Bhutan

Bhutan is  well-known as the Land of Thunder  Dragons and the only Kingdom in South Asia.

You can enter the Bhutan only after you book a trip with a tour organizer like Adveture Pilgrims Trekking and get paper visa . We are running trips to Bhutan since 1994.

BY AIR :
The best way to enter Bhutan is by Druk Air, Bhutan's National Flag carrier. Druk Air has flights from India (Delhi and Calcutta), Nepal (Kathmandu), Thailand (Bangkok) and Bangladesh (Dhaka). Druk Air is the only air operating TO/FROM Bhutan.

BY LAND :
By land, one can enter or exit Bhutan from Phuntsoling (from India), the southern Bhutanese border town that is soon connected to West Bengal state of India. For this you'll require Indian Visa also which can also be arranged if you book trips to visit Darjeeling and Sikkim and then to Bhutan or for travellers willing to visit Darjeeling, Sikkim and Nepal, Phuntsoling serves as a best connecting point. Exit from Bhutan can also be made from Samdrup Zongkhar . This frontier town is approximately three hours drive from Guwahati, the capital city of Assam state of India. Samdrup Zongkhar is the only other authorised exit point in Bhutan from where you can make further visit to other parts of India.

VISA:
As per government rule, it is mandatory to travel at least one way to/from Bhutan or both. Visa is required for traveling to Bhutan and it is processed and arranged by travel agents in Bhutan. No foreign mission grants tourist visa. Once you've decided to participate in one of Around Himal's Bhutan programs, our partner agent in Bhutan will take care of your Visa preparation. You need to book at least four weeks prior to starting date of your proposed travel, for processing it with the concerned authorities. Please include four copies of a recent passport size photographs. Actual visa is stamped on arrival in Bhutan while visa is cleared in advance and a visa clearance number issued. Once we've gone through this process and received a clearance number, we will confirm your travel. 

CUSTOMS & REGULATIONS :
The Bhutanese authorities strictly prohibit the export of any religious antiquity or antiques of any type. All personal electronics, cameras, video cameras, computers and personal electronic equipment may be brought into the country but they must be listed on the Customs form provided on arrival at Paro or at entry port to Bhutan and will be checked on your departure. Two liters of Alcohol and reasonable quantity of cigarettes may be brought in to the country without duty. 

CURRENCY :
Bhutan's unit of currency is the Ngultrum (Nu), (100 Nu equals 1.55 USD ) roughly .With the Indian rupee ?1 = Nu.0.9996.roughly  Tourists can use cash at the Bank of Bhutan or at any authorised hotels. US dollar, Australian dollars, pound sterling, Euro, French and Swiss francs, German marks, Dutch guilders, Hongkong dollars, Singapore dollars, Thai bath or Japanese yen and major credit/debit cards are all accepted currencies. 

ACCOMMODATION:
Hotels vary in style and quality but are generally considered one of the welcome surprises for visitors. There is a variety of hotels in Bhutan, ranging from simple huts that cater to Bhutanese Yak herders to Paro's fancy Olathang Hotel and Hotel Uma Paro, which was built for royal guests. There is no International chain of hotels and not much imported hotel equipment. To be more precise, what you get is a Bhutanese version of what the tourists expect. In most cases, the facilities and service are good. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan approves the hotels for the International tourists. 

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO:
The photography opportunities in Bhutan are immense. Photography is permitted nearly everywhere in Bhutan and the local population has no aversion to being photographed. If you wish to record the local people, their houses, shops etc, always ask by gestures if it is okay to do so. Photography inside the Dzongs and Monasteries are not permitted. Please follow our guide's instruction carefully while visiting Dzongs, monasteries and religious institution. 

The International Tourist Tariff is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and is valid for all-inclusive package. The tariffs for tourists visiting in a group of 4 person or more are as follow:

Hign Season Tarrif
US$ 280 per person per night (January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December) Travel to Bhutan.

Low Season Tarrif
US$ 260 per person per night (July and August) for Bhutan Travel.

Note: Both the above rates are the same for cultural tours, treks or any other special interest tours contact us for special rates!

Surcharge
Individual tourists and smaller groups (FITS) of less than 4 person shall be subject to surcharges as below:

Single Individual: US$ 40 per person per night.
Group of 02: US$ 30 per person per night.
These FIT surcharges are net payable (Non-Commissionable).

Payment Procedure
Tour payment must be sent 4 weeks prior to date of arrival in Bhutan and visa is cleared by the Royal Government of Bhutan subject to advance payment only.

For high seasons, it is advisable to remit payment for Druk Air flights 4 weeks in advance. It will help us to manage confirmed seat.

Once the trip is confirmed we will send you the instructions for making payment.

Price Includes:
Tours specified in the itinerary.
Accommodation in Govt. approved Hotels on twin sharing basis.
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Land transport within Bhutan.
Trekking equipment like best sleeping tents, dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, mattresses, and sheets.
Services of guides.
Trekking cooks and trek assistant.
Supply of pack and riding ponies.
Museum and monument fees.

Price dose not include
Travel insurance.
Rescue operations by helicopter.
Airfare.
Transfer and services outside Bhutan.
Visa fee of US $ 20 per person, airport departure tax of US $ 12 per person.
Wire transfer fee for transferring tour payment from your bank to Bhutan.
Excess baggage charges.
Mineral water, soft drinks and any alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, laundry, telephone calls and other personal expenses.