Bhutan SIM Card for Tourists: Prices, eSIM and Where to Buy

By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 18, 2026 · 10 min read

A Bhutan SIM card for tourists is cheap, quick to buy and works in every town and on the main highways. You have two operators to choose from: B-Mobile, run by state-owned Bhutan Telecom, and TashiCell, a private company. Both sell prepaid tourist SIMs and tourist eSIMs, both have counters in the arrivals building at Paro International Airport, and both ask for a passport copy. Bhutan Telecom also lets you book a tourist SIM online before you travel at bookyoursim.bt.bt.

This guide covers current tourist SIM and eSIM prices, where to buy, what to bring, how coverage holds up outside the towns, and whether you need a local SIM at all.

Key Facts at a Glance

Prices are in Bhutanese ngultrum (Nu), which is pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee. Figures come from the operators' own websites as of October 2026.

Tourist SIM Prices in Bhutan (2026)

B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom) tourist SIM and eSIM

Bhutan Telecom lists these plans on its SIM page:

Every B-Mobile tourist SIM stays valid for one month. The plan's data and talk time follow the validity shown above. Without a data plan, data costs Nu 0.0003 per KB, which works out to about Nu 315 per GB, so buy a bundle. Bhutan Telecom's tourist SIM page says a 7% tax applies to all data and voice recharges on tourist SIMs.

TashiCell tourist SIM

TashiCell lists four packages on its tourist SIM page:

TashiCell says the SIM stays active for one month after the package expires, so you can top up. A 5% tax is taken from recharged talk time and from data volume.

A note on airport price lists. The SIM page on the Paro International Airport website shows some different TashiCell packages, including unlimited plans priced in US dollars. We treat the operators' own websites as current, but check the board at the counter.

Which plan should you buy?

Most visitors are in Bhutan for 5 to 10 days on a guided itinerary, and that makes the choice simple:

• Light use (maps, messages, a few photos): Nu 300 for 2 GB over 14 days covers a typical trip.
• Regular use (video calls, uploading photos and video): Nu 500 for 3 GB, plus a top-up if needed.
• Heavy use or working remotely: an unlimited plan, Nu 1,100 for 7 days or Nu 1,900 for 14 days.
• Couples and families: one unlimited SIM shared through the phone's hotspot often costs less than two data plans.

The two operators' prices are almost identical. Pick on coverage for your route (see below) rather than price.

How to Book a Tourist SIM Online Before You Fly

Bhutan Telecom says you can book a B-Mobile tourist SIM online at bookyoursim.bt.bt (source). The site runs on Bhutan Telecom's electronic KYC (know your customer) system, the same digital registration Bhutan Telecom uses in place of paper SIM forms.

Bhutan Telecom does not publish step-by-step instructions for the portal. In practice:

1. Open bookyoursim.bt.bt a few days before you travel. It needs JavaScript, so use a normal phone or desktop browser.
2. Have your passport ready. A passport copy is the only document Bhutan Telecom lists for a tourist SIM.
3. Choose your plan and follow the portal's instructions for payment and collection.
4. If anything is unclear, call Bhutan Telecom on 1600 or message its WhatsApp support.

Booking ahead means less paperwork at the counter after your flight. If you prefer, buying on arrival takes only a few minutes.

Buying a SIM at Paro Airport

Both operators have counters in the arrivals building at Paro International Airport, according to the airport. You can also rent a pocket WiFi device there. Paro is Bhutan's only international airport for most visitors, so this is where most people buy.

What to bring:

• Your passport, or a copy. Bhutan Telecom lists a passport copy as the requirement.
• An unlocked phone. A phone locked to your home carrier will not accept a Bhutanese SIM.
• A way to pay. Ask at the counter which payment methods it accepts. Your guide can help you change money in Paro if needed.

If you miss the airport counters, B-Mobile and TashiCell both have shops in Thimphu and Paro, and Bhutan Telecom sells tourist SIMs at any of its counters or distributors. Recharge vouchers are sold in most small shops.

Tourist eSIM in Bhutan

If your phone supports eSIM, you can skip the plastic SIM.

• B-Mobile lists a Tourist e-SIM 1100 (unlimited data for 7 days) and a Tourist e-SIM 1900 (unlimited data for 14 days) on its SIM page.
• TashiCell offers eSIM and can convert a physical SIM to eSIM. Ask at its Paro airport counter or Thimphu customer care centre.

With an eSIM you keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and texts (watch roaming charges) and use the Bhutanese eSIM for data.

How to check your phone supports eSIM (from Bhutan Telecom):

• iPhone: Settings → General → About. If you see "Digital SIM", "eSIM" or "Add eSIM", it is supported.
• Android: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs. Look for "Add eSIM" or "eSIM".

What about international travel eSIMs?

Several international travel-eSIM apps sell Bhutan data plans that you can install before you leave home. They work on a Bhutanese network, but per-GB prices are usually much higher than local plans. One option is to use a travel eSIM for your arrival day, then switch to a local plan. Check that the app lists coverage for Bhutan before you buy.

Mobile Coverage in Bhutan: Towns, Highways and Treks

Both operators run 2G, 3G and 4G networks, with 5G in parts of Thimphu and Paro. On a standard cultural tour of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Bumthang, you will have signal most of the time.

