GETTING INTO BHUTAN By Air: Druk Air, Bhutan's national airline is the only airline service in the country. The airport is in Paro. During monsoons and winter, unpredictable weather forces can delay flights and travelers should consider including an extra day in their itinerary.
For more information on flights to Bhutan please visit www.drukair.com.bt
By Road: The nearest Indian airport is in Bagdogra, which can be reached by plane from Calcutta and Delhi. The road from Bagdogra connects to Phuentsholing, a border town in Bhutan. It is a 3-4 hour drive from the airport. It takes approximately 6 hours from Phuentsholing to Thimphu or Paro.
NOTE: Visa has to be obtained prior to arrival but will be processed by the operators through whom the tourists are coming to Bhutan. TOURIST TARIFF
a) The minimum tariff for tourists visiting in a group of 3 persons or more are as follows, Tour tariffs will depend on types of facilities used and services rendered as per guests demands and as and where necessary rates will be advised. High Season Tariff US$ 200 per person per night halt. Discounted Tourist Tariff US$ 165 per person per night (July, August)
b) The minimum daily package rates shall be inclusive of the following: (i) Government Tax. (ii) Charges for accommodation (iii) Food and beverages as per the "Minimum Meal Entitlements" (iv) Service of guides (v) Transport within Bhutan (vi) Riding ponies and pack animals on treks.
Bhutan is a welfare state, whereby health and education is free for all its citizens including higher education. When tourists visit Bhutan, they pay USD 65/night/person as Tax, this is collected by the Tour operators and deposited to the National treasury. This in turn helps to sustain the free education and health system in the country. TARIFF FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAVELLERS
a) Individual tourists and smaller groups of less than three persons shall be subject to surcharge, over and above the minimum daily rates applicable, as follows Single individual - US$ 40 per night halt Group of 2 - US$30 per night halt per person. BANKING DETAILS All Tour payments must be deposited in the Bhutan National Bank’s USD account in New York, Banking Details are as follows: You can use either of the Banks to deposit your tour and air payments.
CITI BANK N.A. 111 WALL STREET, 19TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10043 USA
ACCOUNT OF: BHUTAN NATIONAL BANK ACCOUNT NO.: 36023474
SWIFT CODE: CITIUS 33 ABA NO.: 0210 - 0008 - 9 CHIPS ROUTINE NO.:008
BENEFICIARY: Himalayan Adventures PO BOX 1436 Thimphu.
OR
Account Number: 734061 (This is the account of the Bhutan National Bank)
Bank Address: American Express Bank Ltd. 300 Boulevard East, Weehakken NJ 07087-6702, New York, USA.
Swift Code: AEIB US 33.
Ultimate Beneficiary: "Himalayan Adventures, P.O BOX 1436'', maintained with BNB. TOUR CANCELLATION CHARGES Different cancellation charges apply for expeditions and Premium tours depending on the properties used. All terms and conditions of any particular tour will be relayed at the time of booking of the tours. DRUK AIR CANCELLATION Please contact us for latest cancellation policies from Druk air. Since Druk air does not have a fixed cancellation rule as of now, it varies with time and season. Further information on Druk air can be got from www.drukair.com.bt
VISA Visas 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 fill in the visa application form which we will send you on confirmation of your visit or just send us the details below and we will take care of the rest.
1. Your full name as it appears in your passport 2. Permanent address 3. Date and place of birth 4. Occupation 5. Nationality 6. Passport number 7. Date of issue and expiration of passport
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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues the visa clearance, we will fax the visa clearance copy to the respective airports where you will be entering from. A copy will also be sent to you for your reference but this is not necessarily important. The actual visa endorsement is stamped in your passport when you arrive at Paro at the backdrop of the clearance. 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.
MONEY Bhutan unit of currency is Ngultrum (Nu.).The Ngultrum is fixed at parity with the Indian Rupee. Exchange varies from USD 1 = Nu. 43 depending on the fluctuation. Visa and American Express credit cards are accepted only in a few places. Visitors are advised to carry traveller checks (preferably American Express) with some cash (US Dollars).
