Is It Safe to Travel to Bhutan in 2026?
Bhutan - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia, located in the Eastern Himalayas, bordering China to the north and northwest and India to the south and southeast. With a population of over 800,000 (800,871) and a territory of 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq mi), Bhutan ranks 133rd in land area and 160th in population.
Is It Safe to Travel to Bhutan in 2026?
Bhutan is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise normal precautions in Bhutan. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Bhutan and the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations and review the International Traveler Checklist. It is highly recommended to buy insurance before you travel, including evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers should remain aware of potential altitude sickness due to Bhutan's mountainous terrain, especially in remote areas where medical facilities may be limited.
Business travelers may face minor logistical challenges due to Bhutan's mountainous geography, which can affect transportation and connectivity, but overall infrastructure is adequate in major cities.
Families with children should be cautious of limited healthcare access outside urban areas, as well as the risk of altitude-related health issues in high-altitude regions.
Remote workers can find reliable internet in urban centers like Thimphu, but should prepare for potential connectivity issues in rural areas.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Bhutan.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Bhutan has an overall threat severity of 0.8 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 2.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 63/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Ngultrum (BTN)
Language
Dzongkha
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Bhutan
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Bhutan?
▶Is it safe to travel to Bhutan right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Bhutan?
▶What vaccines do I need for Bhutan?
▶Is Bhutan safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Bhutan?
More Bhutan Data
Partly Free — 63/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.