Bhutan is located between North-East Indian States (Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh) and Southern China (Tibet). It is a mountainous
country with around 70% forest coverage. Bhutan is 6 hours ahead of GMT, 30 mins ahead of Indian Standard time and 1 hour
after Thailand standard time.
The easiest
way for visitors to enter Bhutan is by air on Druk Air, Bhutan's national carrier and the only airline operating in Bhutan.
Druk Air's fleet consists of two Airbus A319, which are specially designed for Bhutan. Druk Air flies to Paro airport
in Bhutan from Bangkok in Thailand, Delhi and Calcutta in India, Kathmandu in Nepal, and Dhaka in Bangladesh. Latest flight
schedules are available from Druk Air. On clear days the flight into Paro offers spectacular views of the Himalayan
Mountain Range, including Mt. Everest (Jhomo Lungma), Mt. Kanchenjunga (Kangchen dzonga), Chomo Lhari, and Kula Gangri.
One will also notice the green and dense
forest cover as the flight crosses over the international border into Bhutan. The country boasts more than 70% forest cover,
which is one of the highest in the world. Following the exciting flight into Bhutan, our certified guide will meet
you at the airport. From the moment you enter Bhutan, you are an honored guest and you will enjoy the traditional hospitality
and friendship of the Bhutanese. Paro Airport, located with steep mountains is subject to the vagaries of mother nature
and weather conditions. As a result weather does sometimes prevent flights from landing and taking off. Druk Air itself has
an impeccable safety record, without a single mishap since its inception in 1983. We can book your Drukair tickets
as well in advance as purchasing Drukair tickets from outside is sometimes a hassle. We will ensure that you avoid last-minute
rush during peak tourist seasons of Spring and Autumn and that your holiday is not spoilt just because you did not get a ticket.
However, we charge a service fee of Nu 1,000 for every ticket (approximately US$ 20) for assisting with Drukair tickets. Once
your tour is confirmed we will send the e-ticket(s) to you. To expedite this procedure, it is essential that you send us all
information detailed below immediately so that the visa application can be made. The tickets cannot be issued until the visa
is approved - and this process takes 10 to 14 days.
Tourist Visas
Visas to visit Bhutan are not issued by Bhutanese embassies abroad. Visas are issued only when you arrive in the country,
either at Paro airport or (if by road) at Phuentsholing. You must apply in advance. You can either fill in the visa application
form using Adobe Acrobat, fill it out and email with all information filled and form duly signed. We will take care the rest:
Important information required for visa application are:
Double check that the information is correct. If there are discrepancies in
any important numbers when you arrive in Bhutan, there are delays and complications in issuing the visa. After the visa clearance
is issued by the Department of Immigration, they send a visa confirmation number to Druk Air and a copy to us. The
actual visa endorsement is stamped on your passport when you arrive at Paro International Airport. You will then receive a
visa for the period you have arranged to be in Bhutan. We will process visa extensions for you if they become necessary.
Tariff
The normal rate for travel in Bhutan is US$200 per
day. The following surcharges are applied for small groups:
The daily rate may sound
high at first, but remember that this includes your accommodation, all food, guide, and transportation within Bhutan.
Payment Methods
Government regulations require that the 100% invoiced tour
payments are deposited before the visa can be processed. The Tourism Council of Bhutan receives your payment (not us)
and as a result your payment is 100% secure. Once the payment is received, the Tourism Council issues authorization to us
to process your visa, which we will apply and acquire from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Should your visa(s) be rejected
by the MoFA, the Council is informed and your payment is immediately refunded. But this rarely happens once a tourist has
made the payment.
Tourism Council
of Bhutan regulates all tourism related activities in Bhutan including regulating the daily tariff rates. Thirty-five percent
of the daily tariff goes directly to the national treasury. These funds are used by the government for the socioeconomic development
of Bhutan, and hospitals, schools, and roads are built and maintained with the income. The Tourism Council has released a
travel information website at www.tourism.gov.bt detailing their role and the regulations by which we and all other travel agencies are governed.
Peak Seasons
The Spring and Autumn months are the peak season. Spring is from April through June and Autumn from September
through November. There are many festivals during these periods, and visitors come to take advantage both of the pleasant climate and the festivals. However, Bhutan
has limited tourism infrastructure and during peak seasons facilities are packed. For more private visits, off-peak seasons
are recommended. We can also offer attractive discounts for off-season visits.
