Maximum Alerts / Bhutan

BhutanLevel 1/4

Level published by the State Department on 03.09.2026 · read 13 October 2026 · source checked daily

Bhutan — official level as of 13 October 2026: Level 1/4 ("Exercise Normal Precautions"), from the U.S. Department of State. Maximum Insurance covers this country: hospital settled directly, unlimited repatriation, USD 1.5M, certificate on payment.

Four official readings
United StatesState Departmentsource ↗Our reference level — the one shown across this site
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
Level 1/4 — “Exercise Normal Precautions”levels 1 and 2 are advice to be careful, not travel restrictions
FranceFrance Diplomatiesource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: red or orange AREAS
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: no area of the country is classified red or orange
United KingdomFCDOsource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: travel statuses
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: no travel advised against
source reviewed 10 December 2025
SwitzerlandFDFAsource ↗Advisory cited by the Maximum policy
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: the FDFA advises against no travel
The four readings on record agree: no restriction on the whole country.Our comparison reading: 27 September 2026

All 207 countries compared, advisory by advisory →

How we read these four advisories

Every country has its own scale, so we ask them all the same question: is the whole country advised against?

An advisory covering only areas of the country does not raise the answer: it stays “No”, and the area is shown in the relevant column.

The level shown on this page — and across this site — is the one published by the U.S. State Department, from 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). France and the United Kingdom publish their own advisories, with their own rules: they add to that level, they do not replace it.

Get covered — $990/yr
Regional map…
Level 1/4 — Exercise Normal Precautions Checked on 13 October 2026 · U.S. State Department
Country briefing
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Where are you right now in Bhutan?

List read from OpenStreetMap on 08.10.2026, not read again since: these facilities may have changed.

Hospitals and clinics — Thimphu
+Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital0.4 km24/7
emergency department0.4 km from the centre of Thimphu
+Kidu-Medical-Service- Center0.4 km24/7
emergency department0.4 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+IMTART Hospital0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Department of Medical Products0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu · Hebi Lam SW ThimphuNational Medical Services
Google MapsDirections
+Kidu medical service center0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+TV hospital0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu · JDW Lam N3 ThimphuRoyal Government of Bhutan
Google MapsDirections
+Kidu guest house0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Doctor’s colony0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Doctor’s colony0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Faculty of Nursing and Public Health0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Doctor’s Colony0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Eye Hospital0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Doctor’s Colony0.5 km24/7
emergency department0.5 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Doctor’s colony0.6 km24/7
emergency department0.6 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Doctor’s colony0.6 km24/7
emergency department0.6 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Staff Residents0.6 km24/7
emergency department0.6 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Gyeltshuen Jetsuen Pema Mother and Child Hospital0.6 km24/7
emergency department0.6 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Gyaltsuen Jetsuen Pema Mother and Child Hospital0.7 km24/7
emergency department0.7 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Ashi Jetsun mother and child hospital0.7 km24/7
emergency department0.7 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Staff Resident0.7 km24/7
emergency department0.7 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+doctor’s colony0.7 km24/7
emergency department0.7 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Menlha Phramacy1.1 km24/7
emergency department1.1 km from the centre of Thimphu · Zamdo Lam 4 Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Padkar Diagnostic Center1.1 km24/7
emergency department1.1 km from the centre of Thimphu · Zamdo Lam 4 Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Menjong Diagnostic Center Pvt. Ltd.1.7 km24/7
emergency department1.7 km from the centre of Thimphu
+National Traditional Medicine Hospital1.9 km24/7
emergency department1.9 km from the centre of Thimphu · Kawang Lam NW 200 ThimphuKencho Wangdi (Sr. District Health Officer)
+Satellite Health clinic2.0 km24/7
emergency department2.0 km from the centre of Thimphu · ThimphuMinistry of Health,
Google MapsDirections
+RBA Hospital (old)2.1 km24/7
emergency department2.1 km from the centre of Thimphu · Sama Lam
Google MapsDirections
+Hospital2.2 km24/7
emergency department2.2 km from the centre of Thimphu · Lungten Lam
+Druk pharmacy2.9 km24/7
emergency department2.9 km from the centre of Thimphu · Ólakha Lam
Google MapsDirections
+Kuenphen Rabten[pharmacy]3.0 km24/7
emergency department3.0 km from the centre of Thimphu · Ólakha Lam
Google MapsDirections
+Dantak Hospital3.8 km24/7
emergency department3.8 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Department of Dentistry (Dental Hospital), JDWNRH, Taba5.2 km24/7
emergency department5.2 km from the centre of Thimphu · Hanku Lam 7
+Dechhencholing BHU I7.5 km24/7
emergency department7.5 km from the centre of ThimphuMrs. Lhamo (Clinical Officer)
+Chamgang BHU8.2 km24/7
emergency department8.2 km from the centre of ThimphuKencho Wangdi (Sr. DHO)
+Hongtsho BHU8.5 km24/7
emergency department8.5 km from the centre of ThimphuKencho Wangdi (Sr. DHO)
+Gidakom Hospital9.9 km24/7
emergency department9.9 km from the centre of ThimphuDr. Chencho Dorji
+97517296890Directions
+City Healthcare and Pharmacy0.4 km
0.4 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Motithang Health Clinic2.0 km
2.0 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Heart Beat2.2 km
2.2 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
+Infirmary7.6 km
7.6 km from the centre of Thimphu
Google MapsDirections
✈️ སྤ་རོ་གནམ་ཐང༌།PBH22.6 kmNearest evacuation airport from Thimphu — unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation included.
💱 Currency: BTN Nu. · 🗣 Language: Dzongkha
In an emergency from Thimphu, your reflex remains +41 22 ••• •• •• — Full number in your client area.

Country dial code: +975

OpenStreetMap list read on 08.10.2026, straight-line distances. In an emergency: +41 22 ••• •• ••.

Doctors — Thimphu1
DrOffice of the Bhutan Health Trust Fund1.1 km

near Dondrup Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
Pharmacies — Thimphu31
+Kuenphen Medical (Changzamtog)0.4 km

near S Doebum Lam

Google MapsDirections
+Evergreen0.4 km

near Chang Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
+New Life Pharmacy0.4 km

near Norzin Zur Lam 49 SE

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie0.4 km

Gongphel Lam

+HIMALAYA PHARMACY0.4 km

near S Doebum Lam

Google MapsDirections
+Wamling Pharmaceuticals & Medical Supplies0.5 km

Norzin Lam Thimphu

Google MapsDirections
+Namsey Pharmacy0.5 km

near Gongdzin Lam SE
We-Mo 10:00-21:00

Google MapsDirections
+Laxmi Pharmacy0.5 km

near Norzin Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
+City Pharmacy0.6 km

near Norzin Zurlam 35 kaa SE
09:00-18:30

+Pharmacie0.6 km

35B Norzin Lam - 1

+Kuenphen Medical0.7 km

2 Norzin Lam - 2
08:30-22:00

17603802Directions
+Pharmacie0.7 km

near Norzin Lam SE

17409870Directions
+Pharma Plus0.7 km

near Rabten Lam SW

77845703Directions
+Kuenphenpharmacy0.7 km

near Norzin Zur Lam 35 SE

Google MapsDirections
+Pure Bhutan0.7 km

near Gongphel lam - 2

17932336Directions
+Ghaden Pharmacy0.7 km

near Wogzin Lam 1

77297266Directions
+YUTHOK TRADITIONAL PHARMACY0.8 km

near Norzin Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
+morden pharmacy0.9 km

near Chang Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
+Menzey Pharmacy1.0 km

near Kundey Zur Lam 7 SE

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie1.3 km

jangchu lam

+Healthy Pharmacy1.7 km

near Changangkha Gorlam

17422658Directions
+Chhigso Thobphel Pharmacy1.7 km

near Bangdu Lam 4A

Google MapsDirections
+MenjongSorig Pharmaceuiticals2.1 km

near Zur Lam 20 NW

Google MapsDirections
+Druk Menlha Pharmacy3.3 km

near S Doebum Lam
Mo-Su 09:30-20:30

17454291Directions
+Druk Menlha Pharmacy3.3 km

near S Doebum Lam

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie3.4 km

near Tshalu Zur Lam 19 SE

17353673Directions
+Pharmacie3.5 km

33 Tshalu Lam

17611447Directions
+Pharmacie3.9 km

86 Wangchu Lam

17803461Directions
+Sangay Pharmacy4.1 km

near Khamtoe Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
+Zamling Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies6.5 km

