Yes, all tourist visitors except for Indian passport holders require a visa to visit Bhutan.
Bhutan uses an eVisa system. When booking with Koryo Tours, your tour booking is regarded as a visa application, and all formalities are taken care of by Koryo Tours and its local Bhutanese partner.
All you need to do is to book the tour and upload the scan of your passports’ ID page along with passport-style visa photo (35mmX45mm, white background, without glasses and head coverings).
Koryo Tours will send your visa in a PDF format prior to your departure to Bhutan. The Bhutanese eVisa costs $40 USD.
When is the best time to visit Bhutan?
Bhutan considers itself as a year-long destination but there are certain factors to consider. The Indian monsoon season is between late June and late September that can affect accessibility of certain areas, especially in South Bhutan.
Most of the tourists visit Bhutan during traditional Bhutanese festivals and Tshechus (annual religious festival) that can feel a bit crowded if one imagined Bhutan as a destination with low tourist numbers. The date of these festivals varies annually as they are determined by the Bhutanese lunar calendar.
The major one take place sometime between late February and April and late September to November. April–May and September–October sees the highest number of tourists.
Winters (December–February) offers clear, blue skies and beautiful views of the Himalayas with low number of tourists.
From early March till mid-April is the dry spring season.
What is the Sustainment Development Fee in Bhutan?
It is a tourism levy that is currently a discounted $100 USD per night till August 31, 2027 (as per the Tourism Levy Act of Bhutan 2022 the official amount is $200 USD).
The Government of Bhutan collects – and has been collecting since 1974 when tourists were first allowed to enter – this tourism levy to contribute to the sustainable development goals of Bhutan and to compensate for the environmental impact tourism causes.
These goals are free healthcare and education, as well as cultural preservation and environmental conservation.
Do I need a guide to visit Bhutan?
Yes. Tourism Rules and Regulations 2022 clearly state that "[a] tourist visiting Bhutan shall arrange [...] [t]our guide" and that "[a] tour guide shall be mandatory for all tours except from the entry point until the first hotel".
To enter monuments and Dzongs one needs to be accompanied by a guide and at the entry points the personnel in charge needs to register the guide’s license number and phone number.
You can freely walk around in Thimphu and Paro during your free time and visit shops, cafés, and restaurants. However, contrary to the belief there is no explicit rule that you do not need a guide in Paro and Thimphu.
What language is spoken in Bhutan?
The official national language is Dzongkha but there are 19 regional languages throughout the country.
English is the medium of education and over half of the population speaks English. In urban areas and amongst younger generations this ratio is over 90%.
What language is spoken in Bhutan?
The official national language is Dzongkha but there are 19 regional languages throughout the country.
English is the medium of education and over half of the population speaks English. In urban areas and amongst younger generations this ratio is over 90%.
What currency is used and how do I access money?
Bhutan's official currency is Bhutanese Ngultrum, abbreviated as BTN or Nu.
Indian rupees are also widely accepted with a 1:1 exchange rate; however, ₹1000 notes are discouraged.
Your guide will help you with the money exchange, and you can also withdraw money from ATMs in Thimphu. Some establishments (mostly in Thimphu and Paro) also accept card payments.