Bhutan Information

Bhutan

"The Land of Thunder Dragon" Bhutan is indeed, the Last Shangrila protected by the mighty Himalayas from the rest of the world. Bhutan is only country where monarch rule is still in existence and the Kingdom is blissfully untouched. Hidden in the Eastern Himalayas between India and Tibet as big as Switzerland, but sparsely populated. The Mountains in Bhutan are magnificent, the forests are dense, the people are delightful and peaceful. The main State Religion is Buddhist. Buddhism has provided Bhutan the essence of a rich culture and fascinating History. The reason for Bhutan's uniqueness and attraction is that its culture and environment have been largely unaltered by the pressure of population or excessive number of Tourist as it used to happen in many other countries. Hence, it is very safe and secure for the Foreign Tourist/travelers visiting Bhutan.

Owing to its very short history of tourism the facilities provided to visitors are still basic and limited. So we request our clients not to have high expectations in terms of facilities in Tibet. However, we will always put in all our efforts to make the tours as pleasant as possible. The roads, especially the highway from Kathmandu can be rough & is subject to blockade due to land slides & floods & the high altitude does pose a serious threat to quite a few people. The average altitude of the Tibetan plateau is 4000m above the sea level & that is a lot higher than most people have been in their lives.

At a Glance

Area: 47, 000 sq. Km.
Capital: Thimpu
Continent: South Asia
Seasons: Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring
Language: Dzongkha & English
Currency: Ngultrum
Population: (2009 approx.) 683,407
Religions: Buddhism

Travel in Bhutan

The Royal Government of Bhutan has adopted a very cautious approach to the development of tourism in the kingdom in an effort to avoid the negative impacts of tourism on the culture and the environment. All tourists (group or individual) must travel on a pre-planned, prepaid, guided, package tour or custom designed program through a government registered travel company. Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan.

Tour payments must be made one month prior to the date of arrival in Bhutan and the government issues the visa only after the receipt of full tour payment. Clothing

Cotton clothes are sufficient from May until September but warm clothes are very much necessary from November to the end of April. However, visitors are advised to carry clothes consisting of layers (or preferably woolen sweater and jacket) throughout the season, as weather may change at anytime. Transportation

We use 4 WD Japanese vehicles such as Hilux and Land-cruisers for a group of 1-2 persons. Hiace buses for a group of 3-7 persons and deluxe coaster bus for a group of 8-20 persons. All these vehicles are periodically checked and maintained and will be at your disposal at all times, with the drivers. Trip Planning

For cultural tours the booking should be completed 6 weeks in advance but for tours during festivals, 10 weeks advance information is required. Festivals held in autumn & spring are peak season for the tourists and without any early reservations, it can be difficult to confirm flights and hotels. For trekking groups, it is important to do bookings at least 10 weeks in advance, as it requires plenty of planning. For visitors in trek, we serve simple but nutritious and tasty dishes. Festivals

Religious festivals (Tse Chu) are important events and celebrated throughout the kingdom of Bhutan. The Tsechus are the most colorful event and all Bhutanese gather and celebrate at every Dzongs (fortress), temples and monasteries. Accommodations

Hotels and tourist lodges in Bhutan are comfortable but not luxurious. Although recently a few luxury hotels have been established in Bhutan, visitors in general can expect a unique combination of traditional Bhutanese style together with modern services, but not international five star luxuries all over Bhutan! Clean and well-maintained, most of the hotels are equipped with telephones; fax machines and long distance service. The food offered to the visitors is carefully prepared to suit the western taste combining Bhutanese food and western dishes.

The Royal Government of Bhutan categorizes all hotels and lodges. International visitors will be accommodated in hotels only, which fulfill the standards set by the government. Some of the more simple lodges have a special charm of their own, and convince with the traditional warm hospitality.

Bhutan Travel Information

Visa and Passport

Bhutanese embassies or consulates abroad do not issue tourist visa. The Druk Air ticket cannot be purchased without first obtaining visa. Visa application at least eight weeks in advance is advisable. The visitors are required valid passport and visa to enter Bhutan, except for Indian nationals. Travelers to Bhutan must have a visa approval prior to arriving in the kingdom of Bhutan. Those who have not had a visa approval will not permitted to board their Durk Air Flight.

Travel Visa Application

Once you are ready to confirm your tour arrangements, we will need a scanned copy of your passport along with the following details to apply for your VISA:

Your full name (exactly as it appears in your passport)
Permanent address
Occupation
Gender
Nationality
Passport Number
Date of issue and expiry date of passport
Date and place of birth
Your Bhutan visa will be stamped in your passport when you arrive in the kingdom.

Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines)

Druk Air, is the only airline which operates in Bhutan. The most convenient way of entering Bhutan is by Druk air. There are flights from Kathmandu-Paro every Mon/Wed/Fri/ and Paro-Kathmandu every Tue/Sun/Fri.

Bhutan Health Guide

Before embarking on a trip to Bhutan, it is advisable to have tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A inoculations.

Precautions

Avoid drinking unboiled water or taking ice cubes at all times as most water sources in Bhutan are untreated though they have their source in the mountains. One can come across treated and bottled water readily in any town and are affordable.

Import of Medicines for Personal Use

Any person who wishes to bring into the country any medicinal product listed under Schedule A of Bhutan Medicines Rules and Regulation 2005, shall be allowed in a quantity not exceeding the required dose for one month. List of medicinal products can be found under Schedule A of the Regulation which is given in following link.

In case of prescription drugs, the person shall be allowed in a quantity as prescribed in the prescription.

For more detail visit the following link (Drug Regulatory Authority of Bhutan):

Drug Regulatory Authority of Bhutan

Tobacco/Smoking

We have a duty to protect Bhutan from Drugs and Tobacco Products. To do this we need your help and cooperation. If we stop you and ask you about your baggage please co-operate. **Please do not carry tobacco goods that are over the limits.