Ngabiphu Lam SE

+RTC Infirmary7.6 km

Ngápi Lam

Google MapsDirections
Official — Thimphu5
Consulates and embassies 4
AHonorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany0.8 km

near Rabten Lam SW

AReprésentation1.5 km

185 Gumji Lam SW Thimphu

Google MapsDirections
AKuwait Embassy of Bhutan1.6 km

near W Thori Lam

Google MapsDirections
AIndian Embassy4.1 km

near N Doebum Lam

Google MapsDirections
Town halls 1
AThimphu Thromde Office0.4 km

8 Gongdzin Lam

Police — Thimphu10
PRoyal Bhutan Police Traffic Division0.2 km

Chang Zur Lam 83 SE Thimphu

Google MapsDirections
PCommunity Police Center0.7 km

Hebi Lam - 8 thimphu

Google MapsDirections
Pcenter box0.9 km

near Norzin Zur Lam 29 SE

Google MapsDirections
PDetention Centre0.9 km

near Norzin Zur Lam 29 SE

Google MapsDirections
PRoyal Bhutan Police Division XI1.0 km

168 Norzin Zur Lam 17 SE Thimphu

Google MapsDirections
PCommunity Police Office1.8 km

236 Thegchhen Lam SW Thimphu

Google MapsDirections
PCommunity Police Station1.9 km

Changjiji Lam Changjiji

Google MapsDirections
PPolice Outpost3.4 km

near Tshalu Zur Lam 6 SE

02326587Directions
PPolice station4.0 km

near Maphel Wom 2

Google MapsDirections
PJungshina Community Police Station4.7 km

near Jungzhi Wom Lam NE

Google MapsDirections
Transport — Thimphu14
Bus 6
TCity Bus Service Office0.1 km

near Zamtok Lam SE

TThimphu Inter District Bus Terminal0.2 km

near Khamtoe Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
TBus Station0.2 km

near Yenchu Lam

Google MapsDirections
TCity Bus Terminal0.7 km

near Wogzin Lam 1

Google MapsDirections
TNgabiphu Terminal4.6 km

near Ngabiphu Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
TDangrina Terminal7.6 km

near Drangtoed Lam NW

Google MapsDirections
Taxis 8
Ttaxi stand0.2 km

near Chang Zur Lam 83 SE

Google MapsDirections
TTaxi stand0.2 km

near Khamtoe Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
TInter District Taxi Stand0.2 km

near Khamtoe Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
TTaxi stand0.4 km

near S Doebum Lam

Google MapsDirections
Ttaxi stand0.4 km

near JDW Lam N

Google MapsDirections
TCity Taxi Stand0.7 km

near Wogzin Lam 1

Google MapsDirections
TTaxi Stand1.0 km

near Kundey Lam SE

Google MapsDirections
Ttaxi stand1.3 km

near Zeri Lam

Google MapsDirections

The next 7 days around Thimphu Asia/ThimphuMET Norway ↗read 13.10.2026

Wed 14 Oct9–20°mainly clear
Thu 15 Oct9–19°partly cloudy
Fri 16 Oct8–18°partly cloudy
Sat 17 Oct8–20°partly cloudy
Sun 18 Oct9–19°partly cloudy · 0.1 mm
Mon 19 Oct9–20°partly cloudy · 0.1 mm
Tue 20 Oct9–21°partly cloudy

Forecast: MET Norway (Norwegian Meteorological Institute, CC BY 4.0), grouped by day and formatted by Maximum.

Nearest river dischargeOpen-Meteo ↗updated 14.10.2026 · read 13.10.2026

10-13 0.8 · 10-14 0.8 · 10-15 0.7 · 10-16 0.7 · 10-17 0.7 · 10-18 0.6 · 10-19 0.6 m³/s

Simulated discharge: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), data rounded and formatted by Maximum. Contains modified Copernicus Emergency Management Service information 2026. For information only: this is not a flood warning; only national or regional authorities issue those.

No geolocated event in this country at this reading.

No geolocated UCDP incident in this country.

No news located around Thimphu in this reading.

The country feed →

National numbers (Wikidata, 2026 reading). On site, call local emergency services first, then Maximum: the insurer sends its payment guarantee to the hospital.

Altitude 2,310 mModerate altitude: breathlessness on exertion is possible the first days, especially with a heart or lung condition.

Elevation: MET Norway terrain model (CC BY 4.0), read from its forecast.

Recommended vaccines and medicines10

Routine vaccinesCDC ↗

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include Chickenpox (Varicella) Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, Tdap, or Td) Flu (influenza) Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Polio Shingles

COVID-19CDC ↗

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information.

Hepatitis ACDC ↗

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Bhutan. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Hepatitis BCDC ↗

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Bhutan. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Bhutan.

Japanese EncephalitisCDC ↗

Recommended for travelers who Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis Consider vaccination for travelers Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas,…

MeaslesCDC ↗

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

MonkeypoxCDC ↗

Monkeypox vaccination is recommended for any adult who anticipates any of the following activities during travel: Sexual or intimate contact with a new partner Sexual or intimate contact at a commercial sex venue, like a sex club or bathhouse Sexual or intimate contact in exchange for money, goods, drugs, or other trade Sexual or intimate contact in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party, or…

RabiesCDC ↗

Dogs infected with rabies are sometimes found in Bhutan. If rabies exposures occur while in Bhutan, rabies vaccines may only be available in larger suburban/urban medical facilities.

TyphoidCDC ↗

Recommended for most travelers. Typhoid vaccine is not 100% effective. Practicing safe food and water habits , including washing hands at key times , can also help prevent typhoid fever .

Yellow FeverCDC ↗

CDC recommendations: Vaccine is not recommended. Country entry requirements: Vaccine is not required. Updated April 23, 2025

CDC Travelers' Health, re-read weekly — the recommendation depends on your age, vaccines and itinerary: confirm it with a doctor or a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure.CDC ↗read 10.10.2026

Diseases without a vaccine — how they spread

Avoid contaminated food and water
  • Leptospirosis — Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud Drinking water or eating foo
  • Melioidosis — Contact with contaminated fresh water, mud, or soil, especially after heavy rains   Drinking contaminated water Breathing in contaminated dust or water droplets, especially during severe weather
Avoid bugs
  • Dengue — Mosquito bite
Airborne & droplet
  • Hantavirus — Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents Bite from an infected rodent Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus
  • Tuberculosis (TB) — Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Risks in figures

Tuberculosis — cases per 100,000
Bhutan191 2024
Switzerland5 2024
France8 2024

High incidence: a long stay or time in care settings warrants a test on return.

Children vaccinated against measles (%)
Bhutan97 2024
Switzerland96 2024
France95 2024

High coverage.

Malaria — cases per 1,000 people at risk
Bhutan0.0 2024

Very low or no transmission.

World Bank — latest published valuedata.worldbank.org ↗read 10.10.2026

The official advice, in full

Source: France Diplomatie (health advice, in French).

In brief
  • Consult a doctor or international vaccination center at least 8 weeks before your trip for health assessments and vaccination recommendations.
  • Carry necessary personal medications in their original packaging with an international common name prescription, and verify their legality in Bhutan.
  • Ensure your travel insurance covers local treatment, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, as complex medical issues require treatment outside Bhutan.
  • Be aware that basic medical assistance is not always guaranteed outside major cities, and evacuation may be extremely difficult.
  • Prevent mosquito-borne illnesses like Chikungunya and Dengue by using repellent, wearing long clothing, and protecting accommodations.
  • Take precautions against altitude sickness by acclimatizing gradually, ascending slowly, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

WHO: no outbreak reported for this country in the last 24 months (Disease Outbreak News).who.int ↗read 13.10.2026

FDFA (Switzerland) — medical care, in French

Medical care

A l'extérieur des grandes villes, l'assistance médicale de base n'est pas toujours garantie. Dans les régions reculées, l'évacuation de personnes malades ou blessées peut se révéler extrêmement difficile, car il n’est pas assuré que des hélicoptères soient disponibles immédiatement. Les maladies ou blessures graves devraient, dans la mesure du possible, être traitées hors du pays. Les personnes de Rhésus négatif peuvent avoir des difficultés à obtenir une transfusion sanguine. Si vous prenez régulièrement des médicaments , emportez-en une quantité suffisante avec vous. N’oubliez toutefois pas que l’importation de médicaments contenant des stupéfiants (p. ex. méthadone) ou l’importation de substances utilisées pour traiter des troubles psychiques est soumise à des prescriptions spéciales dans de nombreux pays. Le cas échéant, renseignez-vous à ce sujet, avant le départ, auprès de la représentation étrangère compétente (ambassade ou consulat) et consultez la rubrique Liens voyages , où vous trouverez, entre autres, de plus amples informations sur ce thème ainsi que sur la médecine du voyage en général. Les informations concernant la propagation de maladies et les éventuelles mesures de protection à prendre sont fournies par le personnel médical et les centres de vaccination. Liens voyages

France Diplomatiesource ↗updated 15.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Recommandations pour la santé

Consulter si besoin son médecin traitant ou un centre de vaccinations internationales (médecine des voyages) pour faire une évaluation de son état de santé et bénéficier de recommandations sanitaires, notamment sur les vaccinations. Consulter éventuellement son dentiste avant le départ.

Constituer sa pharmacie personnelle en conséquence et n’emporter dans ses bagages que les médicaments strictement nécessaires ; ne jamais consommer de médicaments achetés dans la rue (risque de contrefaçons). Les médicaments doivent être dans leur emballage d’origine avec les étiquettes originales, accompagnés d’une ordonnance portant le nom des médicaments en dénomination commune internationale (DCI). Il est indispensable de vérifier que les médicaments concernés sont autorisés dans le pays visité : pour plus d’informations, consulter la fiche Informations pratiques .

Il y a de bonnes pharmacies à Thimphou, il est toutefois recommandé de connaître le nom générique du médicament.

Vaccinations

Les vaccins recommandés en France sont également indispensables lors d’un séjour à l’étranger : les maladies qu’ils préviennent circulent partout dans le monde, parfois même plus fréquemment qu’en France. Avant tout départ, le voyageur (adulte et enfant) doit donc d’abord s’assurer d’être à jour du calendrier vaccinal français, en particulier des vaccins contre la diphtérie, le tétanos, la poliomyélite, la coqueluche mais aussi contre la rougeole. Le carnet de vaccination peut être demandé à l’arrivée de certains pays.

Des vaccinations complémentaires peuvent être nécessaires :

  • Fièvre jaune : obligatoire pour les voyageurs en provenance de zones d’endémie ;
  • Hépatite A : en fonction des conditions et de la durée de séjour ;
  • Fièvre typhoïde : en fonction des conditions et de la durée de séjour ;
  • Hépatite B : en cas de séjours fréquents ou prolongés
  • T uberculose : chez les enfants de moins de 15 ans en cas de séjours fréquents ou prolongés ;
  • Chikungunya : en cas d’épidémie ou de séjour prolongé ;
  • Dengue : en cas d’épidémie active ou de séjour prolongé en zone endémique ;
  • Encéphalite japonaise : pour des séjours en zone rurale, notamment pendant la saison des pluies dans la zone concernée (Téraï).

