Is Bhutan open now? When is Bhutan open for tourists？We keep getting emails from our clients asking the questions like these, especially during the past three months. The answer is yes; Bhutan is open to tourists in 2022 and Bhutan has a new brand and tagline, BHUTAN: Believe. As you may know, the Kingdom of Bhutan had been reopened its borders to tourists from 23rd September 2022. Since this late September, we already arrange many Bhutan trips for our guests from America, Australia, the UK, Italy, Malaysia, Poland, New Zealand, Belgium, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Sweden, Finland, and so on. Happiness is a place; we are so happy to help our clients to realize their Bhutan trips again during the post-COVID 19. Here are some photos of our clients from their September and October Bhutan trips.
Our clients enjoyed their Bhutan trips in 2022
Brand launch & Reopening 2022 video by Tourism Council of Bhutan.Throwback to the launch of brand Bhutan on 22nd September and reopening of tourism in Bhutan on 23rd September 2022.
To enter Bhutan in 2024 we will only need Bhutan Visa and Travel insurance.
For Bhutan Visa, usually with your travel duration in Bhutan, you will get a single entry e-visa accordingly. You can extend your visa inside Bhutan. The Bhutan visa allows you to remain in Bhutan for a maximum of 90 days from the date of entry.
For Travel insurance, all visitors must have full, valid travel insurance for the duration of their visit. For all visitors except those from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, it is required to be in place when you make your visa application. Visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives have the option to purchase domestic travel insurance at their port of entry.
How to get Bhutan visa in 2024? Since Sept 2022, you can apply Bhutan e-Visa by yourself through the online process. Citizens of India, Maldives, and Bangladesh don't need a visa to visit Bhutan. For other international tourists, the Bhutan visa is needed and processed online before arriving in the country. Also to make things easy, you can ask a travel service like us for help. Here is an article for your reference: 2022 updated Bhutan Visa Online Application Guide
The Bhutan visa price is 40USD per person. It is a one-off fee of US$40 for the processing of your Bhutan visa application. This is payable at the same time as your Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), as part of the process of submitting your visa application.
Here is a photo of the updated Bhutan e-visa for your reference. You need to print the Bhutan e-visa out in advance and show it to the officer in the airport or the border to enter Bhutan.
Bhutan e-visa 2024
Need help with the application for a Bhutan visa or more details, you can contact our Bhutan trip advisor.
Is Bhutan trip expensive? Compared to other countries in the world, traveling in Bhutan is expensive due to the must pay the Sustainable Development Fee(SDF) to the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Since 20 June 2022, the SDF has been raised to 200USD per night per person from 65USD. (Please note: A 50% discount shall be granted on the prevailing SDF of USD 200 for US Dollar paying tourists visiting Bhutan. The effective SDF with the discount shall be USD 100 per person per night for US Dollar paying tourists, effect from 1 September 2023 till 31 August 2027). But compared to its royal standard service, unique cultural and natural resources, and carbon-negative environment, the Bhutan trip is still worth the price. Join our Bhutan Group Tour to find your travel companions and save up to 40%.
The SDF is short for the Sustainable Development Fee. The Tourism Council of Bhutan strongly adheres to a policy of "High Value, Low Impact" tourism which serves the purpose of making Bhutan one of the most exclusive travel destinations in the world and minimizing the negative impact on its effort to the conservation of the environment, promotion of cultural heritage, safeguarding sovereign status of the Nation. The SDF from tourists (USD200 per person per night) can be understood as a government-imposed tax to benefit all Bhutanese for free education, free healthcare, and poverty alleviation in Bhutan. Also, the fee will go towards activities that promote carbon-neutral tourism and building a more sustainable tourism sector such as offsetting the carbon footprint of tourists and upskilling workers in the sector.
Check the document from the Tourism Council of Bhutan:
Bhutan will reopen borders on 23rd Sept. 2022 with the SDF of USD200.pdf
Bhutan Tourist Attractions
The best way to travel to Bhutan is by taking a plane to Paro, where Bhutan's only international airport is located in, from Thailand, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, or Singapore. Druk Air and Royal Bhutan Airlines are the only carriers for international flights to Bhutan
The Indian cities, where there are flights to Bhutan, are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Gaya, and Guwahati. Other Cities, where there are flights to Bhutan, are Bangkok (Thailand), Kathmandu (Nepal), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Changi (Singapore).
Here is a photo of Bhutan airlines map for the direct flights to Bhutan from Thailand, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Singapore.
Bhutan Airlines Map
At least 4 to 5 days are necessary if you want to visit all the most popular tourist attractions in Paro and Thimphu of Bhutan, such as the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger Nest Monastery), National Museum, and Tashichho Dzong. Around 6 to 7 days are needed if you want to travel to some remote area, such as the Haa Valley. Usually with a 6 days Bhutan trip, we can explore districts of Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. Around 10 days are needed if you want to trek the mountains and valleys in Bhutan. Some of our customers even spent 30 days exploring over two-thirds of the land of the country. From the map below, you will see that Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Haa, Trongsa, and Bumthang are the main tourist places for the travelers from all over the world. Wish the Bhutan travel map can help you to have a better idea for your Bhutan trip plan.
Bhutan Travel Map
The best time to visit and trek in Bhutan (peak seasons) are the spring months of March, April, and May and the autumn months of September, October, and November. Many colorful festivals like Paro and Thimphu Tshechu also take place in spring and fall.
However, we believe Bhutan is a year-round destination. Based on the differences in altitudes, Bhutan is divided into north, middle, and south parts. The altitude of the north part is over 3000 meters and very cold, while the south part is only around 1500 meters above sea level and very wet and hot. Fortunately, most tourist attractions are in the middle part, which enjoys a mild climate and is suitable for tourism all year round. Many travelers are discovering the advantages of the lean season and choose to travel to Bhutan during the winter and summer months. Amazing Bhutan is waiting for you to discover.
Our client joined the Thimphu Tshechu Festival. Oct 2022
The Thimphu Tshechu is the most magnificent Tshechu Festival in Bhutan. Both the King and Chief Abbot of Bhutan will attend this 3-day festival in Thimphu. Visiting Bhutan during its Festival Dates is a great bonus to your Bhutan trip. Join the Bhutanese celebration, enjoy the unique Bhutan culture, and intermingle with the Bhutanese people. Want to add Bhutan festivals in to your Bhutan Trip? Check the Bhutan Festival Calendar from the Tourism Council of Bhutan: Bhutan Tentative Festival & Events Dates 2022.pdf and Bhutan Tentative Festival & Events Dates 2023.pdf
Bhutan Thimphu Tshechu Festival 2022 video by Tourism Council of Bhutan
Asia Odyssey Tours & Travel Company Limited (bhutantrip.com) is a leading online travel service focused on Bhutan trips for about 10 years. Headquartered in Hong Kong, we have branch offices in Tibet, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Chengdu, Guilin, Xian, Beijing, and Guangzhou. Since 2013, we have been arranging both private & customized Bhutan tours for our clients from all over the world. We can help you with your Bhutanese visa and we can also do Nepal tours, Nepal & Bhutan travel, Tibet & Nepal tours, Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan trips, India Tours, Nepal-Bhutan-India trips, and so on if you want to add more charming destinations to your Bhutan tour.
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