ABOUT BHUTAN
VISITING BHUTAN
All foreign nationals other than Indians require visa and must travel through a registered travel agent on an all-inclusive package tour.These agents make all allied arrangements including obtaining of visa and Druk Air reservations.Like Bhutan Zamling Tours and Travel company.Visa Procedure
Visa is required for all foreign nationals traveling to Bhutan and is processed in Thimphu through a local registered tour operator. No foreign Mission/Embassies abroad grant tourist visa. Passport details are required to process the same, which should be forwarded at least 10 days prior to the date of travel. Actual visa is stamped only on arrival in Bhutan on reference of the visa clearance issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A traveler is required to have a copy of the Visa Clearance Letter or at least know the visa clearance no. For those arriving through Druk Air , visa clearance number is forwarded to concerned overseas Druk Air Stations (travelers are not allowed to board the flight without visa clearance number) and for those arriving overland, Visa Clearance is forwarded to the visa authorities at Phuentsholing (entry point) and the visa stamp on arrival. Two copies of passport size photographs are required on arrival. Visa fee of cash US$20 per person is required to pay upon grant of visa stamp, which is granted for 14 days. For extension, additional fee of approximately US$15 is payable.- Should you intend to travel through us, you can download the visa application form, fill-up and send us online/fax or post.
- Download Visa Form | Word Format
- Download Visa Form | PDF Format
Tour Escorts
All our tours are escorted by knowledgeable DoT (Department of Tourism) certified English-speaking guides. French, Italian, Japanese, German speaking guides could also be provided with prior information and on additional cost.Food
Bhutanese delicacies are limited with spicy chilies and cheese. However, you will be served a buffet of Continental & Chinese food with local dishes too. Even on trek, dishes are served suitable to your taste ranging from Continental to Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese.Clothing
Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions, it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold, layered clothing is better than a few thick ones. Clothes should be preferably of natural material, which allows the body to breath better. It is also not advisable for you to walk around in skinny or tight fitting clothes. It is advisable for the women to wear shirts or loose trousers. Please avoid wearing shorts and hats while visiting Dzongs, Monasteries and other religious institution.Postal Service & Communications
Bhutan Post is the national postal organization in Bhutan and is a reliable service. You can send your cards, mails, letters, etc. from the post offices available at each place that you visit. No extra formalities are required to avail the facilities for a foreign national. International Courier Services like DHL International, First Flight, EMS (Express Mail Service) and Blue Dart Courier are available in Thimphu.All major towns in the country have both domestic and international direct dialing facilities. Most of the hotels and PCOs have STD/IDD facilities and fax transmission facility. Bhutan, since mid of 1999, has its own Internet and email service. Country dialing code of the kingdom is +975. Area code of Thimphu, the capital city is 2.
Time Zone
Bhutan has only one time zone. It is exactly six hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).Currency
Ngultrum, in short known as Nu is the official currency of Bhutan and has equivalent value to the Indian Rupee. , which is also accepted in Bhutan. ATMs are not available in Bhutan, and thus credit cards are accepted only at certain places. US dollar and Euro is widely accepted all over the country. Changing of money is possible at the banks viz. Bank of Bhutan and Bhutan National Bank and hotels.Restricted Area
Not all places of religious establishments are open to tourists. This is to ensure that monastic life can continue unhindered and for environmental and safety concerns. Details can be provided with a full list of places and festivals that are open to tourists.
Customs
Visitors are required to complete the Customs formalities by submitting the Declaration Form to customs authorities on arrival. The following articles are exempted from customs duty.- Personal effects and articles for day to day use by the visitor
- 2 litres of alcohol; 400 cigarettes; 150 gms of pipe tobacco
- Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional use
- Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal use
- Articles described in sl.no.3 & 4 must be declared on the Customs Form. If such items are disposed of in Bhutan by sale or gift they become liable for customs duty.
- Arms, ammunition, explosives and military stores
- All narcotics and drugs (medically prescribed drugs are exempted)
- Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species
- Antiques
Import of plants, soils etc. are subject to quarantine regulations. These items must be declared on arrival.
Filming
Commercial filming in Bhutan is permissible upon grant of approval from the Department of Tourism and payment of royalty at the following rate. Duration of the final edited version amount in United States Dollars| Sl.No. | Duration | Royalty(US $) |
| 1. | First 30 minutes or part thereof | 10,000.00 |
| 2. | Next 30 minutes or part thereof | 6,000.00 |
| 3. | Every additional 30 minutes or part thereof | 3,000.00 |
| 4. | Security Deposit | 5,000.00 ( refundable upon completion of the film to the satisfaction of the Department of Tourism ) |
Applications for filming permit needs to be submitted to the Department of Tourism at least 4 weeks in advance, with the following Synopsis of the film, specific locations of filming, objects & activities, composition of team, list of equipment, accessories, consumables and a letter of recommendation from the sponsoring agency.
