Bhutan
Kingdom of Bhutan
Southern Asia · BTN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Bhutan
Bhutan is a strong fit for travelers who want Himalayan scenery, monastery culture, and an itinerary that feels intentionally paced. It works best as a small set of valleys and sacred sites rather than a fast-moving multi-region trip.
Popular For
Things To See
- Thimphu
- Paro
- Punakha
- Tiger's Nest Monastery
- Bumthang
- Dochula Pass
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- Spring and autumn are the most comfortable broad seasons.
- A small number of valley-based stops is the best way to experience the country well.
- Book early if you want a specific lodge or monastery-focused route.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Bhutan.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Bhutan Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Bhutan.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Population
- 784,043
- Area
- 38,394 km²
- Region
- Southern Asia
Languages
- Dzongkha
Currency
Bhutanese ngultrum (Nu.)
BTN
Indian rupee (₹)
INR
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
23.6
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Thimphu (27.47°N, 89.63°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
20/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 57/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionUnknown
- Adoption recognition❓
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❓
- Legal gender recognition❓
- Conversion therapy ban❓
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.698
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.031
- 10-year change
- +0.082
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.958
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.278
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.593
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 51.6%
- Forest cover
- 71.6%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 28
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 19
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
40/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
73/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Bhutan. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Bhutan. If you decide to travel to Bhutan: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Bhutan. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the International Traveler Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data