Bhutan has been on my list forever, but I never thought I’d end up visiting. Its longstanding travel rules—first among them, that foreigners could only enter if they purchased an exorbitantly-priced guided tour—were a non-starter.
Then covid-19 happened, and in its wake, the Kingdom changed its tune. In addition to dropping the guided tour requirement, the Bhutanese government lowered the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) by more than half.
Having just returned from my trip, I now know that it’s possible to travel independently in Bhutan. Don’t believe the fraudsters online who want to sell you a tour you don’t need!
Bhutan Does Not Require Guided Tours Anymore
If you’ve been researching a trip to Bhutan, you’ll probably find that many companies have not updated their websites to reflect the reality of the Bhutan tour requirement. I’ll get to the reasons for this in a second, but for now will post the policy. Tourists no longer need a guide in Bhutan, expect when traveling outside the Paro-Thimphu-Punakha corridor, or when inside dzong (monasteries).
As far as why so many tours companies are ambiguous about this? Well, simply put, they want travelers to believe that they’re still legally required to book a tour. However, while guided tours in Bhutan have always been a racket, tourists now have the power to decide whether or not to book one. Don’t let some scammer online take that power from you!
What You Need to Visit Bhutan Independently
A set number of days
You have to decide in advance how long you want to spend in Bhutan. This is because both your e-Visa (more on that in a second) and the Sustainable Development Fee (or SDF; I’ll be saying more about that, too) are based on the length of your trip.
SDF payment
The next prerequisite if you want to travel independently to Bhutan? Paying the Sustainable Development Fee, which is $100 per person, per day. While this sounds like a lot—it is a lot—do keep in mind that this is down substantially from a pre-covid high of $250 per person, per day.
e-Visa
Once you’ve decided how many days you’ll stay in Bhutan and have paid your SDF, you can submit your e-Visa application (and visa fee payment which, as of 2025, is 40 USD per person. This generally takes a few days to process, though it can be longer if there are any online payment snafus.
Flight from Bangkok, Delhi or Kathmandu
One of the biggest expenditures of independent travel to Bhutan is the flight. This is because in spite of nonstop flights only being available from nearby cities like Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu, prices on DrukAir and Bhutan Airlines (the only ones to serve these routes) are usually ~500-1,000 round-trip.
Boldness
As you travel in Bhutan by your own, you’ll deal with a lot of naysaying. Both your hotel and passers-by may try to talk you into buying a tour, while other workers in tourism settings may try to gaslight you into thinking you’re breaking the law by not having a guide. Be bold, be confident and most importantly, be curious!
How to Get Your Bhutan e-Visa
Getting a Bhutan e-Visa is slightly tedious, but reasonably easy. You’ll first need to go to this official government website, where you can register and log-in. Once you begin the application, you’ll need to input your planned arrival and departure date, flight information (if you have it) and other details about your trip. This can be changed later, but it’s difficult to do, so you should have these details set before you apply.
The last step of getting your visa, if you want to travel in Bhutan without a tour? Paying the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), which is 100 USD per person, per day as of January 2025. Once you pay that fee, plus your visa fee (40 USD) and submit your application, you should have your Bhutan e-Visa within a few business days.
Other FAQ About Independent Travel in Bhutan
Can I travel in Bhutan alone?
As of early 2025, it is absolutely possible to travel in Bhutan alone. You simply need to apply well in advance for a Bhutan e-Visa, and to ensure you plan to travel only along the Paro-Thimphu-Punakha corridor. Traveling outside of these destinations will require a guide for the foreseeable future.
Is it necessary to take a guide in Bhutan?
It is not generally necessary to take a guide in Bhutan anymore, though there are a few exceptions. First, guides are still required outside of major cities like Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Secondly, you do technically need a guide to visit dzong (monasteries) such as Punakha Dzong and the Tiger’s Nest, though this is not always enforced in practice.
Can you visit Bhutan on your own?
Since late 2022, it has indeed been possible to visit Bhutan on your own. This hasn’t been widely reported, however, as many tour providers have a vested interest in making travelers think they need a guided tour. In order to visit Bhutan independently, you simply need to obtain a Bhutan e-Visa in advance.
The Bottom Line
It’s not only possible to travel independently in Bhutan, but extremely easy. And cheap—years of being forced to purchase guided tours costing hundreds of dollars per day led foreigners to believe (falsely) that Bhutan was expensive. With this being said, I felt a lot of anxiety about my own independent trip to Bhutan in the lead-up to its, and wish I’d had a post like this to reassure me. I hope reading my words makes you feel more confident and excited about your trip! Want personalized assistance putting your Bhutan itinerary together? Consider hiring me as your Travel Coach!