Il est donc conseillé de consulter son médecin traitant ou un centre de vaccinations internationales (médecine des voyages) suffisamment de temps avant le voyage.

Maladies transmises par les moustiques

Chikungunya

La chikungunya est une maladie virale transmise par l’intermédiaire de moustiques infectés. Cette maladie se manifeste par l’apparition de symptômes grippaux (fièvre, douleurs musculaires et articulaires). En cas de signes cliniques, il est impératif de consulter immédiatement un médecin ; le traitement est uniquement symptomatique. Les moyens de prévention reposent sur la vaccination et la protection contre les piqûres de moustiques. Il est conseillé avant le départ de se référer à son médecin traitant et/ou à un centre de vaccination internationale.

Pour plus d’informations , consulter la rubrique risques sanitaires .

Dengue

La dengue est une maladie virale transmise par piqûres de moustiques. Les symptômes sont de type grippal (fièvre, maux de tête, courbatures, parfois éruption cutanée). En cas de signes cliniques, il est impératif de consulter immédiatement un médecin. Il n’existe pas de traitement curatif. La prise en charge médicale repose uniquement sur le traitement des symptômes. Il faut impérativement éviter la prise d’anti-inflammatoire. La prévention individuelle repose essentiellement sur les moyens de protection contre les piqûres de moustiques. La vaccination des voyageurs peut être indiquée dans certains cas. Il est conseillé de se référer, avant son départ, à son médecin traitant et /ou à un centre de vaccination internationale.

Pour plus d’informations, consulter le site du ministère de la Santé et le site de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé .

Encéphalite japonaise

L’encéphalite japonaise est une infection virale grave principalement transmise à l’humain par la piqûre de moustiques infectés, qui se reproduisent dans les zones rurales, notamment les rizières. Les porcs et les oiseaux aquatiques servent de réservoirs…

Autres maladies

Fièvre typhoïde

La fièvre typhoïde est une maladie infectieuse causée par des bactéries présentes dans l’eau contaminée par des matières fécales d’origine humaine. L’infection résulte le plus souvent de l’ingestion d’eau ou d’aliments contaminés, ou d’une transmission directe de personne à personne. Les symptômes surviennent en moyenne 3 semaines après la contamination et associent fièvre, maux de tête, perte d’appétit, douleurs abdominales avec diarrhée ou constipation, fatigue et parfois, éruption cutanée. Dans les formes plus graves, la fièvre typhoïde peut être fatale en l’absence de traitement.

Les mesures de prévention reposent sur les règles élémentaires d’hygiène générale vis-à-vis de l’eau, des aliments et du lavage des mains ainsi que sur la vaccination.

Pour plus d’informations , consulter le site de l'Institut Pasteur .

Rage

La rage est une maladie virale mortelle affectant le système nerveux et présent dans la salive des animaux infectés, tels que chiens, chats, chauves-souris et autres mammifères sauvages. Le virus se transmet par morsure, griffure ou contact de la salive avec une peau lésée ou une muqueuse. L’évolution est rapide avec l’apparition de fièvre, maux de tête, anxiété puis de troubles neurologiques (coma). La rage est presque toujours mortelle une fois les symptômes déclarés. Il est recommandé d’éviter tout contact avec des animaux suspects domestiques ou sauvages. La vaccination préventive contre la rage avant un séjour en zone exposée peut être indiquée en fonction du type de voyage et en particulier chez les jeunes enfants dès qu’ils marchent. Il est conseillé de demander conseil à un médecin ou à un centre de vaccinations internationales.

En cas d’exposition à risque, consulter immédiatement un médecin même si la vaccination…

Mal des montagnes

Le mal aigu des montagnes (MAM) est une maladie survenant en haute altitude (plus de 2 500 mètres de hauteur) lorsque l’organisme n’a pas eu le temps de s’acclimater au manque d’oxygène consécutif à la baisse de pression. Il peut se manifester par des troubles de type respiratoires (essoufflement) et/ou neurologiques (maux de tête, nausées, vomissements, troubles du sommeil) qui peuvent être transitoires ou s’aggraver et conduire au décès.

L’identification des symptômes du mal des montagnes peut être difficile : il est essentiel de communiquer en permanence, sans restriction, sur son état physique. De surcroît, les capacités de réflexion et d’action d’une victime du mal aigu des montagnes peuvent être altérées. En cas de survenue de symptômes il est recommandé d’interrompre l’ascension, de redescendre le plus rapidement possible à une altitude inférieure, au minimum en dessous de 4000 mètres, avec un accompagnant et de consulter un médecin.

Toute personne, quelle que soit sa condition physique et son habitude de la randonnée en altitude, peut être confrontée au mal des montagnes. La prévention repose sur des règles essentielles :

  • Une adaptation progressive à l’altitude en limitant les efforts physiques les premiers jours ;
  • Une ascension lente et progressive (pas plus de 400 m de dénivelé positif entre deux nuits consécutives à partir de 2 500 m) ;
  • Une hydratation régulière en évitant les boissons alcoolisées et repas copieux ;
  • Ne jamais abandonner une personne malade.

Les excursions et randonnées en altitude doivent faire l’objet d’un avis médical spécialisé avant le départ. La haute altitude est déconseillée pour les enfants. La grossesse ainsi que la notion d’antécédents cardiaques, pulmonaires, neurologiques ou rénaux constituent une…

Mesures générales de prévention des piqûres de moustiques
  • Porter des vêtements longs et couvrants ;
  • Appliquer des produits répulsifs cutanés sur les zones découvertes du corps ;
  • Protéger son logement (moustiquaires imprégnées d’insecticide, diffuseurs électriques, serpentins à l’extérieur, climatisation, etc.) ;
  • Détruire les sites potentiels de reproduction des moustiques (récipients d’eau stagnante comme les soucoupes sous les pots de fleurs, les gouttières, les pneus, etc.).

Pour plus d’informations, consulter le site du ministère en charge de la Santé et le site de l'Assurance Maladie .

Règles d'hygiène alimentaire
  • Se laver les mains régulièrement avec de l’eau et du savon ou des solutions de lavage hydroalcooliques, surtout avant et après les repas et le passage aux toilettes ;
  • Veiller à la qualité des aliments et surtout à leur bonne cuisson ;
  • Éviter la consommation de produits alimentaires (poisson, viande, volaille, lait) crus ou peu cuits ;
  • Peler les fruits et légumes ou les laver soigneusement (à l’eau saine) ;
  • Éviter les crudités, coquillages, plats réchauffés et buffets froids ;
  • Ne boire que de l’eau ou des boissons encapsulées ou de l’eau rendue potable (filtration, ébullition ou à défaut produit désinfectant).

Pour plus d’informations, consulter le site du ministère en charge de la Santé .

Health — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026

Health — Foreign Office

Before you travel check that:

  • your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
  • you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

  • check the latest vaccine recommendations for Bhutan
  • see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you’ll face in Bhutan .

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Bhutan. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro .

Medication

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

If you’re carrying a large amount of medicine or medicine that’s not for your personal use, check with the Bhutanese Embassy in Brussels .

Healthcare in Bhutan

Healthcare facilities vary in quality across Bhutan. One hospital (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital) in Thimphu can provide surgery and emergency treatment. Outside of Thimphu, hospitals generally provide only basic healthcare. Treatment for more complex issues is not available in Bhutan and you would need evacuation to India or Thailand for treatment.

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance that covers the cost of medical treatment abroad, emergency helicopter evacuation and repatriation.

English is widely spoken in Bhutan and doctors are likely to speak some English.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

TravelHealthPro ↗

Places read from OpenStreetMap, within a circle of about 12 km: phone, email, address, website and hours when the source publishes them. No customer reviews, that source has none. Straight-line distances.

The comparator

What is your current insurance?

The verdict
No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
Exact wording (official French text): « Des Voyages vers des pays où Votre gouvernement a conseillé de ne pas voyager » — general exclusion n° 11, applying to ALL travel covers.
Line by line
Cover
With your Amex Platinum
Territorial exclusion at this level
No territorial exclusion at this level — the clause targets countries your government advised against travelling to
Covered — the core of the Maximum contract
Medical expenses cap abroad
€2M — but 10% deductible (€150–500), insurer's prior approval, trip paid with the Card
CHF 1.5M emergency medical expenses
Hospital deposit before admission
Advance possible — prior approval required before care
Direct payment guarantee: the insurer settles the hospital
Trip duration covered
Maximum 90 consecutive days per trip
12 months, unlimited trips
Visa certificate (incl. Schengen)
Not provided
Official named certificate, issued on payment

Notices vary by bank and vintage — yours prevails. On the right: the Maximum contract (public documents).

Where to go, where not to

No region is advised against by the official readings checked (Global Affairs Canada, Foreign Office and France Diplomatie): the national advice applies everywhere.

In brief
  • National level “Exercise normal security precautions”; no region named (advisory of 24.09.2026). Global Affairs Canada
  • Advises against neither the country nor any area (reviewed 10.12.2025). Foreign Office
  • The security page lists no red or orange area (page of 18.03.2026). France Diplomatie
  • Level 1 of 4: exercise normal precautions (advisory of 03.09.2026). State Department

The levels each government publishes, unsummarised: their texts, linked below, prevail.

