atlas•

Before you go to Bhutan: what to know

Must know

  • Most visitors need an approved visa before travel; Indian citizens use a permit.
  • Standard visa application fee is USD 40; most adult international tourists pay USD 100 SDF per night. Indian visitors have separate rates.
  • Monsoon landslides can interrupt roads; allow time for mountain journeys.

Entry and visas

Most visitors need a visa approved before travelling. Indian citizens need a permit, while Bangladesh and Maldives citizens follow separate visa procedures. Apply through Bhutan's official immigration system, a hotel or a tour operator. A USD 40 visa application fee applies to the standard route; most adult international tourists also pay USD 100 SDF per night. Verify exemptions and child rates.

Online arrival forms and permits

  • Bhutan visa or permit ↗ optional
    Before travel; allow at least five working days for a standard visa application · Visa applicants; separate permit procedure for Indian citizens

Passport validity: British passports: at least six months after planned departure; check other passports with Immigration.

At the border you may be asked for

  • Make sure immigration stamps your passport.

Customs

  • Antiques may not be exported.
  • Tobacco brought for personal use is subject to taxes and duties.

Checked October 30, 2026 · Sources: bhutan.travel ↗, gov.uk ↗

Money

Cash and cards are both common. Cards are accepted mainly in cities and tourist areas.

Payment networks: Visa, Mastercard

Apple Pay — no data · Google Pay — no data

Where to exchange money

  • Banks or authorised exchange businesses in Thimphu.
  • Indian rupees are also accepted.
  • Carry cash for areas outside urban centres; ask your bank about international-card fees.

Checked October 30, 2026 · Sources: bhutan.travel ↗, travel.gc.ca ↗

Rules and bans

Prohibited

  • Exporting antiques.
  • Mountaineering; trekking is a different activity.
  • Possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs.

Laws visitors break unknowingly

  • Smoking near religious sites can cause offence; ask before smoking.

Checked October 30, 2026 · Sources: gov.uk ↗, gov.uk ↗

Culture and clothing

Religion: Buddhism plays a central role in Bhutanese religious and cultural life.

Clothing: At temples wear long sleeves and cover your legs; remove shoes and hats as requested.

Etiquette

  • Keep quiet at sacred sites.
  • Do not photograph inside temples or touch religious objects.
  • Ask before photographing people.

Checked October 30, 2026 · Sources: bhutan.travel ↗, bhutan.travel ↗

Climate

Climate varies sharply with altitude. Summer monsoon rain mainly affects the south; higher areas have cold winters and snowy peaks. Monthly labels describe seasons, not local temperature forecasts.

Month by month
  • January: Jan: Winter; frost and high-altitude snow
  • February: Feb: Winter; cold at elevation
  • March: Mar: Spring begins; altitude matters
  • April: Apr: Spring; showers increase later
  • May: May: Late spring; occasional showers
  • June: Jun: Summer; monsoon approaches
  • July: Jul: Summer monsoon rain
  • August: Aug: Summer monsoon rain
  • September: Sep: Monsoon can last into late September
  • October: Oct: Autumn; clearer days
  • November: Nov: Autumn; winter arrives late in month
  • December: Dec: Winter; frost and mountain snow

Best season: Spring or autumn for many cultural routes; choose trekking dates with a local guide.

Checked October 30, 2026 · Sources: bhutan.travel ↗

What to pack

  • Warm layers for altitude
  • Rain protection during monsoon
  • Shoes suitable for uneven ground
  • Clothing covering arms and legs for temples
  • Adapters for C, D and G sockets

Do not bring / prohibited to import

  • Antiques without the required export clearance

Practical

Plugs: Types C, D and G; confirm voltage with your accommodation.

Water: Use sealed bottled or properly treated water; tap water is unsafe in many areas.

Traffic: drives on the left

Mobile and eSIM: Visitor SIMs are sold at Paro airport and by Bhutan Telecom and TashiCell; hotels often have Wi-Fi.

Health: Paro and Thimphu are at altitude; consider altitude risks before travel.

Checked October 30, 2026 · Sources: bhutan.travel ↗, travel.gc.ca ↗, travel.state.gov ↗

Entry rules change. Before your trip, check the website of the embassy or immigration service of the country.