General Travel information

Peak Season Rates
For The Months Of March, April, May, September, October, and November
US$200 per person per day for 3 or more in a group
US$230 per person per day for 2 in a group*
US$240 per day for a single individual*

Off Season Rates
For The Months Of June, July, August, December, January, and February
US$165 per person per day for 3 or more in a group
US$195 per person per day for 2 in a group*
US$205 per day for a single individual*

*These rates include government mandated surcharge of US$40 per day for one person and US$30 per day per person for a group of two.

Notice

The Off Season months will be reduced to only two months a year, namely JULY and AUGUST with effect from 1st January 2007. The Tariff/ Royalty for the designated off season months (July & August) will remain the same and the present high season tariff/ royalty will apply for the rest of the months of the calendar year (i.e. January, February, March April, May, June, September, October, November and December).

Entering Bhutan:

By Air:
The only airport is at Paro. Bhutan's national airline, Druk Air, is the only airline flying in and out of Paro. Currently Druk Air operates 5 flights a week between Paro and Bangkok and all the five times, they fly via Kolkata (India). They fly thrice a week to New Delhi via Katmandu. Druk air have stopped flights to Dhaka and Yangoon for the time being.

Druk Air introduced new and bigger aircraft: Airbus A319 with a seating capacity of 114 with 94 seats on the economy class and 20 seats in Business class. At the moment, these Airbus A319 operates to Bangkok and Kolkata sectors. The earlier aircraft BAE 146 flies to Kathmandu and Delhi sector.
For complete schedule of Druk Air's visit their website at www.drukair.com.bt
 

By Road:
The road from Bagdogra (the nearest Indian airport) enters Bhutan at Phuentsholing, the border town. It is a 3-4 hour drive from Bagdogra airport, which can be reached by plane from Calcutta and Delhi. From Darjeeling or Gangtok (Sikkim), it can take 7 hours to Phuentsholing. It takes approximately 6 hour from Phuentsholing to Thimphu.

Air Tickets:
Druk Air is the only airline that flies in and out of Bhutan. Druk Air tickets will be issued only after your visa is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan. It is, therefore, essential that you send us all passport information required to apply for your Bhutan visa (see below). The air-tickets cannot be issued until the visa is approved - and this process takes a week or more.
 

Tourist Visa:
We will provide all assistance in processing your visa for Bhutan.Tourist visas have to be approved prior to your arrival in Bhutan. After approval, original visas are then issued only when you arrive in the country, either at Paro airport or (if by road) at Phuentsoling. Your visa will be applied for once you confirm your trip to Bhutan. We need the following details in order to start applying for visas:
01: Your full name (as it appears in your passport) -
02: Permanent address -
03: Occupation -
04: Nationality -
05: Passport number -
06: Date of issue and expiration of passport -
07: Date and place of birth –
Please make sure that all your information is correct in order to avoid delays and complications.
The actual visa is stamped in your passport on your arrival at the Paro airport. You need to pay US$ 20 and present a passport photo with your passport number written on the back. You will then receive a visa for the period of your stay in Bhutan. We will process visa extensions for you if they become necessary.
When the visa is cleared in advance we shall inform you of the clearance number, which the Druk Air counter may ask sometimes although all Druk Air counter should have the clearance numbers before hand.

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Accommodation, food, Transport and guides.
The US$200 paid by you is inclusive of you accommodation, food, car with driver and a guide. There are tourist lodges, guest houses, hotels and resorts and all these are standard ones. Some places offer a family environment. We will ensure that the best places are offered to you. Accommodation is on a twin sharing basis. Single rooms can be arranged on payment as below:
For, Festival season = US$ 50 / per single room per night
For, other season = US$ 25 / per single room per night
Bhutanese people love a lot of chili in their food. One of the best known and traditional dishes is the Phagsha sikam and the ema datsi. The former is dried pork and the latter chilli with cheese. DON’T miss this. This is a part of Bhutan. However tourists’ lodges and guest houses have trained cooks and therefore, good food is served in all places. In most places, meals are served in a buffet style.
A car with a driver and guide will be at you service from the moment you enter Bhutan till you exit. This will enable you to take your own time to enjoy the views and the scenery of the places you visit.
The guides provided to you are English-speaking licensed tourist guides who are very familiar with culture and people of the places we visit. They are so well trained and will have the answer to all your questions.
The accommodation on a twin sharing basis, driver, guide, car and food are all inclusive in the payment of US$200 per day you will be making. The only things you will be spending extra expenses will be on mineral water, liquor, laundry and optional tips to the guide, driver and hotel staff.
 

