quick facts
Outside of Paro and Thimphu, visitors have to be accompanied by a Guide, but no longer have to join a tour group and so have much more independence and flexibility.
Self-driving is not possible. “Car Rental” in Bhutan means hiring a car with a driver.
Druk Air operate domestic flights between Paro and Bumthang (Central), and Yonphula (East).
Accommodation in Bhutan is high quality, and across the range of Homestay to 5*. All tourist accommodation is certified by the Bhutanese Government
The Bhutan Department of Tourism has a very useful Tourism Services Portal, offering search capability, where visitors can check for certified guides, tour operators and agencies, hotels, homestays, and restaurants.
Looking at online forums and blogs, there is conflicting and, occasionally incorrect, information on getting around Bhutan once you are here. The information we provide is direct from the Bhutan Travel portal, which is the official site of the Department of Tourism.
Guides
It is mandatory to have a guide with you outside of Paro and Thimphu towns, and guides must be certified by the Department of Tourism. A good guide can really make your Bhutan experience by understanding your tastes and pace, and tailoring the itinerary to suit you and the local conditions as you travel.
Finding a guide is easy, there is a list on the Bhutan Department of Tourism Services portal. Choosing a guide is much harder! We can help. Your guide will be with you 24-7 and will be your Fixer for your visit, so it is worth the effort to find a guide that understands what you want from your Bhutanese experience. We have a network of experienced, knowledgeable and capable guides.
Drivers / Transport
Self driving is not an option for visitors, so the most convenient way to explore Bhutan is by hiring a car and driver.
Car rental is charged by the day for the car and driver.
Bhutanese roads can be narrow, winding and bumpy, and so an experienced driver is essential.
At the time of writing there is only one company in Bhutan that offers car rental, and they act as a broker between hirers and available drivers; so whilst all drivers will be competent and their cars of a decent standard, there is a degree of luck on their experience and knowledge.
We have access to a network of experienced, flexible and knowledgeable drivers who know the roads, and who want to share the less traveled parts of Bhutan with you.
Domestic Flights
Druk Air have a schedule of domestic flights between Bumthang (central), Gelephu (central south) and Yonphula (in the east of Bhutan). Domestic schedules are available here.
We can help you plan an itinerary around a domestic flight to maximise your time and experience of the lesser traveled parts of Bhutan, like Gasa (west), Phobjikha (central), and Mongar and Trashigang in the east.
Guides and driver(s) will need to be arranged around the domestic flights:
– Hiring a car and driver, you may need to cover the time for the driver to get to the domestic airport from their base (normally Thimphu)
– You may also want to take your guide with you on your internal flight, so that you have the same guide throughout the duration of your visit
Accommodation : Hotels and Homestays
All tourist accommodation is certified by the government and is high quality for its star rating, relative to global standards.
There are many hotels and homestays across all standards to choose from, and are available to book directly, or via a tour operator / guide, or via online booking sites like booking.com, expedia and so on. However, do note that a large percentage of tourist accommodation in Bhutan is not listed on online booking sites, so search on google maps (other maps are available), or via a Bhutanese hotel catalogue published here.
It can be daunting to decide on the right accommodation for your itinerary and needs, so our experience of the hotels, standards and locations can be invaluable.
