Book Bhutan Tour
Choose the kind of journey, tell us your dates, and a Bhutanese travel expert plans the rest.
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Booking a Bhutan tour, explained
Bhutan requires every visitor to travel with a guide certified by the Department of Tourism, and a trip here comes with real logistics — the daily Sustainable Development Fee, permits, fixed festival dates, trek crews. Since Bhutan's 2022 reopening you can book the pieces yourself, but most visitors hand it all to a licensed local operator instead: one request, and the guide, visa, SDF, hotels, and transport are arranged together. That's what this page starts — send a request, and Byways (a licensed operator based in Thimphu) plans the trip with you.
The visa (US$40, one-time) and the SDF (US$100 per adult per night, a rate locked until 31 August 2027) are handled as part of your booking — you only send a passport scan. Children aged 6–11 pay half the SDF and children under 6 pay none. Our quotes always include both, along with hotels, meals, a licensed guide, and private transport. The visa and entry requirements guide and the trip cost guide break the numbers down in detail.
When to book
- Festival tours — book 3–6 months ahead. Tshechu dates are fixed by the lunar calendar and hotels in Paro and Thimphu fill early around the big festivals.
- Treks — tied to the clear-weather windows, March–May and September–November. High routes like the Snowman Trek need the most lead time.
- Cultural tours — run year-round and are the most flexible; even a few weeks' notice is usually enough outside festival season.
Booking questions, answered
- Is any payment required to send a booking request?
- No. The request is free and doesn't commit you to anything. You pay only after we've agreed on an itinerary and you confirm the trip.
- Do I need to arrange a Bhutan visa before booking?
- No. You can apply online yourself through the government's visa portal, but when you book with us we apply on your behalf once your trip is confirmed — you send a passport scan, and a correctly filed application takes up to five days to process.
- How much is the Sustainable Development Fee?
- US$100 per adult per night, a rate the government has locked until 31 August 2027. Children aged 6–11 pay US$50 per night and children under 6 pay nothing. The SDF is included in every Byways quote.
- How far in advance should I book?
- For festival tours, 3–6 months — hotels near the big Tshechus sell out early. For treks, plan around the March–May and September–November windows. Cultural tours can often be arranged with a few weeks' notice.
- Can I change the itinerary after I send a request?
- Yes. The request is the start of a conversation — every Byways trip is tailored, so dates, route, hotels, and pace are all adjustable before you confirm. Cancellation is free up to 30 days before departure.