Located in the heart of Himalayan Mountains, Bhutan is still a less explored travel destination. Bhutan receives a less number of visitors as compared to its neighbouring countries such as India and Nepal. Due to it, the beauty of this destination is still intact.
For a very long time, Bhutan has kept its mysterious charms hidden from the travellers as visiting Bhutan wasn’t allowed. Since then, there are certain myths about Bhutan which makes people hesitant while planning a trip. However, anyone can visit the land of thunder dragon – Bhutan now! All you have to do is follow certain rules and show respect for local culture.
One will find peaceful monasteries, soothing scenarios, rich culture and natural beauty everywhere in Bhutan. If you love travelling then, you must visit Bhutan at least once. Now, you must be intrigued to know how much it costs to visit Bhutan. Well, let’s clear all misconceptions and know about it:
Bhutan Tourist Fee:
Foreign tourists have to pay a set amount of tariff in advance before visiting Bhutan. The government calculates tariff rate on per day/ per individual basis. Whether you buy Bhutan honeymoon packages or Bhutan family packages, every possible package of Bhutan includes this daily tariff.
This may sound a little bit odd as not every country asks for a daily tariff. But, Bhutan is unique having distinct reasons for charging this tourist fee. Let’s move on to this fee structure:
High Season Charges:
March, April, May, September, October and November are high season months to visit Bhutan. So, the tariff charges are also comparatively higher in these months.
• You will have to pay 250 US Dollars on per person per day basis if you are travelling in a group of 3 or more.
• The charges will be 280 US Dollars on per person per day basis for people travelling in a group of 2.
• Solo travelers will have to pay a daily tariff worth 290 US Dollars.
Low Season Charges:
January, February, June, July, August and December are considered low season months for visiting Bhutan. The temperature remains very low in winter months and from June to August Bhutan faces high rainfall. So, travelling and exploring is a little bit difficult during these months. The tariff charges are:
• Travelers visiting in a group of 3 or more will have to pay 200 US Dollars on per person per day basis.
• Couples and people visiting in pairs of two will have to pay 230 US Dollars per person per day.
• Solo visitors will be charged 240 US Dollars on a daily basis.
Yet, you can avail some discounts and special offers. These charges include the government’s royalty which is 65 US Dollars daily.
Note: The citizens of India, Bangladesh and Maldives are exempted from these daily tourist charges. It means that visiting Bhutan is a more affordable option for travelers of these countries.
Discounts:
Do you find these charges high? Well, you should look at a few discount offers before making any final judgement.
• Children with age group 0-5 will get a tariff-free entry in Bhutan.
• Children with age group 6-12 will get 50% off on daily rate and royalty charges won’t be applied to them.
• Full-time students under the age of 25 years having valid identity cards can avail 25% discount on the daily charges.
• One person from the group containing 11-15 individuals gets a 50% discount on the daily tariff rates.
• One person from the group exceeding 16 people will get 100% off on the charges.
• Tourists staying for more than 8 days will get 50% off on the royalty after 8th night of their stay.
• Tourists staying for more than 14 days can avail 100% discount on the royalty after the 14th night.
What’s included in Bhutan Tourist Fee?
The government of Bhutan surely provides many services to host the tourists after taking these fixed charges from them. The daily charges cover a lot of travel expenses.
• You will get a licensed Bhutanese tour guide from an authentic Bhutanese tour operator. He will help you in exploring the country.
• A comfortable transportation medium like a minibus/car plus a driver will be provided for internal travel.
• Stay in a decently maintained 3-star hotel. You can also request for homestay and camping options of similar rates.
• Entrance charges to all tourist places.
• You will get food and non-alcoholic drinks within these charges. You can eat at your hotel’s restaurant or request your guide to take you to local restaurants as well.
• Trekking gears for the trekkers.
• All the taxes within Bhutan.
It means that most of your travel expenses like food, stay, sightseeing etc. will be totally covered within your daily tariff charges. Yes, you won’t have to pay anything extra while enjoying these facilities on your Bhutanese trip.
What’s excluded from the Fees?
There are some expenses which aren’t covered in the daily charges. You will have to take care of them. These are:
• Flight ticket from/to Bhutan + airport tax
• Visa fees
• Souvenirs or any other material you shop
• Alcoholic beverages
• Laundry
• You will have to pay extra charges for luxury hotels (4 and 5 stars)
• Travel insurance
Is Bhutan Worth it?
Absolutely yes! It’s just a different policy of charging otherwise; the cost of entire trip is just like any other trip. The difference is that you have to pay a fixed amount in advance in the case of Bhutan while travelling to other destinations you spend it on stay, accommodation etc.
Apart from it, the atmosphere of Bhutan is very clean with pure air, beautiful vistas and colorful structures. Bhutan offers a rich travel experience with high-quality services and friendly folks.
One thing is sure that you won’t regret the decision of visiting Bhutan! To get better offers, couples can also buy Bhutan honeymoon packages. The tranquil mountains of Bhutan are perfect for making a new bond on the honeymoon.
So, plan your trip and get ready to explore a totally distinct and rare country!
