Major city · Bhutan
Gelephu
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Gelephu: see the monasteries and market, then head to nearby Royal Manas park or Tsachu hot springs.
Gelephu is a spacious border town in central Bhutan with a modest market, several small monasteries and easy access to wildlife and hot‑spring sites. Most travellers can cover the highlights in a half‑day, adding a second half‑day if they wish to visit Royal Manas National Park or the Tsachu hot springs.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BTN
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (dry, cooler)
- avoid May–Sep (monsoon, road disruptions)
- Airport
- GLU
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Bhutan ↗Sustainable Development Fee: USD 100 per adult per night for international visitors until 31 Aug 2027 (children 6–11 half rate, under 6 free); Indian nationals pay in rupees at a lower rate. Confirm the current rate on the official tourism site before booking.
- Bhutan ↗Visa: apply through the official Bhutan tourism visa system, cleared before you board; plan the trip through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
- Bhutan ↗Paro is Bhutan's only international airport: approaches are visual, flights run in daylight only, and cloud or wind cancels them; keep a spare day at both ends.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Gelephu113 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Gelephu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkNgultrum (BTN) is pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee; rupees are widely accepted but check which notes.Bhutan-wide
- SIM or eSIMB-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom) and TashiCell sell tourist SIMs in Paro and Thimphu with your passport; your guide can help.Bhutan-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; hotels provide bottled or filtered water.Bhutan-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Not expected; round up.Bhutan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets D/F/G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Bhutan-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe; stay aware of traffic when crossing roads and keep valuables secured in busy market areas.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in certified hotels and restaurants; squat toilets at some roadside stops.Bhutan-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 112 ambulance · 110 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany dzongs close their shrine rooms during festivals and some ceremonies; government offices close on Saturday afternoons and Sunday…Bhutan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportGLU Gelephu Domestic Airport (Small airport; Druk Air flights to Kolkata and Paro (Mon‑Fri, 2026).).
- Getting aroundTown centre is walkable; taxis or rented bikes needed for suburbs and nearby attractions.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (café)Nu 150–300
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi) within town)Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km) within town)Nu 300–500
- Budget bedBudget hotel bed, a night, per personBTN 1,500
- Mid-range bedMid‑range double room, a night, per roomBTN 5,000
- High-end bedMid‑range double room, a night, per roomBTN 8,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget BTN 2,500 · Mid BTN 4,000 · High BTN 7,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GLU Gelephu Domestic Airport (Small airport; Druk Air flights to Kolkata and Paro (Mon‑Fri, 2026).)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Apr
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Dec
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: May–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest May (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C) low), wettest Jul (16 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Gelephu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
5 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5 rd
Mar
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Nov
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6 rd
Dec
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Town centre is walkable; taxis or rented bikes needed for suburbs and nearby attractions.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Royal Manas National Park
goDoor to door: ≈1 h total
Taxi or hired vehicle, about 30 km (19 mi) westTaxi or hired vehicle, about 19 mi (30 km) west
Wildlife spotting; best in early morning.
Tsachu hot springs
goDoor to door: ≈30 min total
Taxi, 15 km (9.3 mi) southTaxi, 9.3 mi (15 km) south
Mixed‑gender communal baths; wear swimwear.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
ADD Inn
Budget walk‑in hotel in Pelrithang, central location.
Hotel 8 Jordan
Mid‑range, a few minutes walk from town centre.
The Kuku Grand Hotel
3‑star, central, restaurant and bar.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Nu 2,500–4,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Nu 4,000–7,000 excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid‑range double room1 × 1 night × BTN 5,000 | BTN 5,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × BTN 4,000 | BTN 8,000 |
| Taxi to Royal Manas (round trip)2 × BTN 2,500 · check | BTN 5,000 |
| eSIM data (7 days)2 × BTN 3,500 · check | BTN 7,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | BTN 2,500 |
| Trip total≈ BTN 13,750 per person per day, bed included | BTN 27,500 |
2026 estimate in BTN; flights, permits and guide fees excluded.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (café) | Nu 150–300 |
| Meal at South Indian Hotel | Nu 200–400 |
| Taxi (5 km within town) | Nu 300–500 |
| Bottle of local orange | Nu 50–80 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Border town: Indian nationals may cross freely, other nationals need special permission (check with immigration).
- Roads to Royal Manas can be muddy during monsoon; allow extra travel time.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Ambulance
- 112
- Fire
- 110
Pocket card
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GelephuGelephu
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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གནས་ཡིག་འདི་ལ་ཕེབས་གནང་གནང་།To this address, please
Emergency
- Police113
- Ambulance112
- Fire110
Embassy
US consular services are in Thimphu; other nations use the Thimphu embassy.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Gelephu Airport → town centre (taxi): ≈ Nu 300–500, 10 min (check)
- Taxi to Royal Manas (round trip): ≈ Nu 2,000–3,000, 1 h total (check)
Say or show
- དགོངས་གནང་གནང་། — Excuse me / Sorry (dgon nang nang)
- ཐུགས་རྗེ་ཆེ། — Thank you (thug je che)
- ག་ཚད་ཡོད། — How much is this? (ga tshad yod)
- གནམ་གྲོགས་གནང་གི་ས་ཆོག་ག་རེད། — Where is the bus stop? (gnam grok nang gi sa chok ga red)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gelephu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr (dry, cooler) · avoid May–Sep (monsoon, road disruptions) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add detailed walking routes for monastery cluster.
- Link to guide for Royal Manas day‑trip permits.
Sources
Ask about Gelephu
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