Accommodation
In the major towns such as Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing there are comfortable hotels
but in smaller towns, modest but still comfortable hotels are available. We will ensure that the best available accommodations
are arranged for you. More information is available from the Tourism Council of Bhutan, which regulates hotel standards and
all travel regulations in Bhutan. Accommodations in approved hotels are included in the daily tariff rates.
We also arrange luxury hotels and resorts
that range from 250-1,300 US dollars per night and these hotels come with additional daily charges according to the hotel
rates.
Food and Drink
Traditional Bhutanese food is hot and spicy.
For our visitors, however, Chinese, Indian, and Continental fares are also served. The more adventurous can try hot Bhutanese
dishes. For visitors on treks, we serve simple but nutritious and tasty dishes. Meals are normally served buffet style in
the hotels. Your tour cost includes all meals.Your only extra expenses should be imported liquor, laundry, souvenirs
and optional tips to the guide and driver.
Transport
We
use comfortable and safe Toyota vans and cars to transport our guests. All local transport is covered by the daily tariff.
Guides
You will be accompanied throughout the time in Bhutan by
a certified English-speaking guide and have a vehicle and driver at your disposal at all times.All of our guides are trained
in programs conducted by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) and licensed by the Government. Our trekking staff undergoes
an additional mountain guide training, including safety and first aid instruction, also offered by TCB. TCB has received assistance
from the Austrian Government in the form of trainers and funds to establish the training programs. The cost of the guides
and drivers is covered by your daily tariff. Tipping is permitted at your own discretion.
What to Bring
There is a 20 kg (44 lb) weight limit (30 kg or 66 lb in business class)
on Druk Air. You should hold yourself to this allowance. Even if you pay for excess baggage, it still travels standby and
may be offloaded. As with all travel, the less you carry the easier it is to move about and the less there is to misplace.
Casual clothes are fine, but you would also do well to have a set of dress-up clothes (jacket and tie for men, dresses for
women) for festivals or in the likely event that you are invited to a Bhutanese home or social function. Thimphu and other
towns in Bhutan have a small-town atmosphere, and you might easily find yourself in the company of a high government official.
If you have scheduled your trip around a festival, you definitely should carry a set of dressy clothing. Bhutanese people
dress quite formally, and dirty jeans don't fit in on such occasions. Even in the summer, it can be cool in Paro and
Thimphu, and it's downright cold in winter. Days can be quite warm, especially in the lower regions such as Punakha and Phuentsholing,
and you could start off driving in the cold of dawn and be uncomfortably warm by mid-morning. Use a layering system, starting
with thermal underwear and adding a shirt, pile jacket and windbreaker or parka as necessary.
If you are not trekking, you will need: Underwear (including
thermals for cold weather) Swimming costume (for the hotel swimming pool in Punakha) Cotton trousers Cotton skirt for women
Pile jacket or sweater - even in summer Down jacket - in winter; not needed in summer T shirts or short sleeved (not sleeveless)
cotton shirts, sneakers or walking shoes and socks Sandals or flip flops Rain jacket - Gore-Tex if you can afford it, otherwise
a poncho or nylon jacket. Dress-up clothes for festivals Sun hat All hotels provide sheets, blankets or quilt, and a pillow.
If you are trekking, you won't need
to carry bedding or a sleeping bag. Most hotels also provide some sort of heating in winter, either an electric heater or
a wood stove. The heating, plus the pile of blankets on your bed, should keep you warm. You will be outside a lot, and much
of this time is at altitudes above 2,500 m (7,800 ft); so there is plenty of sun and wind. Bring a supply of sun cream and
some lip protection, such as Blistex; these items are not available in Bhutan.
Essential Extras
There are several things that you should carry to make a trip to Bhutan more comfortable.
All of the following items are essential:
Pack a folding umbrella; especially
if traveling during the monsoons. Rain is possible any time, and is almost certain from June through August.
Carry ear plugs (and spares) to reduce
the noise from the barking dogs at night. The Bhutanese are Buddhists and do not euthanize stray dogs.
Carry a torch (flashlight) if you can,
as power outage is not impossible in remoter parts of the country.
Optional Extras
Pair of sunglasses (as protection from high altitude glare)
A Swiss army knife has many uses, such as cutting cheese and opening bottles.
A small clock with an alarm to help you wake up,
because not all hotel rooms have telephones.
If you are on a cultural tour bring a hard suitcase, though a soft bag is more versatile and easier
to pack into the luggage space of a vehicle.
A small rucksack or waist pack to carry your camera, water bottle and other essentials in the vehicle
and when you are walking around town or visiting monuments.
Bon Voyage and see you soon !!!
