Thimphu Bhutan
4 c

New Motithang,Thimphu Bhutan

+975 02 333123

sangayaba@gmail.com

room1

Old and Young alike instinctively turns prayer wheels at every passing,Fingers grumplinig over Mala beads





FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

It's impossible to take full advantage of a holiday destination, especially to such a richly diverse country as Bhutan without knowing some basic facts. So to help you understand what to expect, below are the answers to frequently asked questions by tourists who have booked a holiday in Bhutan. What's more, there is a complementary list of tourist information.



Hello





Do I Need A Visa To Enter Bhutan?
All International tourists wishing to enter Bhutan require a visa which must be pre-arranged through a license Bhutanese Tour Operator or one of their international partners. Visa clearance must be obtained through your tour operator prior to travel. For Indian passport (or VIC) holders, Bangladeshi nationals and persons from the Maldives may obtain a visa on entry.



When is the best time to visit Bhutan?
The most excellent time to visit Bhutan would be all the months except June, July and August due to the rains that may interrupt your flight schedule to get in or out of Bhutan.

In spring, the trekking season starts in moderate altitudes. Above 2500 meters, magnificent rhododendron forests and flowers are in full bloom. In Paro, one of the largest monastic festivals “Paro Tsechu” takes place. The temperature is enjoyably mild. Rain starts falling in May which is a sign of the approaching monsoon. Autumn is the tradition season in Bhutan. September, October and November have the highest number of religious festivals or Tshechus. Trekkers particularly like the clear view of the mountains in October and November.


How do i get to Bhutan
There are a number of airports where you can fly into Bhutan from (Bangkok,Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Singapore and Mumbai). At present two carriers operate to Bhutan, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Also, there are three land border crossings which you can travel into the kingdom overland. All crossings are along the Indian border only – Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar. All travel arrangements to Bhutan must be made through a local tour operator. A list of tour companies operating in Bhutan is available on this website. Your selected tour operator will make all the necessary arrangements.








Why is it so expensive to visit Bhutan?
Sure Bhutan is more expensive than 3 star India or Nepal however lets put this into perspective! Because the Bhutanese Government has imposed an ‘all inclusive’ nightly tariff structure, for all tourist visitors, Bhutan tours can ‘appear’ to be expensive. In our 10 years experience with Bhutan we regularly receive comments from returning visitors on how great the ‘value for money’ genuinely is.

Usually this is just a myth. Bhutan is not at all expensive to travel. The daily tariff of US$250/person per night halt includes almost everything. It includes US$65/person per night halt as Bhutan Government royalty. This includes you meals, driver, guide, comfortable ground transportation within Bhutan, entry fee into monuments and temples, and bottled drinking water. Bhutan is a small country with very little natural resources. Without income from other sources, tourism is one major hard currency earner. The royalty of US$65/person per night halt goes into paying free education and medical facilities in Bhutan.








What is included in the tour packages listed?
The Tourism Council of Bhutan imposes minimum spending per traveler per day. Within this limit, the following are included:

• Accommodation (3 star rated hotels)
• All meals inclusive
• A qualified & licensed English-speaking guide
• An experienced driver
• Sightseeing, entrances fees to museums & monuments, all permits
• A good vehicle (4WD for travelling couples or mini bus or bus for bigger groups)
• Taxes, surcharges, Sustainable Tourism Development Fees of USD 65 per day









Can I find cheaper rates for travel to Bhutan?
Yes, but any other rates, other than the tariffs set by the government, are unlawful and you would be taking a serious risk. The tourism authority firmly checks any kind of undercutting, and will impose severe fines on anyone found guilty, such as cancellation of business license, disruption of tours, and even expulsion of visitors who use these agents. In any case, cheaper rates would without doubt lead to poorer customer service, as tour operators would turn as many guests as possible in large groups, put them up in sub-standard hotels to cut expenses, and hire unqualified guides to drag their visitors around.









What currency should I carry?
Most currencies are exchanged by banks here. The most commonly accepted currencies are US dollars, Australian dollars, Singapore dollars, Euro, pounds, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, Canadian dollars, Danish kroner, Norwegian Kroner, Swedish Korner and Indian rupees. Most handicraft accept US dollar, Australian dollar, Euro and pounds. You can even exchange these currencies in some local shops. They give you better exchange rate than the banks.





TRIP PLANNER