| Bhutan is very cautious of opening its doors to tourism since mass tourism has overrun the regional countries. Therefore, Bhutan rather follows a policy called "Low Volume, High Value" tourism where a standard set price is charge per night halt in Bhutan. As one journalist visiting Bhutan said "Bhutan doesn't want to see tourists as plunderers but contributors to the country", tourists tariff in Bhutan is on the higher side.
Travel to Bhutan is only possible with a pre-planned, pre-paid tour booked through a licensed tour operator in Bhutan. However, you can decide on what you want to see and when you want to see it. We can tailor a tour plan to suit your individual needs.
Peak Tourist Season: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December
Visa for Bhutan
Visa is not issued by Bhutanese Embassies abroad. Visa approval must be obtained prior to your entry into Bhutan. You must forward the following passport details to your travel agency to apply for visa approval on your behalf. The travel agency in Bhutan would process your visa approval in the foreign ministry in Bhutan.
The following information must be sent to us to process visa approval:-
1. Full name as in passport:
2. Permanent address:
3. Occupation:
4. Nationality:
5. Passport Number:
6. Date of Issue and Expiry date:
7. Date of birth and place:
8. Place of Issue:
9. Exact duration of visa required:
10. Date of entry and exit and sector:
The Foreign ministry would issue a number to us, which we will in turn send it to you. The number is needed in order to board Druk Air flights to Bhutan. The actual visas are issued on payment of US $ 20 upon arrival in Bhutan. You will also need two passport size photographs for visa processing.
Visas are also extended only in Thimphu by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only.
Bhutan Air Ticketing
Bhutan National Airline, Druk Air, flies to cities of neighboring countries only. The cities include Bangkok in Thailand, Delhi and Kolkata in India, Kathmandu in Nepal, and Dhaka in Bangladesh. You would have to get a connection flight to one of these cities before you board Druk Air flight to Bhutan.
It is advisable to purchase plane tickets to one of these cities abroad because it is expensive to arrange from Bhutan. However, since Druk Air tickets are sold only in Bhutan, we would arrange for the Druk Air ticket once the visa has been approved. We would then arrange to either send by post to your address or forward it to Druk Air outstation in the above mentioned cities' airport so you can collect it from there.
Note: The Tourist tariff in Bhutan doesn't cover your home plane ticket or Druk Air ticket.
Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines)
Druk Air is the only company operating in the country. It has recently bought two Airbus A319s, on top of the two British Aerospace BAe 146 jets. 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, Manmyar.
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.
Druk Air tickets are issued only in Bhutan. We can book them for you and send them to you or to the Druk Air out stations in Bangkok, Delhi or Kathmandu.
Entering Bhutan by Road
Bhutan is accessible 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 till Bagdora airport West Bengal, India, from where it is only three hours drive to the border town. The Indian hill stations of Darjeeling, West Bengal and Gangtok, Sikkim are only 5 hours away by road from Phuentsholing.
You can exit the country via the Phuentsholing also. We would be glad to reach you till the airport at Bagdora or railway station in Siliguri, both in West Bengal at no extra charge.
Currency in Bhutan and Foreign Exchange Rate
The currency in Bhutan is Ngultrum (Symbol - Nu.). It is divided into 100 Cheltrum. Ngultrum is pegged to Indian Rupee on par, meaning 1 Ngultrum = 1 Indian Rupee. As in neighboring countries in the region, Indian Currency is accepted in Bhutan, except the 500 Rupee and 1000 Rupee denominations. These high denominations were banned since there a few cases of fake bills being circulated by counterfeiters in India.
The foreign exchange rate as it stands as of August 2007 is 1 US$ = 40.80 Nu, 1 Euro = 54.50
Using Credit Card in Bhutan?
Visa and American Express credit cards are accepted in few places but have limited use. Travellers cheques as well as Euro, US Dollars, Pound Sterling, Swiss Francs, Singapore Dollar, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen can be exchanged at banks and most of the hotels.
Cash in US Dollar or Euro bills in small quantity is the most practical and convenient for personal expenses in Bhutan. Credit Card can only be used at some handicraft shops, and the processing fee for Credit Cards transactions in Bhutan is very high. Most of the handicraft shops charge a processing fee of 7% on the sum. American Express and Visa are accepted cards in Bhutan, but they would have very limited use.
Climate in Bhutan
Climate in Bhutan is Bhutan varies drastically from place to place with a short range. The land rises from the southern moist sub-tropical foothills at an altitude of about 200 meters above sea level to snow-capped peaks of over 8,000 meters in the north. The central temperate belt, which is the touristy valleys, ranges from about 900, to 4,500 meters above sea level. The capital city Thimphu, is situated at 2,400 meters above sea level.
The climate along this belt defies generalization but it can be safely said that spring (March to May) brings warm days and cool nights with the mercury averaging 15-20 oC at daytime. With June come occasional downpours and summer temperatures peak at over 20o C. The milder months of autumn (September to November) are less wet and are the best time of the year for trekking. But in the trekking routes during autumn, the temperature dips below 0o C at night.
