Bhutan Travel Guide
Culture and Etiquette in Bhutan
How to behave at temples and dzongs, what to wear, when you may take photographs, and a few words of Dzongkha.
Bhutan is a Buddhist country in which religion is part of ordinary life. The dzongs you visit are working monasteries and government offices, and the temples are in daily use. Nobody expects a visitor to know every custom. A little care goes a long way, and your guide will show you the rest.
At temples, monasteries and dzongs
- Take off your shoes before you enter a shrine room, and your hat or cap before you enter the building.
- Wear long sleeves and cover your legs.
- Keep your voice down. People are at prayer.
- Do not take photographs inside.
- Do not touch religious objects, and never sit on a lama's seat.
- Walk clockwise around a chorten, a prayer wall or a prayer wheel, keeping it on your right.
You must be with a guide to enter a dzong or a monument. Most are open from 9am to 5pm.
What to wear
The Department of Tourism's advice is simple: there are no rules about what visitors wear, but at religious sites respectful, smart-casual clothing that covers you from the shoulders to the knees is appreciated. Bhutanese people themselves wear national dress to enter a dzong.
Photographs
Outside, almost anything may be photographed: dzongs from their courtyards, chortens, landscapes, festivals. Inside a temple or shrine room, nothing may. Ask before you photograph a person, and take no for an answer.
Drones are generally not allowed. A permit is needed, and it must be obtained before you arrive.
With people
- Take off your shoes before entering someone's house.
- Take off your hat when you meet an older person.
- Ask before you photograph anyone.
A few words
Dzongkha is the national language, one of nineteen spoken in the country. English is the language of the schools and is widely understood, so you will rarely be stuck. Two phrases are worth learning all the same:
- Kuzu zangpo la: hello
- Kadrin chey la: thank you
Animals and the countryside
Hunting and fishing are illegal in most of Bhutan. The dogs in the streets are strays, not pets: do not feed or stroke them, and keep children away from them. Take your litter with you, on a trail above all.
What you may not take home
Antiques may not leave the country, and some other objects need an export permit. Buy from a shop that gives a receipt, and ask your guide if you are unsure about anything old.
Questions
What should I wear in temples and dzongs?
Clothes that cover you from the shoulders to the knees, and long sleeves and long trousers inside temples. Shoes and hats come off at the door of a shrine room. A light jacket or shirt you can put on over a T-shirt is the easy answer.
Can I take photographs inside temples?
No. Photography is not allowed inside temples and shrine rooms. Courtyards and the outside of buildings are usually fine, and your guide will tell you where the line is at each place.
Ask before photographing people close up. Drones are generally not permitted, and need a permit obtained in advance.
What should I wear at a festival?
Long sleeves and long trousers or a long skirt, as for any visit to a dzong, and no hat once you are inside. Bhutanese people wear their best clothes to a tshechu, so it is a day to dress neatly.
Keep out of the dance ground itself, and ask before photographing anyone close up. On the morning a thongdrel is shown the start is before sunrise, so bring something warm.
Tell us how you like to travel
A few lines are enough: when, how long, and what draws you to Bhutan. We answer with a suggested route and what it would cost.
We reply ["within 24 hours"].