Tour Escorts
It is mandatory to have a tour escort when traveling within Bhutan. All Bhutan Himalayan Tours and Trek tours are escorted by me. I am a well trained, knowledgeable guide, Certified by the Tourism Authority of Bhutan.
Tourism has been strictly limited in Bhutan so that traditional culture can be preserved and nurtured. The Bhutanese are highly religious people and therefore it is important to show respect and understanding for local customs and ways of life especially while visiting religious institutions.
Insurance
In order to protect the unforeseen accidents and mishaps, I strongly recommend you to have a Travel insurance policy from your country. The insurance policy should adequately cover helicopter evacuation and medical assistance. Unfortunately these types of policies are not available in Bhutan.
Money
Tourists are advised to carry their money in the form of travelers checks (preferably American Express) with a little cash (US Dollars), which might be needed for incidental expenses. Visa and American Express credit cards are accepted in a few places but have limited use. Euro, US Dollars, Pound Sterling, Swiss Francs, Singapore Dollar, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen traveler’s checks can be exchanged at banks and most of the hotels within the country.
Clothing
Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold, layered clothing is better than a few thick items, so choose your clothes accordingly.
Clothes should preferably be made from natural materials, which allow the body to breathe better. You WILL be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes. Although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, we would advise women to wear skirts or loose trousers. During visits to monasteries, Dzong and other religious institutions you should not wear shorts or hats.
What to Pack
The following is a fairly exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip:
- Clothes as per season
- Sunglasses/spare glasses or contact lenses
- Sun screen and preparation for relief from sun burn
- Pair of casual shoes
- Ear plugs
- Person toiletries
- Hat
- Umbrella
- Camera, film, batteries, SD card assorted accessories
- Personal first-aid-kit
- Binoculars
- Flashlight
- Hand sanitizer
- Bug repellant
Health Information
No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However if you are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to have a yellow fever vaccination which should be administered at least 10 days before your arrival in Bhutan. Also if arriving from a Cholera infected area, the vaccination is strongly recommended. Anti-malarial medication is also recommended for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the districts that border India.
This is a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention targeting health information for travelers to countries in South Asia - http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm
Food
Traditional Bhutanese food is very hot and spicy. The food given to tourists is tempered to western taste and even includes some western dishes. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan has imported the knowledge of some European hotel experts to improve the quality of food and beverages in the hotels. This has worked and the quality and quantity of food served is remarkably good. Evening meals are invariably buffet style and served in the dining rooms of the hotels. Lunches are often pre packed from the last hotel and eaten on the road. Bhutan adheres to strict environmental policies and refuse of any kind is never left on the side of the road.
Hotel / Accommodations
Hotels vary in style and quality from town to town but are generally considered to be one of the welcomed surprises for visitors to Bhutan. All government approved hotels are clean and well maintained. During the colder months hotels are heated and extra blankets or comforters are provided in each room. Bathrooms are reasonably modern with running hot water common in Thimphu and Paro but found less often further east. Hotel staff are exceptionally accommodating and will do whatever they can to make guests feel more comfortable.
In Thimphu, Paro and central districts, all hotels are equipped with telephones, fax machines and international dialing. In addition, all hotels have their own restaurant and some also have a bar. Most of the food eaten by tourists in Bhutan is eaten in the hotels. There are some freestanding restaurants in Thimphu but few elsewhere.
A typical hotel that is booked for my tours and treks can be compared to a Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn. Upscale hotels are available for an additional charge.
Visas – VISA Application Form
All visitors to Bhutan require visas. Individual tourist visas for a period of up to two weeks cost US$20.00 and are issued on arrival at Paro Airport. All visa applications must reach Bhutan at least 14 days prior to the tourist's intended arrival date.
Tourists who have not applied for a visa or who have not received the necessary clearance from Thimphu will not be allowed to board the Druk Air flight to Paro.
Thimphu is well connected by telephone, email and fax. Any procedural problems regarding visa applications can usually be quickly solved, extensions to two-week visas can be obtained in Thimphu, and they also cost US $20.00.
To process your visa properly, please print, fill out, and fax the form below to BHTT. If the form is sent directly to the Ministry, it WILL NOT BE PROCESSED correctly as it must come directly from the tour operator.
