A Practical Guide to Bhutan
Hello there! You may have navigated here from my previous post A Bhutan Love Affair: My Journey with Six Senses. Or you may have bypassed that and skipped straight to the practical stuff. Either way, welcome to this post on all things Bhutan.
As a travel advisor, one thing I aim to do is recommend trips based on my own personal travel experiences. But the world’s a big place and it’s virtually impossible to visit everywhere. So when there’s a destination I haven’t experienced personally, I call upon my trusted ground partners to assist me, problem solved. Except when it came to Bhutan.
Even under the guidance of my brilliant ground partner, it was always the destination I felt nervous to sell without experiencing myself.
Prior to visiting I just couldn’t grasp how it all worked logistically or which guests it would, or wouldn’t suit. I wasn't sure how to get around and navigate the many valleys. And I certainly didn't know which valleys should be prioritised for guests who were short on time.
All kinds of questions had been in my head; Do I need to stick with one hotel brand and book their ‘journey’? Or can I mix up different styles and standards of lodges to meet varying budget needs? Do guests need a guide for every experience or can some things be ‘self-guided’?
For some reason, no matter how much reassurance I got, I just didn’t feel comfortable selling it blindly.
In May 2025, my long held dream to make it to Bhutan and get answers to my many questions came to fruition when I was invited to join a fam trip with Six Senses. It turned out to be the experience of a lifetime and I now have that first hand knowledge, and a deeper understanding of how everything ‘works’.
So with that in mind, I thought it would be useful to offer some answers, practical tips and advice when it comes to some of the most commonly asked questions when planning a trip to Bhutan.*
*Side note: I want to keep this post more neutral and not brand focused but should you wish, you can do a deep dive on all things Six Senses, head here.
Frequently asked questions about Bhutan
-
I’m quite aware that some people may have never even heard of Bhutan. Well, Bhutan is a landlocked country in east Asia, nestled in the Himalayas between India and China (Tibet). It’s a country known for its outstanding natural beauty, Buddhist lead culture and for measuring Gross National Happiness as it’s measure of successful governance - I love it.
-
There are a few different ways but all involve at least one-stop. The only airlines that serve Bhutan are Drukair or Bhutan Airlines, so you’ll need a hub that serves these airlines.
I personally chose to fly from London to Dubai with Emirates and then connected onto a Drukair flight from there - it takes around 4 hours to fly from Dubai to Paro. What I like about the Dubai connection is there is no need for additional entry forms and visas for UK passport holders - the only slight downside was that there is quite a long time between connecting flights.
The other main hubs tend to be Delhi or Bangkok, which could potentially be better options for some, especially if you’re including Bhutan as part of a much wider itinerary through Asia.
-
Yes. And this needs to be done in advance of arrival. The current cost of a tourist visa is USD $40.
-
I won’t beat around the bush. It’s not the cheapest country to visit and it’s tricky to place an accurate figure on it.
Visitors have to pay a daily 'sustainable development fee’ of USD$100 per person per day (children under 12 and under receive a 50% discount and for those under 6 years old, there is no fee). This daily levy is paid by all visitors in the country on a tourist visa and its primary role is to help regulate tourism. It’s there to support Bhutan’s development, striking the fine balance between opening the country up to the world, whilst also preserving the country's heritage.
Lodges can range in price. Boutique hotels and local farmhouse stays are more affordable. Whereas you can expect to spend upwards and over £1500 per night for some of the top brand lodges, such as, Six Senses, AMAN and Como Hotels.
Then on top of that, you’ll need to factor in a budget for guides in most places and additional activities and experiences that you’ll want to do. Be warmed, you’ll be out exploring most of the time.
-
As I’ve just mentioned above. There are a range of accommodation options, from top brands like Six Senses, Aman & Como Hotels, to one off hotels, to more local farmhouse stays.
Whilst guests looking to experience some of the luxury lodges are encouraged to follow a brand's own ‘journey’ (discounts are often the incentive here), it is possible to mix and match.
-
Truthfully. I really don’t. They each offer their own unique selling points and style. The trick is matching you and your personal tastes to the right brand(s) - so let’s chat!
-
A lot of travel between the various valleys is done by road, and some journeys can take upwards of 4+hours. However, don’t let that put you off as the scenery is stunning and you’ll often make stops along the way.
Occasionally you may need to take a domestic flight, if visiting Bumthang valley, for example. And if you’re really short on time (or just want some spectacular views), there is also the possibility to take a helicopter between Phobjikha (Gangtey) valley and Paro.
-
Bhutan is pretty much made up of mountains and valleys. It’s in the valleys where you’ll find most of the country's main towns and local communities. The valleys that most tourists tend to visit are; Paro, Thimphu, Bumthang, Phobjikha (Gangtey) and Punakha. It’s not essential to visit all of them, but if time allows, then I would highly recommend that you do, as it allows you to experience the country in all its glory.
-
This can often depend on your flights and also accommodation availability. Assuming there are no such obstacles, I’d recommend beginning your trip in Punakha - it sits at a lower altitude and is a nice place to relax and acclimatise a little. I’d always suggest ending your trip in Paro. By then you will have adjusted to the altitude and you’ll be able to fully enjoy the hike to Tigers Nest.
-
Of course, this all depends on how much time you have. I’d say the ‘easiest’ to skip would be Thimphu as you can stop here en route between Paro & Punakah (or vice versa), to break up the journey. Having said that, one of the favourite lodges that I saw was Six Senses Thimphu, so that’s a reason to keep it in an itinerary.
-
I felt as though Punakha would be perfect for this - especially at the Six Senses Punakha, with its gorgeous pool area and spa.
-
No, not at all!
There are options to be driven to visit various monasteries and specific points of interest. There are also plenty of short hikes/walks to beautiful view points. As well as there generally being plenty to do outside of hiking.
-
So many things can affect this and it’s not necessarily even your fitness levels - more how you adapt to the altitude. There is quite a bit of uphill but you can take this at your own pace and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and pause along the way - the views are insane.
There is also an option to go as far as the look out point which has amazing views, after which you can choose to not continue the walk. This could be a good compromise for someone who feels their fitness level isn’t up to the full hike. It’s mainly the last bit that some may struggle with, as you have hundreds of steps to walk down and then back up again.
-
Try to not rush and give the country more time than you think you need. It’s not a country to see as a series of ‘tick-list’ sites.
Don’t try and go it alone, you really do need a great guide throughout. While there might be a few places and things to see and do under your own steam, having a guide really does elevate your experience so much.
Just go!! If it’s been on your list, and is within the scope of possibility, just go. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for it.
Sign off…
I hope that’s been helpful. I’m sure that you may have many more questions about Bhutan and I’m here for them all. Please feel free to drop me a message if I’ve missed anything you want to know and I can add them to this list.
