Visa
Except for the citizens of Bangladesh, Maldives, and India, require VISA to enter Bhutan. The VISA processing for Bhutan requires a readable color copy of passport via email that must have at least six months of validity from the date of exit from Bhutan. The file (Scan Copy) should be forwarded via email in JPEG or PDF format. The passport number and picture of the applicant should be visible in the e-document. The application should be processed at least 10 days prior to the date of entry to Bhutan. The tourism council of Bhutan then issues a VISA clearance letter and fax or email it to the local travel agent. Please note that the VISA service is not offered in Bhutan, travelers have to buy a full-service package from the local tour operator. Travelers traveling by air are required to produce a printed VISA clearance copy at the time of check-in for Druk Air flight. People traveling by land to enter Bhutan via Phuentshoking or Samdrup Jonkhar are required to produce a VISA clearance letter at the immigration center. The actual VISA is stamped in your passport on your arrival in Bhutan.
Meals and Accommodation
While traveling to Bhutan, you will buy a full-service package. Here, you are to serve all meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. If you are interested in taste food available in Bhutan then, Ema Datshi is best-featured food of Bhutan. It is quite spicy and is cooked with a lot of cheese. Steamed rice with varieties of spicy curries is widely available in Bhutan. The restaurants in Bhutan serve Chinese, continental and Indian foods. Special menus listed with food items and cost is available in the restaurants. Tibetan dumplings aka momos is a well-accounted food in Bhutan.
Hotels, we use in Bhutan is best standard (Government approved 3 stars) with comfortable, clean and offered all the amenities required and meets the recent standardization policy set by the government. Upon suggestion, the hotel accommodation can be upgraded from 3 stars to 5-star ranges hotels and resorts. The star rated hotels are located in the cities of western Bhutan like Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, etc. Most of the hotels in these cities are easily accessible and lies in the heart of the cities. The hotels and lodges are decorated with traditional Bhutanese arts and paintings.
Transportation
We use comfortable and well-maintained tourist vehicle based on group size. We ensure before leaving on a trip that our vehicle is double-checked properly. Your security is our main concern and you can be sure to have a safe trip with us.
Climate
The weather in Bhutan varies from place to place depending upon the altitude of the region. In general, the weather is warm during summer; you might get little rainfall especially in the south of Bhutan. Spring and autumn are very pleasant with warm days and cool nights. Winter is usually cold in Bhutan with chilling mornings and evenings. The temperature level may go down even below zero. You may get the warmth of the sun during the day in winter. Due to the vivid geographical condition of the kingdom Bhutan experiences subtropical climate.
Vaccinations
As vaccination requirements change frequently, we suggest you consult your doctor at least 2 months prior to the commencement of your trip. We recommend protection against malaria, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis, and polio.
Insurance
Before joining the tour, we recommend you take out travel insurance. This should include adequate cover for baggage, medical expenses, cancellation, helicopter evacuation, and emergency repatriation. If you do not have travel insurance, you must have a credit card with at least a US$5000 limit.
Personal expenses
We don’t pay for your personal expenses and recommend you to bring extra money to cover meals not included in the tour, extra activities, souvenirs, tips, etc.
Currency
The currency of Bhutan is called Ngultrum with currency sign Nu. There are several banks and money exchange centers in Bhutan that change your local currency to Ngultrum. The exchange rate may differ in times due to fluctuation in US dollars. The ngultrum does not exchange independently with other nations' currencies but is interchangeable with the Indian rupee. Major debit and credit cards service is available in the major cities but it is advised to carry ample cash and travel cheque for your convenience.
Communication
Most of the major towns and cities in Bhutan are equipped with basic communication facilities that include telephone, fax and internet service. Most of the bigger hotels provide email, internet, and WiFi facilities within the hotel premises. You can also buy the Bhutanese cell phone service if you need it. If you want to send or receive a parcel then you can use Bhutan postal service which is commonly found in most of the places in the country. For express services, people can use DHL or FedEx which are located in the capital city.
Clothing
While traveling to Bhutan, you need to be careful with your clothes and travel equipment. You need to know the season and weather condition before packing your things while traveling in Bhutan. The temperature and climatic condition vary in various regions of the country due to geographical condition and altitude differences. You, therefore, need to be very careful about selecting your dresses during your trip to the kingdom of Bhutan. Meantime, Bhutan being a religious country following the proper dress etiquettes would be a good idea. You are advised to avoid shorts, skirts, tight clothing while visiting religious sites like monasteries and temples. Any clothing that expresses vulgarity is strictly prohibited while traveling
in the temples and monasteries. You are also advised to remove the sun caps if you are visiting the temple of Dzongs.
Dos and Don’ts
Bhutan opened its territory for the international tourists only after 1947 when the government of Bhutan decided to promote the country through tourism. Bhutan is a religious country so there are many things that are considered taboos. The tourists visiting Bhutan should be aware of some basic dos and don’ts while traveling in Bhutan.
Dos
- Have a printed VISA clearance copy at the time of check-in for the flight to Bhutan
- Follow the proper dress etiquettes. Please make sure your dress code doesn’t harm the religious sentiments
- Be courteous to old people and treat them with respect
- Carry enough cash as many businesses do not accept credit cards
- Respond to the assigned tour guide and follow their instruction
- Do register your expensive personal belongings at customs as you need to show the proof of their existence while exiting the country.
- Do follow the traffic rules and regulations
Don'ts
- Avoid tight/skin revealing clothes while visiting religious sites as they might be considered vulgar
- Remove sun caps while visiting temples or Dzongs
- Avoid slangs while visiting religious sites
- Do not feed birds/animals while visiting natural sites
- Do not smoke anywhere you like. Look for the designated smoking zone
- Do not point finger at people or art.
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