Asia · Bhutan
Bhutan
不丹
The Last Shangri-La
Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures national success by Gross National Happiness. The Sustainable Development Fee — currently USD 100 per person per day — is not a tourism tax in any conventional sense. It is a deliberate mechanism to ensure that every visitor contributes to conservation and that the total number of visitors remains small enough to preserve what makes Bhutan irreplaceable.
The Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) clings to a cliff face at 3,120 metres. The approach — a two-hour hike through pine forest, arriving at a viewpoint where the monastery appears to float — is one of the great arrival moments in travel. Nothing prepares you for it.
Beyond the standard Paro–Thimphu circuit, the eastern valleys of Bumthang offer a Bhutan that even most Bhutanese tourists never see: ancient temples, mask dance festivals, farmhouse stays with local families, and landscapes of extraordinary pastoral beauty. All visits must be arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator — which means you always have an expert with you.
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Contact UsTravel Info
Best Months
Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
Difficulty
Moderate
Budget Reference (USD / person)
$4,850–11,100
Visa
Visa required
Visa required · USD 100/day Sustainable Development Fee (mandatory) · All visits must be arranged through licensed Bhutanese tour operator · No independent travel
Must Experience
- —Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) — the defining Bhutan experience
- —Punakha Dzong — fortress monastery at the confluence of two rivers
- —Bumthang valley — ancient temples, mask festivals, authentic farmhouse stays
- —Black-necked crane festival (November) in Phobjikha Valley
- —Private audience with senior lamas at Tashichho Dzong (by arrangement)