Thimphu is in no region these official readings advise against.The red dot on the map. Change the city at the top of the page to read the map from another point.
Trashiyangtse — Country-wide vigilanceLhuntse — Country-wide vigilanceBumthang — Country-wide vigilanceHaa — Country-wide vigilanceSamtse — Country-wide vigilanceChukha — Country-wide vigilanceGeylegphug — Country-wide vigilanceZhemgang — Country-wide vigilanceSamdrup Jongkhar — Country-wide vigilanceTrashigang — Country-wide vigilanceThimphu — Country-wide vigilanceParo — Country-wide vigilanceGasa — Country-wide vigilanceTsirang — Country-wide vigilanceWangdue Phodrang — Country-wide vigilanceDagana — Country-wide vigilancePunakha — Country-wide vigilanceMongar — Country-wide vigilanceTrongsa — Country-wide vigilancePemagatshel — Country-wide vigilanceThimphu
Country-wide vigilanceThimphuNone of the readings checked (Global Affairs Canada, Foreign Office and France Diplomatie) names a region: the whole country keeps the “country-wide vigilance” colour. Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Country-wide vigilance
the whole country, including Thimphu
So:

no region is advised against by these readings; the trip follows the national advice. A new regional advisory would call for a new, written decision.

US03.09.2026
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
FR18.03.2026
No red or orange areaThe security page lists no red or orange area.Your region (Thimphu): not covered
GB10.12.2025
No area coveredYour region (Thimphu): not covered
CA24.09.2026
Exercise normal security precautionsYour region (Thimphu): not covered
Maximum excludes no area of the country.The VIP Pack covers care and repatriation there. Still enforceable: sanctions and embargoes, and a country already at war at departure. Extraction and security belong to the VIP Pack Extreme, upon eligibility. See My cover

Global Affairs Canada — Open Government Licence – Canada (24.09.2026) · Foreign Office — Open Government Licence v3.0 · France Diplomatie (18.03.2026) · Natural Earth

No located event in this reading.

Last change: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).

Bhutan - Level 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsState Department ↗updated 03.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Updated 03.09.2026

Exercise normal precaution in Bhutan .

Bhutan is generally a safe destination for travelers. Medical services for routine and emergency procedures are limited, specifically in rural areas. Read the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information.

Bhutan regularly experiences flooding, landslides, and wildfires. The country is also vulnerable to earthquakes. Review our information on Weather and Natural Disasters in Bhutan.

Review our Travel Guidance for Bhutan to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.

Nearest river dischargeOpen-Meteo ↗updated 14.10.2026 · read 13.10.2026

10-13 0.8 · 10-14 0.8 · 10-15 0.7 · 10-16 0.7 · 10-17 0.7 · 10-18 0.6 · 10-19 0.6 m³/s

Simulated discharge: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), data rounded and formatted by Maximum. Contains modified Copernicus Emergency Management Service information 2026. For information only: this is not a flood warning; only national or regional authorities issue those.

Where, exactly?

What the national level does not tell you

The level is national. Risk areas are in the state advisories below.

  • U.S. State Department — the full advisory details the regions concerned and the reasons (crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest) (read the advisory)
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom) — the United Kingdom advises against no travel to this country · reviewed 10 December 2025
    Last announced change : « New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page). » (read the advisory)
  • France Diplomatie — France classifies no area of this country as red or orange (see the Security page)

No major event in progress is located in this country at this morning's check.

Safety in figures
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people
Bhutan2.5 2020
Switzerland0.6 2023
France1.3 2023
Road traffic deaths per 100,000 people
Bhutan16.2 2019
Switzerland2.2 2019
France5.1 2019

Reading: The homicide rate is 4 times Switzerland's: violence is a real risk there, concentrated in the areas named by the official advisories. On the road, 7 times more deaths than in Switzerland: road crashes are the leading cause of death of healthy travellers (CDC) — seat belt, no night driving, a driver or a taxi from a rank.

World Bank (UNODC for homicides, WHO for roads) — latest published valuedata.worldbank.org ↗read 10.10.2026

What we locate on the map are events in progress that have real coordinates: USGS earthquakes, GDACS disasters, NOAA storms and open NASA EONET events. Hover a dot for details, click to open it in this briefing.

I travel on a passportEach government writes for its own nationals. The advisory that counts for you — and for your policy's clauses — is your country's.

French passport — France Diplomatie

In brief
  • Transit from India's Assam state to southeastern Bhutanese districts Pemagatshel and Samdrupjongkhar is not possible.
  • Travellers should consult India's travel advice before transiting from India's northeastern states due to potential instability.
  • The border with China is closed and should not be approached due to a territorial dispute.
  • Travellers should be aware of pickpocketing risks, despite low overall crime rates.
  • Be cautious of stray dogs, especially in packs during morning or evening, and seek immediate rabies treatment if bitten.
  • All activities, including long treks, must be arranged by an approved Bhutanese tour operator, and altitude sickness is a serious risk.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

The security page lists no red or orange area.France Diplomatie ↗updated 15.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Bhoutan

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Zones de vigilance

Dernière actualisation le 18/03/2026, information toujours valable à la date du jour

Transit depuis l’Inde

Dans le sud-est du Bhoutan, les districts de Pemagatshel et de Samdrupjongkhar, frontaliers de l’État indien de l’Assam, ne sont toujours pas accessibles via l’Assam.

Avant tout transit vers le Bhoutan depuis les États du nord-est de l’Inde, il est recommandé de consulter la fiche de "Conseils aux voyageurs" de l’Inde . Ces États connaissent des périodes d’instabilité susceptibles d’affecter les déplacements.

Aucun transit n’est possible depuis la Chine

La frontière avec la Chine étant fermée et faisant l’objet d’un différend frontalier, il est recommandé de ne pas s’en approcher.

Risques naturels

Le Bhoutan est situé dans une zone d’activité sismique.

Pour plus d’informations sur la conduite à tenir en cas de séisme, consulter la fiche relative au risque sismique .

Criminalité

Il y a relativement peu de criminalité et de délinquance au Bhoutan. Il convient néanmoins de faire attention aux pickpockets.

Chiens errants

Il convient de se méfier des chiens errants, qui peuvent être agressifs le soir ou le matin s’ils sont en meute. En cas de morsure, se rendre immédiatement à l’hôpital le plus proche pour un traitement antirabique (voir rubrique Santé ).

Recommandations générales

Toutes les activités (randonnées de longue durée notamment) doivent être organisées par un tour-opérateur agréé au Bhoutan.

Il convient d’être prudent quant aux effets de l’altitude sur l’organisme, qui, dans certaines circonstances, peuvent entraîner la mort. Les capacités locales de transport médical d’urgence sont limitées. Plus d’informations à la rubrique Santé.

Full text of the Security pagediplomatie.gouv.fr ↗updated 15.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Swiss passport — FDFA (Switzerland), in French

In brief
  • All tourist travel to Bhutan must be organized and accompanied by an officially registered Bhutanese travel agency.
  • Exercise increased caution in the border region with India due to potential occasional tensions; verify current security with your guide.
  • Roads and paths may become impassable during the monsoon due to rainfall and landslides, and air travel can experience frequent delays.
  • Border crossings may be closed on short notice, for example, to contain disease outbreaks; check with local authorities.
  • Bhutan is in a seismically active zone, and avalanches pose a risk in high mountains during winter and spring.
  • Take altitude sickness symptoms seriously and follow local authorities' instructions in case of natural disasters.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

FDFA update note — Ces conseils pour les voyages ont été publiés avec des modifications marginales. (published 22.05.2026)

General assessment

Les voyages au Bhoutan sont en principe considérés comme sûrs. Dans ce pays comme ailleurs, le risque d’attentats terroristes ne peut être exclu. La rubrique terrorisme et enlèvements attire l'attention sur les risques liés au terrorisme. Terrorisme et enlèvements Les voyages touristiques doivent être organisés et accompagnés par une agence de voyage officielle enregistrée au Bhoutan. L’agence de voyage bhoutanaise fournit les autorisations nécessaires pour les voyages hors de la capitale.

Specific regional risks

La description des zones à risques repose sur des données approximatives; les risques ne peuvent se restreindre à des zones délimitées. Dans la région frontalière avec l'Inde, une prudence accrue est de mise, car des tensions occasionnelles ne peuvent être exclues. Assurez-vous que la situation actuelle en matière de sécurité ait été vérifiée par votre guide. Conformez-vous aux consignes des autorités locales (par ex. couvre-feux).

Crime

Observez les précautions d'usage contre la petite délinquance.

Natural hazards

Le Bhoutan se trouve dans une zone d'activité sismique . Les conditions climatiques sont très variables selon l'altitude. En hiver et au printemps, il existe en haute montagne un danger accru d'avalanches. Les activités de plein air nécessitent donc une préparation minutieuse et un équipement adapté. Assurez-vous que votre guide ait vérifié les conditions météorologiques prévalant dans la zone de trekking. De fortes pluies peuvent provoquer des inondations ainsi que des glissements de terrain et endommager les infrastructures. La circulation peut s’en trouver temporairement perturbée. Il existe un risque d’incendie de forêt à de nombreux endroits. Si une catastrophe naturelle devait se produire durant votre séjour, prenez immédiatement contact avec vos proches et suivez les instructions des autorités locales et de votre guide de voyage. Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management Les symptômes du mal des montagnes devraient être pris au sérieux.

FDFA travel advice, in French, valid on 13.10.2026eda.admin.ch ↗updated 22.05.2026 · read 13.10.2026

British passport — Foreign Office (UK)

In brief
  • British nationals should research destinations and obtain appropriate travel insurance covering their itinerary and emergency expenses.
  • There is a high global threat of terrorism, and British nationals may be targeted; be aware of your surroundings at all times.
  • Keep copies of your passport, visa, and flight ticket separate from the originals when travelling.
  • Respect local customs and traditions, especially by avoiding criticism of the King of Bhutan.
  • Penalties for drug offences are strict, with potential prison sentences ranging from three years to life imprisonment.
  • Foreign vehicles entering Bhutan require a driving licence, insurance, pollution control documents, and an entry permit, plus a daily charge of 4,500 ngultrum.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Warnings — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

  • see general advice for women travellers
  • read our guide on disability and travel abroad
  • see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
  • read about safety for solo and independent travel
  • see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

Safety — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Bhutan

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Bhutan, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Crime

Crime levels are low across Bhutan, but you should take the same precautions as you would at home.

