Things to do in Bhutan, and places to visit

Where is Bhutan?

Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas, landlocked between the Tibet region of China to the north and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to the west, south and east. In little more than 150 km the land climbs from subtropical plains near India, under 200 m, to glaciated peaks over 7,000 m on the Tibetan border.

Bhutanese call their country Druk Yul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Most visitors fly into Paro from Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok or Singapore, or cross the land border from India.

An independent kingdom

Bhutan is a sovereign country, part of neither India nor China, and has been a member of the United Nations since 1971. It was unified in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who built the great dzongs that still govern each district. In 1907 Ugyen Wangchuck was chosen as the first hereditary king; the fifth, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, has reigned since 2006.

In 2008 the monarchy voluntarily became a parliamentary democracy under a written constitution. Bhutan keeps close ties with India, its main trading partner, while guarding its own culture carefully. National dress is worn at work and in dzongs, and traditional architecture is required for new buildings.

Language and religion

The national language is Dzongkha, related to Tibetan. Around nineteen languages are spoken across the country. Tshangla in the east and Nepali (Lhotshamkha) in the south are the largest after Dzongkha, and English is the language of schools and government, so it is widely spoken.

Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma schools is the state religion, followed by about three-quarters of Bhutanese; most of the rest, mainly in the south, are Hindu. Religion is part of daily life: prayer flags on every ridge, butter lamps in every home, and tshechu festivals in every district.

Gross National Happiness

In the 1970s the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, declared that Gross National Happiness was more important than Gross National Product. GNH rests on four pillars (sustainable development, conservation of the environment, preservation of culture and good governance) and is measured across nine domains, from health and education to time use and community life.

In practice it shapes policy: the constitution requires at least 60% of the land to stay forested, the country absorbs more carbon than it emits, climbing peaks above 6,000 m is banned out of respect for the mountain deities, and healthcare and education are free.

High Value, Low Volume tourism

Bhutan deliberately limits mass tourism. Instead of cheap package trips, visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee, currently USD 100 per adult per night, which funds free healthcare, education and conservation. Travel is private and guided, and there are no crowds of coach tours.

It makes Bhutan more expensive than its neighbours, but it is also why the country feels so unspoiled. Read our guides to the Bhutan visa and to what a Bhutan trip costs for the details.

Is Bhutan safe?

Bhutan is one of the safest countries in Asia to travel in. Violent crime against visitors is very rare, people are welcoming, and you travel with your own guide and driver. The real hazards are practical: long, winding mountain roads, the altitude on passes and treks, and stomach upsets. Your guide will help you manage all of them.