🇧🇹Bhutan·Asia
Bhutan
The Last Shangri-La — Kingdom of Happiness
dest.flightsFrom
£1850
dest.hotelsFrom
£200/per night
dest.budgetPerDay
£250
dest.avgTemp
15°C
dest.bestTime
March to May, September to November
dest.safety
9.2/10
dest.about Bhutan
Bhutan is the world's last great Himalayan kingdom — a country that measures success in Gross National Happiness rather than GDP, where Buddhism permeates every aspect of daily life, and where ancient dzongs (fortress-monasteries) cling to cliffsides above pristine river valleys. Tourism is deliberately limited by a Sustainable Development Fee, which keeps Bhutan uncrowded, authentic, and utterly unlike anywhere else on earth.
dest.topHighlights
Tiger's Nest Monastery
Paro Taktsang — a sacred monastery built into a sheer cliff face at 3,120m — is the defining image of Bhutan
Punakha Dzong
The most beautiful dzong in Bhutan, sitting at the confluence of two rivers beneath snow-capped peaks
Dochula Pass
108 memorial chortens at 3,100m with panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks on clear days
Thimphu Valley
The world's only capital city without traffic lights — a charming blend of tradition and modernity
Haa Valley Trek
Remote, rarely visited valley with ancient lhakhangs and traditional farmhouses unchanged for centuries
Tsechu Festivals
Spectacular masked dance festivals held at dzongs throughout the year — a window into living Bhutanese culture
dest.thingsToDo Bhutan
- Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery at sunrise
- Visit Punakha Dzong and the Punakha Valley
- Drive to Dochula Pass for Himalayan panoramas
- Explore Thimphu's weekend market and dzong
- Attend a Tsechu festival (check dates)
- Trek the Druk Path from Paro to Thimphu
- Visit the Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple
- Archery — Bhutan's national sport
dest.weather Bhutan
dest.bestMonthsToVisit March to May, September to November
5-dest.day Bhutan dest.itinerary
Paro Arrival
- ·Dramatic mountain landing at Paro Airport
- ·Rinpung Dzong
- ·Paro town walk
- ·Welcome dinner
Tiger's Nest
- ·Early morning hike to Paro Taktsang
- ·Monastery interior visit
- ·Afternoon Kyichu Lhakhang
- ·Cultural dinner
Thimphu Capital
- ·Dochula Pass panorama
- ·Thimphu Dzong
- ·National Memorial Chorten
- ·Weekend market
Punakha Valley
- ·Punakha Dzong
- ·Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple
- ·Punakha suspension bridge
- ·Riverside lunch
Departure
- ·Paro Valley hike
- ·Local farm visit
- ·Farewell dinner
- ·Departure
dest.whereToEat Bhutan
Bukhari Restaurant
Bhutanese / Continental · Paro · $$$
The Zone
Bhutanese · Thimphu · $$
Zombala 2
Traditional Bhutanese · Thimphu · $
Souvenir Restaurant
Bhutanese / Indian · Punakha · $$
dest.practicalInformation
dest.visaRequirements
All visitors (except Indian, Bangladeshi, Maldivian nationals) require a visa arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Sustainable Development Fee: €200/person/day (includes accommodation, meals, guide, transport).
dest.gettingAround
All travel in Bhutan is arranged through your licensed tour operator — private vehicle with driver and guide is the standard. Domestic flights connect Paro to Bumthang.
dest.currency
BTN (Ngultrum) / INR
dest.timezoneLanguage
GMT+6 · Dzongkha (English widely spoken)
dest.frequentlyAskedQuestions
Why is Bhutan so expensive?
The Sustainable Development Fee (€200/day) is mandatory and covers accommodation, meals, guide, and transport. It funds conservation and keeps tourism sustainable.
Do I need to be fit to visit Bhutan?
Tiger's Nest is a 4-hour hike at altitude — moderate fitness required. Most other sights are accessible without serious hiking.
What is the best time to visit Bhutan?
March–May for rhododendrons and clear skies; October–November for the best mountain views and major festivals.
