Major city · Bhutan
Jakar
Spend 2 days in Jakar to see the dzong, key monasteries and a short trek; add a day for festivals or nearby valleys.
Jakar, the administrative centre of Bumthang, sits at 2,580 m in the Choekor Valley. Its main attractions – Jakar Dzong, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing Monastery and the Bumthang Cultural Trek – are clustered near the bazaar, making a 2‑day stay comfortable. Longer stays are worthwhile for tshechu festivals or trips to Chumey, Tang and Ura.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BTN
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Dec–Feb (very cold, strong winds)
- Airport
- JAR
- Nights
- 2
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 Jakar113 ▾
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 Jakar, 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
- SafetyJakar is generally safe for tourists; main risks are cold evenings, occasional road slips, and respecting religious customs during festivals.
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.
- AirportJAR Bathpalathang Airport (Druk Air flights from Paro, 30 min; weather‑dependent).
- Getting aroundA vehicle is essential; hire a taxi from the main bazaar or arrange a driver with your guide.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (café)Nu 80–150
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi (city ride, up to 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (city ride, up to 3.1 mi (5 km))Nu 500–800
- Budget bedGuesthouse or budget hotel, a night, per personBTN 1,200
- Mid-range bedMid‑range hotel, a night, per personBTN 3,500
- High-end bedMid‑range hotel, a night, per personBTN 5,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget BTN 15,000 · Mid BTN 25,000 · High BTN 40,000
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
- JAR Bathpalathang Airport (Druk Air flights from Paro, 30 min; weather‑dependent)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Feb
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Mar
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jul
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Aug
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Sep
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest May (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Dec (−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C) low), wettest Aug (9 rain days), driest Feb (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Jakar: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
5 rd
Feb
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
4 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
5 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
4 rd
Jun
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Jul
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Aug
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
6 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
5 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
4 rd
Dec
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°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
A vehicle is essential; hire a taxi from the main bazaar or arrange a driver with your guide. Walking between the bazaar, dzong and nearby lhakhangs takes 5–15 min.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Chumey
goDoor to door: ≈1 h
Hire a taxi from Jakar bazaar, about 30 km (19 mi) north; 45 min driveHire a taxi from Jakar bazaar, about 19 mi (30 km) north; 45 min drive
Home of Tharpaling Gompa; altitude 3,600 m.
Tang Valley
goDoor to door: ≈1.5 h
Taxi or guide‑arranged vehicle, 40 km (25 mi) east; 1 h 15 minTaxi or guide‑arranged vehicle, 25 mi (40 km) east; 1 h 15 min
Visit Kunzang Drak retreat and Burning Lake (Membartsho).
Ura
cautionDoor to door: ≈3 h
Guided vehicle, 70 km (43 mi) north‑east; 2 h 30 minGuided vehicle, 43 mi (70 km) north‑east; 2 h 30 min
High‑altitude village; best with extra night.
Duer Hot Springs
goDoor to door: ≈1 h
Taxi to Duer village, 25 km (16 mi) south; 45 minTaxi to Duer village, 16 mi (25 km) south; 45 min
Thermal baths; start of a 3‑day trek.
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.
Hotel Jakar View
Family‑run hotel near the bazaar, views of Jakar Dzong
Mipham Guest House
Double 1,350 Nu / Single 1,250 Nu, river view
Kaila Lodge
Classic style, central location
Wangdicholing Guest House
Rebuilt lodge with valley views
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 12,000–18,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Nu 18,000–28,000 excl. bed
- High
- Nu 30,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid‑range hotel2 × 2 nights × BTN 3,500 | BTN 14,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × BTN 25,000 | BTN 100,000 |
| Domestic flight Paro → Jakar (round‑trip)2 × BTN 15,000 · check | BTN 30,000 |
| Taxi hire for a day (up to 30 km)1 × BTN 3,000 · check | BTN 3,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | BTN 14,700 |
| Trip total≈ BTN 40,400 per person per day, bed included | BTN 161,700 |
Includes breakfast
2026 estimate in BTN; flights and guide fees excluded.
Prices of common things
| Ema datshi (spicy cheese stew) | Nu 150–250 |
| Coffee (café) | Nu 80–150 |
| Taxi (city ride, up to 5 km) | Nu 500–800 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Druk Air flights can be cancelled due to weather; check updates before heading to the airport.
- Winter evenings are below zero; bring warm layers.
- Tshechu festivals are religious events; dress modestly and follow local etiquette.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Ambulance
- 112
- Fire
- 110
Pocket card
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JakarJakar
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
འདི་ལ་འགྲོ་གནང་གནང་གིན།To this address, please
Emergency
- Police113
- Ambulance112
- Fire110
Embassy
US consulate in Thimphu; other nations via Thimphu
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Paro → Jakar (Druk Air): about Nu 12,000–20,000 round‑trip, 30 min (check)
- Taxi bazaar → Jakar Dzong: Nu 500–800, 5 min
Say or show
- དགོངས་གནང་གིན། — Excuse me / Sorry (gong nang gi)
- ཐུགས་རྗེ་ཆེ། — Thank you (thuk je che)
- ག་དེ་ག་ཚོད་རེད། — How much is it? (ga de ga tshod red)
- གྲོགས་བྱེད་ཐབས་ཡོད་གམ། — Can I pay by card? (gro gyed thab yod gam)
- ཁོག་གི་གནས་ཚད་? — Where is the toilet? (khog gi natshed?)
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 Jakar. 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: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Dec–Feb (very cold, strong winds) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Jakar
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