Major city · Bhutan
Tsimasham
Skip Tsimasham: a fuel and food stop on the Thimphu–Phuentsholing highway, 1–2 h, no beds in town.
Tsimasham is the Chukha district headquarters on the main highway between Thimphu and Phuentsholing. It has a new dzong and little else, so travellers pass through rather than stay.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BTN
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–May
- avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon landslides on the highway)
- Airports
- PBH · PHU
- Nights
- 0
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
Emergency numbers for Tsimasham113 ▾
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 Tsimasham, 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
- SafetyTsimasham is a quiet highway town and the main risks are the road itself: landslides and washouts in the monsoon (Jun–Sep)…
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.
- AirportPBH Paro International Airport (Bhutan's only international airport; about 5–6 h by road via Thimphu).
- Getting aroundTravel by car or bus on the highway; no local transport within town.
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
- PBH Paro International Airport (Bhutan's only international airport; about 5–6 h by road via Thimphu) · PHU Phuentsholing (road border with India) (About 1.5–2 h south; the usual land entry point for Bhutan)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Feb
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Mar
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Apr
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
May
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jun
Avoid
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
Avoid
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Avoid
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Nov
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Dec
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Jul (24 rain days), driest Dec (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Tsimasham: 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
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
3 rd
Feb
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
4 rd
Mar
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Apr
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
May
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
15 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
20 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
24 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
22 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
18 rd
Oct
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Nov
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3 rd
Dec
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
2 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
Travel by car or bus on the highway; no local transport within town.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Phuentsholing
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Car or bus south on the Thimphu–Phuentsholing highway
Border town with hotels, food and the India land crossing; the practical base for this stretch of road.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Car or bus north on the same highway
Capital with the full range of beds, food and services; better base than Tsimasham.
Door to door: About 3–3.5 h
Car via Thimphu, or the highway junction then north
Doable as a long day, but easier as an overnight; the airport is here.
Gedu
skipDoor to door: About 1 h
Car or bus south on the highway
Small roadside settlement; no reason to detour unless you are passing.
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.
None in town
No hotels in Tsimasham; stay in Phuentsholing or Thimphu and pass through.
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
- BTN 1,500–2,500 excl. bed
- Mid
- BTN 2,500–4,500 excl. bed
- High
- BTN 4,500+ excl. bed
Watch out
Safety
- Limited food and fuel; plan a stop before you arrive.
- The dzong is new and lacks historic interiors; only worth a quick photo.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Ambulance
- 112
- Fire
- 110
Pocket card
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TsimashamTsimasham
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
འདི་ལ་སྐོར་བཤད་གནང་གནང་།To this address, please
Emergency
- Police113
- Ambulance112
- Fire110
Embassy
US consulate in Thimphu; other embassies in Kathmandu (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Thimphu → Tsimasham (bus): about BTN 30–40, 1.5 h
- Tsimasham → Phuentsholing (bus): about BTN 40–60, 2 h
Say or show
- དགོངས་དག — Excuse me / Sorry (dgon dag)
- ཐུགས་རྗེ་ཆེ། — Thank you (thug je che)
- གང་ཚད་ཡོད། — How much is it? (gang tshad yod)
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 Tsimasham. 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–Nov, Mar–May · avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon landslides on the highway) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 2 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 Tsimasham
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