Frequently Asked Questions
Bhutan is beautiful all year round. Depending on what type of tour you booked the weather should match.
During the spring months of March, April and May and the fall months of September, October and November, the weather is warmer and the skies are clearer making the high mountains rise to a vivid blue sky. Most of the annual festivals take place during these months. Winter is a good month to visit as well. The days are usually sunny, cool and pleasant but it’s quite cold once the sun sets in. You will need to pack warm clothing.
By Air
The best way to enter Bhutan is by air to Paro International Airport. There are two carriers - Druk Air and Bhutan Air. No other international airlines fly into Bhutan. The sectors are as follows :- Bangkok (daily flight).
- India ( Delhi, Kolkatta, Bagdogra, Bodhgaya and Mumbai).
- Nepal- Kathmandu.
- Singapore ( twice a week ).
- Bangladesh.
By Road
There are two entry & exit points by road:- You can enter/exit by road through a border town called Phuenstholing in Southwest Bhutan. It's 3-4 hours drive from the Siliguri in West Bengal.
- The other entry/exit point is through Samdrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan. This town shares its border with the Indian State of Assam. It is 3 hours drive from Guwahati in Assam.
Foreign visitors require visa to enter Bhutan. Only regional tourists from India, Bangladesh and Maldives are excemted from visa. Tourist visas are all processed through a local tour operator within the country . The procedure for processing visa is simple.
- 1) You need to send scanned copy of your passport and
- 2) tour payment must be deposited into a designated Government Bank through wire transfer.
We need the scanned copy of your passport in colour of high resolution and the following details as follows:
- Occupation
- Permanent address
- Level of education
- We will send you the visa confirmation letter, air e-ticket and confirmation sheet of your travel.
- Please carry 2 copies of all the papers with you - the itinerary as well.
The price of the tour is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and is based on high value and low volume to control tourism and protect the environment.
High Season Tariff: March, April, May, September, October, and November.
- US$ 290 per night for an individual traveler (inclusive of government surcharge).
- US$ 280 per night for groups of two (inclusive of government surcharge).
- US$ 250 per night per person for a group of three or more (no government surcharge).
- US$ 240 per night for an individual traveler (inclusive of government surcharge).
- US$ 230 per night for groups of two (inclusive of government surcharge).
- US$ 200 per night per person for a group of three or more (no government surcharge).
- Visa fees & government taxes
- Entry fees to various museums and temples
- Accommodation in (3 star hotel and above)
- All meals & sightseeing
- Ground transport within Bhutan
- A licensed “English” speaking guide
- Private vehicle and driver
- Air airfares.
- Drinks & beverages.
- Laundry bills, telephone calls and personal expenses.
- Travel Insurance.
- Excess Baggage charges.
- Hot stone bath (optional).
- Ponies if you want to ride to Tiger’s Nest or other places.
The only mode of payment is through wire transfer. The tour payment goes directly deposited into the account of Tourism Council of Bhutan so the payment is very secure.
We are in legitimate business and our company is registered with Tourism Council of Bhutan. Please check our company on Tourism Council of Bhutan’s website - www.tourism.gov.bt
- There shall be no charge for children up to the age of 5 years. However, those between the ages of 6-12 years accompanied by elders/ guardians shall be given 50% discount on daily rates and 100% discount on Royalty.
- Full time students below the age of 25 years holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions shall also be given a 25% discount on daily rates.
- A discount of 50% on daily rates shall be given to one person in a group of 11 to 15 people. 100% discount shall be given to one member in a group exceeding 16 persons.
No, we do not provide travel insurance.
- An administration fee of $120 would be applicable for all cancelled Tour Programmes booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows:
- Within 01 month - 50%.
- Within 15 days of tour start date - 100% No refund.
We can purchase your Air Tickets for you. All tickets will be e-tickets and will be sent to you via e-mail.
- The limit is 20kg for economy class and 30kg for business class on DrukAir.
- The limit is 30kg for economy class and 40kg for business class on Bhutan Airlines. (except for Paro Kathmandu it is 20/30kg).