Keep a copy of your passport’s photo page and visa, and your flight ticket separate from the originals when travelling.

Laws and cultural differences

Bhutanese people take their customs and traditions very seriously. Respect them at all times to avoid giving offence. Particularly avoid criticising HM The King of Bhutan. If in doubt, ask your tour guide.

Dress code

Dress respectfully when visiting temples and Dzongs (fortified buildings, like castles), so that you do not cause offence. Your tour guide will be able to advise.

Alcohol laws

Alcohol is legal in Bhutan, but there are restrictions on how much alcohol tourists can buy at one time. Check with the vendor what the limit is.

Smoking and e-cigarette bans

It was illegal to sell or buy tobacco products in Bhutan until 2020. It is currently legal, but smoking is still frowned on. Be mindful of where you smoke – for example smoking near religious locations may cause offence.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

There are strict penalties for possession, use and trafficking of illegal drugs. If convicted, you could get a prison sentence and heavy fine. Sentences range from a minimum of 3 years to a life sentence depending upon the type and quantity of drugs.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in Bhutan in 2020, and there are no censorship laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBT+ topics. Same-sex marriages are not recognised. There is no legal recognition of transgender individuals.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Wildlife, animal products and souvenirs

Environmental conservation is critically important to Bhutan. You could be imprisoned for harming protected species. It is illegal to litter anywhere in Bhutan.

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

You need to use tour guides when visiting places of interest. Otherwise, you may be refused entry.

Mountaineering and hiking

Mountaineering is banned in Bhutan, but there are trekking options across the country at a wide range of altitudes. Take advice from your tour guide.

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in Bhutan, see information on driving abroad .

Car rentals come with a driver. If you want to drive your own vehicle, you must hire a guide to travel with you.

Any car you bring into Bhutan must meet the requirements of the Bhutan Road Safety and Transport Authority . You must have a driving licence, insurance documents, pollution control documents and an entry permit. You will need to pay a daily charge of 4,500 ngultrum. The same fees and rules apply for motorbikes.

For a stay of more than 90 days, apply for a Bhutanese driving licence from the Bhutan Road Safety and Transport Authority. You must show your UK driving licence.

Driving conditions

Car and motorbike accidents are one of the biggest causes of injury and death in Bhutan. If possible, avoid…

American passport — U.S. Department of State

In brief
  • Exercise normal precautions when traveling to Bhutan, as it is generally a safe destination.
  • Be aware that medical services, especially in rural areas, are limited for both routine and emergency procedures.
  • Bhutan is prone to natural disasters including flooding, landslides, wildfires, and earthquakes.
  • Consult the provided Travel Guidance for Bhutan to prepare for a safe journey.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Bhutan - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions 2026-09-03travel.state.gov ↗updated 03.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Advisory summary

Exercise normal precaution in Bhutan .

Bhutan is generally a safe destination for travelers. Medical services for routine and emergency procedures are limited, specifically in rural areas. Read the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information.

Bhutan regularly experiences flooding, landslides, and wildfires. The country is also vulnerable to earthquakes. Review our information on Weather and Natural Disasters in Bhutan.

Review our Travel Guidance for Bhutan to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.

Global Affairs Canada — additional reading

Exercise normal security precautions

Open Government Licence – Canada · September 24, 2026 08:53 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 24.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

In brief
  • Independent travel is prohibited; all travel must be pre-arranged through an authorized travel agency.
  • Possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs carries severe penalties, including jail sentences and heavy fines.
  • Buying or selling tobacco is illegal, and imported tobacco for personal use faces a 200% tax; keep customs receipts to avoid smuggling charges.
  • All personal computers, cellular telephones, cameras, and other electronic devices must be registered upon arrival and checked upon departure.
  • Exporting antiques is strictly prohibited, and harming protected wildlife or littering can lead to imprisonment.
  • Dress conservatively and behave discreetly, especially in religious institutions, to respect local customs and traditions.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Global Affairs Canada — written for Canadian travellers, valid for all

Local laws

You must abide by local laws. Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

Travel

Authorities carefully regulate tourism. You cannot travel independently. You must pre-arrange travel through an authorized travel agency. Tourism Council of Bhutan

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Drugs, alcohol and travel

Tobacco

Buying or selling tobacco in Bhutan is illegal. Smoking is prohibited in public places. Imported tobacco products for personal use are subject to a 200% tax. Keep your customs receipt. You could be charged with smuggling and face imprisonment if you cannot produce it for police.

Electronic devices

Upon arrival, you must register the following electronic devises with Bhutan’s Department of Revenue and Customs:

  • personal computers
  • cellular telephones
  • cameras
  • any other electronic device

Authorities will also check the items when you leave the country.

Antiques

Export of all antiques is strictly prohibited. Authorities strictly reinforce the law. Authorities closely monitor and strictly enforce regulations.

Photography

Photography and filming are not permitted in some areas. Ask your guide before taking pictures or filming inside dzongs, temples, monasteries and other religious institutions.

Dress and behaviour

To avoid offending local sensitivities:

  • dress conservatively, especially in religious institutions
  • behave discreetly
  • respect religious and social traditions
2SLGBTQI+ persons

While sexual acts between individuals of the same sex were decriminalized in early 2021, Bhutan does not legally recognize same-sex unions. 2SLGBTQI+ persons could be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics. Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Bhutan. If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Bhutan by an abducting parent:

  • act as quickly as you can
  • consult a lawyer in Canada and in Bhutan to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
  • report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies. Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

Driving

Traffic drives on the left. It is uncommon for tourists to drive in Bhutan as transportation is offered by the tour operator.

Money

The currency of Bhutan is the ngultrum (BTN). The Indian rupee is also accepted.

Open Government Licence – Canada · September 24, 2026 08:53 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 24.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Foreign Office — laws and cultural differences

Local laws

Bhutanese people take their customs and traditions very seriously. Respect them at all times to avoid giving offence. Particularly avoid criticising HM The King of Bhutan. If in doubt, ask your tour guide.

Dress code

Dress respectfully when visiting temples and Dzongs (fortified buildings, like castles), so that you do not cause offence. Your tour guide will be able to advise.

Alcohol laws

Alcohol is legal in Bhutan, but there are restrictions on how much alcohol tourists can buy at one time. Check with the vendor what the limit is.

Smoking and e-cigarette bans

It was illegal to sell or buy tobacco products in Bhutan until 2020. It is currently legal, but smoking is still frowned on. Be mindful of where you smoke – for example smoking near religious locations may cause offence.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

There are strict penalties for possession, use and trafficking of illegal drugs. If convicted, you could get a prison sentence and heavy fine. Sentences range from a minimum of 3 years to a life sentence depending upon the type and quantity of drugs.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in Bhutan in 2020, and there are no censorship laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBT+ topics. Same-sex marriages are not recognised. There is no legal recognition of transgender individuals. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Wildlife, animal products and souvenirs

Environmental conservation is critically important to Bhutan. You could be imprisoned for harming protected species. It is illegal to litter anywhere in Bhutan.

Open Government Licence v3.0gov.uk ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026

FDFA (Switzerland) — laws and customs, in French

Specific legal provisions

Les produits du tabac ne peuvent être importés qu'en quantité limitée et exclusivement pour la consommation personnelle dans des locaux privés. Ils sont soumis à déclaration et à des droits de douane lors de l'entrée sur le territoire. La preuve d’achat correspondante doit pouvoir être présentée à tout moment, faute de quoi une lourde amende pour contrebande est encourue. Les infractions à la loi sur les stupéfiants, y compris la détention de minimes quantités de drogue quelle qu'elle soit, sont passibles de lourdes peines de prison. Les conditions de détention ne sont pas comparables aux standards suisses.

Cultural specificities

Les rituels et cérémonies religieux marquent la vie quotidienne et publique dans de nombreux endroits. Adaptez votre comportement et votre tenue vestimentaire aux coutumes locales, en particulier lors de la visite de monastères et de châteaux-monastères. Vous trouverez des informations sur les règles de conduite à respecter et les conditions d'accès dans les guides touristiques, auprès de votre agence de voyage ou directement sur place. Veuillez noter que quelques monastères et sites considérés comme sacrés ne sont pas accessibles aux visiteurs étrangers.

FDFA travel advice, in Frencheda.admin.ch ↗updated 22.05.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Air: Good 20/100PM2.5 5.2 µg/m³ · PM10 5.4 µg/m³
UV very high today max 9.6Right now 0.0 · WHO scale 0–11+

What it changes for you: Air acceptable at this hour: nothing special to plan. Very high UV: sunscreen, hat and shade between 11 am and 4 pm; sunstroke and dehydration are travellers' first reasons to see a doctor.

Reading 04:00 (Asia/Thimphu)Open-Meteo ↗updated 14.10.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Air quality and UV: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), data rounded and formatted by Maximum. Contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information 2026. Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use that may be made of the Copernicus information or data it contains.

Physicians per 1,000 people
Bhutan0.6 2022
Switzerland4.5 2022
France3.3 2022
Hospital beds per 1,000 people
Bhutan2.2 2023
Switzerland4.4 2023
France5.7 2022
Health spending per person (USD)
Bhutan162 2023
Switzerland11,784 2023
France5,327 2024
Life expectancy (years)
Bhutan73.3 2024
Switzerland84.4 2024
France83.0 2024

Reading: With 0.6 physicians per 1,000 people (87% fewer than Switzerland), the nearest hospital does not always have the capacity for a serious case: evacuation to an adequate centre is the rule, not the exception — that is what unlimited evacuation and repatriation cover. Health spending of 162 USD per person (Switzerland: 11,784) goes with private hospitals that bill foreigners in hard currency and ask for a guarantee before admission: the direct payment guarantee is what avoids the deposit.

