Tour in Bhutan can give you a different insight into life. You are bound to have the time of your lives while you travel to this Himalayan country blessed with natural beauty preserving its unique culture.
In Bhutan, the Tourism Council (TCB) decides on all matters related to travel and tours including daily tour prices. Once you reach Bhutan, you won’t have to worry about anything. This price includes everything you will need during your stay in Bhutan.
You will get a twin-sharing room in a beautiful 3-star hotel which provides you with whole meals. You will also get snacks, tea, and mineral water. An English speaking tour guide will be there to assist you throughout the tour. In case you want some trekking, you will also be provided with a trekking guide.
Any ground transportation that you need to get to different places is also offered within this price with all entrance fees, sightseeing, and other activities. Within that price, you also pay Bhutanese government USD 65 daily which goes into conservation, maintenance, and repair of heritages in Bhutan.
Daily Price
In the month of March, April, May, September, October, and November, you will pay a daily price of USD 250 per day.
In the month of January, February, June, July, August, and December, the daily price becomes USD 200 per day.
Additional Surcharge
Depending upon the size of your group, you may have to pay an extra amount. If you are travelling in a group of three or more members, you won’t have to pay the surcharge.
For solo tourist: USD 40 per day
For a team of two: USD 30 per day
For a team of three or more: No extra charge
Discounts
According to the Tourism Council of Bhutan, you get 25% off the daily fee if you are a full-time student under the age of 25.
A child under the age of 12 also doesn’t need to pay 65 USD which is already included in the daily price.
Note: If you are booking a tour package with a company, their tour cost includes all these charges and you don’t have to worry about any of these things.
Other Expenses
In addition to the daily price you have to pay for your tour company, or tour cost you pay for your tour package, there are some other things that you may need to pay for. Some of these things are completely optional while some are obligatory.
Visa Fee, Flight, and Insurance
Daily price or your tour cost (if you are booking a tour package instead) doesn’t include travel insurance, flights, and Visa fee. You must get them before you fly towards Bhutan.
Bhutan grants you Visa only after you pay full tour cost to your company. You should pay an additional Visa fee of USD 40.
The flight may cost 100-400 USD depending on your location and airline you choose.
Service Upgrades
If you want to upgrade and get a single room instead of a twin-sharing room, you have to pay an extra USD 40. Daily price also doesn’t include alcoholic beverages.
3-star hotels that are provided to you are beautiful with amazing hospitality and all the facilities you may need. But, if you want a luxurious hotel to spend some quality time or for a special occasion, you may book a 4-star or 5-star hotel with an additional cost.
Depending on the services and scope of the hotel, a 4-star hotel in Bhutan may cost from 80 USD to 250 USD per night and a 5-star hotel may cost you from 250 USD to 1500 USD per night. You can contact your tour operator and tell them which hotel you might want to stay in and they will help you with the process.
Additional Activities
If you want to take part in more activities like hot-stone baths, cultural shows, horse riding, rafting, mountain bikes riding, you may need to pay an additional cost for that.
On the day of departure, your company will provide you with breakfast. If you need anything extra, you may have to pay for it on a usage basis.
Souvenirs and Tips
Bhutan is an amazing country where you can find amazing art pieces and handicrafts that you may want to take home as souvenirs.
At the end of the trip, you may need extra cash to tip your guides. You may also need some money to tip your waiters, horsemen, etc.
Conclusion
Though it may seem like 200-290 USD per day is a bit too much at first, you will realize it really isn’t. Bhutanese government believes in giving high-value experience while you travel in Bhutan. It is not too much to expect travellers to respect and maintain their cultural and natural aspects. Any other expenses really depend upon you and how luxurious you want your trip to be.