Tourist season:
The best time to come to Bhutan would be in March, April, May, September, October and November. There are many festivals during these periods, and visitors come to take advantage both of the pleasant climate and the wonderful festivals. However, Bhutan has limited tourism infrastructure and during peak seasons facilities are packed, so one has to book the tour well in advance or for those wanting to avoid the busy tourist periods the winter months of January, February June and December are recommended. You still have a lot to see in the off season too.

Tariff
The Department of Tourism regulates all tourism related activities in Bhutan. The existing travel agencies are registered with them, and they also fix the daily tariff rates. Thirty-five percent of the daily tariff goes directly to the Department of Tourism and hence to the national treasury. The current daily tariff is as follows:
1. The minimum tariff for tourists visiting in a group of 3 persons or more during the months of March, April, May, September, October and November is US $ 200 per person per night. For the other six months, it is US $165 per person per night. There shall be no charge for CHILDREN up to the age of 5 years. However, those between the ages of 6 to 12 years accompanied by elders/guardians shall be given 50% discount on daily rates.
2. The minimum daily package rates shall be inclusive of the following:
i. government taxes
ii. charges for accommodation
iii. food
iv. service of guides
v. transport within Bhutan
vi. riding ponies and pack animals on treks
3. The rates given above are applicable per tourist per night halt in Bhutan. On the day of departure, the local agents host obligation shall be limited to breakfast only and any extra requirements shall be payable on actual basis.
4. The rates shall apply uniformly irrespective of locations and the type of accommodation provided/asked for.
Tariff for individuals and small groups (FITs)
1. Individual tourists and smaller groups of less than three persons shall be subject to a surcharge, over and above the minimum daily rates applicable, as follows
o Single individual - US$ 40 per night halt
o Group of 2 - US$30 per night halt per person
 

Discount on tourist tariff
a. DIPLOMATS from foreign embassies/missions accredited to Bhutan shall be given a 25% discount on the daily rates.
b. There shall be no charge for CHILDREN up to the age of 5 years. However, those between the age of 6 to 12 years accompanied by elders/guardians shall be given a 40% discount on daily rates.
c. Full time Students below the age of 25 years holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions shall also be given a 25% discount on daily rates.
d. A discount of 50% on daily rates shall be given to one person in a group of 11 to 15 persons.A 100% discount shall be given to one member in a group exceeding 16 persons.
e.A discount of 10% on the daily rates shall be provided for halts between 11 to 20 nights and 20% discount on halts beyond 21 nights.
 

CANCELLATION
Tour Programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject cancellation charges as follows:-
a. Within 30 days of the start of the tour programme: Free
b. Within 21 days : 10% of the rate
c. Within 14 days : 15% of the rate
d. Within 7 days : 30% of the rate
e. Less than 7 days or cancellation without notice : 50% of the rate
f. After arrival in Bhutan : 100%

DELAYED ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE
a. There shall be no fixed charge for the number of days of delay in arrival of visitors due to weather conditions, Druk Air problems or road blocks except for minimum charge on hotel cancellation, transport & guide.
b. There shall be no charge for the number of days of delay in departure of visitor due to weather conditions, Druk Air problems or road blocks. They will be charged only the actual expenses on accommodation, food transport and any other services required.

Contact us at: bhutancypress@druknet.bt