First time travelers may find the restrictions on travel within Bhutan intimidating and it is recommended to do the necessary research before beginning a tour. First of all, however, in Bhutan, it is forbidden to travel independently. Instead, visitors are required to book travel through a registered tour operator in order to travel to all regions of Bhutan from Thimphu. This can be helpful, however, since these tour operators can explain what the rules and restrictions are and ensure first-time visitors do not end up in a sticky situation.

Entry into Bhutan is accessible only via India, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, and Thailand. (China’s border is closed for entry). The Bhutanese Department of Tourism requires tourists to pay a minimum daily tariff that can not be negotiated. There is only one airline that flies to Bhutan (see Arriving and Departing section) called Druk Air, the Bhutanese government airline.A passport and visa are required for entry into and exit from Bhutan. The tour travel agency one hires to lead them through Thimphu can arrange for a traveler’s entry visa and clearance.

Travelers are advised not to pack big, heavy bags when traveling to Bhutan by air or land. For instance, Druk air has very strict on the size of luggage and has limited space in general for any large bags.