Every question, answered.

Send us a note through the enquiry form, WhatsApp us at +975 17615474, or email bhutangnhheritage@gmail.com. Tell us your dates, group size, and any preferences. We reply within one business day with a proposed itinerary and a clear quote — no obligation. A deposit is only requested once you're ready to confirm.

Within one business day, usually sooner. If you're on a tight timeline — a festival that's a few weeks away, or a specific festival window — WhatsApp us and we'll prioritise the reply.

Not at all. "Sometime in autumn 2027" or "flexible" is a perfectly good answer. If you're chasing a specific festival, we'll pin the dates to it. If you're aiming for a weather window, we'll suggest the best departure week.

None. You'll receive a proposed itinerary and an itemised quote — no deposit or commitment required at that stage. Consider it a conversation, not a booking.

Standard terms, always issued in writing with your quote:

• More than 60 days before departure — deposit fully refundable.
• 60 – 30 days — 25% cancellation charge.
• Within 30 days — charges rise with the closeness of the departure date, per TCB guidelines.

Travel insurance covering cancellation is strongly recommended.

Almost every international visitor needs a visa. The exceptions are Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals, who receive a visa on arrival at the border. All other passport holders must have visa clearance arranged in advance — which we do for you as part of your booking.

Once you confirm your booking, you send us a scan of your passport photo page. We submit the application to the Tourism Department of Bhutan. Processing takes 72 working hours after full booking payment is received. You'll receive a visa clearance letter by email; present it at Paro airport or the land border and the visa is stamped into your passport on arrival.

USD $40 per person for international tourists, paid to the Tourism Department (not to us). Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals pay no visa fee.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry. Indian nationals may travel on a Voter ID Card (VIC) in place of a passport.

A nightly fee paid to the Bhutanese government by every visitor. It exists so that tourism gives back more than it takes — funding free healthcare, free education, and the constitutional mandate of 60% forest cover. It is separate from what you pay us for the tour.

International visitors: USD $100 per person, per night.
Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals: BTN / INR 1,200 per person, per night.

The government has revised the SDF more than once in recent years. We always confirm the exact current rate at the time of your booking.

Children under 6 are generally exempt from the SDF. Children aged 6–12 typically pay 50%. The government has also introduced multi-night rebates from time to time. We confirm the exact policy in effect on your travel dates when we quote you.

It depends on the package — on some our published rate includes the SDF, on others it is listed separately. Every quote we send you states clearly whether the SDF is included or not.

The Ngultrum (Nu.) — legal tender throughout the country and pegged 1:1 to the Indian Rupee (INR). Indian Rupees are accepted as legal tender everywhere. The one exception: older-series ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes are no longer accepted.

Yes — Visa and MasterCard are accepted at most hotels and larger handicraft stores in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Phuentsholing. Cards are less common in rural areas and small shops. Always carry some cash for smaller purchases, tips and off-the-beaten-track spending.

Yes, in all main towns. Most ATMs accept Visa and MasterCard. Withdrawal limits and fees vary by bank; ATMs are less reliable in rural valleys, so plan cash withdrawals in the larger towns.

Never expected, always appreciated. If you'd like to tip your guide and driver at the end of the journey, an envelope is the customary way. There is no fixed amount — travellers typically tip according to their comfort and the length of the trip.

Two carriers serve Paro International: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Singapore, and Bangkok. Paro is one of the world's most dramatic landings — the aircraft banks between ridgelines and touches down at 2,225 metres.

Yes, through three open border towns:

Phuentsholing (south-west) — the most-used route, about 170 km from Bagdogra airport in India.
Gelephu (south-central).
Samdrup Jongkhar (south-east) — from Guwahati in India.

Most of our overland itineraries use Phuentsholing.

Yes. Once your land package is confirmed, we help you purchase flights from the most convenient hub. Because Paro slots are limited, we recommend booking flights soon after your land package is confirmed.

A new international airport is under construction at Gelephu, in south-central Bhutan. Until it opens, Paro remains the only international gateway by air. Bhutan also has three domestic airports — Yonphula (east), Bumthang (central), and Gelephu (south).

Yes — Bhutanese law requires every tourist to travel with a licensed local guide. Ours are TCB-certified, fluent in English, and from the valleys you'll be walking through. Mr. Mahasur Thapa, our founder, is himself a licensed guide (English & Hindi) and leads many of our journeys personally.

Most journeys are drive-based with easy-to-moderate walks. The one significant effort on almost every itinerary is the climb to the Tiger's Nest — roughly 3 hours up and 2 down, at 3,000 metres. Ponies are available for the first stretch, and a café marks the halfway viewpoint. If you'd prefer to enjoy the view from the base rather than climb, that's a genuine option many of our guests choose.

Most of Bhutan's tourist route sits between 1,200 m and 2,900 m — altitudes at which serious altitude sickness is unusual. The highest points on most itineraries are Chele La (3,900 m) and Dochula (3,100 m), where you're only briefly present. If you have altitude concerns, mention them in your enquiry and we'll build in acclimatisation time.

Interiors of temples, monasteries and dzongs are generally off-limits to cameras. Exteriors, courtyards, festivals (with respect) and landscapes are all fine. Your guide will always tell you what's allowed and what isn't. When in doubt, ask.

Bhutan's roads occasionally close for landslides during monsoon or for snow at high passes in winter. Our guides carry buffer time in the schedule and rerouting knowledge — we've been on these roads long enough to know when to reverse and when to wait. In practice, disruptions are handled without changing what you actually see; you just see it in a different order.

Bhutan's climate is mountain climate — layers are the key. Essentials:

• Warm fleece or down jacket (evenings are cool even in summer)
• A light waterproof shell
• Comfortable walking shoes with grip
• Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
• A small daypack for hikes
• Modest clothing for temple visits (long trousers, long sleeves)
• Adapters for 220/240V round-pin sockets

Modest — long trousers and long sleeves are required inside dzongs, lhakhangs and monasteries. Hats and sunglasses off inside and near a raised national flag. Shoes off before entering inner temples. Your guide will always advise before you step in.

Yes — we strongly recommend travel and medical insurance covering high-altitude activity (up to 4,000 m for most itineraries). The Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan also offers short-term traveler plans arranged through us on request.

No vaccinations are required for entry into Bhutan, but standard recommendations include tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Consult your doctor before travel.

Bottled water only — avoid tap water and ice from unverified sources. We include drinking water on all guided days.

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels (variable speed). We include a Bhutan SIM card on most itineraries; coverage is good along the main tourist route and thinner in remote valleys.

Yes — a government-registered Bhutanese operator, licensed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB License No. 1041523). You can verify us directly on the TCB portal: services.bhutan.travel. We recommend every traveller do this before sending a deposit — not just to us, but to any operator.

Our Founder & Chief Guide. Mr. Mahasur Thapa founded Bhutan GNH Heritage Travel in 2019 and personally leads a large share of our journeys. As founder, he is answerable for every promise on this website. As Chief Guide, he's the one walking the trail with you. Read more about him →

Every journey we design is private and tailor-made. Your pace, your guide, your electric vehicle. No fixed group departures — you never share a bus with strangers unless you're travelling with your own group.

Every itinerary we publish is a starting point. Swap a night, add a valley, upgrade hotels, time the trip to a festival, extend a trek — tell us what you'd change and we'll rebuild it around you.