Is Punakha safe? Bhutan travel risk
Is Punakha safe right now? Checked 15 October 2026
Punakha scores 23/100 on our travel risk index (Low). The US State Department rates Bhutan Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 4 Sep 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions. No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Punakha scores 23/100 (Low). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and Bhutan (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Punakha: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km.
Driven by: crime and scams (30/100) and natural hazards (31/100).
A score of 23 is higher than the scores of 12% of the 241 countries we cover.
Consult the Bhutan travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.
Geographic & Regional Coordinates
Geographically located in Punakha (27.5833° N, 89.8583° E), Punakha sits 25.2 km WSW from Thimphu at 1293 m elevation.
Punakha
27.5833° N, 89.8583° E
1293 m
Asia/Thimphu
6,262
Emergency & Aviation Access
Nearby Towns & Settlements in Bhutan
Natural Hazard Calendar & History
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
| Earthquakes (M5.5+) | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Punakha happened in August and October (2 of 2 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
Significant Earthquakes (USGS M5.5+ within 150 km)
1 major seismic event recorded within 150 km over the past 5 years.
- Largest: M5.6 on 7 Jun 2026 (11 km away) — USGS details
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Bhutan travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Bhutan entry requirements.
Evaluated Destinations in this Region
Request detailed assessment for Punakha
Prioritizes this destination in our editorial evaluation pipeline.
Launch Calculator