Bhutan

Bhutan is unlike anywhere else largely by design: the country limits tourism deliberately and measures progress by Gross National Happiness rather than GDP. The reward for visitors is a landscape of pine-covered Himalayan valleys, red-robed monks, and cliffside monasteries, most famously Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, perched improbably on a sheer rock face. Traditional dress and architecture remain everyday norms rather than performances for tourists, giving the country a rare, unhurried authenticity.

Why go thereSacred sites Culture & heritage Mountain hiking Nature & landscapes Festivals & events Rural traditions Wildlife Adventure sports Hot springs Architecture & cities Indigenous cultures Climbing & mountaineering

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Ema datshi

Whole chillies stewed in yak or cow cheese, eaten at every meal as the national dish.

Kewa datshi

Potatoes in the same cheese sauce, milder and used to cut the chilli.

Shakam paa

Dried beef strips fried with chilli and radish, chewy and intensely salty.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Ema datshi

Whole chillies stewed in yak or cow cheese, eaten at every meal as the national dish.

Kewa datshi

Potatoes in the same cheese sauce, milder and used to cut the chilli.

Shakam paa

Dried beef strips fried with chilli and radish, chewy and intensely salty.

Phaksha paa

Pork belly stir-fried with dried chilli and daikon until the fat turns glassy.

Jasha maru

Minced chicken stewed with ginger, tomato and chilli into a thin spiced gravy.

Hoentay

Buckwheat dumplings from Haa filled with turnip greens and cheese.

Goep

Tripe cooked with chilli and spring onion, a delicacy rather than an economy.

Red rice

Short, nutty highland rice grown in the Paro valley, slightly sticky when cooked.

Zow shungo

Leftover rice fried with vegetables, the frugal end of the household week.

Suja

Tea churned with yak butter and salt, drunk in bowls against the cold.

Ara

Home-distilled rice or barley spirit, sometimes served warm with an egg.

Doma

Areca nut with betel leaf and lime, chewed and offered as a greeting.

Practical info

Drives on the left

Entry & health

Set your passport

fuel-prices.eu bhutanwiki.org rbp.gov.bt

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping is not compulsory in Bhutan, and hotel and restaurant bills already include a 20% service charge, so no need to add more; for guides, drivers and trekking crews it's a personal gesture of appreciation, often around 5–10% of the service value or a per-day amount for trek staff.

Dress modestly when visiting monasteries, temples and dzongs — long sleeves/trousers or skirts and closed-toe shoes are expected.
Remove your hat, sunglasses and shoes before entering religious buildings or a Bhutanese home.
Ask permission before photographing monks, religious ceremonies, or inside temple interiors, as photography is often restricted.
Bhutan enforces strict anti-smoking laws, and smoking in public places is heavily regulated.
Keep shopping receipts for high-value purchases, as customs may request them on departure, and trading antiques is prohibited.
Always walk clockwise around chortens, stupas and prayer wheels, and use your right hand when giving or receiving items.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Bhutan — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA