Travel Tips

Baggage limits, tipping, altitude, dress codes and the small courtesies that make a trip go smoothly.

A short list of things that are specific to Bhutan and will save you a difficult day if you know them in advance. <h2>Pack for soft luggage, not suitcases</h2> Light aircraft flying into Paro have shaped cargo holds that rigid wheeled suitcases do not fit. The practical limit is 15&nbsp;kg (33&nbsp;lbs) including your day bag, and it is strictly enforced — an oversized bag goes back. Most operators supply a Unique Bhutan duffel for this reason. If you bring your own, it must be a fabric duffel or holdall, not a hard-shell case, and it must be genuinely soft-sided. <h2>Altitude is the biggest practical variable</h2> Thimphu is at 2,334&nbsp;m and Paro at 1,330&nbsp;m; Phuentsholing is at about 200&nbsp;m. Many itineraries gain and lose altitude dramatically in a single day. Symptoms are common in the first 48 hours above 2,500&nbsp;m: headache, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, nausea. Climb high, sleep low is the principle that works. A day of acclimatisation in Paro or Thimphu before going higher genuinely matters. Hydrate more than you think you need, eat regularly, avoid alcohol on arrival, and do not take sleeping tablets on your first night at altitude. Descend if it is getti.