Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest), BhutanPhoto: Original: Nina R from Africa Derivative work: UnpetitproleX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Bhutan
Bhutan, made simple: cliffside monasteries, prayer flags and quiet Himalayan valleys
Bhutan is the Himalayan kingdom that measures success by Gross National Happiness: Tiger's Nest clinging to a cliff above Paro, the great dzong of Punakha between two rivers, the capital Thimphu with no traffic lights, the black necked cranes of Phobjikha and the sacred valleys of Bumthang. It can feel uncertain, with a Sustainable Development Fee, online visas, guide rules and a single international airport. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyVisas, the SDF, guides, seasons and health, answered
- LandingParo airport, SIM cards, ngultrum and your first evening, explained
- Your days in BhutanDzongs, hikes, festivals and food, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, fee, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain the daily fee, what tour packages include, cash, cards and tipping so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Bhutan should feel like calm, not worry. We answer the questions about visas, fees, guides, money and altitude before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Australia, the United States or elsewhere to see family, or finally seeing Tiger's Nest for yourself? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your BhutanMonasteries, festivals, hikes, wildlife or slow valley days: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsVisa, Sustainable Development Fee, guide rules and the right season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for temples, cafés, markets, hikes and stays in each valley.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and the centre at a realistic mountain pace.
Everything your Bhutan trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Phobjikha and Bumthang, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred dzongs, temples, cafés, hikes, markets and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Paro and stays in every valley.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Bhutan trip
Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and the hike to Tiger's Nest
Most first trips land in Paro, drive an hour to Thimphu, cross the Dochula pass to Punakha and return to Paro to end with the climb to Tiger's Nest once the body has adjusted to the altitude. With more days, continue east over the mountains to the crane valley of Phobjikha and the temples of Bumthang. A week shows you the heart of the kingdom; ten to twelve days lets you reach its spiritual centre.
- The cliffside Paro Taktsang, Tiger's Nest
- Punakha Dzong where two rivers meet
- The 108 chortens and Himalayan views at Dochula
- Black necked cranes in Phobjikha in winter
Start with the destinations
See how the western valleys and the centre fit together.
Bhutan destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Bhutan rewards a little preparation: a visa arranged online, a licensed guide booked for the valleys beyond Paro and Thimphu, a festival date checked and a pace that respects mountain roads and altitude. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic driving times over the high passes
- The right season for festivals, clear views or cranes
- Where to base yourself in each valley
Where to go in Bhutan
From the capital Thimphu and the Paro valley to the warm river valley of Punakha, the crane wetlands of Phobjikha and the sacred heartland of Bumthang.
Thimphu district
Thimphu
A capital with no traffic lights, a giant golden Buddha, a great dzong and the best cafés in the kingdom.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Paro district
Paro
Tiger's Nest on its cliff, a riverside dzong, old temples and rice fields around Bhutan's only international airport.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Punakha district
Punakha
The finest dzong in Bhutan where two rivers meet, rice terraces, a fertility temple and gentle rafting.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wangdue Phodrang district
Phobjikha Valley
A wide glacial valley of pine forest and marsh where black necked cranes spend the winter.
Read the guidePhoto: Prof. Mortel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bumthang district
Bumthang
Four sacred valleys of ancient temples, buckwheat fields, festivals and local cheese and beer.
Read the guidePhoto: Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Bhutan safe to visit?
Bhutan is one of the safest countries in Asia for visitors. The main risks are mountain roads, altitude on high treks, landslides in the monsoon and the occasional stray dog. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
What is the capital of Bhutan?
Thimphu, in the west of the country, about an hour's drive from Paro International Airport, the only international airport.
Do I need a visa for Bhutan?
Most visitors need a visa arranged in advance through the official Department of Tourism system and pay the Sustainable Development Fee. Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals follow separate rules. Check the official Bhutan tourism and immigration sites before you book.
Do I need a guide in Bhutan?
Visitors who pay the full fee can explore Thimphu and Paro on their own, but a licensed Bhutanese guide is required beyond those valleys and for treks. Confirm the current rule on the official tourism site.
What money is used in Bhutan?
The Bhutanese ngultrum, pegged to the Indian rupee. Cards work at larger hotels and shops in Thimphu and Paro, but carry cash for the rest of the country.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a tour operator. Use our trip planner to shape your route, and our partner links to compare flights and stays.
Ready to find your Bliss in Bhutan?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.