As per Government regulation, all members of the filming team are to pay full daily tariff.
Security Deposit of US$ 5,000 must be deposited with the Department of Tourism, which will be refunded upon completion of the film to the satisfaction of the Department of Tourism.
Photography
Photographic opportunities are immense on all trips. In general, people do not mind if you take their photograph. However, you are advised to follow the guide’s instructions carefully, while visiting Dzongs, Monasteries and other religious institutions.Insurance
Travel Insurance is responsibility of an individual. It is advised/recommended that a traveler does this at his/her place/country of residence prior to commencement of his/her trip to Bhutan. It will not be at our reach/responsibility to cover assistance on unforeseen emergencies, especially emergencies like air evacuation.Vaccinations
Ministry of Health, Bhutan has not felt the necessity to take vaccination of any kind to enter the Kingdom. However, you may at your own concern, wish to take immunization against certain preventable diseases. We suggest that you go through US Centers for Disease Control for updated information on this issue.Altitude Sickness
is one important concern that a traveler needs to be aware of. Even though most visitors do not encounter any problem, some face problem especially trekking at high altitude, which at some routes goes as high as 5000 Meters. International Society for Mountain Medicine will provide you good information on prevention and management of this sickness. International Society for Mountain Medicine too would provide you with information on altitude sickness.Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory; however, you may like to tip at your own free will for appreciation of services to tour guides, drivers, trek assistants, trekking cooks, people accompanying on trek, etc.Transportations We use Japanese and Korean imported luxury vehicles for transportation within Bhutan.
Safety Issues
Crime rate is very low in Bhutan, and is absolutely safe for Women and Free Individual Travelers. For in-depth and up-to-date information on travel to Bhutan, you can refer to the US Department of state's Consular Information Sheet on Bhutan.Distances & Driving Time
Mode of transportation within Bhutan is by Motor vehicle. No domestic air service or train service is available as of now. Since it is the only available mode, roads are well maintained and are linked to most of the parts of the country. Due to the mountainous terrain and the winding roads, the average driving speed is restricted to not more than 40 kilometer per hour.| From | To | Distance [in Km] | Driving Time [approx] |
| Thimphu | Paro | 54 | 2 Hrs. |
| Thimphu | Phuntsholing | 172 | 6 Hrs. |
| Thimphu | Wangdue Phodrang | 70 | 3 Hrs. |
| Thimphu | Punakha | 76 | 3 Hrs. |
| Punakha | Wangdue Phodrang | 17 | 40 Mins. |
| Wangdue Phodrang | Trongsa | 129 | 5 Hrs. |
| Trongsa | Bumthang | 68 | 3 Hrs. |
| Bumthang | Mongar | 198 | 7 Hrs. |
| Mongar | Lhuntshi | 76 | 3 Hrs. |
| Mongar | Trashigang | 91 | 3 Hrs. |
| Trashigang | Chorten Kora | 52 | 2 Hrs. |
| Trashigang | Samdrup Jongkhar | 180 | 7 Hrs. |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Guwahati (India) | 110 | 3 Hrs. |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Phuentsholing | 380 | 10 Hrs. |
| Phuntsholing | Bagdogara | 170 | 4 Hrs. |
Climate
The whole of southern region of Bhutan is tropical, Punakha, & Wangdiphodrang valleys in the west and Mongar-Trashigang-Lhuntse valleys in the east enjoy a semi tropical climate with very cool winters, while Thimphu, Paro, Trongsa and Bumthang has quite a harsher climate, with heavy monsoon rains in the summer and heavy snow fall in winter. Winter here begins by mid-November and stays till mid-March, at this time of the year the climate is dry with daytime temperature of 16-18° C and night time temperature falling below zero. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June, with the downpour mainly in the afternoons and evenings. Autumn begins by end of September, and throughout October till mid November it is pleasant for everything, especially for those who wish to trek in the deeper Himalayas.Recorded Average Temperatures at different places
| Place | Jan/Feb | Mar/Apr | May/June | July/Aug | Sep/Oct | Nov/Dec | ||||||
| Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max |
| Paro | +13 | +3 | +15 | +3 | +23 | +13 | +25 | +15 | +22 | +10 | +12 | +3 |
| Thimphu | +14 | 0 | +16 | +6 | +22 | +14 | +27 | +17 | +20 | +13 | +16 | +1 |
| Punakha | +18 | +7 | +24 | +9 | +22 | +10 | +26 | +13 | +25 | +11 | +22 | +9 |
| Wangdi | +17 | +7 | +24 | +11 | +28 | +18 | +29 | +20 | +26 | +17 | +22 | +7 |
| Trongsa | +12 | +1 | +16 | +2 | +20 | +14 | +18 | +14 | +17 | +13 | +16 | +9 |
| Bumthang | +10 | +1 | +16 | +5 | +18 | +10 | +21 | +13 | +19 | +11 | +15 | +2 |
| Mongar | +23 | +10 | +27 | +11 | +30 | +20 | +35 | +22 | +30 | +18 | +25 | +8 |
| Trashigang | +16 | +4 | +19 | +7 | +20 | +13 | +22 | +14 | +20 | +11 | +16 | +9 |
NOTE: Above temperatures recorded at degree centigrade.
