Cost to Visit Bhutan
How much does it cost to visit Bhutan?
While visiting Bhutan, one should be aware about Peak Tourist season and Lean Tourist season. All the visitors to Bhutan except Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivians have to pay a mandatory minimum tariff set up by Royal Government of Bhutan. It is set up at USD $250 per person per night stay in Bhutan during peak tourist season (March, April, May, September, October and November) and USD $200 during lean season (December, January, February, June, July and August).
On top of mandatory minimum daily tariff, single travelers have to pay an extra premium of $40 per night stay in Bhutan as surcharge (both peak and lean season) and visitors traveling in the group of two (dual traveler) have to pay an extra premium of $30 per person per night stay as surcharge (both lean and peak season).
All visitors have to bear a onetime payment of $40 as Bhutan visa fee on top of mandatory daily tariff and surcharges.
Your total tour payment including Bhutan visa fee must be wired transfer prior to your arrival, since without paying full payment in advance, your visa to Bhutan will not be approved.
$250 per night stay in Bhutan sounds bit too high but if you split it up, it is definitely worth paying. Except your flight tickets, everything within Bhutan including accommodations, food, land transportation, guide services and sustainable development fee of $65 per person per night stay in Bhutan are covered by the minimum daily tariff.
The Sustainable Development Fee of $65 per person per night stay in Bhutan goes to a very good cause. It goes for infrastructure development, free education, free health services and poverty reduction in Bhutan, which indirectly you are playing a great role in community services.
With your flight tickets to Bhutan booked, you can literally enter into Bhutan with just $100 in your pocket.
The minimum daily tariff of $250 during peak season and $200 during lean season covers the following:
1. Accommodations in 3 star rated hotels in twin sharing basis. (Up gradation to 4 star and 5 star hotels available on bearing the extra premium)
2. All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea and snacks)
3. Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $65 per night stay per person (SDF goes for free medical services, free education, infrastructure development and reducing poverty).
4. All road transportation in comfortable SUV cars and Buses with experienced drivers.
5. Licensed English speaking guide.
6. Entry fees to all tourist visiting sites.
7. All government related taxes.
8. Bottled water during the day.
9. Trekking equipment and Haulage (for trekking tours)
The minimum daily tariffs however do not cover the following:
1. Beverages and soft drinks
2. Tips and gratuity
3. Laundry
4. Travel insurance
5. Any cost beyond our control.
Example / Sample price
As an example; the cost of visiting Bhutan for 7 days and 6 nights during peak season not including flight tickets will be as follows:
1. Group of 3 or more travelers
($250 x 6 nights) + $40 (visa fee) = $ 1540 per person
2. Group of 2 travelers (dual travelers)
($250 x 6 nights) + (6 nights x $30 (surcharge)) + $40 (visa fee) = $1720 per person
3. Single travelers
($250 x 6 nights) + (6 nights x $40 (surcharge)) + $40 (visa fee) = $1780
Cost for 7 days and 6 nights during lean season will be as follows:
1. Group of 3 or more travelers
($200 x 6 nights) + $40 (visa fee) = $ 1240 per person
2. Group of 2 travelers (dual travelers)
($200 x 6 nights) + (6 nights x $30 (surcharge)) + $40 (visa fee) = $1420 per person
3. Single travelers
($200 x 6 nights) + (6 nights x $40 (surcharge)) + $40 (visa fee) = $1480
For regional tourists (Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivians), cost to visit Bhutan is determined by the type of services they prefer. Contact us for further details, if you fall under regional category.
With effect from December 2017 parliament of Bhutan has decided to waive off with the sustainable development fee/government royalty of $65 per person per night stay in Bhutan for those tourist who are visiting to 6 eastern districts of Bhutan (Trashigang, Mongar, Trashiyangtse, Lhuntse, Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar) for the period of 3 years (till 31 December 2020). This was done to encourage tourists to visit the untouched eastern districts of Bhutan as very few tourist visits eastern Bhutan.
