Experience the Land of the Thunder Dragon, where ancient Buddhist monasteries cling to dramatic cliffsides and traditional culture thrives amid pristine Himalayan valleys. Bhutan offers travelers a unique blend of spiritual heritage, stunning mountain landscapes, and a commitment to Gross National Happiness over GDP.
Local currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN/Nu).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Bhutan.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $40-60 (budget guesthouse)
- Budget
- $60-100
- Midrange
- $120-200
- Luxury
- $500-2,000+
Food
- Street
- $2-5 (momos, market snacks)
- Local
- $6-12 (local restaurant)
- Midrange
- $15-30 (tourist restaurant)
- Fine
- $50-150 (luxury hotel dining)
Transport
- Bus
- $1-4 (local/intercity bus)
- Taxi
- $3-10 (city taxi)
- Airport
- $30-40 (Paro to Thimphu taxi)
- Daytrip
- $50-100 (private car day hire)
Activities
- Museum
- $5-10
- Sites
- $7-12 (dzong entry)
- Tour
- $80-120 (guided day tour)
- Excursion
- $100-200 (adventure activities)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Bhutan costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$1,750-2,100/week (including SDF)
Midrange traveller
$2,800-4,200/week
Luxury traveller
$7,000-14,000+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Book travel during the low season (June-August or December-February) for significantly reduced hotel rates, though weather is less ideal
All tourists must book through licensed operators and pay the Sustainable Development Fee ($100/night for 2023-onwards), but this includes a base hotel, guide, and transport - factor in what's included
Eat at local Bhutanese restaurants rather than hotel dining rooms - ema datshi and rice for $6-8 is far better value than $30 hotel buffets
Share private vehicle costs with other travelers from your guesthouse or hostel - drivers can be shared between independent travelers heading the same direction
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
National Memorial Chorten
Circumambulate Thimphu's central chorten alongside local devotees at no charge. The morning gathering of elderly Bhutanese spinning prayer wheels is a moving cultural experience.
Clock Tower Square
Thimphu's pedestrian central square with the iconic clock tower is free to visit and perfect for people-watching, especially during festival days and weekends.
Buddha Dordenma Statue Exterior
Walk around and photograph the world's largest sitting Vajrasattva Buddha statue on a hilltop south of Thimphu. The terrace offers panoramic city views and entry to the exterior is free.
Tashichho Dzong Exterior
The exterior and main courtyard of the government fortress-monastery can be visited free during daylight hours, with impressive traditional architecture and gardened grounds.
Centenary Farmers Market Browsing
The Thimphu weekend market is free to browse and provides the most authentic window into Bhutanese daily life, with colorful stalls of local produce, spices, and dried foods.
Wang Chhu Riverside Walk
A pleasant riverside walking path follows the Wang Chhu river through Thimphu, free and accessible year-round. Local families picnic here on weekends.
Chorten Kora Circumambulation
Join locals in the daily tradition of walking clockwise around chortens throughout Bhutan's towns. The practice is freely open to respectful visitors.