General Information
ENTRY / EXIT
Entry and exit to Bhutan is possible either by air or road. Druk Air , Bhutan's National Airline has regular flights from Delhi (India), Kolkatta (India), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Bangkok (Thailand) to Paro. Entry/Exit is also possible overland through Phuentsholing, a commercial town bordering to the state of West Bengal, India. Exit (only) can also be made through Samdrup Jongkhar, a commercial center in eastern Bhutan; a town approximately 3 hours drives from Guwhati (the state capital of Assam, India).As per government rule, it is mandatory to travel at least one way by Druk Air. It can either be entry or exit. However, in exceptional cases, special permission can be obtained to travel both ways by road.
Druk Air
Druk Air, the Royal Bhutan Airline is the national airline of Bhutan and is the only airline operating in Bhutan with two Bae146-100 series.To briefly talk about its history, the airline was established by a Royal Proclamation on 5th April 1981, and its commencement of operation began from 14th January 1983, with a 18 seater German Dornier 228-200 operating between Paro(Bhutan) and Calcutta(India) and Dhaka (Bangladesh). From two destinations in 1983, today Druk Air operates in six destinations in five countries viz. Delhi and Kolkata(India), Kathmandu(Nepal), Bangkok(Thailand), Dhaka (Bangladesh) & Yangoon(Myanmar), in a schedule of four times a week to Bangkok and Kolkata, twice to Kathmandu and Delhi and once a week to Dhaka and Yangoon.
Paro is the only airport in Bhutan, which is located in a deep valley at an elevation of 7300 ft above sea level. The surrounding hills are high as 16,000 ft and approach into Paro airport is entirely by visual flight rules.
Druk Air operates from an airport that is "daylight restricted" and totally dependent on weather, flights can sometimes be delayed. It is suggested that passenger's keep at least 24 hours transit time for connecting flights out of Paro (Bhutan). It is also advisable to travel on non-restricted tickets so that if a connection is missed, it can be re-routed of 'endorsed' onto another carrier on the first available flight.
Flights into Paro can also at times be disrupted due to unfavorable weather conditions. Under such circumstances, the flight halts the night at transit stations. In order to be prepared for such an event, it is advised to carry essential personal items like medicines, toiletries, and minimum checked-in-baggage at the transit station. However, it is to be noted that the hand baggage is strictly restricted to one piece; the size not exceeding 45+35+20cm and the weight not exceed 5 kg (11 pounds). Oversize/overweight hand baggage are often intercepted during boarding and thus visitors are advised to remove any valuables and travel documents and lock the bag before handing over the hand baggage to the airport staff. Due to the limited hold space, baggage is sometime left behind, often from Bangkok sector. Although it tries to accommodate all the baggage especially for visitors, bulky items should be booked ahead as unaccompanied baggage/ cargo. It is suggested that all important and essential items be packed in one bag/suitcase and that piece of baggage identified during check-in, will be prioritised. Druk Air tries to ensure that all passengers receive at least one-piece accompanied baggage with them on the same flight.
Mountain Flight
"Kingdom from the Sky" Druk Air's mountain flight offers an opportunity to experience a bird's eye view of many of the mountains in the Bhutan Himalayas and also see some of the more remote and beautiful parts of the Kingdom. Taking off from the airport situated in the valley of Paro at 7,333 ft., the flight makes a rough figure eight route across the length of the country. The hour-long flight offers myriad scenery from the towering heights of the Eastern Himalayas to the subtropical forests of the foothills. The Tshendeygang Group (22,947 ft), Tsari Gang (23,275 ft), Masang Gang (23,603 ft), are among a few of the majestic sights that you will encounter on this flight. Beyond the mighty summits, you can also catch a glimpse of the great Tibetan Plateau in all its grandeur stretching in the distance. The flights are planned for operation every year from October to March and are however subject to weather.FEATURED TRIPS
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