Every visitor to Bhutan pays a Sustainable Development Fee for each night of their stay. For most travellers it is US$100 a night. It is included in the price of every trip on this site.
How much it is
| Visitor | Fee per night |
|---|---|
| Adults | US$100 |
| Children aged 6 to 11 | US$50 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
| Indian nationals | Nu. 1,200, or the same in rupees |
| Indian children aged 6 to 11 | Nu. 600 |
| Indian children under 6 | Free |
The ngultrum is fixed at the same value as the Indian rupee, so the fee for an Indian adult is ₹1,200 a night. Our page on Bhutan from India has the rest of what Indian travellers need.
For guests from Bangladesh the Department of Tourism has offered a lower rate, US$15 or Nu. 1,200 a night, to the first 15,000 visitors. See Bhutan from Bangladesh and the Maldives, and ask us to check whether a place at that rate is still open for your dates.
What it adds to a trip
The fee is charged for each night, not each day, so a trip of seven days and six nights carries six fees: US$600 for an adult, US$300 for a child aged 6 to 11. On a short trip it is the largest single part of the price.
How long the US$100 rate lasts
The fee was US$200 a night when Bhutan reopened in September 2022. It was halved to US$100 in September 2023, and that rate is in place until 31 August 2027. No rate has been announced for after that date.
When and how you pay
The fee is paid with your visa application, before you travel. When you book with us it is part of your trip price: we pass it to the government when we apply for your visa.
Border towns
Visitors who stay within the designated zones of Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar for no more than 24 hours do not pay the fee. The Department gives the limits of the zones as the Rinchending checkpost above Phuentsholing, Gurung Basti at Samtse, the Aipoli bridge at Gelephu and the Pinchinna checkpost at Samdrup Jongkhar. Travelling beyond them brings the fee into effect. The arrangement is in force until August 2027.
What it pays for
The fee goes to the government, not to tour operators. The Department of Tourism describes it as funding national programmes, among them free health care and education, conservation, and infrastructure. We have written more about this in what the fee pays for.
Common questions
Is the fee per day or per night?
Per night. You pay for the nights you sleep in Bhutan, so the day you fly out carries no fee.
Can I pay it when I arrive?
It is paid with the visa or permit application, before you travel. Visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives who have their permit or visa issued on arrival pay it then.
Does the fee cover my hotel or my guide?
No. It is a payment to the government and covers none of the costs of the trip itself. Hotels, meals, guide and vehicle are separate, and all of them are in the prices on this site together with the fee.
Checked against the Department of Tourism’s website on 12 October 2026.