CREDIT CARDS American Express, VISA and JCB credit cards are accepted in a few shops. Traveller’s cheques are also accepted. Guests are advised to bring hard currency USD, Euro or Pound Sterling for incidental expenses and personal shopping as cash is accepted widely in all shops and easily convertible.
LANGUAGE Originally spoken only in western Bhutan, Dzongkha is now the national language. English is widely spoken in main towns and it is the medium of education in all schools. Local people are also familiar with Hindi and Nepali.
TRANSPORT We use Japanese imported luxury vehicles like Land Cruiser, Toyota Cars, Hiace Buses, Hilux, Toyota coaster bus for large groups etc. Himalayan Adventures owns its own fleet of luxury SUVs, Toyota pickups as luggage vehicles and buses.
ACCOMMODATION Hotels, lodges and guesthouses are fairly comfortable at tourist destinations. Hotels in western Bhutan are better than those in the central and eastern part of the country where accommodation establishments are simple and offer minimum facilities. Hotels are not categorized according to international standards, however all Tour companies have to keep guests in A Grade Resorts and Hotels as per directives of the Department of tourism, five star luxuries are now available in Paro and Thimphu and some select locations. The two international luxury chains operating in Bhutan are the Aman Resorts and the Uma, a como group of Hotels. We can arrange your stay in these properties. Some of the main trekking routes have purpose-built huts.
FOOD Rice forms the main diet of a typical Bhutanese person, accompanied by generous helpings of hot chilies and cheese in almost every curry. Hotels and restaurants usually offer Bhutanese, Continental, Chinese and Indian cuisine.
HEALTH INFORMATION currently, there are no vaccinations required for travelling to Bhutan. However, visitors coming from an area infected with yellow fever are required to get a yellow fever vaccination and must be administered at least ten days before arrival in the country. Likewise, visitors arriving from a cholera infected are should get vaccinated, and anti-malarial medication is recommended for travellers visiting rural areas bordering India.
ELECTRICITY Electricity in Bhutan is reasonably reliable and runs 220/240 volts. An international converter kit with a set of adapter plugs may be required if travellers bring along electrical appliances.
COMMUNICATION FACILITIES Reliable telephone and fax services are available in all towns in Bhutan. International connections are excellent. Internet cafes are few in number and available only in a few places. Most hotels have a small business centre and internet connection. B-Mobile cell network is available in most places. If you use a GSM 900 phone, you can buy a SIM card on arrival in Bhutan. If you need to be connected in Bhutan, we can arrange a cell phone for you at a nominal fee and advise the number before you start your travel. Satellite phones can also be arranged while on the big treks.
TIME Bhutan standard time is six hours ahead of GMT, and there is only one zone throughout the country. Bhutan standard time is 30minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time. SHOPPING Traditional handicrafts, textiles, jewelleries, baskets, masks. Paintings and woodcarving make good buys CUSTOMS The export of antiques, plants and animal products are strictly prohibited. Personal electronic equipment such as cameras, video cameras and computers must be declared on arrival and will be checked upon departure. PHOTOGRAPHY Photo shops in Bhutan do not offer quality equipment or accessories. 35mm colour print film is readily available but slide films are difficult to find. It is advisable to bring along enough lithium batteries if required. CLOTHING Cotton and light woollen clothes can be worn in the summer months. The monsoon months call for rain gear and comfortable shoes. The rest of the year requires heavy woollen and coats to keep out the cold. INSURANCE To protect against unforeseen accidents and mishaps, we advise you to have Travel insurance policy from your country. It should adequately cover helicopter evacuation and medical assistance. We regret the unavailability of such policies in Bhutan. SAFETY The crime rate in Bhutan is very low; the country lives up to its nickname of the Land of Peaceful Dragon. Even so there are Police Stations in almost all regions.
* Please contact us if you have any specific queries that are not answered on this site.
