Skip to main content

Residency Bhutan Holidays

Home / Travel Info / What to Pack

Travel info

What to Pack

Layers are the secret to packing for Bhutan: warm days and cool evenings in the same valley, and very different weather a few hours’ drive away.

Need help?

Our team can answer any question about your trip.

For every trip

  • Comfortable walking shoes with good grip (hiking shoes for Tiger’s Nest).
  • Long trousers or skirts and long-sleeved tops for dzongs and temples.
  • A warm fleece or down jacket — evenings are cool even in summer.
  • A light rain jacket or compact umbrella.
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat for outdoor days.
  • Reusable water bottle, personal medicines, and a universal plug adaptor.

By season

SeasonAdd to your bag
Spring (March–May)Light layers, a warm jacket for evenings and passes
Summer (June–August)Rain jacket, quick-dry clothes, insect repellent
Autumn (September–November)Layers, a warm jacket and gloves for early mornings
Winter (December–February)Thermals, a down jacket, hat, gloves and warm socks

For treks

  • Broken-in waterproof hiking boots and trekking socks.
  • A sleeping bag rated to about -10 °C (we can advise on hire).
  • Thermal base layers, fleece, down jacket and waterproof shell.
  • Trekking poles, head torch, water-purification tablets and a day pack.

Small extras

A few photographs of home are a lovely way to start a conversation in a farmhouse. If you would like to bring something for children, school supplies are better than sweets — your guide can suggest a school or monastery that would welcome them.

More travel info

Keep reading

Visa & Entry Permits

Who needs a visa, who needs a permit, and how we help.

Sustainable Development Fee

Current SDF rates, what it pays for and how it appears in your quote.

Getting to Bhutan

Flights into Paro, overland borders, and onward travel.

Best Time to Visit

Four seasons, month by month, with festivals and treks.

Health, Altitude & Safety

Altitude by region, pacing, insurance and medicines.

Money, Phones & Internet

Ngultrum and rupees, cards and cash, SIMs, Wi-Fi and power.

Culture & Etiquette

Dress for dzongs, temple manners, photography and festivals.

Where You Stay

Our own hotels, certified hotels elsewhere, farmhouses and trek camps.

Ready when you are

Ready to plan your journey?

We handle visas, permits and the SDF for you — and answer every question along the way.