- It’s possible to pay for excess baggage, but there is a chance that the luggage will have to be sent on the next flight. Also, there is not a great deal of cabin space, so carry-on luggage should be kept to a minimum.
Yes, we offer private tours based on the interests of the clients. You can travel alone or brings your friends and family. You will accompanied by a private guide, vehicle and driver throughout your tour.
Tourism in Bhutan is highly regulated by the government. If you want to visit Bhutan, you must do so through a licensed Bhutanese tour company. You cannot tour the country on your own. And you cannot rent a car on your own. You are obligated to have a guide and a driver. This policy ensures that when you come to Bhutan, you will be immersed in a culture and environment that have been carefully preserved.
Our expert will customize an itinerary based on your interest and duration of the stay. If there are any local festivals or any other occasions during your date of travel, we will add that too !
We use luxurious, clean and well maintained vehicles like Toyota and Hyundai and Prado. Our drivers are all seasoned drivers and carefully chosen to escort our guests.
- SUV - for groups of one or two people.
- Hiace bus (Vans) – for groups of three to seven.
- Toyota Coaster bus for larger group with luggage van if necessary.
The food is one of the greatest experiences when you travel to a different destination. You will have a variety of cuisines to choose from, including Bhutanese, Indian, Tibetan, Continental, and Chinese. The main staples of the Bhutanese diet are rice (red or white) and chilies. One dish favored by most Bhutanese is called “Emadatsi,” which is chilies and cheese. Meat is widely eaten in Bhutan, as are vegetables. Bhutanese food tends to be spicy, since many dishes are made with chilies, but the spiciness can be reduced to your liking.
The crime rate is very less in Bhutan. Security and safety are a high priority to every guest who travel to Bhutan and it is safe for women and solo travelers.
The altitude in Bhutan is higher than many people are used to. Though most visitors will have no problem adjusting, altitude sickness may be a problem for certain people. Our cultural tours do not reach altitudes higher than 3,500 meters. All of our treks reach at least 3,500 meters, and some of our treks go as high as 5,000 meters.
This will depend on the duration of your stay and the money you spend on local handicrafts. Some visitors like to carry hefty sums because they want to buy souvenirs and gifts for their family and friends back home. Some bring very little cash because food, accommodation, vehicle, guide etc… is covered in the tour price and they don’t want to do shopping. We highly recommend you to bring USD dollars for shopping in Bhutan because it’s widely accepted in handicraft stores and other stores. There are few ATMs in Thimphu where you can withdraw money with your credit card but we would advise to you carry cash in USD for convenience.
The currency in Bhutan is called the Ngultrum. It is linked and equal in value to the Indian rupee, which is also accepted in Bhutan. You cannot purchase ngultrum prior to arriving in Bhutan, but you can easily buy ngultrum at the Paro airport, at Bhutan National Bank and the Bank of Bhutan, and at major hotels in Thimphu and Paro, all of which accept traveler’s checks and/or dollars and various other currencies. When visiting smaller towns, however, you should bring ngultrum for your purchases, as it may not be possible to exchange your currency.
Bhutan has only one time zone. It is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 30 minutes ahead of India, 15 minutes ahead of Nepal, and one hour behind Thailand. In the USA, during daylight saving time (April through October) Bhutan is 10 hours ahead of New York City. During standard time (November through March), Bhutan is 11 hours ahead of New York City.
We use hotels that are all approved by Tourism Council of Bhutan. The hotels are all 3 star hotel and above except for few hotels if you are traveling to Eastern Bhutan. The hotels are basic however they are clean, comfortable and they provide good service. We keep our guests in the best hotels possible.
There is only one national airline in Bhutan and the hotels are limited, we recommend 12 weeks in advance during peak season and 8 months in advance during low season early to avoid disappointment. Festivals held in Autumn and Spring are peak season for tourists and it can be difficult to secure bookings of hotels and Druk Air seats without advance notice. We will of course make every effort to accommodate last minute bookings.