Link to Visa Application Form - Click Here
Getting There
By Road
If you reach North East India, it is easy to come to Bhutan by road through the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing. You can fly to Bagdora airport in West Bengal, India. From there it is only a three hour drive to the border town. The Indian hill stations of Darjeeling, West Bengal and Gangtok, and Sikkim are only 5 hours away by road from Phuentsholing. You can also exit the country via Phuentsholing.
By Air
Druk Air is the only airline operating in the country. It has a fleet of two BAE-146 and two airbus A319 aircraft. An international flight crew and flight attendants, trained by Thai Airways International, give the airline its credibility and charm. Druk Air flies to and from Paro airport in Bhutan, the country's only airport. Druk Air has regular flights a week from Bangkok, New Delhi, Kolkata and Katmandu. Once a month, there are special stopovers in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Yangoon, Manmyyar.
Each of these routes offers views of some of the highest mountains in the world - Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga, and Bhutan's revered peaks of Jhomolhari and Kula Gangri. Druk Air flights are sometimes delayed by unfavorable weather conditions, so visitors would do well to include an additional day in their itineraries for unexpected weather delays.
Please note that the flights mentioned above are not available on a daily basis and air schedules change between summer monsoons and the winter snow. Airline bookings should be made at the same time while booking your trip to Bhutan.
Druk Air tickets are issued only in Bhutan. I will book your Druk Air flights for you and send them to you or to the Druk Air out stations.
Druk Air website - http://www.drukair.com.bt/
| AIR FARE for the peak season (Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov) | |||
| SECTOR | BUSINESS CLASS | ECONOMY CLASS | EXCESS BAGGAGE RATE |
| PBH-BKK | US$ 440 | US$ 360 | US$ 5 PER KG |
| PBH-DEL & V V | US$ 380 | US$ 315 | US$ 4 PER KG |
| PBH-CCU & V V | US$ 230 | US$ 190 | US$ 2.50 PER KG |
| PBH-KTM & V V | US$ 230 | US$ 190 | US$ 2.50 PER KG |
| PBH-DAC & V V | US$ 230 | US$ 190 | US$ 2.50 PER KG |
(These are average fares; please note they are subject to change without notice.)
| AIR FARE for the off season (Jan, Feb, June, July, Aug, Dec) | | | |
| SECTOR | BUSINESS CLASS | ECONOMY CLASS | EXCESS BAGGAGE RATE |
| PBH-BKK | US$ 350 | US$ 290 | US$ 5 PER KG |
| PBH-DEL & V V | US$ 295 | US$ 235 | US$ 4 PER KG |
| PBH-CCU & V V | US$ 175 | US$ 140 | US$ 2.50 PER KG |
| PBH-KTM & V V | US$ 175 | US$ 140 | US$ 2.50 PER KG |
| PBH-DAC & V V | US$ 175 | US$ 140 | US$ 2.50 PER KG |
ABBREVIATION: PBH : PARO,BHUTAN, BKK : BANGKOK, THAILAND, CCU : CALCUTA, INDIA, DEL : DELHI, INDIA, DAC : DHAKA, BANGLADESH, KTM :
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
(These are average fares; please note they are subject to change without notice.)
CHILD FARE: A child passenger is one who has not reached his/her 12th birthday on the date of commencement of travel and will be charged 67% of the applicable adult fare. Children of 12 years of age and over will pay the full applicable adult fare.
INFANT FARE: An infant is one who has not reached his/her 2nd birthday and who is not occupying an individual seat. He/she will be charged 10% of the adult applicable fare.
EXTRA CHARGES/FEES
Passenger Service Fee (PSF): As per the order of the Airport Authority of India effective April 2001, all embarking passengers out of India will be charged a PSF of $5.00 US dollars or equivalent currency per embarking passenger without exception.
Insurance Surcharge (YQ): This is a $5.00 US dollar or equivalent charge per segment. YQ applies to all passengers regardless of class of travel and type of fare. YQ also applies to all free and discounted tickets.
Fuel Surcharge (YR): This is a $5.00 US dollar or equivalent charge per segment. YR applies to all passengers regardless of class of travel and type of fare. YR also applies to all free and discounted tickets.
Baggage
All visitors are required to complete the customs form upon arrival at Paro. The following items are exempted from customs duty:
- Personal effects for day-to-day use
- Two liters of alcohol
- Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional use
- Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods