Travel Information
Entry
You can enter Bhutan either by air through Paro or overland
through Phuentsholing town in the southern foothills which borders with
India. But one way either entry or exit has to be by air. You can board
a Druk Air flight from Katmandu, New Delhi, Bangkok or Calcutta.
Visa
Other than Indian nationals, all visitors to Bhutan require a visa;
all visas are issued from Thimphu; visas are only issued to tourists
booked with a local licensed tour operator, directly or through a
foreign travel agent. Applications for tourist visas are submitted by
the tour operator. Visa clearance from Thimphu must be obtained before
coming to Bhutan. Visa clearance takes at least 10 working days to
process. Air tickets to Bhutan cannot be purchased without visa
clearance. At your point of entry the visa will be stamped in your
passport on payment of US$20, two passport photos will also be required.
Visas are issued for a 15day period; extensions can be obtained in
Thimphu at a cost of Nu.510.
Best time to visit
Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (September, October,
November) are best seasons to visit Bhutan. The major cultural festivals
are held during these seasons and the fine weather makes it an ideal
time for trekking and traveling throughout the country and viewing the
high mountain peaks. The rainy season falls in June-August, with
rainfall averaging about 0.5m (1.5ft).
Flight
Druk Air is the National airline and the only airline that flies
into Bhutan. Druk Air has a fleet of two Airbus A-319 aircraft towards
the end of 2004 which will replace the smaller BAe-146 aircraft. The BAe
-146 has 10 Business Class seats and 62 Economy Class seats and the
Airbus offers 20 business class seats and 94 economy class seats. Druk
Air flies to Bangkok, Calcutta, Katmandu, Delhi, Dhaka and Yangon.
Delays do occasionally occur because of the unpredictable Himalayan
weather conditions. Travelers are therefore advised to include an extra
day or two in their itineraries in case of flight cancellations.
Reservation for travel during festival seasons (March, April, September,
October, November) must be made in well advance. For detailed flight
schedules visit the Druk Air site. www.drukair.com.bt
Clothing
Bhutan's variable climate requires that visitors bring an
assortment of clothes. The weather can vary dramatically from place to
place, from day to day and sometimes within the same day. From May to
September normal traveling cloths plus a light sweater or a light jacket
including rain gear is advised. Good walking shoes or hiking boots are
essential even if you are not hiking. A hat or cap and sunglasses are
also advised. If you plan to visit from November to March end you will
need additional warm clothes. A good flashlight and a water bottle will
also come in handy.
Altitude
Altitude can be a problem above 10,000 feet if the body does
not have a chance to acclimatize to the thin air. All itineraries will
be planned to get you acclimatized to altitudes over several days as
there are several passes over 7,000-10,000 feet that you have to cross
while travelling through the country. In all our tours, travel will be
at a leisurely pace so that you get used to the environment and at the
same time enjoy the flora and fauna.
Hotels
Hotels vary in style and quality from town to town. All
department of tourism approved hotels are reasonably modern with running
hot and cold water in Thimphu and Paro. Accommodation can get very basic
as one moves further east of the country from the capital. But all
hotels are equipped with telephone and fax with international dialing
facilities. On our side we will ensure the best available hotels are
arranged for you.
Food
Most of the hotels provide a wide selection of Indian, Chinese,
European and the Bhutanese food. Meals are normally served buffet style
for the groups. Bhutanese food is a blend of Himalayan flavors with the
modern cuisine. Traditional Bhutanese foods are HOT and SPICY. A well
known Bhutanese dish is ema datshi which means chili and cheese.
Visitors who have had the courage to eat it say it is like eating fire.
Transport
We use comfortable mini buses for group tours and cars and 4
-Wheel drives for smaller groups.
Currency
Bhutan's unit of currency is the NGULTRUM (NU) which is at par
with the Indian Rupee. One US dollar is exchanged for approximately 43
Ngultrum. Acceptable currencies are US Dollars, Sterling, in cash or
travelers cheques.
Photography
And Filming Photography is permitted nearly everywhere in
Bhutan and the local population has no aversion to being photographed.
Photography inside the Dzongs and Monasteries are not permitted. Any
commercial Filming must pay a royalty to obtain the permit from the
Royal Government of Bhutan. Request us for more details for any
commercial filming.
Custom Regulations
The Bhutanese authorities strictly prohibits the
export of any antiques of any item that is 100 years or older. Items
bought will be allowed to be taken out of the country if they have been
officially certified as non-antique. There is also a restriction on
bringing in tobacco products into the country. Visitors are allowed to
bring in a reasonable quantity of tobacco products into the country
which will be levied a 100 percent sales tax and a 100 percent import
tax. This new regulation came into effect from December 17, 2004, in
keeping with the Bhutanese parliament's resolution of a nationwide ban
on the sale of tobacco products. Two liters of Alcohol may be brought in
to the country without duty. Personal videos, cameras, personal
computers, portable telephones or any other electronic device should be
registered with the customs authorities on arrival at Paro and will be
checked on departure. Upon arrival you will be issued a 'customs form'
this form must be filled out, with declarations, and returned to
authorities on departure.
