Our standard 7-day, 6-night Bhutan package is USD 1,740 per adult and USD 1,200 per child. These are final all-inclusive package totals covering the Sustainable Development Fee and one-time visa. International flights, tips, insurance, and optional hotel upgrades are separate.
All in, a typical 7-day trip comes to roughly USD 3,200 per adult: about USD 1,740 for the complete package plus around USD 1,500 for international flights. Flights cost more from the US or Australia and less from Asian hubs like Singapore or Bangkok that connect directly to Paro.
Start with the package total, then add flights and personal spending. This guide separates those costs so you can compare trips of different lengths without counting SDF or visa twice.
Already know your approximate dates? Request an itemised Bhutan quote to see how tour services, SDF, and visa make up the final all-inclusive total. There is no payment required to receive it.
Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
The single line item that surprises first-time visitors is the $100 USD per adult per night Sustainable Development Fee. It is charged by the Bhutanese government on most foreign visitors and is itemised within our package price.
What it pays for:
- Free education for all Bhutanese children
- Free universal healthcare
- Environmental conservation
- Cultural heritage preservation
- Rural infrastructure
The SDF is paid to the government. The applicable rate depends on your nationality and age, so confirm those details in your quote.
Current rate: The current $100/night is a concession, not the permanent rate. The original post-2022-reform rate was $200/night; it was reduced to $100 in September 2023 as a tourism-recovery incentive. The reduction is currently confirmed through August 31, 2027. After that, the rate could revert to $200 unless the concession extends again. For a 7-day, 6-night trip, that's the difference between $600 SDF per adult now and $1,200 SDF per adult if it reverts.
Children pay less: under-6s are exempt from the SDF, and children aged 6-11 pay half rate ($50 per night). Indian nationals pay a reduced SDF of ₹1,200 per person per night (separate from the foreign-visitor concession).
For a 7-day, 6-night trip at the current rate, the SDF is $600 per adult. Our package price includes it and shows it as an itemised government fee.
The Other Government Fee: Visa
Visa fee: $40 USD per person, one-time. Non-refundable. Applies to all foreign nationals except Indian citizens (who pay nothing, they get a free permit instead).
The visa fee is charged once, while SDF is charged by the night. Our package includes both.
What's Included in Your Tour Cost
Read the inclusions before comparing two quotes. Our standard package brings accommodation, meals and daily travel arrangements into one total.
A standard Bhutan trip typically includes:
| Included | Notes |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Each night of your trip, in 3-5 star hotels depending on tour tier |
| All meals | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, often at hotels and restaurants we partner with |
| Licensed guide | English-speaking, with you for the full trip |
| Dedicated vehicle and driver | Cars or vans, depending on group size |
| All permits | For monasteries, dzongs, and protected sites |
| Sustainable Development Fee | Usually itemised in the tour quote, but bundled into the total |
| Visa fee | Itemised as a $40 line within the final package total |
| Internal transfers | Including domestic flights between Paro and Bumthang if applicable |
| Bottled water and snacks | Throughout the trip |
What's NOT typically included:
- International flights to/from Paro (your biggest separate cost)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended; obtain a quote for your activities)
- Tips for guide and driver (~$15-25/day total, see below)
- Alcoholic drinks (often not included in meals)
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
- Optional add-ons (hot stone bath, traditional dress hire, archery class)
This is the most important thing to understand: a Bhutan tour cost is "all-in" for the on-the-ground experience, but you separately budget for international flights and a small amount of personal spending.
Cost by Trip Length
The table below shows our current package estimates by trip length. They include the one-time USD 40 visa, SDF, accommodation, meals, licensed guide, driver, transport, permits, and entrance fees. Your written quote confirms the price available for your dates, party and itinerary.
| Trip | Chargeable nights | Adult package | Child package |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 4 | USD 1,160 | USD 800 |
| 7 days | 6 | USD 1,740 | USD 1,200 |
| 9 days | 8 | USD 2,320 | USD 1,600 |
| 10 days | 9 | USD 2,610 | USD 1,800 |
| 14 days | 13 | USD 3,770 | USD 2,600 |
These are current package estimates before international flights, tips, insurance, and optional hotel upgrades. Prices can change before booking. A custom journey is priced for its dates, party, itinerary and confirmed service scope.
Worked example: 5-day trip
A shorter trip gives you fewer days for sightseeing and road travel. Check the route as well as the price.
- Standard adult package (5 days, 4 nights): $1,160
- International flight: ~$1,500
- Tips, insurance, extras: ~$300
- Example total with a $1,500 international flight and $300 in extras: ~$2,960 per adult
Doable but feels rushed; we generally recommend 7+ days.
Worked example: 10-day trip
Adds Punakha and Phobjikha to the standard western circuit.
- Standard adult package (10 days, 9 nights): $2,610
- International flight: ~$1,500
- Tips, insurance, extras: ~$500
- Example total with a $1,500 international flight and $500 in extras: ~$4,610 per adult
The most popular trip length for first-time visitors who want depth without going to central or eastern Bhutan.
Worked example: 14-day trip
Includes central Bhutan (Bumthang), much deeper experience.
- Standard adult package (14 days, 13 nights): $3,770
- International flight: ~$1,500
- Tips, insurance, extras: ~$700
- Example total with a $1,500 international flight and $700 in extras: ~$5,970 per adult
Recommended for return visitors or travellers wanting to see beyond the standard western loop.
