Bhutan has announced a new travel incentive on its Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), which is designed to encourage longer stays that enable guests to explore more of what this diverse kingdom offers. Bhutan’s SDF is currently set at $200 per person, per night for all guests (excluding Indian nationals, who are charged 1,200 rupees per night, per guest and for children aged five years and below). There is a concessionary levy rate of 50 percent for children between the ages of six and 12 years; travelers aged 12 and above pay the full SDF rate.
What you need to know: Bookings made from June 2023 onwards will be eligible for the exclusive SDF incentives for U.S. dollar SDF-paying guests, and are valid for stays in Bhutan through December 31, 2024. Depending on their itinerary, visitors can choose any of the following options:
- 4 + 4: Pay the SDF of $200 per person, per night, for four nights, and receive up to four additional nights without the daily levy
- 7 + 7: Pay the SDF of $200 per person, per night, for seven nights, and receive up to seven additional nights without the daily levy
- 12 + 18: Pay the SDF of $200 per person, per night, for 12 nights, and receive up to 18 additional nights without the daily levy
The same long-stay SDF incentives outlined above can be applied to U.S. dollar SDF-paying children. To determine which option will suit their trip to Bhutan best, visitors can use the calculators available on the Department of Immigration’s website (visit.doi.gov.bt).
This incentive enables guests to stay longer and explore more of the country’s 20 districts, from highland communities to cultural villages and biodiversity hotspots. Availing of this incentive enables nature lovers to venture into the farthest corners of Bhutan’s wilderness to spot some of the world’s rarest birds and mammals; avid trekkers to explore the newly restored Trans Bhutan Trail or the popular Snowman Trek; or the culturally inclined to sample all the flavors, festivals and restorative pace of life in Bhutan’s remote villages.
Visitors can also plant a tree towards Bhutan’s goal of one million new trees, helping to maintain its carbon-negative status and forest cover. Saplings will be provided to guests who wish to plant them during their stay in Bhutan, which will be maintained by the De-suung National Service project.
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