Kuzuzanpola! Welcome to Bhutan!

Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, Bhutan is a land of supreme natural beauty. Fierce guardians of their remarkable culture and colourful ancient traditions, Bhutan's rulers have also shown commendable foresight in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable tourism. Bhutan tours must be booked prior to your arrival, as do your travel and hotel arrangements. These regulations not only preserve the unique culture of Bhutan, they also allow each visitor to immerse themselves in a truly ancient way of life.

Bhutan is often referred to as the 'last Shangri La'.

Living in harmony with nature is a way of life in Bhutan. Bhutan even regulates tourist arrival in the country so as to safeguard its pristine beauty and way of life. Visitors are only allowed to travel as part of prearranged package tours in Bhutan and are charged a minimum fee of $250 a day - the fee though is all inclusive and takes care of your Bhutan accommodation, food and transport. Backpackers and independent travellers are discouraged.

[read more]

It's so easy to find your ideal Bhutan tour with our Bhutan hotels and tours booking engine. Simply click on the links to our bookable Bhutan Budget Hotels, Bhutan Mid Range Hotels, and Bhutan Top Hotels. If you are interested in searching your accommodation or tour in Bhutan based on its location, click on our Bhutan Map to view all your Bhutan vacation deals. When booking your Bhutan tour via our website, be sure to read the Booking Conditions.

Buddhism is the predominant religion and its influence is apparent everywhere. Even from the way people dress - men in ‘gho' (knee length wrap around dress) and women in ‘kira' (traditional ankle length dress), it is evident that traditions are important to the Bhutanese.

This small, secluded country, known locally as Druk Yul or the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon', is bordered by China to the north and India on the other sides. Surprisingly for a small country, Bhutan's landscape, vegetation and climatic conditions are very diverse. You have tropical climate and thick forests in the south, temperate climate and deciduous vegetation in the central regions, and snow covered Himalayan peaks reaching heights of 7000 m or more in the north. Take a look at our Bhutan weather guide for current temperatures and more information about the best time to travel Bhutan.

Bhutan has incredible trekking trails and with 72% of its area under forest cover, is home to an amazing array of flora and fauna. Tiger, langur monkey, snow leopard, deer, bear and boar are some of the wildlife commonly found. Many species of wild orchids thrive in Bhutan and paint the countryside a vibrant hue particularly in spring (March to May) when flowers are in full bloom. The peak tourist season though, is autumn (September to November) when the weather is most pleasant and traditional festivals, the Thimphu festival is particularly famous, enthral visitors. There is an incredible wealth of things to see and do in Bhutan. Our Bhutan Map shows the location of many of these Bhutan highlights in relation to the Bhutan hotels that are able to be booked through our site.

Ruled by the Wangchuck monarchy since 1907, Bhutan became a parliamentary democracy in 2008. The country's guiding philosophy, ‘Gross National Happiness' was famously promoted by King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, father of the present king. It rejects the notion of economic success as the sole means to happiness and strives for modernisation which is in tune with the culture and traditions of the land.

The country is renowned for its colourful textiles and shawls which make excellent souvenirs and gift items. Shopping in Bhutan is a real thrill. Bhutan's love affair with chillies, an important ingredient in most dishes, is quite interesting, though the hot and spicy local dishes that are served up in Bhutan restaurants might not go down well with all visitors.

Bhutan is unquestionably one of a kind and in many ways a role model for others to follow. A visit to this gorgeous land that straddles the ancient and the modern will surely stay in mind long after you return from your stay.

Accommodation