Bhutan for Tourism is considered a hot spot destination in the world due to its unique culture and traditions. In line with Gross National Happiness, Bhutan provides a unique destination for travelers traveling to Bhutan.
Bhutan started tourism in the year 1972 applying the policy of “high value and low impact”. Initially, Bhutan received 287 tourists in the year 1974. The tourist arrival in Bhutan raised from 2850 in 1992 and 2,74,097 in 2018. The figure is inclusive of regional tourists.
In Bhutan, 72% of the land is covered with forest. The recent figure shows Bhutan forest absorbs 6 million tonnes of carbon annually. Bhutan isn’t carbon neutral but carbon negative. Travel to Bhutan with clean air, rich cultural heritage, dress code & friendliness.
Bhutan is a Mahayana Buddhist state and we hold more attachment to trees. The Bodhi tree is the religious tree of Buddhists. Bhutan is correlating with Buddhist Philosophy. Lord Buddha got meditated under the tree. On 2nd June 2016, Bhutan recorded the highest number of tree plantations planting 4,672 trees within an hour. This set a world record. Every year on 2nd June Bhutan observes social forestry day. The main objective is to protect the environment. Environmental protection is the core guiding principle of the constitution of Bhutan and Gross National Happiness.
Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom sandwiched China in the north and India in the south. The country got stunning landscapes, unique culture, and traditions, and follows the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Bhutan with a tourism policy of raising the SDF from US$65 per person per day to US$200 and providing regional tourists from India at Rs.1200 per day. The policy minimizes mass tourism and invests the SDF for economic development in line with Gross National Happiness. If you’re considering visiting Bhutan for tourism, here’s what you should know:
Tourism in Bhutan is regulated to ensure sustainable tourism and the preservation of its culture and environment. Travelers traveling to Bhutan need a visa in advance. To book Bhutan Tours and Trekking you should contact a local authorized tour operator and pay SDF and a daily fee that covers accommodation, meals, transportation, and a guide. The Bhutanese government issues visas to local tour agencies upon approval of the tour booking and tour payment.
Bhutan is a country rich in culture and tradition. You can explore ancient monasteries, witness the colorful festivals of Bhutan, and visit Dzongs (fortresses). The Paro Festival and Thimphu Festival are two major religious festivals of Bhutan that showcase traditional dances, masked performances, and local art.
The kingdom of Bhutan is a paradise for nature with negative immission of carbon. The is the first country in the world with negative carbon neutrality. Explore the pristine landscapes of the Paro and Haa Valleys, hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, and drive into the glacial valley of Phobjikha, where you spot black-necked cranes during winter and migrate to Tibet and Siberia. Visit the Crane information center in Phobjikha and the mini zoo.
For adventurous enthusiasts, Trekking in Bhutan offers you the untouched Himalayas of Bhutan. The Snowman Trek is one of the most challenging treks in the world, taking you through high mountain passes and remote villages. white river Rafting, mountain biking, and bird watching are also popular activities.
Bhutanese architecture is unique with intricately designed monasteries, Dzongs, and traditional Bhutanese houses. The architecture of Bhutan showcases both the spiritual and organic life of Bhutanese life, often blending with carbon negative country the clean atmosphere.
Bhutanese food is known for Datsi – its use of chilies and cheese. Don’t miss trying dishes like ema Datshi (chili and cheese stew), momos (dumplings), and red rice. Local markets offer a chance to sample fresh produce and interact with locals.
Bhutan’s unique development philosophy, Gross National Happiness (GNH), prioritizes well-being and happiness over mere economic growth. The Bhutanese people are known for their friendly and welcoming nature, making your experience more meaningful.
Bhutan is deeply rooted in strong cultural and traditional values. Visitors are expected to dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites and monasteries. Removing your shoes before entering monasteries and Dzongs is a common practice. Bhutanese society respects the Royal family. So, talk about the good deeds of Kings.
Bhutan places a strong emphasis on responsible and sustainable tourism. Avoiding mass tourism which results in the deterioration of beauty of natural beauty. Travelers are encouraged to respect the environment, culture, and local communities. Avoid littering, follow the prescribed trails, guided tours, and trekking, and be mindful of the impact on the local ecosystem.
The best time to visit Bhutan is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is pleasant and the skies are clear. Winter (December to February) can be cold, and some high-altitude trekking routes are closed due to snowfall.
Every traveler should update the current Bhutan tourism policies because they might change at any time. So it’s advisable to check with a local tour agency or Department of Tourism before planning your trip.
The tourism policy of Bhutan is “high value, low impact”. This was serving high exclusivity and high yield in tourism. We provide a Bhutan visa or entry permit to Bhutan for anyone who pays Bhutan tour costs to the tour operator. Our mission is to promote Bhutan as an exclusive travel destination based on Gross National Happiness (GNH) Values”. GNH values should not conflict with the policy.
Bhutan doesn’t follow the policy of restrictions on tourists but follows the policy of high-value low impact. Even tobacco is banned in Bhutan. Bhutan is the only country in the world where tobacco is a ban. Tourist is allowed to bring tobacco in limited quantity after declaring at the Bhutan Revenue customs counter.
We don’t want Bhutan to be like other countries that are suffering from mass tourism. This will affect the environment of Bhutan at the top of the list. Others would be losing of rich culture, socio-cultural impacts, crime, fading of national language & dress code.
