Bhutan, which has been described as “idyllic” and “majestic” by @mikeej99 on TripAdvisor, is a great holiday destination to visit without the hassle of bumping into many tourists.
Perched on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, the tiny kingdom of Bhutan has always been wrapped in a sense of mystique.
It only opened to foreign tourists as recently as 1974, only allows its two national airlines to fly into Paro airport, and levies a steep daily visitor tax to keep tourist crowds at bay.
The result is a country seemingly frozen in time, unchanged by the idea of mass tourism. These changes do give travellers more freedom in designing their itineraries.
Previously, all guides, hotels, and transportation had to be booked through an accredited tour operator, but that’s no longer required. Visitors can now book every element of their trip — from flights to drivers — independently, making it easier to stick to a budget by staying at traditional homestays and campsites.
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Since opening up to tourism in 1974, the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has earned a reputation as one of the most pristine – and expensive – places to visit on the planet.
Tight controls on tourism and high daily tourist fees have helped to preserve a traditional Buddhist culture that is rapidly vanishing from other parts of the Himalayas.
In 2022, those fees climbed even higher, as Bhutan opened its borders to travellers following the pandemic.
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Now, almost a year after this sudden price hike, the Bhutanese government has announced another shake-up to the daily tourist fees – but this time, fees have been reduced significantly.
Until 2022, tourists to Bhutan were charged a daily tourist fee of around $200 (around £161) for every day spent in the country. This might sound expensive, but the fee covers food, accommodation, transport, guide fees and most of the other essentials tourists need for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
As of September 2023, the tourist tax was reduced by £80 to a more affordable $100 (around £81) per day.
These fees contribute to Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fund, a Government initiative that funds community education projects, infrastructure upgrades, healthcare and cultural developments.
For those who do decide to visit this beautiful country, there are many things to do – one of which is to walk along Bhutan’s iconic walking trail. The Silk Route-era Trans Bhutan Trail is one of Asia’s greatest walking routes.
Whether you visit in spring or autumn, your trip is almost guaranteed to overlap with at least one of the many annual festivals in this country. These social gatherings are extremely colourful and give a fascinating peek into the spiritual rites and rituals the Bhutanese have practised for centuries.
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