Travel Guide
Everything to know before you arrive in the valley.
The essentials
All visitors except Indian nationals need a visa, applied for online before travel and issued on arrival. Indian nationals receive an entry permit at the point of entry with a valid passport or voter ID card.
We are happy to help you with the paperwork — just ask when you book.
Bhutan asks every visitor to contribute a daily Sustainable Development Fee, which funds free healthcare, education and the protection of the country’s forests. It is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan, with a separate rate for Indian nationals.
Rates can change, so please check the current fee with us or the Department of Tourism before you travel.
Paro International Airport is Bhutan’s gateway, served by Drukair and Bhutan Airlines from cities across South and Southeast Asia. From Paro it is about an hour’s drive along the valley road to Babesa, the first neighbourhood of Thimphu you reach.
We can meet you at arrivals with a private car.
Thimphu Tshechu, the capital’s great masked-dance festival, is held each autumn in the courtyard of Tashichho Dzong. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year — ask us for this year’s dates and we will plan your stay around them.
A valley for every season
Spring
March – MayMild days, blossom in the valley and rhododendrons on the high passes.
Summer
June – AugustMonsoon showers, deep green hillsides and quieter trails.
Autumn
September – NovemberClear skies, crisp air and festival season.
Winter
December – FebruarySunny days, cold nights and the clearest mountain views.