Bhutan Tourism visa is issued by the Bhutan Tourism Council of Bhutan. The procedure for obtaining a Bhutan visa. Bhutan visa is not applicable to Indians, Bangladeshis, and Maldivians. They are eligible to process route permits. Rest need to undergo a Bhutan Tourism visa.
Only registered tour operators of Bhutan are entitled to provide Bhutan Tourism visas online. Even those who promote Bhutan and sell Bhutan as a destination are not authorized. They are supposed to contact the authorized tour agencies in Bhutan. Simple procedure to get a Bhutan tourist visa.
The tour agency of Bhutan will process the Bhutan visa online. After getting all the required documents and information. You will get a Bhutan visa from the tour operator after a week’s time. It might take a maximum of 2 weeks if something goes wrong.
Bhutan Tourism Board is the regulatory body of the Bhutan Tourism Government. The Department promotes Bhutan as a travel destination worldwide.
The Bhutan tourism fee is fixed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. The Tariff provided to the registered tour agency of Bhutan is US$250 per person per night. An additional US$30-40 per person per night if the group size is small(1-2 pax).
The Visa fee of US$40 is exclusive. For regional tourist visa fee is exempted from Bhutan Tour Package. You can come directly by yourself or can contact the Bhutan tour agency. Regional tourist is exempted from a royalty fee of US$65 per person per night.
Regional Tourists from India, Bangladesh, and Maldives are exempted from regular Bhutourism fees paid for tour packages. They are entitled to pay a minimum of US$ 17-18 per person per day i.e. SDF(Sustainable Tourism Development Fund). They can contact any Bhutan tour agency and ask for the Bhutan tour package rate.
Bhutan Tourism places of visit in Bhutan are very important for travelers. Please find below the best Bhutan tourism spots or places to visit.
Most of the travelers traveling to Bhutan by road have to enter Phuentsholing and process route permits or e-permit. The best places in Phuentsholing would be Zangtoperli monastery, a Crocodile farm near the Bhutan bus terminal. Another would-be Kharbandi Goenpa. It is 5 km from Phuentsholing town.
In Paro, if you don’t visit Tigers Nest you can’t travel to Bhutan. In Bhutan’s top list of Tourism, the spot is Paro Taksang. the second top would be Paro Fortress or Rinpong Dzong. Most of the trekking in Bhutan starts from Paro. If you love nature hikes don’t miss Zurig Hike. There are beautiful nature hikes in Paro. if you want a short trek with camping select Bumdra Trek.
Other Tourism spots in Paro are Kyichu Temple, Bhutan National Museum and Drugyel ruined fortress. It is under renovation. A day excursion trip would be Haa Valley crossing Chelela pass at an elevation of 3988 meters. There are many Bhutan homestay accommodations, where you can experience local food and a hot stone bath. Even bird lovers can drive early morning to Chelela Pass to spot different kinds of birds.
In Thimphu, you can stay 2 nights to complete the sightseeing in Thimphu. Thimphu is the capital city. Buddha Statue(Buddha Dordenma) is first on the list. It is the largest Buddha Statue in the world facing Thimphu Valley measuring 177 feet tall. Other hotlists are Thimphu Memorial Chorten. The Chorten is unique among all Chortens in the world.
The beauty of Chorten is silent and local circumcising the Chorten with prayer beads. Changkhang Lhakhang is located on the hill facing Thimphu Valley. Takin Zoo on the drive to BBS tower. Takin is the national animal of Bhutan. From BBS Tower you get a glimpse of awesome Thimphu city. Driving down you can visit Zhilukha nunnery only reviving nunnery in Bhutan. Nearby you can visit Dechenphodrang where young monks undergo religious studies.
Tashichoedzong on the other is nail less fortress. Day excursion to Tango and Chari Monastery. You can hike to both monasteries. Most tourists prefer Tango Monastery. Day hikes to Phajoding Monastery and come back the same day.
Another spot or place would be Punakha. Time taken from Thimphu to Punakha is around 2-3 hours depending upon sightseeing on the way. From Thimphu to Dochula it is a 30-45 minutes car drive. You can see spectacular views of Himalayan ranges if the sky is clear. You can visit 108 stupas and Druk Wangyel Lhakhang. Moving towards a low altitude of Punakha district at an elevation of 1300 meters. The first visit will be to Chimi Lhakhang, the “fertility temple”.
Beside the fortress is Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge. Crossing the suspension bridge will give your a clear picture of Bhutanese rural life. Hikes and white river rafting is important if you have time and interest. Evening night halt camping along the riverside will provide you with an experience of the Himalayan holidays.
Wangdi district of Bhutan is very near to Punakha district. It lies in the western part of Bhutan. The main attractions in Wangdue are Wangdiphodrang Dzong Gangtey Goenpa and Phubjikha Glacial Valley.
After Wangdi district lies black mountain areas. From Wangdue it takes nearly 4-5 hours car drive to reach the main town of Trongsa. The main attractions of sightseeing in Trongsa are Trongsa Dzong, Ta Museum, Chendebji Chorten, Kuenga Rabten Palace, which is situated around 23 km from the main town of Trongsa. It takes about an hour to reach the palace. It is on the way towards the Zhemgang district.
Zhemgang district is another destination for bird lovers. It is nearly 3-4 hours from Trongsa town towards the south.
Bhutan Tourism Packages can link to Bhutan Himalayan Holidays Tours and Trekking menu. Any tour and trekking in Bhutan can be customized according to your choice. In Bhutan, you can link your tour to Nepal, Bhutan, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Kalimpong. Bhutan tourism packages are as per your taste.