Bhutan: A Himalayan Kingdom's Evolving Welcome

Bhutan, a nation long known for its controlled approach to tourism, is embarking on a new chapter. With plans for a new international airport and an ambitious city, the Himalayan kingdom aims to enhance accessibility while maintaining its unique cultural and environmental values.

Bhutan, often described as one of the world's most remote nations, has historically managed its engagement with international visitors through a "High Value, Low Volume" tourism policy. This approach, adopted in 1974, aimed to safeguard its cultural heritage and prevent overtourism.

A New Gateway to the South

For centuries, Bhutan largely remained closed off, only beginning to welcome tourists in the 1970s. Until the pandemic, most international visitors were required to book through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator and pay a Minimum Daily Package Rate. Since 2022, this all-inclusive tariff has been replaced by a $100 (£74) Sustainable Development Fee per adult per night, with other travel costs arranged separately. Despite these changes, Bhutan remains committed to its model of high-value, controlled tourism.

Paro, in western Bhutan, has served as the nation's sole international airport. Its location at 2,243m altitude, surrounded by 5,500m mountains, makes it one of the most challenging airports globally. Landing and takeoff require pilots to navigate entirely by sight, without radar or computer assistance, due to the narrow, winding mountainous valley and the need for multiple sharp turns. Fewer than 50 pilots are qualified to land there, and in 2025, Paro welcomed 88,546 visitors.

However, a significant development is underway in the southern lowland town of Gelephu, near the Indian border. The Gelephu International Airport, planned to open in 2029, has already received the Future Project of the Year award at the 2025 World Architecture Festival. Its design features a latticed timber terminal carved from Bhutanese wood, intended to naturally regulate humidity and evoke the surrounding mountain landscapes. The airport is planned to include spaces for gong baths, yoga, and meditation, with a projected capacity of 123 flights a day. Its primary goal is to serve as a gateway to the ambitious new Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).

Gelephu Mindfulness City: A Vision for the Future

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is envisioned as a special administrative region that blends business-friendly incentives with a focus on sustainability and spirituality. The idea for a major travel and economic hub in Gelephu was conceived over a decade ago, with the pandemic serving as a catalyst for its development. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck hopes GMC will eventually house 1,000,000 Bhutanese and foreign residents by 2060. The city aims to create jobs, attract investors, and draw travellers beyond the familiar western circuit into Bhutan's lesser-visited south.

Dr. Lotay Tshering, Governor of GMC, highlighted the importance of air connectivity, stating, "We must have flights coming in… we must have passengers." Tshering Dolkar, the region's tourism director, added, "We envision [Gelephu] as a stopover [for international visitors]… travellers will opt to fly through Gelephu and spend some days on a jungle safari or in meditation."

Beyond the airport, Gelephu is also set to gain a 69km rail connection to Assam, India, which will form the country's first-ever railway.

Exploring Southern Bhutan's Natural and Spiritual Offerings

The landscape of Gelephu offers a different experience from the monastery-crowned cliffsides and prayer flags often associated with Bhutan. It is described as lush, fragrant, and subtropical, with cardamom and orange groves, farmland threaded with rivers and palms, and hot springs that have attracted Bhutanese for generations.

Two national parks flank Gelephu, including Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan's first national park. This area is a sanctuary for diverse wildlife, including elephants, tigers, rhinos, clouded leopards, golden langurs, and over 360 species of birds, notably half of the world's critically endangered white-bellied heron population. Matthew DeSantis, founder of MyBhutan, described southern Bhutan as "a hidden sanctuary for the natural world" and "one of the wildest places on our planet."

Tourism infrastructure in Gelephu is being developed with spirituality in mind. Buddhist masters are invited to propose retreat centres and temples for GMC, and Bhutan's Central Monastic Body has proposed a dzong (a monastic and administrative fortress) with guest accommodations and spaces for dance and sacred Buddhist study.

For hikers, the newly announced 168km Lotus-Born Trail, planned to open in 2028 near Gelephu, will connect Bhutan's subtropical south to its spiritual heartland. This eight-day journey begins in lowland forests, home to golden langurs and one-horned rhinos, and ascends nearly 3,500m through rhododendron forests to alpine ridgelines in central Bhutan, following the footsteps of Guru Rinpoche, who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan.

Other activities in the south include rafting, birding experiences, and a newly opened tiger trail within Royal Manas National Park. Accommodation options include homestays and eco-camps, with Bhutan's first high-end fly fishing lodge opening in Manas in 2024.

A revitalisation of Gelephu's Old Town is also underway, with a planned culinary project inspired by southern Bhutan's diverse cultures. Travellers can expect thali platters and dal from the Lhotshampa people, alongside dishes like ema datshi (chilli-and-cheese stew). Art-filled streets will feature Bhutanese murals by the artist collective VAST, and a Heritage Village will showcase the country's 13 traditional arts and crafts, from basket weaving to thangka painting.

Historically, southern Bhutan was challenging terrain for settlement due to malaria, monsoons, wild elephants, and tigers. The Duar War in the 1860s, a five-month battle against the British, further ensured the area remained wild.

Planning Your Visit to Bhutan

* **Sustainable Development Fee:** A $100 (£74) Sustainable Development Fee is charged per adult per night, with other travel costs arranged separately.
* **Air Travel:** Paro (PBH) is currently Bhutan's lone international airport, served by Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. The Gelephu International Airport is planned to open in 2029.
* **Getting There:** Travellers from North America and Europe typically require multiple days in transit with layovers in cities like Bangkok, Kathmandu, or Delhi to reach Paro.
* **Itinerary:** Most tourists visiting Paro follow an itinerary to Thimphu, Punakha Valley, Phobjikha Valley, and Bumthang.
* **Southern Bhutan:** The planned Gelephu airport aims to open up the country's biodiverse southern fringes, offering experiences like jungle safaris, meditation, and wildlife viewing in Royal Manas National Park.
* **Activities in the South:** Options include rafting, birding, the tiger trail, and the planned Lotus-Born Trail (opening 2028).
* **Accommodation in the South:** Homestays, eco-camps, and a high-end fly fishing lodge (opened 2024) are available.
* **Cultural Experiences in Gelephu:** Planned revitalisation of Old Town will offer culinary projects, art-filled streets, and a Heritage Village showcasing traditional arts and crafts.