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Contact Details
Bhutan Film & Travel
NPPF Building, 2nd Floor
Swimming Pool, PO Box# 0347
Thimphu Bhutan

Contact # +975 2 33 06 19
Mobile: +975 17 12 32 22
Email: [email protected]
Getting to Bhutan

By Air :
The most convenient way of entering Bhutan is by Druk Air (National Carrier) or Tashi Air (Pvt. Airlines), Airbus A319. As flights can be delayed due to weather conditions (particularly during the summer months), it is advisable to allow 24 hours before any onward connection. The following stations are connected with Druk Air / Tashi Air Flights:

  • India (Kolkata, Bagdogra, New Delhi, Gaya, Mumbai, Guwahati)
  • Nepal (Kathmandu)
  • Thailand (Bangkok)
  • Bangladesh (Dhaka)
  • Singapore

Both airlines flies several times a week between each destinations, but flight timings and frequency vary according to season.
Kindly check their websites :
– Druk Air www.drukair.com.bt
– Tashi Air www.bhutanairlines.bt


 

By Land :
Arrival/departure through the south-western border town of Phuntsholing, south- central border town of Gelephu and the south-eastern border town of Samdrup Jongkhar.

The nearest airport to the south-western border town of Phuntsholing is at Bagdogra, West Bengal, about 4 hours’ drive away. Phuntsholing is a convenient entry/exit point for tourists wishing to visit the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal along with Bhutang.

Domestic flights:
Bumthang airport in central Bhutan and Yongphula airport in Trashigang in the East are now open.

The nearest airport to the south-eastern border town of Samdrup Jongkhar is at Guwahati, capital of the Indian state of Assam, about 3 hours’ drive away. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient entry/exit point for tourists wishing to visit the Indian states of Assam and other North Eastern states of India along with Bhutan.

Bhutan Visa

Who Needs a Visa to Travel to Bhutan?

All foreign nationals (except Indians, Bangladeshis and Maldivians) require a Bhutanese visa to travel to Bhutan. All Bhutanese visas are issued only by Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. Furthermore, Bhutan visa is issued only from head office of the Department of Immigration which is based in Thimphu- the capital city of Bhutan.

Visas are only issued to the tourists who have booked their trip to Bhutan with local licensed tour operators like us “Bhutan Film & Travel” Tourist visa applications should to be submitted by us and visas have to be obtained in advance for traveling to Bhutan.

Important Note: No  Bhutanese foreign missions or embassies  abroad grants Bhutanese tourist visa

How to Apply for Bhutanese Visas in Advance and How to Obtain it?

Bhutan visa clearance letter is approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan after concerned tourists have paid the full tour cost and visa fees to the Tourism Council of Bhutan through us. A copy of visa clearance letter will be sent to the concerned tourists before their travel dates as it is important that tourists should have their visa clearance letter with them while boarding Drukair flights to Bhutan. Bhutan Film & Travel will ensures that a copy of visa clearance letter reaches the Druk Air office at the airports where the tourists board their flights to Bhutan.

The actual visa is stamped in your passport at the point of entry either at Paro Airport (if travel to Bhutan by air) or  at Phuentsholing / Samdrupjongkhar/Gelephu (if traveling to Bhutan by road) based on your visa clearance letter. You will then receive a visa for the period of your Bhutan tour in Bhutan.

Bhutan Tourist Visa Extension

If you would like to extend your Bhutan visa to stay additional days in Bhutan, we will process for your visa extension for you and the visa renewal fee is Nu.500 ( US$1 = Nu. 53 approximately as of 2013).

Information and Documents Required for Bhutan Visa Application

Bhutan Film & Travel will obtain your Bhutanese tourist visa once your Bhutan trip is confirmed by making full Bhutan tour payment and Bhutan visa fee of US$40 to the Tourism Council of Bhutan through us. Additionally, the following details are required for processing your Bhutan tourist visa prior to the date of your Bhutan travel. Your Bhutan visa will be sent to you before the start of your Bhutan tour.

  • Your full name:
  • Occupation:
  • Nationality:
  • Passport No.:
  • Date of issue:
  • Date of expiry:
  • Place of Issue:
  • Date of birth:
  • Permanent address:
  • A scanned copy of your passport ( in jpeg format)

Important Note: Passport Validity should be more than 6 months at the time of start of your Bhutan tour. 

Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
What is SDF?
    The SDF is the Sustainable Development Fee, a daily levy paid by visitors to support Bhutan’s development. Since the kingdom first opened its doors in 1974, guests have played a critical role in the country’s growth. As we reopen on September 23rd 2022, this partnership is once again evolving to enable us to protect and preserve our kingdom and its priceless assets. It also helps us to ensure that tourists visit in sustainable numbers and that we can continue to offer guests tranquillity and an intimate experience.
    The SDF is collected by the national exchequer and funds are allocated to various projects that enhance facilities, services and infrastructure for Bhutanese nationals and visitors, as well as funding free healthcare and education.
How much is the SDF?
    For all visitors except those from India, the SDF is US$100 per person, per night. For guests from India the SDF is 1,200 ngultrum, or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees, per person, per night.
    Children aged 6 to 12 at the time of travel receive a 50% concessionary discount on their SDF. Those aged 5 or younger are exempt.
    Day visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India are also exempt from paying the SDF until they reach a point designated by the Bhutanese government.
Entry fee for the monuments and sacred sites
    Taktsang
    Nu.1000 (Adult);
    Nu.500 ( Above 5 but below 18 years); and
    No charge (below 5 years).
Other monuments and sacred sites
    Nu.500 (Adult);
    Nu.250 (Above 5 but below 18 years); and
    No charge (Below 5 years).
Tour Payment
As per the directives of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, full payment shall be made in advance and in US dollars. The payment must be deposited directly into the Tourism Council of Bhutan’s bank account and in addition, Bhutan Film & Travel. will not receive payment from the Tourism Council of Bhutan until your trip has concluded and you have departed Bhutan. The payment shall be remitted by International Wire Transfer to the Account of BHUTAN NATIONAL BANK with the beneficiary company as Bhutan Film & Travel.

A remittance copy must be sent to us by e-mail so as to enable us to proceed with the arrangement of visa without delay. The Tourism Council of Bhutan will allow us to apply for your Visa Clearance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only after the receipt of tour payment.
Best Time To Visit Bhutan

The best time to visit Bhutan are in Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (September, October, November). A couple of big festivals (Tsechu) takes place during this time and weather is favorable. The Paro Tsechu in March or April and the Thimphu Tsechu in September attract large numbers of foreign visitors as well as locals. Tsechus are religious festivals of Drukpa Buddhism. The focal point of the tsechus are the sacred Cham Dances, these costumed masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Nyingmapa teacher Padmasambhava and other saints. Most tsechus also feature the unfurling of a thongdrel (or thangka) – a large tapestry typically depicting a seated Guru Rinpoche surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of ‘   is said to cleanse the viewer of sin. The thongdrel is unrolled before dawn and rolled up by morning.If you can’t make it to one of these festivals there are smaller festivals somewhere in Bhutan almost every month.

There are also appeals and attractions during the Summer (June, July, august) and Winter (December, January, February) season. You won’t be missing out on the experience and satisfaction of visiting regardless of the seasons. Apart from festival activities that are set during fixed dates, there are also other events you can join in on which is all year long.  . Bhutan is really good to visit almost throughout the year. It will be a bit cold but the perks are you will not see many tourists! Feel like Robinson Crusoe.

We also have a multitude of tour itineraries which you can pick from regardless of the dates. If you miss out on the festivals on the high season don’t fret there is one every month.

Just take a look at the Bhutan festival calendar :

  1. Click here for tentative Bhutan festival dates for the year 2023
  2. Click here for tentative Bhutan festival dates for the year 2024

Better yet to make your stay in Bhutan the most interesting and memorable one, we suggest you to combine your choice of tour itinerary with one of these festivals. Bhutan is really good to visit almost throughout the year. It will be a bit cold but the perks are you will not see many tourists! Feel like Robinson Crusoe.

Please keep in mind that most festivals fall during the peak season so you are advised to book your tour well in advance.


Average Temperatures In Degree Celsius (High/ Low)

Paro Thimphu Punakha Wangdue Trongsa Bumthang Mongar Trashigang
Jan 9.4/-5.8 12.3/-2.6 16.1/4.2 17.0/4.3 13.0/-0.2 10.8/-5.1 15.5/8.2 20.4/10.5
Feb 13.4/1.5 14.4/0.6 19.6/5.3 19.0/7.8 13.9/0.4 10.0/-1.4 15.9/8.3 21.7/11.5
March 14.5/0.6 16.4/3.9 21.2/9.2 22.8/10.4 16.7/4.4 16.2/3.5 20.0/11.6 24.8/14.4
April 17.6/4.6 20.0/7.1 24.4/11.9 26.2/12.9 20.1/6.6 18.7/3.9 22.8/14.0 28.3/17.0
May 23.5/10.6 22.5/13.1 27.2/14.8 29.1/17.7 21.0/11.6 21.3/9.5 25.1/17.4 30.0/20.6
June 25.4/13.1 24.4/15.2 31.2/19.5 29.2/20.1 22.2/13.6 22.5/13.5 26.1/19.5 30.7/22.6
July 26.8/14.9 18.9/13.4 32.0/21.6 18.4/16.2 25.3/15.3 14.1/10.9 16.1/15.8 31.5/23.1
Aug 25.3/14.7 25.0/15.8 31.4/19.8 29.1/20.0 23.8/15.0 23.0/13.7 25.4/19.6 30.2/22.7
Sept 23.4/11.7 23.1/15.0 29.9/20.0 27.5/19.1 22.6/14.2 21.6/12.1 24.7/19.4 30.0/23.9
Oct 18.7/7.4 21.9/10.4 27.8/18.9 26.1/14.7 21.8/11.7 19.5/5.9 22.7/15.8 29.1/17.7
Nov 13.9/1.4 17.9/5.0 22.3/13.0 22.6/9.6 19.8/6.4 16.1/-0.5 19.9/11.2 26.1/13.6
Dec 11.2/-1.7 14.5/-1.1 15.0/7.9 19.1/6.3 18.2/2.5 12.3/-2.3 15.7/9.5 23.0/11.6