Go, but pay attention.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Bhutan
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Theft from vehicles
Valuables are taken from vehicles at tourist sites. Keep your belongings with you rather than leaving them in a car.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Tap water safe to drink: No — bottled/filtered only
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan is strictly regulated under the policy of "High Value, Low Volume" tourism, in order to minimize the effect on the country's unique society and environment. Bhutanese policy ensures that only an acceptable number of tourists enter the country at a time, preventing the country from being overwhelmed by mass tourism and consequently changing its character, and that tourists who do arrive get the best experience and value from their visit.
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Bhutan, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
Dress code
Dress respectfully when visiting temples and Dzongs (fortified buildings, like castles), so that you do not cause offence. Your tour guide will be able to advise.
Source: UK FCDO →LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in Bhutan in 2020, and there are no censorship laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBT+ topics. Same-sex marriages are not recognised. There is no legal recognition of transgender individuals. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •While drug abuse is not uncommon in urban areas, it will not affect tourists, and Bhutan remains one of the safest places in the world for travellers.
Staying healthy
- •Hospitals and clinics are located throughout the country, even in the remotest areas.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
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Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / D / F / G / M · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 113 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 110
Cash vs. Card
The currency of the country is the Bhutanese Ngultrum, denoted by the symbol "Nu." (ISO code: BTN). It is fixed to the Indian rupee at an exchange rate of 1:1, and small Indian rupee bills (₹200 or less) can be used interchangeably in Bhutan. (This is one-way only, since ngultrum are not accepted in India.) Banknotes come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 ngultrum.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09