Cost by Country of Departure
International flights are usually the biggest variable. Bhutan has only one international airport (Paro), served primarily by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines from a limited set of hubs. There are no direct flights from North America, Europe, or Australia, you connect via Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Singapore, or Hong Kong.
Approximate round-trip economy flight costs to Paro in 2026:
| Origin | Typical fare | Common routing |
|---|---|---|
| New York / East Coast US | $1,400-2,200 | via Delhi or Bangkok |
| Los Angeles / West Coast US | $1,500-2,400 | via Singapore or Bangkok |
| London | $1,000-1,800 | via Delhi or Bangkok |
| Paris / Frankfurt / Amsterdam | $1,000-1,800 | via Bangkok or Delhi |
| Sydney / Melbourne | $1,400-2,200 | via Singapore or Bangkok |
| Singapore | $700-1,200 | direct seasonally, otherwise via Kolkata |
| Bangkok | $500-900 | direct |
| Delhi / Mumbai | $400-700 | Check the Paro service from Delhi and any connecting leg from Mumbai |
Compare live fares early; festival season (March-April, September-October) is the most expensive.
A Special Case: Indian Nationals
Indian citizens have a fundamentally different cost structure:
- No visa fee (free entry permit instead)
- Reduced SDF: ₹1,200 per person per night (about $14 USD instead of $100)
- Cheaper flights: $400-700 round-trip from Delhi or Kolkata
- Guide and access requirements still apply; confirm these for the route
Indian nationals have a different SDF and permit framework, so they should request a nationality-specific quote rather than use the standard international package total.
Children and Family Trips
Children get a real break on the government fees: under-6s pay no SDF, and children aged 6-11 pay half rate ($50 per night). From age 12 the full adult rate applies. Beyond that:
- Children may have a lower package estimate because their government fee is lower; hotel rooms, meals, transport and guiding still form part of the price
The current estimate for a family of four with two adults and two children on a 7-day, 6-night package is USD 5,880 before international flights, tips, insurance, and optional upgrades. Confirm the final price for your dates in a written quote.
Tipping in Bhutan
Tipping isn't culturally mandatory, but it's expected from international visitors and is the main way to acknowledge good service. Standard guidance:
| For | Amount per day | For a 7-day trip |
|---|---|---|
| Guide | $10-15 | $70-105 |
| Driver | $5-10 | $35-70 |
| Hotel staff (per stay) | $5-10 | ~$15-30 |
| Total per traveller | ~$120-200 for the week |
This is given in cash at the end of the trip. We can confirm local norms when you book.
Costs already included in the package
Compared to other destinations, Bhutan removes several costs you'd normally plan for:
- Restaurant meals: included in the tour cost; you rarely pay out of pocket for food
- Internal transport: included; no taxis, ride-shares, or train tickets to figure out
- Entry fees: all monastery and dzong fees are included in the tour cost
- Bottled water: usually included throughout the day
- Internet/data: most hotels include WiFi; you don't need a SIM unless you want one
- Tour-day excursions: the entire itinerary is bundled in the package price
Check the written quote for optional activities, drinks and any purchases you may want to make yourself.
Currency and Payments
- The local currency is the Ngultrum (BTN), pegged 1:1 to the Indian Rupee
- US dollars are widely accepted for tour costs and major hotels
- Credit cards work at most premium hotels and an increasing number of restaurants in Thimphu and Paro, but are unreliable elsewhere
- ATMs exist in Thimphu and Paro but are not always functional with international cards
- Bring some USD or INR cash for tips, souvenirs, and small purchases, we will advise on amounts
Comparing quotes
Check the total for the same number of nights, travellers and rooms. Confirm SDF and visa, meals, guiding, transport and entrance fees. Ask which activities or upgrades cost extra.
Get a live fare for every flight leg before deciding on the overall budget. The flight figures above are planning examples, not bookable fares. Insurance and optional tips also need their own allowance.
If you're comparing destinations, use complete itineraries with similar accommodation and activities. A long trek and a week of valley sightseeing can have very different costs even in the same country.
Choose a route for your budget
For a first trip focused on Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, start with the seven-day Essential Bhutan Journey. Its six nights cover the western route and Tiger's Nest. If valley walks and an overnight stay in Phobjikha matter to you, compare the ten-day option before fixing your budget.
Our seven-versus-ten-day comparison shows the extra nights, route choices and current package totals side by side.
Our standard adult package totals are:
- Essential Bhutan Journey: 7 days and 6 nights, USD 1,740 per adult
- Bhutan Culture & Nature Escape: 10 days and 9 nights, USD 2,610 per adult
- Bhutan Festival Journey: 9 days and 8 nights, USD 2,320 per adult
- Custom Journey: fully tailored to your dates, interests, and budget
All quoted prices include the SDF and visa. Add international flights from your country, ~$150 in tips, and travel insurance to estimate your full per-person budget.
Or request a custom quote if you have specific dates, group composition, or budget targets.
Costs in this guide reflect public 2026 figures published by Bhutan's Department of Tourism and typical market rates as of writing. Tour package prices are confirmed at the time of your specific booking. Flight costs vary substantially by season and how far ahead you book.