The affordable Himalaya · Bhutan
Bhutan on a budget
Dzongs, cranes and chilli cheese, valley by valley. Here is what it costs by bus, shared jeep and homestay, and when it costs least.
A Saver day in Bhutan costs about ₹4,500–6,500 per person: sDF ₹1,200, simple certified hotel on twin share, shared guide and vehicle, local meals. Indicative 2026, once you are in the hive. Our Saver trips here start from ₹34,500 per person, twin sharing.
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 4.0 · CommonsA day in Bhutan
Three ways to spend the day
Per person, per day, indicative 2026. Saver is the bus-and-homestay way; the others are here so you can see the gap.
Per person, per day₹4,500–6,500
SDF ₹1,200, simple certified hotel on twin share, shared guide and vehicle, local meals
Saver trips from ₹34,500Per person, per day₹10,000–15,000
SDF, 3–4 star hotel, private car with driver, licensed guide, most meals
Per person, per day₹60,000–1,50,000
Aman, Six Senses or COMO lodges, full board, private guide and car
Saver trips
Bhutan by bus and homestay
Photo: Afifa Afrin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Saver
Bhutan by road from Siliguri, 6 nights
Shared jeep or bus to Jaigaon, then shared vehicle with licensed guide
Photo: Afifa Afrin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Saver
Bhutan saver with Phobjikha farmhouse, 7 nights
Shared jeep or bus to Jaigaon, then shared vehicle with licensed guide
When it costs least
Bhutan prices, month by month
The top bar shows how good the weather is. Low-price months with workable weather are the budget sweet spot.
Highlighted months: low prices and weather that still works. Peak weeks, school holidays and festival dates cost more.
Real prices
What things cost in Bhutan
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Spend less
Ways to save in Bhutan
- Indian nationals pay ₹1,200 a night SDF against USD 100 for most other passports, so an Indian passport or voter ID is the single biggest saving; carry it with at least six months' validity on the passport.
- Enter by road from Siliguri: a shared jeep or bus to Jaigaon costs ₹150–400 a seat, against ₹8,000–20,000 for a one-way flight into Paro.
- Travel in a group of four to six: the guide fee and vehicle hire, often ₹6,000–10,000 a day together, are the same whether one or six people share them.
- Visit in late November–February outside festival dates, when many mid-range hotels in Thimphu and Paro drop their rates and Punakha stays mild.
- Eat where drivers and office workers eat: a plate of ema datshi, red rice and dal in a local Thimphu or Paro restaurant runs ₹200–400.
- Apply for your entry permit online before you travel so you do not lose half a day at the Phuentsholing immigration office queue; check current status before you travel.
Where you sleep
Budget stays in Bhutan
Photo: Christopher J. Fynn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Budget
Haa valley farmhouse homestays
Registered family homestays in the villages of the Haa valley, in traditional rammed-earth and timber farmhouses. …
Photo: Phuentsho · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Budget
Phobjikha valley farmhouse stays
Registered farmhouse stays scattered around the Phobjikha valley floor and Gangtey village, a short walk from the …
Photo: PgyamtshoBT · CC0 · Commons
Budget
Swiss Guest House, Jakar
A farmhouse-style guesthouse on a hillside a few minutes above Jakar, one of Bumthang's first places for foreign t…
Questions
Bhutan on a budget, answered
How much does a budget trip to Bhutan cost?
A Saver day in Bhutan costs about ₹4,500–6,500 per person (SDF ₹1,200, simple certified hotel on twin share, shared guide and vehicle, local meals). Our Saver trips here start from ₹34,500 per person, twin sharing, indicative 2026, from the start point.
What is the cheapest month for Bhutan?
Rooms and transport are cheapest in January, February, June, when the weather still works for most of the hive. Peak weeks, school holidays and festival dates cost more. Check current status before you travel.
How do we save money in Bhutan?
Indian nationals pay ₹1,200 a night SDF against USD 100 for most other passports, so an Indian passport or voter ID is the single biggest saving; carry it with at least six months' validity on the passport. Enter by road from Siliguri: a shared jeep or bus to Jaigaon costs ₹150–400 a seat, against ₹8,000–20,000 for a one-way flight into Paro. Travel in a group of four to six: the guide fee and vehicle hire, often ₹6,000–10,000 a day together, are the same whether one or six people share them.