Bring your own smokes

Bhutan is the only country in the world that outright prohibits the sale and production of tobacco, and smoking is also prohibited in public places. Tourists and the Bhutanese elite are permitted to bring in 200 cigarettes, but ask your guide to locate a smoking area. Hotels will accommodate smokers, some local bars and restaurants have indoor smoking areas, and many nightclubs will allow it after dark informally.

Cigarettes imported overland from India (for personal use) are permitted, but are subject to a duty of up to 200 percent. Smuggling tobacco can result in three years in prison, but the black market thrives. Because most Bhutanese cannot afford to go on expensive cigarette runs, local smokers purchase them from 'dealers' at market stalls. Don't expect to do the same: dealers will only sell to people they know. You must bring your own.