Travel guide · Before you go
Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
What the Sustainable Development Fee is, what it supports and how it is charged — with the current figures kept in one reviewed place.
Current figures — last reviewed 2026-10-02
- Standard rate
- USD 100 per person, per night
- Children
- Children aged 6–12 pay 50%; children under 6 are exempt
- Visitors from India
- Visitors from India pay INR 1,200 per person, per night
- Validity
- The current rate is scheduled to apply until 31 August 2027
Additional incentives (such as reduced SDF for longer stays or for visits to eastern and southern districts) are announced from time to time. We will always quote the rate that applies to your dates.
Bhutan charges international visitors a daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). It is a government levy rather than a tour price, collected per person per night.
What it supports
The fee funds the services that make Bhutan what it is: free healthcare and education, conservation of forests and wildlife, and the infrastructure that allows a small country to welcome visitors without losing its character. It is a central part of the country’s approach to sustainable tourism.
How it appears in our prices
We include the SDF for every night of your stay in the price of your itinerary, together with the visa fee. Other costs — your guide, driver, hotels and meals — are itemised separately so you can see where your money goes.
Rates change — we always confirm
The rate is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and has been revised more than once. Incentives, such as reduced rates for extended stays or for visiting less-travelled regions, are introduced from time to time. We confirm the exact rate and any incentive that applies to your dates when we prepare your quote.
Official sources
Common questions
What does the Sustainable Development Fee pay for?
It is a government levy on visitors that supports free education and healthcare, infrastructure, conservation and the carbon-neutral development of the country.
Is the SDF included in your quotes?
Yes. We include the SDF for every night in Bhutan in our itinerary prices, and we note clearly if any incentive applies to your dates.
Start the conversation
Questions? Ask us directly.
A real person from our Thimphu team will answer — usually within one working day.