Bhutan trip cost calculator
Bhutan pricing has two parts: fixed government fees (the $100/night Sustainable Development Fee and a $40 visa) and your tour services (hotels, guide, transport, meals). Estimate an all-inclusive trip, or switch to guide & driver only if you'd rather arrange your own hotels. Then get an exact quote with no payment required.
Everything handled: hotels, guide, driver, transport, and meals.
Shoulder Season
No payment required. Itemised quote within 24 hours.
Estimate only. Actual pricing depends on exact hotels, itinerary, domestic flights, and final dates. Excludes international flights, tips, and travel insurance.
What makes up the price
The SDF and visa are set by the Bhutanese government and are the same whichever operator you book. We show them separately so you can see exactly what's a fee and what's the trip.
Your quote bundles hotels, a licensed guide, driver, transport, meals, and permits. Pay securely by card, no international wire transfer to Bhutan.
Since 2022 you don't need an overseas agency. Booking direct with a certified Bhutanese guide means no middleman markup on top of the fees above.
The $100/night SDF is a concession running until 31 August 2027. Trips taken before then lock the current rate before it's slated to rise toward $200.
Bhutan trip cost, common questions
How much does a trip to Bhutan cost in 2026?+
For an international visitor on a mid-range 7-day trip, expect roughly $3,000–$4,000 per person for the tour and government fees combined (hotels, private guide, driver, meals, the $100/night Sustainable Development Fee, and the $40 visa), before international flights. Budget trips start lower and premium 5-star trips run considerably higher. Use the calculator above for an estimate matched to your dates and party size.
What is the $100 a day fee in Bhutan?+
That's the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), a government charge of $100 per adult per night that most foreign visitors pay on top of any tour cost. Children 6–11 pay half ($50/night) and under-6s are exempt. It funds Bhutan's free healthcare, free education, and conservation. The current $100 rate is a concession scheduled to run until 31 August 2027, after which it is slated to return to $200.
Is Bhutan expensive to visit?+
Bhutan is more expensive than neighbouring Nepal or India because of the SDF, which is deliberate: the country runs a high-value, low-volume tourism model rather than mass tourism. The upside is uncrowded sites and a fee that funds public services. Once you account for the SDF, the actual tour costs (hotels, guide, transport) are comparable to mid-range travel elsewhere in the region.
What's included in the estimate, and what isn't?+
The estimate covers the SDF, the visa fee, and all-inclusive tour services: hotels at your chosen tier, a private licensed guide, driver and vehicle, meals, and permits. It excludes international flights to Paro, any domestic flights within Bhutan, tips for your guide and driver, travel insurance, and personal spending.
Does the time of year change the price?+
Yes. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are peak season with the highest prices and the best weather. Winter and the summer monsoon (June–August) are low season, roughly 15% cheaper, with fewer crowds. The government SDF stays the same year-round; only the tour-services portion moves with the season.
Do I need to book a full package, or can I travel independently?+
Since 2022 you no longer need a packaged tour, but foreign visitors do still need a licensed Bhutanese guide, the SDF, a visa, and permits. You can book a curated journey or design your own itinerary and we handle the guide, permits, and logistics either way.
Can I just hire a guide and driver and book my own hotels?+
Yes. Switch the calculator to 'Guide & driver only' for an estimate covering a licensed guide, a private vehicle and driver, and the government fees, while you arrange your own hotels and meals. The guide and vehicle are a shared cost, so per-person pricing drops the more of you travel together. Request a quote and we'll confirm an exact day rate for your dates and route.