Bhutan has never tried to attract as many visitors as possible. For decades its approach to tourism has been summed up in four words: high value, low volume. The idea is simple. A small country with a fragile environment and a living culture should welcome travellers who come to understand it, in numbers it can absorb, and in a way that benefits the whole nation.
If you are planning a trip, this policy shapes almost everything about your journey, from what you pay to how you travel. Here is how it works.
Bhutan: Believe
When Bhutan reopened to visitors on 23 September 2022, after more than two years of closed borders, it launched a new national brand the day before: Bhutan, with the tagline Believe. The brand is an invitation to share the country’s values: development guided by Gross National Happiness, protection of the environment, and pride in its culture.
The reopening also brought the biggest change to tourism policy in decades.
From daily package to Sustainable Development Fee
For many years, visitors paid a fixed minimum daily package rate that bundled their hotel, meals, guide and transport with a government royalty of USD 65 per night. In 2022 this system was replaced. Travellers now book their services directly with licensed operators and hotels, and pay the government a separate Sustainable Development Fee, or SDF.
The SDF was set at USD 100 per person per night in 2023, reduced from USD 200, and this rate is confirmed until 31 August 2027. Children aged 6 to 12 pay half, children under 6 pay nothing, and Indian nationals pay INR 1,200 per night. Our SDF guide has the details, checked against official sources.
Where the money goes
The SDF is not a hotel tax or a service charge. It is paid to the government and supports the country’s sustainable development: protecting the environment and heritage, and funding public services such as health and education. Bhutan is one of very few countries that absorbs more carbon than it emits, and keeping its forests intact is central to that.
What it means for travellers
- Fewer crowds: even Bhutan’s best-known sites rarely feel overrun
- A licensed Bhutanese guide who explains what you are seeing and why it matters
- Hotels certified by the Department of Tourism
- Your visit contributes directly to the country’s future
It also means a trip to Bhutan costs more than travel in many neighbouring countries. Most visitors find that the experience, and the knowledge that their fee supports the places they visit, is worth it.
Travelling with Dhungkar Tour
Our regular price of USD 300 per person per night already includes the SDF, the Bhutan visa fee, your hotel, meals, transport and licensed guide. Groups of more than 8 travellers receive 10% off. See travel costs for everything that is included.