Travel guide · Culture
Responsible Tourism
How Bhutan limits the footprint of travel, and how we work alongside it.
Bhutan’s approach to tourism has long been guided by a simple idea: to welcome visitors while protecting the culture and environment that make the country special.
What the country does
- Visitors travel with licensed local operators.
- A daily Sustainable Development Fee funds health, education and conservation.
- The constitution protects forest cover and the country is carbon-negative.
- Growth is deliberately measured, rather than maximised.
What we do
- Hire and train locally. Our team, guides and drivers are Bhutanese.
- Use small, locally owned lodges and homestays wherever possible, so that income reaches families directly.
- Spread visits beyond the busiest sites and seasons.
- Reduce plastic. We provide filtered or bottled water in refillable containers where available and encourage you to bring a reusable bottle.
- Brief guests on respectful behaviour at sacred sites and around wildlife.
What you can do
Buy crafts directly from makers, ask before photographing people, avoid plastic bags and bottles, stay on trails and follow your guide’s lead. If you would like to meet a project or visit a community we work with, ask us.
Common questions
How can I travel responsibly in Bhutan?
Travel with a licensed local operator, respect local customs, support local crafts directly, avoid single-use plastic and follow your guide's advice around wildlife and sacred sites.
Start the conversation
Questions? Ask us directly.
A real person from our Thimphu team will answer — usually within one working day.