World Bank — latest published value, year per indicatordata.worldbank.org ↗read 10.10.2026

I travel on a passportVisa, passport validity, entry form: the rules depend on your passport. Each government describes them for its own nationals.

French passport — France Diplomatie

In brief
  • French nationals require a visa for Bhutan, applied for at least 15 days in advance through an authorized tour operator.
  • A passport valid for six months beyond the entry date into Bhutan is mandatory.
  • The visa fee is 40 USD, plus a Sustainable Development Fee of 100 USD per day.
  • Entry into India from Bhutan requires an Indian visa obtained before departure, and potentially special permits for Northeast Indian states.
  • Tour operators can be found via the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO).

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Bhoutan

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Formalités d’entrée

Le passeport doit être valable 6 mois à compter de la date d’entrée au Bhoutan.

Les ressortissants français doivent être munis d’un visa pour entrer au Bhoutan. Le Département du tourisme bhoutanais ne délivre pas de visa directement. La demande doit être faite au moins 15 jours avant le départ, par l’intermédiaire d’un des nombreux tour-opérateurs agréés au Bhoutan ou de leur représentant à l’étranger, qui s’occupera de l’ensemble des formalités, y compris le visa et le billet d’avion par Druk Air (compagnie aérienne nationale du Bhoutan) ou par Bhutan Airlines (compagnie privée).

Les tour-opérateurs bhoutanais sont regroupés au sein d’une association : ABTO .

Pour toute information, voir le site du Département du tourisme bhoutanais (en anglais) : Bhutan.travel ou la page Facebook dédiée .

Les frais de visa sont de 40 USD. En complément, les voyageurs étrangers doivent s’acquitter de la taxe (Sustainable Development Fee – SDF) d’un montant de 100 USD par jour (plus d’informations disponibles sur le site Bhutan.travel ).

Autorisations spéciales

En cas de passage de la frontière entre le Bhoutan et l’Inde, le visa indien est obligatoire et doit être demandé avant le départ auprès d’une représentation diplomatique indienne. En outre, le visa permettant d’entrer en Inde ne suffit pas pour accéder à certains États indiens du Nord-Est, pour lesquels une autorisation spéciale est exigée (voir fiche "Conseils aux voyageurs" Inde ).

Si vous prévoyez également de quitter le Bhoutan par l’Inde, vous devez demander un visa à deux entrées pour l’Inde avant votre départ. L’ambassade d’Inde à Thimphou ne délivre pas de visas pour les touristes.

Règlementation douanière

Des renseignements complémentaires peuvent être obtenus auprès de l’Office du tourisme bhoutanais (Tourism Council of Bhutan), dont les coordonnées sont les suivantes : Adresse : P.O. Box 126 - Thimphu, Bhutan Tél. : +975 2 323 251 ou +975 2 323 252 Télécopie : +975 2 323 695 Courrier électronique : info@tourism.gov.bt

Entry and stay pagediplomatie.gouv.fr ↗updated 15.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Swiss passport — FDFA (Switzerland)

The FDFA does not publish entry requirements: they are set out by the destination's embassy or consulate in Switzerland — check them before booking, passport in hand. As a guide, the French and British requirements below describe the same rules as seen by two other governments.eda.admin.ch ↗updated 22.05.2026 · read 13.10.2026

British passport — Foreign Office (UK)

In brief
  • British citizens must ensure their passport is valid for at least six months beyond their planned departure date from Bhutan.
  • A visa is required for entry and exit; it must be applied for in advance and costs 40 US dollars.
  • All adult visitors must pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee of 100 US dollars per night.
  • Visitors may need permits for certain regions, which a tour guide can assist in obtaining.
  • You can enter or exit Bhutan via Paro International Airport or the Phuentsholing land border.
  • You can bring up to 30,000 Bhutanese ngultrum or declare foreign currency exceeding 10,000 US dollars.

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Entry requirements — rules for a British passportForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026

Entry requirements — rules for a British passport

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Bhutan’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Bhutan set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, see the Bhutan government’s visa entry page or contact the Bhutanese Embassy in Brussels .

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Bhutan.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to .

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement . See Dual Citizenship .

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to enter and leave Bhutan.

Applying for a visa

You must apply for your visa in advance. The authorities will pre-approve the visa and issue it when you arrive in Bhutan.

You can arrange a visa through a Bhutanese tour operator, through a Bhutanese hotel or directly through the Department of Immigration’s website . You will need to pay a non-refundable, one-off visa application fee of 40 US dollars.

If you’re travelling for business or other non-tourism reasons, you must arrange your visa through your sponsoring organisation in Bhutan.

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

Make sure the border control officer stamps your visa in your passport.

Permits

You must have permits to travel to some states in Bhutan. Your tour guide will help to get these.

If you want to extend your stay in Bhutan, go to the Department of Immigration in Thimphu to make a request.

Entry and exit points

You can enter or exit Bhutan by air through the international airport in Paro, or by the land entry point in Phuentsholing.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Bhutan guide .

Sustainable development fee

All adult visitors must pay a  daily sustainable development fee ( SDF ) of 100 US dollars per night. There is a lower daily charge for children. Read more information about the SDF .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Bhutan. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

It is illegal to take antiques out of Bhutan. Customs officials may inspect items that appear to be antiques.

Taking tobacco into Bhutan

You can bring a small supply of tobacco for personal use. You will need to pay taxes and duties and be able to show proof of tax and duty payments if the authorities ask you to at any point during your visit.

Taking money into or out of Bhutan

You can take up to 30,000 Bhutan ngultrum into or out of Bhutan.

If you plan to take foreign currency worth 10,000 US dollars or more into or out of Bhutan, you must declare it and get clearance from the Royal Monetary Authority of…

American passport — U.S. Department of State

The State Department publishes the requirements ("Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements") on its country page, which our servers cannot read. Read it before you go; as a guide, the French and British requirements below describe the same rules as seen by two other governments.travel.state.gov ↗updated 03.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Living on site

For each risk, the official texts themselves: what is happening, then, where they say so, what to do.

CrimeLOW

What the texts say · Crime levels are low across Bhutan, but you should take the same precautions as you would at home. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, theft and purse snatching, occurs on occasion, particularly in the capital Thimphu.

What they advise:
  • Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport, are secure at all times.
  • Keep a copy of your passport’s photo page and visa, and your flight ticket separate from the originals when travelling.
Foreign Office · Global Affairs Canada
TransportMODERATE

What the texts say · Car and motorbike accidents are one of the biggest causes of injury and death in Bhutan. Taxis are available in the major cities. They are unreliable and poorly maintained. Drivers tend to hike up the fares as they are unregulated and often not metered.

What they advise:
  • It’s preferable to travel with the transportation arranged by your tour operator.
  • If possible, avoid travelling at night.
  • Negotiate your fare with the driver at the start of the trip.
Foreign Office · Global Affairs Canada
Nature and climateMODERATE

What the texts say · Flooding, including flash flooding, can be caused by many natural events such as monsoon rains and earthquakes.

What they advise: The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Foreign Office
Laws and customsTO KNOW

What the texts say · There are strict penalties for possession, use and trafficking of illegal drugs. Bhutanese people take their customs and traditions very seriously. Respect them at all times to avoid giving offence. Particularly avoid criticising HM The King of Bhutan.

What they advise:
  • If convicted, you could get a prison sentence and heavy fine.
  • Dress respectfully when visiting temples and Dzongs (fortified buildings, like castles), so that you do not cause offence.
Foreign Office

Sentences copied word for word from the official texts cited, chosen for the destination; the level is our reading. The full texts, at each source:Foreign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026 (updated 10.12.2025 · read 27.09.2026)Global Affairs Canada ↗updated 24.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026 (updated 24.09.2026 · read 27.09.2026)

Safety in figures
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people
Bhutan2.5 2020
Switzerland0.6 2023
France1.3 2023
Road traffic deaths per 100,000 people
Bhutan16.2 2019
Switzerland2.2 2019
France5.1 2019

Reading: The homicide rate is 4 times Switzerland's: violence is a real risk there, concentrated in the areas named by the official advisories. On the road, 7 times more deaths than in Switzerland: road crashes are the leading cause of death of healthy travellers (CDC) — seat belt, no night driving, a driver or a taxi from a rank.

World Bank (UNODC for homicides, WHO for roads) — latest published valuedata.worldbank.org ↗read 10.10.2026

—:—Local time · Asia/Thimphu ·
113Local emergency numbers · Police 113 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 110
+975 · DzongkhaDialling code · languages
Schuko, Europlug, BS 546, BS 1363230 V
Drivingon the left

Time zone: IANA and timezone-boundary-builder (ODbL) · RESTCountries · EmergencyNumberAPI · Wikidata · European Central Bank

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Photon search by komoot.

FDFA (Switzerland) — transport and specific advice, in French

Transport and infrastructure

Pendant la mousson , les routes et les chemins peuvent être impraticables en raison de précipitations et glissements de terrain. En matière de transports aériens , il faut s'attendre à des retards fréquents dus aux conditions météorologiques. Les points de passage des frontières peuvent être fermés à court terme, par exemple afin d’endiguer la propagation de maladies. Informez-vous auprès des autorités locales ou directement auprès des postes-frontières.

FDFA travel advice, in Frencheda.admin.ch ↗updated 22.05.2026 · read 13.10.2026

ESSENTIAL

Maximum policyholder: before paying anything, call the 24/7 number. If you are admitted for more than 24 h, Maximum sends its direct payment guarantee to the hospital (art. 2.12).

