Bhutan Travel Information
Visitors to Bhutan must either be guests of the government or tourists, and all tourists must travel on a pre-planned, prepaid, guided package tour. Independent travel is not permitted.
Visitors to Bhutan can book their tours through Bhutan Gateway Travel. We will take care of all the arrangements for visas, Druk Air reservations, hotel bookings, planning tours and other arrangements all are tailored to suit the interest of clients.
The best times to visit are the spring months of March, April, and May, and the autumn months of September, October and November. The winter months are cold at night, but the daytime temperatures are warm with bright, clear blue skies. Most high altitude trek routes are closed during winter but there are a number of low altitude treks which we offer for winter.
During the summer monsoon in June, July, August and early September, rain is expected. There are chances of road and flight problems, but every effort within Bhutan Gateway Travel capacity will be made to stick to original programmes.
You can enter into Bhutan by road through Phuentsholing in the south or by air at Paro. Druk Air, the national carrier, is the only airline servicing Bhutan operating from these cities: Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Calcutta, and Dakha.
All foreign nationalities require a visa for Bhutan. We will need a completed visa application from you and should be faxed or e-mailed to us at least 6 weeks prior to arrival in Bhutan. The actual visa will be issued in your passports at the entry points, either Paro airport or Phuentsholing.
Accommodation: 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 an unique combination of traditional Bhutanese style together with modern services, but not international five-star luxury 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.
Hotels and lodges are categorized by the Royal Government of Bhutan. 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 Bhutanese hospitality.
Getting to Bhutan:
- Bhutan is accessible by air and by land. Entry by air is through Paro International Airport, the only airport in the Kingdom. It is located in the western part of Bhutan. At this time, National Carrier, Druk Airlines has flying arrangement between Paro and 6 other sectors: Delhi, Dhaka, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Kolkotta, and Rangoon. It operates several flights between these sectors in a week. Many more sectors including Mumbai, Chennai, Singapore, Hong Kong are being explored and will soon be part of destination for Druk Airlines.
Entering by flight to Paro:
- Airbus A-319 jets transport passengers in and out of Paro. View of Eastern Himalayan Range during the flight is said to be one of the most spectacular flight paths in the world. On a journey from or to Kathmandu, 4 of the 5 highest mountains in the world are seen on clear day. Do not miss the first experience of landing at Paro. The small airstrip between the narrow hills in Paro valley appear so abruptly that you only get chance to take one breath and marvel the sight.
We welcome you at Paro Valley:
- Paro is one of the most fertile districts in Bhutan. Lying at an elevation of 2350 meters, the valley is surrounded with high mountains covered with snow during most part of the year. Company representative will welcome you at the Airport with traditional fanfare, and white ceremonial Khadhar (Scarf), blessing you with safe journey through out Bhutan. and help you with Visa formalities. Drive to Thimphu, Capital city of Bhutan is 1 and half hour from Paro.
Arriving by Road:
- While entry can be made either by Samdrupjongkhar in far South East or through Phuntsoling in South West part of Bhutan. Both are bordered with Indian State, and later is biggest commercial town in Bhutan. Distance from Phuntsholing to Thimphu can be covered in 7 hours.
Distances and Travel Times within Bhutan:
- From/To Distance Travel Time
- Thimphu – Paro 65 km 1 hr 30 min
- Thimphu – Phuntsholing 176 km 6 hrs
- Phuntsholing – Bagdogra (India) 170 km 4 hrs
- Thimphu – Ha 115 km 3 hrs 30 min
- Ha – Paro 60 km 2 hrs 30 min
- Thimphu – Wangdue Phodrang 70 km 2 hrs
- Thimphu – Punakha 77 km 2 hrs 15 min
- Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang 21 km 30 min
- Wangdue Phodrang – Trongsa 129 km 4 hrs
- Trongsa – Bumthang 68 km 2 hrs 30 min
- Bumthang – Mongar 129 km 4 hrs
- Mongar – Trashigang 90 km 3 hrs
- Trashigang – Trashi Yangtse 55 km 2 hrs
Getting around the Bhutan:
- Usually travel through road to Bhutan is undertaken to complement one of your trip to nearest state in Eastern part of India. All districts Head Quarter in Bhutan are accessible with road except Gasa. Journey through out Bhutan is organized through Luxury Cars for smaller or in Bus for larger group. Road may not be straight or flat in many places, but it is well networked and most places can be reached between 6 to 7 hours of journey. For you, comfortable journey time has been arranged to able to see places during and after you reach new destinations.
Bhutanese People:
- People are frank, helpful and out spoken. If you lost on your way, or you want to see any kind of help, you can unhesitantly catch one passer by and ask him or her. Most people in town can converse in English.
Currency:
- Ngultrum (Nu.) at par with Indian Rupee or US $ 45 (RMA, May 2006). Traveler can exchange their money in hotels and or at the Air port through Govt. approved money exchanger. There are few craft shops which accept American Express or Visa Cards.
Travel in Bhutan:
Tours are escorted by licensed guides by Department of Tourism. Depending on your needs foreign language guide can also be arranged. Hotels and food are arranged and paid for within the amount you paid. There is no extra payment except for visa, and museum fees.
Food in Bhutan:
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Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies and cheese. AHKE Adventure Travel selected list of hotels and lodges offer delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese and Indian Cuisine. Even on trek AHKE Adventure travel trained cooks prepare dishes suitable to western taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Indian.
Climate:
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Places in Bhutan start at hot topical climate in south to extreme cold condition in north.
During the summer, Trashigang, Phuntsoling, Samdrupjongkhar, Wangduephodrang, Punakha are hot at an average temperature between 25 and 33 degree Celsius. While places in middle or temperate region, Thimphu, Paro, Bumthang in Bhutan experiences very nice weather condition with temperature between 15-25 Degree Celsius. Winter is very cool in these areas, where Bumthang have much harsher climate.
July and August can be preety rainy months, with monsoon around the regions.
Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November until mid-March, with low humidity. Temperature is as high as 15 degree, while minimum goes below minus 5. March, April, May and Mid August, September, Oct, are the best time to visit Bhutan with clear sky, and lots of Sun.
Photography:
- The photographic opportunities on all trips are immense. You will also wish to record the local people, their houses and shops etc. Always ask by gesture if it is ok to do so. Don't take your destination as living museum. Also while visiting Dzong, monasteries and religious institutions, please follow your guide's instruction carefully.
35mm colour print film is readily available. Slide film is more difficult to find. Bring enough batteries if you use lithium batteries.
Health information and Insurance:
- No vaccinations are currently required for travelling to Bhutan. However if you are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to have a yellow fever vaccination and should be administered at least 10 days before your arrival in Bhutan. Also if arriving from a Cholera infected area, the vaccination is strongly recommended. Anti-malarial medication is also recommended for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the districts that border India.
- We recommend that all travelers obtain a short-term traveler's insurance policy, which covers everything from life and emergency medical care to lost baggage.
Shopping and Electricity:
You can shop at numerous tourist handicraft shops, and post office for those of who collect stamps.- Electricity is 220/240 volts. You should have much problems, incase you have doubt bring along international electricity converter kit.
Accomodation and communication:
- Visitors must be informed that Bhutan is remote and a unique country and all the facilities are not the best. There are comfortable hotels, lodges and guesthouses at tourist destinations. Western Bhutan has better hotels while in central and eastern part of the country; accommodations are more rudimentary but cleaned.
- The telecommunication services available in the Kingdom include: telephones, facsimile, telex, telegraph, international phone links and 14.4 Internet e-mail cafes.