The winter months of December, January and February are the coldest and night time temperatures often plummet below 10C in higher altitude valleys. Once or twice there are snow fall in colder valleys of Thimphu, Paro, Trongsa, and Bumthang.
However, winter offers its own charm of crystal clear sunny blue skies and unhindered view of snow-capped mountains.
What to bring
It maybe troublesome and expensive to carry much because Druk Air observes a baggage weight limit of 30 kg (66 lb). You should come prepared for vast contrasts in weather. Casual clothes are generally most suitable. Warm clothes are a must in winter since the temperature drops below 0 C. Trekking shoes, rain gear, windbreakers, sun caps and sunglasses are important for trekking and outdoor activities. Revealing clothes are discouraged in public places and religious sites.
Sun block cream and lip protection will be of help. On a sunny day, the sun can be scorching. Bringing an earplug might help you to sleep at night. Bhutanese being Buddhist can't bring ourselves to get rid of the dogs. So, barking dogs at night has been cited as disturbing their sleep by some tourists in the past.
Travel Insurance
Generally, it is very safe in Bhutan. But if you plan to trek or engage in adventure sports in Bhutan it is advisable that you draw a travel insurance policy in your home country since such services are not available in Bhutan.
Accommodation
Our travel agency has built over the years a close relationship with the best hotels in every town in Bhutan. Over all, hospital It is a fact that Bhutan doesn't have a five star hotel till date (two 5-star international resort chains are in Bhutan - Uma Paro and Aman Resorts), but all tourist are housed in the Department of Tourism (DoT) approved and classified hotels only. All tourist hotels are comfortable and clean.
When you are out trekking, we have tents; horsemen/porters would be pitching and dismantling the tents. Fires are built at camping site for warmth.
Tour Guides
You will be accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide throughout your stay. Our tour guides are licensed and trained in programs conducted by the Department of Tourism. They have mountain guide training, including safety and first aid instructions. They are well versed in local history and local knowledge. Plus their extensive experience and knowledge of western culture would make you feel at home.
For other non-English speaking tourists (French, Japanese, German, etc.), we arrange guides on need basis.
Tour Guide fee is included in the tourist tariff.
Food
Bhutanese cuisine is hot and spicy. Chilly is one of the main ingredients, blending with cheese and a variety of vegetables and meat. But our tour guides will take you to the restaurants and hotels where food more palatable to western taste like Continental, Chinese, Thai and Indian foods are on the menu. The chefs in this establishment are foreign trained. Of course, Bhutanese dishes are on the menu. You make the choice. Beverages and foreign drinks are available in these hotels and restaurants.
For trekking, we have trained cooks accompanying you aside from porters. They would build fire, cook food and act as security from wild animals. The cost for food and non-alcoholic drinks are already included in the tourist tariff. But for alcoholic drinks, you have to pay at the counter.
Transport in Bhutan
you will have a driver and a vehicle at your disposal at all times. Alpine Bhutan Travel Service will arrange Toyota and Hyundai cars for smaller group sizes, and 4WD SUVs and deluxe tour buses for larger tourist group sizes.
Every vehicle is well maintained and thoroughly checked before trips to ensure safety and comfort for all clients. For trekking, we have horses and porter to carry personal luggage of tourists, tents, food stuffs and cooking utensils. Transportation within the country is included in the tourist tariff.
Electricity in Bhutan
The voltage in Bhutan is 230 Volts, 50 cycles AC. Electricity is quite reliable in Western Bhutan towns. In smaller central towns, electricity is generated by mini-hydels and you would experience blackouts. Bhutan uses the standard Indian round pin sockets. If there is a need for a plug conversion, it is cheaply and easily available in most Bhutanese towns.
Photography Film and Equipments
Bring as much as film rolls as you might need. Bhutan is a photographer's paradise...everything seems exotic and unique that would end up taking more shots than you would usually do in other places. Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Bumthang have colour photo printing shops. But the quality is not up to the professional standard.
You would do better to bring along special equipments and batteries for you digital camera. UV filter for your telephoto lens camera is recommended to cut down on UV light in thin air.
Dangers and Annoyances
Bhutan is one of the safest places to visit. Let aside such big problems such as political unrest, the usual banes of traveling in Asia - theft and begging - are also absent in Bhutan. Despite the political unrest in other parts of the region, Bhutan is a safe destination. However, traveling to Bhutan presents its own set of small and uniquely Bhutanese travel annoyances.
Dogs: Due to the Buddhist belief of respecting all forms of life, there are many street dogs roaming all valleys in the country. Dog barking at night is one of the annoyances in Bhutan. Bring along a ear plug to help you sleep at night.
Sunburn: The low latitude of the country combined with the high altitude means the solar radiation is intense. Even on cloudy days you would get sunburn if your skin is exposed to the sun in Bhutan for a long time. Therefore, bring along a pair of sunglasses (or if you are trekking bring an extra pair to make allowance for breakage), sun cap and sunscreen lotions. |
