International Tourism Monitor 2004 (Read PDF file)

VISITING BHUTAN

Visitors must have a visa approved prior to arriving in the kingdom. No foreign mission or Embassies abroad grants Bhutan Tourist Visa. A two week visa cost USD 20. JOJOS can apply for an extension of all tourist visas should a visitor wish to remain in the country for more than two weeks.

> Click here for information on Way to Bhutan

> Click here for information on Best Season to Travel

RESERVATIONS
For all Cultural Tours, the booking must be completed 4 weeks advance but for tours during festivals, 12 weeks advance information is required. Festivals held in spring and autumn are the peak seasons so without early flight reservations confirming flights and hotels can be difficult.

For trekking groups, it is important to do bookings at least 8 weeks in advance as it requires plenty of planning.

INCLUSIVE PACKAGE TOURS
Visitors can travel Bhutan through all-inclusive package tours only for which tariff is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The tariff is inclusive of: Accommodation, transport, guide, all meals and entrance fees to monuments, tourism development fee, and royalty to Government.

TARIFF
The minimum tariff set by the Tourism Authority of Bhutan in USD 200 per day. (The rates can be higher, depending upon the nature of services desired beyond the set entitlement for USD 200). The rate is the same for both cultural tours and treks.

TOUR PAYMENT
Bank transfer must send entire tour payment to Jojo's Adventure Bhutan, in advance as specified below:

For FITs: 30 days advance
For GITs: 30 days advance
For Festival tours: 60 days advance.

For high season (March, April, May, Sep, Oct, Nov) it is advisable to remit payment for Druk Air flights, 3 months advance which will help us to manage confirmed seats.

ENTRY POINTS
The best way to enter Bhutan is by Druk Air, the national air carrier. Following stations are connected with:

DRUK AIR FLIGHTS
India Delhi, Calcutta
Nepal Kathmandu
Thailand Bangkok
Bangladesh Dhaka

DRUK AIR IS THE ONLY AIRLINE OPERATING IN BHUTAN.
> click here for additional info on Druk Air

Entry/Exit to / from Bhutan is also possible through Phuentsholing, the southern Bhutanese border town. Bagdogra, in the state of West Bengal (India) is the nearest airport approximate 4 hours drive from this place. For travelers wishing to visit Indian States of Sikkim, West Bengal along with Bhutan, Phuentsholing serves as the convenient point.

Exit from Bhutan can be made through Samdrup Jongkhar also. This frontier Bhutanese town is approximately 3 hours drive from Guwahati, the capital town of Indian north eastern state of Assam. Samdrup Jongkhar is the authorize exit point only and an important link for visiting further Indian north eastern states.

MONEY
Bhutan unit of currency is Ngultrum (Nu.). 1 Nu. = 100 Chetrum. The Ngultrum is fixed at parity with the Indian Rupee.
Visa and American Express credit cards are accepted only in a few places. Visitors are advised to carry traveler checks (preferably American Express) with some cash (US Dollars).

LANGUAGE
Dzongkha, the language of dzong’, is one of the Tibetan family of languages. Originally spoken only western Bhutan, Dzongkha is now the Bhutanese national language. English is commonly spoken in main towns and also it is the medium of education in schools throughout the kingdom.

ACCOMMODATION
There are comfortable hotels, lodges and guest houses at tourist destinations. Western Bhutan has better hotels while in Central and Eastern part of the country, accommodation establishments are simple and offer minimum facilities. There is no star categorization of hotels and five star luxuries are not available. We have carefully selected the list of accommodation units with the best of location, service and ambience. Away from the towns and villages there are purpose-built huts on some of the principal trekking routes. Otherwise, there is nothing like camping out under the clearest night skies that you have ever seen. Wherever you spend the night, the warm Bhutanese hospitality will make you feel welcome.

> Click here for information on Amankora lodges

TOUR GUIDES
All our tours are led by well trained, knowledgeable guides, certified by Department of Tourism. We have English and japanese speaking guides.

FOOD
Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chillies and cheese. Our selected list of hotels and lodges offer delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese and Indian Cuisine. Even on trek, our trained cooks prepare dishes suitable to western taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Indian.

CLIMATE
The central valleys, namely Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Mongar, Trashigang and Lhuntshi are characteristic of a semi tropical climate with very cool winters. Thimphu, Trongsa and Bumthang have a harsher climate with heavy snowfall that often blocks the passes leading into the central valleys during winter. Monsoon rains in summer are heavy. Eastern Bhutan is generally warmer than the western region, and southern Bhutan enjoys a tropical climate.

Mid-March to May is spring in the higher valleys with warm days (20°C) and cool nights. The summer season starts by June with day temperatures between 27 to 29° C. The rainy season starts in July and continues till mid-September. Clear skies and mild weather accompany the autumn months of September to November. Winter is from mid-November until mid-March. Day temperatures can vary between 16 and 18° C on sunny days, while night temperatures can fall below freezing.

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 a living museum. Also while visiting dzongs, monasteries and religious institutions, please follow your guide’s instruction carefully.

> click here for additional info on photography

COURTSEY: Thinley Namgay

HEALTH INFORMATION
No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However if you are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to have yellow fever vaccination and it shall be administered at least 10 days before your arrival into Bhutan. Also if arriving from 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.

SHOPPING
The country’s exquisite postage stamps, lovely hand woven fabrics, carved masks, woven baskets, wooden bowls, handmade papers, finely crafted metal objects, thangka paintings are the items mostly purchased by travelers in Bhutan. Buying and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in the Kingdom.

ELECTRICITY
In Bhutan, electricity runs at 220 / 240 volts. If you do bring electrical appliances, take along an international converter kit complete with a set of adapter plugs.

TIME
Bhutan time is 6 hours ahead of GMT and there is only one time zone throughout the country.

OTHER INFORMATION
Tourism has been strictly limited in Bhutan so that traditional culture can be preserved and nurtured. The Bhutanese are highly religious people and therefore it is important to show respect and understanding for local customs, way of life especially while visiting religious institutions.

The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable and for these reasons the numbers of tourists visiting Bhutan are kept to an environmentally manageable level.

WOMEN TRAVELLERS
Bhutan takes pride on its lack of class system and an absence of sexual discrimination. Bhutanese women have the same right as the men, including rights of education, voting and holding positions in the government.

Women both foreign an d Bhutanese are not subject to harassment and do not need to take any special precaution, other then following sensible practices of behavior and dress.

SENIOR TRAVELLERS
Because of the high cost of traveling in Bhutan, many visitors are senior traveling in organized groups. Hotel guides and tour operators are all familiar with the needs of the senior and treat them with traditional respect that the Bhutanese have for their elders. The primary precaution one should take is to have an ample supply of any special medicines, as they probably will not be available in Bhutan.

DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
Bhutan is immune to theft and begging.