Touring Destinations
Planning a Motorcycle Trip in Bhutan: Fees, Guides and the Mountain Roads
Plan a Bhutan motorcycle trip: the US$100 daily SDF, mandatory guides, rules for bringing your own bike, the best months and the high passes.
A Bhutan motorcycle trip is possible, but it is a guided trip by law and a costly one. Every visitor must be accompanied by a guide at all times. Most nationalities also pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of US$100 per adult per day on top of a US$40 visa fee. The government has set that rate until 31 August 2027. Plan the ride for spring or autumn, outside the monsoon.
Part of our motorcycle touring destinations series.
Key takeaways- Guide: mandatory at all times, including for riders entering by land who go beyond the border towns.- Fees: US$100 SDF per adult per day plus a one-off US$40 visa fee for most nationalities; Indian nationals pay 1,200 INR.- Your own bike: Nu. 4,500 per vehicle per day, plus RSTA paperwork and the guide.- Bhutan's tourism department says self-drive vehicle hire isn't available in the country.- Traffic keeps to the left.
Can you ride a motorcycle in Bhutan?
Yes, in two ways. Each comes with a guide.
The Department of Tourism FAQ does not say whether a US or other non-Indian licence is accepted for riding your own bike, or how tour operators supply motorcycles. Ask the operator and Bhutan's hosts team before you pay a deposit. Most results for this search are guided tour operators, and our guide to choosing a motorcycle adventure tour lists the questions to ask them.
| Way to ride | What the Department of Tourism says | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Your own motorcycle | Nu. 4,500 per vehicle per day; the vehicle must meet Road Safety and Transport Authority requirements; you need a valid licence, insurance, pollution control papers and an entry permit; a guide is mandatory at extra cost | Riders arriving overland from India; a valid Indian licence is accepted for self-driving |
| A tour with a bike supplied | Self-drive vehicle hire is not possible in Bhutan; visitors normally use a vehicle and driver from a rental company or tour operator | Riders flying in |
What a Bhutan motorcycle trip costs in fees
Fees are fixed per day, so trip length drives the cost.
On those figures alone, a 10-day trip means US$1,000 in SDF per adult before the visa, guide, bike, fuel or rooms. That is our arithmetic, not a quote. Tourists who stay within the border towns of Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar for up to 24 hours pay no SDF, a waiver running until August 2027.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Development Fee | US$100 per adult per day; children have concessions | Most nationalities, until 31 August 2027 |
| Visa fee | US$40, one-off, non-refundable | Everyone needing a visa |
| Permit SDF | 1,200 INR | Indian nationals |
| Own vehicle | Nu. 4,500 per vehicle per day | Riders bringing a bike |
| Guide | Extra charge, amount not published in the FAQ | All visitors |
Visa and entry
Everyone except visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives needs a visa before travelling. You apply online through the Department of Tourism's visa page, pay the SDF for your planned stay, and the application is reviewed within five working days. Indian nationals apply for a permit instead.
Since Bhutan reopened on 23 September 2022, you can book every part of the trip yourself; a tour operator is recommended but not required. Travel insurance stopped being mandatory on 23 April 2024, but it is strongly recommended. Check that your policy covers motorcycle riding at altitude.
Flying in, you land at Paro or Gelephu, Bhutan's two international airports. Riders bringing a bike from India come in by land through the border towns.
When to ride Bhutan
Bhutan's tourism department describes four seasons:
For a motorcycle, spring and autumn are the safer bets. Both passes listed below sit above 3,000 m, so winter snow there matters.
| Season | Months | For riders |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March to May | Before the monsoon |
| Summer | June to August | Monsoon from late June or July to late September, mostly in the south |
| Autumn | September to November | Bright, sunny days after the rains; some early snow up high |
| Winter | December to February | Clear and sunny, but frost is widespread and snow is common above 3,000 m (9,800 ft) |
The main road and its passes
Bhutan's backbone for a ride is the Lateral Road, the East-West Highway from Phuentsholing to Trashigang. A reference source gives 713 km (443 mi) as of 2017, or 636 km by Google Maps, with bypasses under construction. Treat any distance as approximate and plan short days.
Bhutan drives on the left, which takes practice on mountain bends if you ride on the right at home. We have no sourced figures on road surfaces or roadworks. Ask your operator about current conditions.
| Pass | Elevation | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dochu La | 3,100 m (10,200 ft) | Thimphu to Punakha |
| Pele La | 3,420 m (11,220 ft) | Central Bhutan |
What to wear in Bhutan
Pack for heat in the south and frost on the passes in the same trip. Bring a rain layer for the monsoon months, warm gloves and a mid-layer for the passes, and sturdy boots for wet, rough ground. Leather Collection's motorcycle boots include touring and ankle styles in hand-stitched cowhide, made to order. Our motorcycle trip packing list covers the rest.
Other Himalayan rides to compare
Bhutan pairs with a ride in India. See planning a motorcycle trip in India, planning a motorcycle trip to Ladakh and planning a motorcycle trip in Nepal.
FAQ
Can we travel to Bhutan by bike?
Yes. You can bring your own motorcycle for Nu. 4,500 per day with the right papers, and a guide is mandatory. A valid Indian licence is accepted for self-driving.
Do we have to pay $1,200 per day in Bhutan?
No. The SDF is US$100 per adult per day for most nationalities. The 1,200 figure is the Indian nationals' permit SDF, in rupees, not dollars.
What's the best month to visit Bhutan?
For riding, spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November). Those months avoid the monsoon, which runs from late June or July to late September.
margumi Editorial Team
margumi articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.