Before choosing dates
- Decide whether weather, festivals, fewer visitors, or price matters most.
- Allow at least seven days for Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha without rushing.
- Check regional flight availability before buying long-haul connections.
Free planning resource
Your practical Bhutan trip planner
Use the checklist to prepare for your first visit, then adapt the seven-day route to your dates and interests.
Before you book
Bhutan planning checklist
Entry and paperwork
- Use a passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip.
- Budget the $40 tourist visa and the Sustainable Development Fee.
- Keep travel insurance details and passport scans available securely.
Budget decisions
- The current SDF is $100 per adult per night through 31 August 2027.
- Choose a hotel level before comparing quotes; it materially changes cost.
- Confirm whether meals, entrances, permits, guide, and driver are itemised.
Pace and comfort
- Tell your planner about mobility, altitude, dietary, or room requirements.
- Keep arrival day light and avoid stacking long drives with major hikes.
- Pack layers, broken-in walking shoes, sun protection, and rain protection.
Sample route
A balanced first seven days
Adjust this route around your flights, festival dates and preferred pace.
- Day 1Paro → Thimphu
Arrive in Paro, meet your guide, and take the scenic drive to Thimphu. Keep the first afternoon gentle while you adjust to the altitude.
- Day 2Thimphu
Choose a few visits in the capital: Buddha Dordenma, a craft workshop or market, and Tashichho Dzong when access permits.
- Day 3Thimphu → Punakha
Cross Dochula Pass, pause for Himalayan views, then descend into the warmer Punakha valley for an easy village walk.
- Day 4Punakha
Visit Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge. Add Chimi Lhakhang, rafting, or a longer countryside walk to suit your interests.
- Day 5Punakha → Paro
Return west with stops your guide can adapt to the weather. Explore Paro town and prepare for the next day's hike.
- Day 6Paro
Hike to Tiger's Nest. Start early, take the ascent steadily, and leave the afternoon flexible for rest or a traditional hot-stone bath.
- Day 7Paro departure
Transfer to Paro Airport. If your flight is later, fit in a short local visit without making the departure day rushed.
Turn the sample route into your trip
Share your dates, party size, pace, and interests. We'll return an itemised proposal with no payment required.