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Bhutan with kids

Travelling with kids in Bhutan isn't going to be a walk in the park, but it's certainly an experience worth considering. Lighting lamps at the local monastery; archery lessons in Paro; meeting friendly yaks, and the natural beauty of national parks such as Jigme Dorgi National Park: whatever your little ones are into, here's how you instigate first steps.

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Travelling in Bhutan with kids

A holiday that swaps a kids club for an entirely new culture can be one of the most enriching travel experiences for you and your children.

The main problem with travelling in Bhutan with kids is the expense associated with it; children below the age of five are free, but children aged between five and 12 still pay 50% of the daily entry fee ($100-$125 per day). If you compare that to a family walking holiday in neighbouring Nepal then it’s pretty pricey, but if you compare it to a family safari holiday in Africa, for example, it looks more reasonable.

If you’re prepared for heat, hiking and the odd food standoff then Bhutan with kids is an endless adventure. If your kids are afraid of the unknown however, you might want to put Bhutan in reserve for when they’re a little older.

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Things to do in Bhutan with kids

Visit the past

In Paro, Thimphu and even the smaller town of Trongsa, there are brilliant museums that don’t fulfill the old-fashioned image of being rather dull. Paro’s museum has some phenomenal depictions of ancient and cultural Bhutan from stuffed animals and birds, to traditional dresses, implements of war, spears and masks - touhy-feely things that kids like and that really engage their imaginations.

Witness amazing creativity

Tiny minds will be blown by the sheer amount of creativity going on at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, a school that teaches students painting, woodcarving, embroidery and statue making across 13 traditional disciplines. Watch their mouths drop as they see things created in front of them that they have never seen before while you get some of the best pictures of your trip.

Discover nature

The Bhutanese encourage the stretching of little legs by making their National Parks extremely accessible. Jigme Dorgi National Park is packed with bright flowers, trees, birds and animals – in fact it’s the only park in Bhutan where the national animal (takin), flower (blue poppy), bird (raven) and tree (cypress) exist together, so you and your little people can while away a day in search of the elusive snow leopard.

For help with family Bhutan Holidays contact us

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Bhutan or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Tips for families

Rajat Kumar from our supplier, ExplorIndya shares his advice on shorter Bhutan treks for kids: “There are short nature walks of one or two hours available to families with young children that keep everyone occupied because the landscape is so dramatic. One shorter hike is the Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest, Monastery, which clings to the edge of a cliff on a very small ledge of rock, and is actually very large although it looks tiny from a distance. There is a steeper, more challenging route for those that feel fit enough to take it on, but there is also a slightly longer route where younger visitors can get up to the incredible views on horseback. It isn’t unattainable and is engaging and lots of fun for children, plus there are plenty of places along the way to stop, have a drink of water, and admire the magnificent views of the Paro Valley.”

Ralph Foulds from our supplier, Uncover the World, shares his advice on fun activities for kids in Bhutan: “There are quite a lot of activities that you can do in Bhutan with children aged 6 and upwards and the types of families that travel to Bhutan are generally types that love to explore and get stuck in. Besides archery, which is probably a bit tricky for smaller hands, the other local sport is darts, but it’s played with bigger darts with no sharp ends exposed, which are then thrown at boards and other targets. This can be played all over the country in towns and villages and can be arranged for families through guides. You can light lamps in most of the temples during the evening - certainly at Bumthang – which can be organised through your guide and you can go and have a splash around in the Po Chu River at Punakha, which is great fun for kids.”

More about Bhutan

Bhutan travel guide

We've packed almost as much into our Bhutan travel guide as the country itself and all you have to do to unlock the secrets of the dzongs, the Dagala Thousand Lakes and the colourful Buddhist festivals is read on and prepare for peace and a whole lot more besides.

Best time to visit Bhutan

Check out our temperature and rainfall chart that gives some indication as to the best time to visit Bhutan as well as a handy month by month guide and expert recommendations from our friends on the ground.

Bhutan itineraries

Make the most of your time in Bhutan by reading our handy highlights map and by initiating an itinerary that encapsulates all of the country's best bits from Bumthang, close to the northern borders with Tibet, to Takung Valley, in central Bhutan.

Things to do in Bhutan

Bhutan is quite rightly regarded as hiking heaven however, if you're looking for more things to do in Bhutan then read on as we can help you untangle your Zen from your dzongs and your tshechus as you put your best foot forwards and enter one of the world's leading biodiversity hot spots.

Buddhism in Bhutan

Tours of Bhutan will inevitably feature Buddhism and monks which is why this article sets out to explain some of the principles of Buddhism in Bhutan and the etiquette associated with visiting a monastery, dzong, temple or meeting monks in Bhutan.

Combining Bhutan with other countries

Holidays in Bhutan are one thing but why not fly over the Himalayas to visit Nepal, Tibet or India as part of the same trip? Find out more about how you can incorporate three of South Asia's most fascinating countries in one amazing trip to Bhutan.

Festivals in Bhutan

Experiencing a Buddhist festival in Bhutan is the best way to understand the meaning and symbolism that features throughout an event that can last anything up to four days.

Druk Path Trek, Bhutan

Soaring Himalayan scenery, local life and beautiful cultural sites, all compactly contained within a short and spectacular route – the Druk Path is one of Bhutan’s best and most accessible trails.

LGBT holidays in Bhutan

Bhutan’s main issue with homosexuality seems to be that it is ‘non Bhutanese’. But times are changing, lamas and politicians are calling for acceptance, and anyone taking an LGBT holiday in Bhutan should not face discrimination or harassment.

Bhutan travel advice

Find out what Rajat Kumar, Sunita Subba and Ralph Foulds have to say when it comes to Bhutan travel advice because between them they've been there, done that and got the yak hair t-shirt.

Responsible tourism in Bhutan

If you're hoping to travel right and learn more about responsible tourism in Bhutan then we've compiled the following information and practical tips to help you learn how to travel like a local and ensure your experience is beneficial for both yourself and Bhutan, as a whole.

More relevant guides

Written by Polly Humphris

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Jonathan Choe] [Intro: Kandukuru Nagarjun] [Visit the past: Bernard Gagnon] [Witness amazing creativity: Stefan Krasowski] [Discover nature: A. J. T. Johnsingh, WWF-India and NCF] [Ralph Foulds advice: Zachary Collier]

Bhutan with kids