Travora
/ Bhutan
The Himalayan kingdom of Gross National Happiness — monasteries and dzongs
Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom nestled in the Himalayas, famous for its fortress-dzongs, the Tiger's Nest monastery and its philosophy of Gross National Happiness. It's a rare, well-preserved destination — but expensive by design: a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per night applies to every stay. For Cameroonians it's an exceptional journey that demands preparation and a substantial budget, but rewards with unmatched cultural immersion.
The visa, step by step
How to apply
The reality: Bhutan has no visa exemption or visa on arrival for Cameroonians. You apply for the e-visa online on the official immigration portal, but you cannot enter independently: accommodation in licensed hotels is mandatory and, in practice, almost everyone books through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator who handles the e-visa, permits and guide (a guide is mandatory outside Thimphu/Paro). The e-visa is only issued after the visa fee and SDF are paid.
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Digital passport copy
- Passport photo
- Confirmed licensed-hotel bookings
- Travel insurance recommended
Good to know
- •The SDF is USD 100/night for 2026, fixed until 31 August 2027 (children 6–11: USD 50/night; under 6: exempt)
- •The SDF is paid in advance with the visa application
- •Bhutan is expensive by design: the SDF alone is ≈ USD 700 for 7 nights, before flights
A one-week budget
Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé
900 000 FCFA–1 680 000 FCFANo direct flights. Paro (PBH) is served only by Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Routing: Douala/Yaoundé → hub (Addis Ababa, Istanbul, Dubai or Doha) → Delhi or Kathmandu → Paro. The Paro segment alone costs ≈ USD 450–500 round-trip. Total time 22–30h+ with connections.
Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.
Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)
Budget simulator
What to do there
Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang)
Bhutan's iconic monastery clinging to a cliff ~3,120m above the Paro valley. A 4–5h round-trip hike with a halfway tea house: the highlight of any trip.
Thimphu, the capital
The giant Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong, the memorial stupa and the weekend market. The world's only capital with no traffic lights.
Punakha valley and dzong
The country's most beautiful dzong, at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, framed by jacarandas in spring. Includes the Punakha suspension bridge.
Dzong tour
Visit Bhutan's fortress-monasteries; Paro's Rinpung Dzong and Punakha Dzong are the finest.
Dochula Pass
A mountain pass (~3,100m) on the Thimphu–Punakha road with 108 memorial chortens and, on clear mornings, a panorama of the eastern Himalayas.
Phobjikha (Gangtey) valley
A glacial valley and conservation area, winter home of the rare black-necked cranes, with the beautiful Gangtey Monastery; great for gentle nature walks.
One week, day by day
- D1
Arrive in Paro, transfer to Thimphu, acclimatize
- D2
Thimphu sightseeing: Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong, markets
- D3
Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula Pass (108 chortens, dzong)
- D4
Punakha valley: suspension bridge, Chimi Lhakhang, village
- D5
Punakha to Paro: return, Paro town and Rinpung Dzong
- D6
Tiger's Nest hike (Paro Taktsang)
- D7
Departure from Paro
Travel checklist
A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.
Travel checklist — Bhoutan
Before you leave
What to pack
Indicative data (June 2026), reliability haute. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.
Already been to Bhutan?
Your feedback helps future travellers plan their trip better. It only takes a few minutes.