A good guide turns a drive through Bhutan into a real journey: the stories behind the dzongs, the right time to reach a festival courtyard, the village lunch you would never find alone. Our licensed Bhutanese guides speak English, Hindi and Nepali (Bengali subject to availability), and travel with you by car, on foot or on a trek.
Get a quote on WhatsApp
Opens WhatsApp with your trip details filled in. We reply with a quote for the vehicle, driver and guide.
When do you need a guide?
Under current rules, every tourist, including visitors from India, needs a licensed Bhutanese guide to travel beyond Thimphu and Paro, and a route permit for districts such as Punakha, Haa, Wangdue and Bumthang. Your guide arranges the route permits. Rules change from time to time, so we confirm the latest position for your travel dates when you book.
This applies even if you drive your own Indian-registered car into Bhutan. We can provide a licensed guide on their own, or a guide together with a car and driver.
In practice, that means a guide is part of almost every trip that goes beyond the two western valleys: Punakha and Dochula, Haa over Chele La, Phobjikha, Trongsa, Bumthang and the east. Because rules can change, we always confirm the current position for your travel dates.
What a guide does for you
- Permits: arranges route permits for districts such as Punakha, Haa, Wangdue and Bumthang, and handles checks along the way.
- Stories and context: explains the history, the art on temple walls and the meaning of rituals you see.
- Practical help: sorts out entry tickets, opening times, meals, SIM cards and the small problems that come up on any trip.
- Local connection: helps you talk with monks, farmers and shopkeepers, and knows the quiet corners away from the crowds.
- Pace: works with your driver to plan sensible days, with stops when you need them.
Types of guide
- Cultural guides: dzongs, monasteries, history and daily life.
- Festival guides: tshechu etiquette and the best spots, using our festival calendar.
- Trekking guides: day hikes such as the Tiger's Nest, and multi-day treks.
- Family-friendly guides: a gentler pace, with plenty of stops for children and older travellers.
Choosing a language
Many of our guests from India, Bangladesh and Nepal find the trip far more enjoyable when the guide speaks their language. A Hindi- or Bengali-speaking guide can explain things to grandparents in the back seat, joke with the children and chat comfortably over lunch. Nepali-speaking guides are popular with travellers from Nepal and Darjeeling. English-speaking guides suit international visitors and mixed groups. Just choose the language in the form above.
Festivals with a guide
Tshechus are among the most memorable experiences in Bhutan: masked dances in a dzong courtyard, families in their finest clothes and a mood of celebration. They are also religious events. Your guide will tell you what to wear, where to stand, when photography is fine and when it is not, and how to get there early enough for a good view. Check dates in our Bhutan festival calendar.
Hiking to Tiger's Nest and beyond
The walk up to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery, is the most famous hike in Bhutan. It is a steady climb through pine forest to a viewpoint and then down and up steps to the monastery itself. A guide sets a comfortable pace, finds the best rest stops and explains the story of the site. Ponies can sometimes carry visitors part of the way up; ask your guide.
For keen walkers, guides can also lead longer day hikes and multi-day treks, with the right season and preparation. Tell us your fitness and interests, and we will match you with a guide who suits the trip.
Guide etiquette and tipping
Your guide is a professional and also your host in their own country. It helps to share any health concerns, dietary needs or interests early so they can plan. In temples, follow their lead: dress modestly, remove hats, walk clockwise and ask before taking photos. Tipping your guide and driver is optional but customary at the end of the trip if you are happy; there is no fixed amount.
Guides for families and older travellers
Travelling with children or grandparents is common in Bhutan, and our guides are used to it. They plan shorter walks, find temples with easy access, suggest where elders can sit and rest, and keep children interested with stories of tigers, dragons and saints. Let us know who is in your group and any mobility needs, and we will choose a guide who suits your family.
Guides also help travellers with limited time make the most of it. If you have only a few days, your guide can suggest which sights to prioritise, and which can wait for a return visit.
A typical day with your guide
Your guide usually meets you after breakfast and talks through the plan for the day. On the road, they point out sights and arrange stops with your driver. At each dzong or temple, they handle tickets and show you around, then help you choose a place for lunch, often somewhere serving simple Bhutanese dishes such as ema datshi. In the afternoon there may be a short walk, a village visit or time at a market, before you return to your hotel and agree the next day's start time.
Guide only, or guide with car and driver?
If you are driving your own car, we can provide a licensed guide on their own. Most travellers, though, find it easier to book a guide together with one of our vehicles, so the driver concentrates on the road while the guide looks after the rest. See our car rental with driver page, or our routes from Bagdogra, Phuentsholing, Paro Airport and Guwahati.
Planning help
Download our free Bhutan Trip Planner and check your fees with the Trip Cost Calculator.
Indian nationals pay a Sustainable Development Fee of INR 1,200 per person per night, and most other nationalities pay USD 100 per adult per night, confirmed until 31 August 2027. Fees can change, so we confirm for your dates.
How to book a guide
- Tell us your dates, route, number of travellers and preferred language on WhatsApp or by email, or use the form above.
- We confirm a licensed guide, the route permits and, if you need one, a vehicle and driver.
- You receive a clear quote, and your guide's details before you travel.
Looking for a guide? Message us on WhatsApp on +975 17661648 or email [email protected]. Your quote lists exactly what is included, so there are no surprises later.
Frequently asked questions
Is a guide compulsory in Bhutan for Indian tourists?
Under current rules, a licensed guide is required for travel beyond Thimphu and Paro, including for Indian visitors. We confirm the latest rules for your dates when you book.
Do you have Hindi- and Bengali-speaking guides?
Yes. Our guides speak English, Hindi and Nepali, and Bengali-speaking guides are subject to availability.
Can I hire only a guide if I have my own car?
Yes. We can provide a licensed guide on their own, or with a car and driver.
Who arranges the route permits?
Your guide arranges route permits for districts such as Punakha, Haa, Wangdue and Bumthang, so you do not need to queue for them yourself.
Can a guide help us at a festival?
Yes. Guides explain tshechu etiquette, what to wear and where to stand, and help you arrive in good time. See our festival calendar for dates.
Should we tip our guide?
Tipping is optional but customary in Bhutan if you are happy with the service. There is no fixed amount; give what feels right to you.
Can the same guide stay with us for the whole trip?
Yes. Your guide normally travels with you from the first day to the last, so they get to know your interests and pace and can plan each day around them.
Can a guide take us to Tiger's Nest?
Yes. Our guides regularly lead the hike to Paro Taktsang, setting a comfortable pace and explaining the history of the monastery.