+41 22 ••• •• •• — Full number in your client area

The three hospitals to know — Thimphu

None of these facilities is a Maximum Insurance “partner”, and none is presented as waiving upfront payment: this list is a reading of public map data, nothing more. A direct payment guarantee is arranged CASE BY CASE by our assistance desk, facility by facility and when the need arises — one number, +41 22 ••• •• ••.

List read from OpenStreetMap on 08.10.2026, not read again since: these facilities may have changed.

41hospitals and clinics31pharmacies6doctorsFull map and list ↗

Before you go

  • Routine vaccinesup to date
  • Hepatitis Arecommended
  • Hepatitis Brecommended
  • Typhoidrecommended
  • Japanese encephalitisdepending on the trip
  • Mpoxdepending on the trip
  • Yellow fevernot recommended

CDC Travelers' Health recommendations, most important first. They depend on your age, vaccines and itinerary: confirm them with a doctor or a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Details, disease by disease ↗cdc.gov ↗read 10.10.2026

On site

DengueMosquitoes bite by day: repellent, long sleeves.
ChikungunyaMosquito-borne: same protection as for dengue.
SunUV very high (10): hat, sunscreen, water.
MedicationIn their box, with the prescription — in English if possible.

The health system — With 0.6 physicians per 1,000 people (87% fewer than Switzerland), the nearest hospital does not always have the capacity for a serious case: evacuation to an adequate centre is the rule, not the exception — that is what unlimited evacuation and repatriation cover. Health spending of 162 USD per person (Switzerland: 11,784) goes with private hospitals that bill foreigners in hard currency and ask for a guarantee before admission: the direct payment guarantee is what avoids the deposit.

Back home — a fever in the following weeks should be told to a doctor, naming the country.

The next 7 days Asia/ThimphuMET Norway ↗read 13.10.2026

Wed 14 Oct9–20°mainly clear
Thu 15 Oct9–19°partly cloudy
Fri 16 Oct8–18°partly cloudy
Sat 17 Oct8–20°partly cloudy
Sun 18 Oct9–19°partly cloudy · 0.1 mm
Mon 19 Oct9–20°partly cloudy · 0.1 mm
Tue 20 Oct9–21°partly cloudy

Forecast: MET Norway (Norwegian Meteorological Institute, CC BY 4.0), grouped by day and formatted by Maximum.

I travel on a passportYour embassy, and the service to register with, depend on your passport.

Your country, 24/7, from abroad

FR
Crisis and Support Centre — French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs+33 1 53 59 11 0024/7 emergency line, standard rate. First contact abroad: the French embassy or consulate.www.diplomatie.gouv.fr ↗updated 15.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026
CH
FDFA Helpline+41 58 465 33 33+41 800 24 7 36524/7, 365 days a year — helpline@eda.admin.ch. Beware of scam calls spoofing these numbers.www.eda.admin.ch ↗updated 22.05.2026 · read 13.10.2026
GB
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office+44 20 7008 500024 hours, for British nationals.www.gov.uk ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026
US
Overseas Citizens Services — U.S. Department of State+1 202 501 4444+1 888 407 4747From abroad; the second number from the U.S. and Canada.travel.state.gov ↗updated 03.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

French passport — French embassy and consulates

Useful contacts listed by France Diplomatie (in French)diplomatie.gouv.fr ↗updated 15.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

Updated: 15 September 2026

OpenStreetMap

Swiss passport — Swiss embassy and consulates

Useful addresses — FDFA, in French

Représentations suisses à l’étranger: En cas de situation d’urgence à l’étranger, vous pouvez vous adresser à la représentation suisse la plus proche ou à la Helpline DFAE. Ambassade de Suisse en Inde Helpline DFAE Représentations étrangères en Suisse: Pour obtenir des informations sur les prescriptions d'entrée (documents d'identité admis, visa, etc.), veuillez-vous adresser aux ambassades et consulats étrangers compétents. Ceux-ci peuvent également vous renseigner sur les dispositions douanières pour l'importation et l'exportation d'animaux et de marchandises: appareils électroniques, souvenirs, médicaments, etc. Représentations étrangères en Suisse Department of Immigration: Bhutan e-Visa Bhutan Travel Visa

OpenStreetMap · DFAE

Police

  • Royal Bhutan Police Traffic Division · 0.2 km
    Chang Zur Lam 83 SE Thimphu
  • Community Police Center · 0.7 km
    Hebi Lam - 8 thimphu
  • center box · 0.9 km
  • Detention Centre · 0.9 km

Town hall

  • Thimphu Thromde Office · 0.4 km
    8 Gongdzin Lam
    +9752336310

OpenStreetMap

Getting help — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 13.10.2026

Getting help — Foreign Office

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Bhutan

Ambulance: 112

Fire: 110

Police: 113

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Help abroad

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.

Help in the UK

You can call  FCDO  in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Useful phrases

No Dzongkha phrases yet: Maximum only publishes established, reviewed translations.

  • Keep the entry stamp, hospital invoices and the medical report. Without them a claim cannot be rebuilt.
  • File it from the claim form, once back, with those papers.
  • The France Diplomatie health page mentions dengue and chikungunya. A fever in the weeks after return should be told to a doctor, naming the country.

Actions to take before each professional trip abroad.

1Once — the framework
2For each departure
3During the mission, and after

What is happening in Bhutan right now

Live alerts and level changes, each with its official source. Continuously updated.

What governments have just written

UpdateGlobal Affairs Canada

The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

September 24, 2026 08:53 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 24.09.2026 · read 13.10.2026

No level change recorded for this country since the log opened. The live alerts above are updated continuously.

⚡ The world feed — every country →

Frequently asked questions — travel insurance Bhutan

24/7 support number — +41 22 ••• •• ••An adviser goes through each question with you until you have an actionable answer: cover, hospital, entry rules, claims. Full number in your client area. You can also ask Maximum directly, just below these questions.
What is the official risk level in Bhutan today?

Level 1/4 — Exercise Normal Precautions, U.S. Department of State, retrieved on 13 October 2026.

  • Is the whole country advised against? United States: no · France: no · United Kingdom: no · Switzerland: no (reading of 27 September 2026).
  • Contractually, only an FDFA, FOPH or WHO advisory against the trip opens Module A (art. 18.1) — that is not the case today.
  • Travel with international medical cover and the 24/7 number (+41 22 ••• •• ••) saved: here the risk is not the advisory, it is the hospital bill.
  • We check these sources every morning and e-mail you the day one changes (Alerts button).

Sourcestravel.state.gov · updated 03.09 · read 13.10France Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 13.10DFAE · updated 22.05 · read 13.10207-country comparison

Is the whole of Bhutan advised against, or only some areas?

An area advised against does not rule out the country.

  • Official answers: United States: no · France: no · United Kingdom: no · Switzerland: no.
  • Keep your country of residence's advisory on booking day and on departure day: that is what your policy's clauses cite.

SourcesFrance Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 13.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 13.10State Department · updated 03.09 · read 13.10

What are the entry requirements for Bhutan with my passport?

The rules depend on the passport, not on the destination alone.

  • French passport (France Diplomatie): French nationals require a visa for Bhutan, applied for at least 15 days in advance through an authorized tour operator. A passport valid for six months beyond the entry date into Bhutan is mandatory. The visa fee is 40 USD, plus a Sustainable Development Fee of 100 USD per day.
  • British passport (Foreign Office): British citizens must ensure their passport is valid for at least six months beyond their planned departure date from Bhutan. A visa is required for entry and exit; it must be applied for in advance and costs 40 US dollars. All adult visitors must pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee of 100 US dollars per night.
  • American passport: the requirements are on the State Department country page (travel.state.gov).
  • Swiss passport: the FDFA refers you to the destination's embassy in Switzerland.
  • Pick your passport at the top of Before you go › Entry: the official text that concerns you comes first, with its “In brief” summary.

SourcesFrance Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 13.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 13.10State Department · updated 03.09 · read 13.10

Do I need an insurance certificate for a Bhutan visa?

For a Schengen visa, yes: at least €30,000 of travel medical insurance (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, art. 15).

  • Many other countries ask for it on entry or for a visa, case by case: check Before you go › Entry, with your passport.
  • Subscribe: the named certificate arrives by e-mail on payment, with your name, dates and limits (CHF 1.5M medical expenses, unlimited evacuation and repatriation) — the ones consulates check.
  • Attach it to the visa file; if in doubt about the format, write to us.

SourcesRegulation (EC) 810/2009, art. 15General conditions, policy 20 00 479

What does Maximum Insurance do in Bhutan, concretely?

VIP Pack — $990 for twelve months, unlimited trips.

  • CHF 1.5M emergency medical expenses, unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation, search and rescue CHF 50,000, cancellation or change CHF 5,000.
  • One 24/7 number, +41 22 ••• •• ••: Maximum sends its direct payment guarantee to the hospital (art. 2.12).
  • Network of 45,000 providers (art. 6.9); evacuation is decided, organised and paid by Maximum's medical team if the local facility is not enough (art. 6.2.2).
  • Around Thimphu, the nearest hospital read from OpenStreetMap: Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital · 0.4 km · +97502338942 · 24/7 emergency room.
  • Named certificate by e-mail on payment, no medical questionnaire.

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479OpenStreetMap · read 13.10

What should I do if hospitalised in Bhutan?

Six steps, in this order.