Where to expect gaps:

• Mountain passes such as Dochula, Pelela and Yotongla can have patchy signal.
• Remote valleys in the east and south have weaker coverage, and speeds slow during busy evening hours.
• High trekking routes have little or no signal. This includes the upper camps of the Jomolhari trek, much of the Snowman Trek and Lunana.

Bhutan Telecom is often described as having the widest coverage outside the towns, which matters on treks and in eastern Bhutan, while TashiCell is fast in towns. Neither operator publishes route-by-route trek coverage, so ask your guide which network works best on your itinerary. On treks, download offline maps before you go, carry a power bank, and tell family to expect a few days with no contact. Our Bhutan trekking guide covers trek planning in more detail.

Do You Need a Bhutan SIM Card at All?

Not always. Your guide carries a local phone and handles bookings and logistics, so a SIM is not essential for safety on a licensed tour. Most international visitors travel with a licensed tour operator and guide (see our Bhutan visa guide for the rules that apply to you).

You probably need a SIM if you want to:

• Use maps, translation or ride apps between hotels
• Send photos or video calls home during the day
• Work remotely or keep up with email
• Stay in touch with travel companions on free time

You can probably manage on hotel WiFi if you stay in 3-star hotels and above in Thimphu, Paro and Punakha, where WiFi in rooms is standard. Budget guesthouses often have WiFi only in the lobby, and farmstays may have none.

Avoid home roaming. Roaming in Bhutan through providers such as AT&T or Vodafone is very expensive compared with a Nu 300 to Nu 1,900 local plan. Turn data roaming off when you land and use a local SIM or WiFi.

Practical Tips for Staying Connected in Bhutan

• Unlock your phone before you leave home. This is the most common reason a SIM does not work.
• Check 1800 MHz support if you want 4G on Bhutan Telecom. Most recent phones support it.
• Download WhatsApp and offline maps before you fly. WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and Gmail all work in Bhutan without a VPN.
• Bring a power bank and a universal adapter. Bhutan runs on 230V/50Hz. Power cuts are occasional, and most hotels have backup generators.
• Keep the support numbers: B-Mobile 1600 and TashiCell 7700.
• Budget for it. A SIM is a small cost next to the Sustainable Development Fee and hotels. Our Bhutan trip cost guide covers the full budget.

Related Planning

• Bhutan visa guide
• How to travel to Bhutan from the USA, Singapore and India
• Bhutan vacation cost
• Understanding Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee
• Flights to Bhutan

Frequently Asked Questions

Can tourists buy a SIM card in Bhutan?

Yes. B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom) and TashiCell both sell prepaid tourist SIMs. You can buy one at their counters in the Paro airport arrivals building, at shops in Thimphu and Paro, or book a B-Mobile tourist SIM online at bookyoursim.bt.bt. You need a passport copy and an unlocked phone.

How much is a tourist SIM card in Bhutan?

B-Mobile tourist SIMs start at Nu 100 (talk time only), and Nu 200 buys 1 GB of data for 7 days. Both operators charge Nu 300 for 2 GB over 14 days, Nu 500 for 3 GB over a month, and Nu 1,100 or Nu 1,900 for unlimited data over 7 or 14 days. Tax is added on recharges.

Does Bhutan have eSIM for tourists?

Yes. Bhutan Telecom lists tourist eSIM plans with unlimited data at Nu 1,100 for 7 days and Nu 1,900 for 14 days. TashiCell also offers eSIM at its counters. Your phone must be unlocked and eSIM-compatible.

Which is better in Bhutan, B-Mobile or TashiCell?

Prices are nearly the same. B-Mobile is often described as having wider coverage outside the towns, which helps on treks and in eastern Bhutan. TashiCell is fast in towns. Ask your guide which network works best on your route.

Is there mobile signal on treks in Bhutan?

Only in places. Lower sections near villages and roads usually have signal, but high passes and upper camps on routes such as the Jomolhari and Snowman treks have little or none. Download offline maps and carry a power bank.

Can I use WhatsApp in Bhutan?

Yes. WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Gmail and video calls work in Bhutan on mobile data and hotel WiFi without a VPN.

Sources

• Bhutan Telecom: SIM: tourist SIM and eSIM plans, prices, validity, documents, 1800 MHz requirement and eSIM compatibility check.
• Bhutan Telecom: Tourist SIM: online booking at bookyoursim.bt.bt, where to buy, pay-per-use data rate and 7% tax.
• Bhutan Telecom: e-KYC: digital SIM registration.
• Bhutan Telecom: Book Your SIM: online tourist SIM booking portal.
• TashiCell: Tourist SIM: packages, prices, validity, 5% tax and support contacts.
• Paro International Airport: SIM card: counter locations, pocket WiFi rental and the airport's own price list.
• oh! Bhutan: Network, SIM Cards and WiFi in Bhutan: June 2026. Coverage by region, TashiCell eSIM and hotel WiFi.
• Byways: Bhutan internet and SIM card guide: operator coverage, travel eSIMs, apps that work without a VPN and roaming.

Planning a trip to Bhutan? Talk to us. We can help with practical details like this and plan an itinerary around your route.