A lone tall conifer on a ridge above a wide valley of hazy forested hills, ferns in the foreground

Destination

Bhutan,land of the thunder dragon

Land of the thunder dragon, on its own terms.

Bhutan limits how many people come and charges them properly for the privilege, and the result is a Himalayan country that still feels like itself. The dzongs are administrative buildings and monasteries at the same time, and they are full of people working. The valleys are farmed. The forest cover is written into the constitution.

Seven days is the sensible length: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro, and the climb to Taktsang if your legs are willing.

Where you’ll go

Thimphu. The capital and the seat of government, religion and commerce: modern development alongside practices that predate it by centuries.

Punakha. The old winter capital, and the Punakha Dzong at the confluence of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu, which is the most photographed building in the country for good reason.

Paro. The valley with the airport, the old town and the ancient buildings, and the trail up the cliff to Taktsang.

Practical notes

Draft: awaiting owner verification. Bhutan’s entry system is unusual and the details matter.

Bhutan applies a daily levy per visitor and requires arrangements to be made through a licensed operator. The amount and the rules change; we confirm both before you commit.
Flights into Paro are limited and weather-dependent. We build a buffer day into any onward connection.
The Taktsang walk is a real climb at altitude. There is a shorter option, and no shame in it.

At a glance

Practical facts

Plug & voltage: C/D; 230V · 50Hz
Currency: BTN; Bhutanese ngultrum (Indian rupees accepted at par)
Time zone: UTC+6; (BTT), no DST, 3 hours ahead of Nairobi
Driving side: Left
Languages: Dzongkha; English

SIM & data: A TravelNet eSIM works from the moment you land. Otherwise B-Mobile or TashiCell have counters in the Paro arrivals hall, passport required, and allow half an hour.
Tipping: Not part of the old culture here, though guides and drivers who stay with you all week are looked after by most visitors now, the guide's share being the larger one. Ask us what feels right before you go.
Tap water: Bottled or boiled throughout. Hotels provide it and most will refill your own bottle. Ask your hotel before you drink from a tap.

Comparing countries? The full table puts every destination we plan side by side, and when to go does the same for the months.

Getting there

The flights for this trip are ticketed at the same desk as the rest of it: 66 airlines, all ticketed in Nairobi, whatever the routing turns out to be. Ask for the fare when you ask for the trip, and one person holds both.

Why go