Before you come

Yes, and we arrange it. Everyone except Indian nationals needs a visa — Indians enter on a permit instead. For most visitors the visa must be approved in advance rather than on arrival; Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals are the one exception, and can get theirs on arrival or apply ahead through the government's online portal. Since 2022 you can also apply yourself through the same portal, but when you book with us we simply handle it: the application goes in once the trip is confirmed and paid, and approval normally takes about five working days.

We need a clear scan of your passport photo page. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. The visa clearance letter is issued before you fly and you must carry it; the visa itself is stamped in your passport on arrival at Paro.

Visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee per person per night, set by the government. It is separate from what the trip itself costs, and it funds free healthcare, free education and environmental protection in Bhutan.

The current rate is US$100 per person per night for most international visitors, halved for children aged six to twelve and waived under six. There is also a one-time US$40 visa application fee. We confirm the exact figures for your dates with every itinerary we send.

By air into Paro, which is the only international airport. Two airlines fly there (Drukair and Bhutan Airlines) from Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Singapore, Dhaka, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahati and a few other regional cities.

The approach into Paro is famously dramatic; only a small number of pilots are certified to fly it, and flights operate in daylight only. Sit on the left flying in from Kathmandu for the Everest view.

You can also enter overland from India at Phuentsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar. We can arrange either.

October and November are the most popular: clear skies, comfortable temperatures, the best mountain views and most of the big festivals.

March to May is the next best. Warm days, rhododendrons and magnolias in flower, occasional afternoon showers. Paro Tshechu falls in spring.

June to August is the monsoon. It rains, the mountain views mostly disappear, and some trekking routes are unpleasant. It is also green, empty of other visitors and much less booked out.

December to February is cold but bright and very clear. The western valleys are open, the crane are in Phobjikha, and there are almost no other visitors.

For a cultural tour, reasonably. The one demanding part is the walk to Taktsang: around five hours there and back, climbing about 900 m. Horses can take you as far as the halfway cafeteria, but not beyond.

For a trek, that depends on which one. Our short treks suit anyone comfortable with a full day walking on hills. The Laya Gasa needs previous multi-day trekking at altitude. Each trip page states the effort level and what makes it that.

Thimphu is at 2,320 m and Paro at 2,280 m, high enough that some people notice it on the first day, but not usually a problem. Take the first day gently and drink more than you think you need.

Treks are a different matter. The Jhomolhari routes sleep at 4,080 m and cross passes near 5,000 m. Our itineraries are built to acclimatise properly, guides are trained to recognise altitude illness, and we carry oxygen and a satellite phone on the high routes. Tell us if you have had any altitude problems before.

For October and November, or for any festival, book six to nine months ahead: hotel space is genuinely limited and festival dates are fixed.

For other months, three months is usually comfortable. We have put trips together in a fortnight when someone had leave they had to use, so ask even if it seems late.

Cancellation terms depend on how close to departure you are and what has already been paid to hotels and the government on your behalf. We set them out in writing with your quote, before you pay anything.

We ask every guest to arrange travel insurance covering cancellation and, for treks, emergency evacuation.

Paro flights are weather-dependent and delays happen, particularly in the monsoon. If a delay eats into your trip we will restructure the remaining days to save what matters most to you.

We ask that you keep at least one clear day between your Paro departure and any onward international connection, for the same reason.