, so long as they are accompanied by a guide certified by the Department of Tourism. Please contact our hosts for the Department of Tourism's list of approved tourism services, which you can also view at this link.

You can apply online for a visa here, or if you’re travelling with a tour operator, they may apply on your behalf. Read more about the visa here. Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives requiring a visa can apply either online before travelling or in person upon arrival in Bhutan.

No, there are no restricted nationalities in Bhutan.

Before travelling, visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives can apply for a permit (Indian nationals) or visa (Bangladeshi or Maldivian nationals) here. You may also apply at the point of entry, but please be aware that there may be a long wait depending on the number of applicants at the time. We recommend arranging your permit/visa beforehand.

There is a one-off fee of US$40 for the processing of your application. This is payable at the same time as your Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), as part of the process of submitting your visa application.

The visa allows you to remain in Bhutan for a maximum of 90 days from the date of entry.

Yes, provided the extension is applied for before the original visa or permit expires. Visitors can extend their stay via the online visa application portal, using the same log-in details that were used to process their original visa. The fees for processing your extension application, and daily SDF for the duration of your extended stay, will be payable via the same portal.

Visitors of all nationalities, except those from India, require a visa before entering Bhutan. For all visitors, except those from Bangladesh and the Maldives, this visa must be applied for and approved in advance of travel. Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives also require a visa, but this can be applied for and approved either in advance of travel or upon arrival in Bhutan. Visitors from India are able to apply for a permit but are required to hold an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian nationals under the age of 18, a passport or a birth certificate can be used to enter and they must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Nationals from Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic or government-official passports are eligible for a visa at their port of entry.

The Ngultrum (BTN) is pegged to the Indian Rupee. Card acceptance is limited outside Thimphu and Paro, so carry some cash. Tour payments are settled by bank transfer in advance of arrival.

March to May brings rhododendron blooms and clear trekking weather. September to November is the most popular season: crisp skies, high visibility and the major Tshechu festivals.

For festival dates especially, 4-6 months ahead is safest — Tshechu dates move with the lunar calendar and good viewing arrangements need lead time. Standard itineraries can often be arranged with less notice.

The SDF funds free healthcare and education for Bhutanese citizens, infrastructure, and environmental conservation — it is the mechanism behind the Kingdom's "High Value, Low Volume" tourism policy, not a margin for any operator.

There are 19 languages spoken in Bhutan, but the national language is Dzongkha. English is used throughout Bhutan’s education system, so it is widely used and understood.

Bhutan is a year-round destination. There are four seasons: summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), winter (December to February) and spring (March to May). But because of the range of altitudes in the country, and the influence of the north Indian monsoons, the climate is incredibly varied. In the south, the humid, subtropical climate is fairly consistent year-round, with temperatures between 15oC and 30oC. Central Bhutan, with its temperate forests, has a more seasonal climate, with warm summers and cool, dry winters. The northern regions are much colder during winter. Because of the high altitude, mountain peaks are snowy year-round and the lower reaches remain cool in summer. In summer, the Indian monsoon season runs from late June or July to late September, mostly affecting the southern regions. Most farming activities take place in the summer, when crops thrive in verdant landscapes. Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterised by bright, sunny days and some early snowfall at higher elevations. It’s the season of feasts and festivals as farmers reap the fruits of their work. From late November until March, the crisp, clear and sunny winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 metres. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds at the highest altitudes through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan the name Drukyul, which means Land of the Thunder Dragon in Dzongkha (Bhutan’s national language). Bhutan’s generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. It is a botanist’s delight, with nature in full bloom. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June.

For telephone calls, Bhutan’s country code is +975. Make sure you add this to the beginning of any number if calling Bhutan from abroad.

A private guide and driver, a mix of cultural sites and walks paced to your interest, and lodging chosen for character over chain-hotel uniformity. Days are flexible — nothing is a fixed group schedule.

It depends entirely on the trek — Himalayan Ridge Expedition genuinely requires trekking fitness and altitude tolerance; Sacred Valleys & Heritage is car-based with only gentle walks. We'll tell you plainly if a route isn't a good match for your fitness level.

Above roughly 3,000m it can be, which is why our higher itineraries build in acclimatisation days rather than rushing between passes. Tell your guide immediately if you feel unwell — descending is always the right call.

Three different electrical plugs are used throughout Bhutan: the British plug (three square pins, compatible with type G sockets), the European plug (two round pins, compatible with type C socket) and the Indian plug (three thick round pins, compatible with type D sockets). It’s a good idea to bring adaptors for all three.

Modest dress is expected when visiting dzongs and temples: long trousers or skirts, and sleeves covering the shoulders. Hats and shoes are removed before entering sacred halls.

All international tourists except those from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives require a visa before arrival. We handle the application on your behalf as your licensed tour operator.

No — Bhutan requires all international tourists to travel through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, who arranges the visa, the SDF and an accredited guide. This is a national policy, not something any operator can waive.