  • 1. Call +41 22 ••• •• •• before paying anything, or have the front desk call: it is the condition for full cover (otherwise: reduced or refused benefits).
  • 2. Ask for a hospital in the Maximum network (art. 6.9) — the nearest: Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital · 0.4 km · +97502338942 · 24/7 emergency room.
  • 3. See a doctor the same day and leave with the certificate: without an on-the-spot finding, nothing is covered (art. 33).
  • 4. Admitted for more than 24 h? The front desk calls Maximum: direct payment guarantee, no deposit (art. 2.12).
  • 5. Book no ambulance or flight yourself (art. 6.2.2).
  • 6. Once home, file within 30 days (art. 35.7).
  • Local emergency services: police 113 · ambulance 112 · fire 110.

SourcesSpecial conditions 01.26General conditions, policy 20 00 479

Which emergency numbers in Bhutan?

Local emergency services: police 113 · ambulance 112 · fire 110

  • Maximum, 24/7, before any payment: +41 22 ••• •• ••.
  • Save these numbers before leaving; in immediate danger, call local emergency services first, then Maximum.

SourcesEmergencyNumberAPI · Wikidata · read 08.10OpenStreetMap · read 13.10

Is an Amex, Visa or Mastercard enough in Bhutan?

At today's level 1/4, card by card:

  • Amex Platinum — No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
  • Visa — No express area exclusion — but a €156,000 cap, 90 days, and the war/instability exclusion in the background.
  • Mastercard — No exclusion in play at this level — but a €155,000 cap and 90 covered days.
  • Three lines to read in your notice: the duration (often 90 days per trip), the settlement (reimbursement afterwards or direct payment of the hospital) and the area exclusion at level 4/4.

SourcesAmex Platinum France T&Cs, 01.2025 — general exclusion n° 11BNP Paribas Visa Infinite notice (policy PT7), 04.2025 — comFortuneo World Elite Mastercard notice, 01.2026 — art. 5.5 '

Are a health plan or a travel policy enough in Bhutan?

A health plan reimburses at home; here, the hospital asks for a payment guarantee before admission.

  • Health plan — A health plan treats you at home. Here the hospital asks for a guarantee before admission — not a later reimbursement.
  • Travel policy — No area exclusion at this level — compare cap, deductible and covered duration.
  • A travel policy often has a territorial clause at level 4/4 and a 90-day limit per trip.
  • Have your IPID number or the PDF of the terms and ask an expert to call you back: the answer is in the document, not in the brochure.

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479

How do I use the medical network on this page?

Around Thimphu: 41 hospitals and clinics, 37 with a 24/7 emergency room, 31 pharmacies, 6 doctors' practices (OpenStreetMap, hospital list read on 08.10.2026).

  • Type your city, hotel or beach: the map re-centres, 24/7 emergency rooms come first.
  • Each row gives the phone when the source publishes it, the nearest street, directions and the Google Maps listing.
  • The PDF briefing repeats the same places, numbered on a printable map.
  • No customer reviews: OpenStreetMap has none, and we invent none.

SourcesOpenStreetMap (ODbL) · read 13.10

Which vaccines and health precautions for Bhutan?

The sourced detail is under Medical network › Health: vaccines, diseases present, altitude, outbreaks.

  • CDC (Travelers' Health), depending on the trip: Routine vaccines, COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles, Monkeypox.
  • France Diplomatie reports in the country: dengue, chikungunya — mosquito protection day and night.
  • The chosen point is at 2,313 m: altitude sickness is possible in the first days; descend if symptoms worsen.
  • See a doctor or a travel clinic 8 weeks before departure (Foreign Office).
  • Carry your medicines in their packaging, with a prescription using international non-proprietary names (France Diplomatie).

SourcesCDC Travelers' Health · read 10.10France Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 13.10OMS · read 13.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 13.10

Can I be treated in Bhutan, or will I be evacuated?

0.6 physicians per 1,000 people (2022) versus 4.5 in Switzerland.

  • 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people versus 4.4 in Switzerland (World Bank).
  • With 0.6 physicians per 1,000 people (87% fewer than Switzerland), the nearest hospital does not always have the capacity for a serious case: evacuation to an adequate centre is the rule, not the exception — that is what unlimited evacuation and repatriation cover. Health spending of 162 USD per person (Switzerland: 11,784) goes with private hospitals that bill foreigners in hard currency and ask for a guarantee before admission: the direct payment guarantee is what avoids the deposit.
  • When the local facility is not enough, Maximum's medical team decides the evacuation to a suitable centre, and pays for it (art. 6.2.2).

SourcesWorld Bank · read 10.10General conditions, policy 20 00 479

Bhutan: safety, in figures?

2.5 homicides per 100,000 people (2020) versus 0.6 in Switzerland and 1.3 in France.

  • 16.2 road deaths per 100,000 people versus 2.2 in Switzerland (World Bank, WHO).
  • The homicide rate is 4 times Switzerland's: violence is a real risk there, concentrated in the areas named by the official advisories. On the road, 7 times more deaths than in Switzerland: road crashes are the leading cause of death of healthy travellers (CDC) — seat belt, no night driving, a driver or a taxi from a rank.

SourcesWorld Bank (UNODC, WHO) · read 10.10UCDP

Where is my embassy in Bhutan, and why register?

Embassies and consulates are under Before you go › Contacts, sorted by passport.

  • Register before leaving: France: Ariane · Switzerland: Travel Admin · United Kingdom: Foreign Office alerts · United States: STEP.
  • Two minutes, and in a crisis your country's authorities can reach you and count you in an evacuation.
  • Pick your passport at the top of Contacts: your embassy comes first.

SourcesOpenStreetMap · read 13.10DFAE · updated 22.05 · read 13.10

Which regions of Bhutan should I avoid, precisely?

No region is advised against by the official readings checked (Global Affairs Canada, Foreign Office and France Diplomatie): the national advice applies everywhere.

  • Your point (Thimphu): country-wide vigilance.
  • Maximum does not exclude these areas: the VIP Pack covers care and repatriation there (sanctions, embargoes and a country already at war at departure remain enforceable).

SourcesGlobal Affairs Canada · updated 24.09 · read 13.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 13.10France Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 13.10

Which laws and customs should I know in Bhutan?

Local laws apply to every traveller; here is what the official texts say.

  • Independent travel is prohibited; all travel must be pre-arranged through an authorized travel agency.
  • Possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs carries severe penalties, including jail sentences and heavy fines.
  • Buying or selling tobacco is illegal, and imported tobacco for personal use faces a 200% tax; keep customs receipts to avoid smuggling charges.
  • All personal computers, cellular telephones, cameras, and other electronic devices must be registered upon arrival and checked upon departure.
  • Exporting antiques is strictly prohibited, and harming protected wildlife or littering can lead to imprisonment.

SourcesGlobal Affairs Canada · updated 24.09 · read 13.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 13.10

Who can I call at any hour from Bhutan?

Every foreign ministry runs a 24/7 emergency line for its nationals.

  • France — Crisis and Support Centre — French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: +33 1 53 59 11 00. 24/7 emergency line, standard rate. First contact abroad: the French embassy or consulate.
  • Switzerland — FDFA Helpline: +41 58 465 33 33 · +41 800 24 7 365. 24/7, 365 days a year — helpline@eda.admin.ch. Beware of scam calls spoofing these numbers.
  • United Kingdom — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: +44 20 7008 5000. 24 hours, for British nationals.
  • United States — Overseas Citizens Services — U.S. Department of State: +1 202 501 4444 · +1 888 407 4747. From abroad; the second number from the U.S. and Canada.

Sourcesdiplomatie.gouv.fr · updated 15.09 · read 13.10eda.admin.ch · updated 22.05 · read 13.10

What should I keep after leaving Bhutan, and how do I file a claim?

Keep the entry stamp, the invoices, the prescriptions and the medical report.

  • File within 30 days (art. 35.7) from your client area, with the documents; the official forms are pre-filled.
  • Costs advanced on site are reimbursed against receipts.
  • Fever, persistent diarrhoea or a rash in the following weeks? See a doctor and say where you have been — dengue, chikungunya circulate in the country (France Diplomatie).

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479

What does the Pack VIP Extreme add?

Cancellation or change up to CHF 20,000, special risk CHF 5,000 per person, crisis management and security, optional Kidnap & Ransom.

  • Special risk (Module A): political event, attack, epidemic, natural disaster — opens when the FDFA, the FOPH or WHO advise against the trip (art. 18.1).
  • Epidemic: assistance must be requested within 7 days of the WHO or FDFA qualification (art. 36.2).
  • Crisis management and security: trip registration, monitoring, extraction, evacuation in case of riot, war, terrorism or disaster; Kidnap & Ransom subject to eligibility (art. 18.4).
  • $2,290 a year, unlimited trips.

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479

A question not answered here? Ask Maximum below, or call the support number: every question gets a clear, actionable answer.

A question? Maximum answers.Answers built from the Bhutan file and your policy.

In a life-threatening emergency, call local emergency services first, then Maximum: +41 22 ••• •• •• — 24/7 support number, an adviser stays with you to the end.

What Maximum knows

The 207 country pages — hospitals, pharmacies, police, embassies, emergency numbers, official advice from four governments, health, safety in figures, events in progress — read around the city you name. Your policy — benefits, the six steps, claims, articles. The site — prices, certificate, subscription. Nothing else: what it does not know, it says so and hands you to an adviser.

Same advisory level: Canada · Cyprus · South Korea · Croatia · Curaçao · Dominica

Cross-check with official sources
U.S. State Department → UK FCDO → France Diplomatie → DFAE (Suisse) →

The displayed level comes from the State Department, checked every morning. Before departure, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.

The level shown is the official U.S. Department of State level, checked daily. Maximum Insurance is an insurance distributor — general information, not personal advice.

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Go further
Insured in an advised-against country →What a repatriation really costs →Who pays the hospital abroad →Where the United States, France and the United Kingdom disagree →What is duty of care? →An employee is hospitalised abroad: the sequence, seen from the company →

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