| Visiting Bhutan |
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Travel Practicalities Visa/ Passport
All visitors to Bhutan must have a valid passport for all nationals except Indians, approved prior to arriving in the kingdom. Those who have not had a visa approved will not be permitted to board their Druk Air flight to Bhutan. All visa applications must reach Bhutan at least three weeks prior to the intended arrival date, earlier if traveling to the kingdom in the peak months except July and August. Full passport details must be faxed to Lhuethag Adventure in order for the visa to be processed with the immigration authorities. Lhuethag Adventure will advise all visitors of their status before their intended departure date. Visitors are reminded to bring two original passport-size photographs with them to Bhutan, as they will be required by the immigration authority at Paro Airport. The actual visas are issued in your passports at the entry points, either Paro airport or Phuentsholing (land entry). Medical & Health cares
Anyone who enjoys out door life and is physically fit can participate on our treks and tours. How ever some treks maybe rigorous and difficult because of high altitude and therefore a good training of fitness for at least a month at home is required for treks going to an altitude in excess of 4000 mtrs, there are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Bhutan or within the continent. However, its recommended that you will be protected against Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Malaria, especially if you are traveling out of Bhutan. If you have heart condition, please check with the doctor to ensure that you are fit to undertake high altitude treks. Clothing
The wide range of temperature does not make dressing easy. From May to Sep. cotton clothes are sufficient, plus a woolen sweater or light jacket. From November to the end of April, on the other hand, you will need very warm clothes including long underwear or woolen tights to wear under trousers, and down jacket or coat etc. The necessary things you should pack for the trip are sunglasses/spare glasses or contact lenses. A pair of casual shoes, washing kit, shaving kit, towel, hat umbrella, camera, film and accessories, maps, insect repellent, hand cream, small sewing kit & safety pins, torch or flash light with spare batteries, mirror, sun screen cream, lip salve or soluble aspirin, antiseptic cream, preparation for the relief of sunburn. You may not be tuned to the Asian drugs so it is always better to bring own brand.
Currency
The currency is “Ngultrum” which is at a par with the Indian Rupee. The Indian Rupee is also legal tender in Bhutan except for the denomination of 500 notes which are banned in Bhutan because of counterfeit. The most of the shops in Bhutan does not accept credits cards except in few handicrafts emporiums. All the Banks in Bhutan and the foreign exchange counter at the airport accept the following currency:
For cinematography The photographic opportunities on all trips are immense. You will also wish to record the local people and their traditional lifestyle etc. You can always ask by gesture, if it is ok to take pictures. Also while visiting Dzongs & monasteries or religious institutions; please follow your tour guide’s instruction carefully. Photography inside the Dzongs and monuments is strictly prohibited.
There are comfortable hotel and lodges that are certified by Department of Tourism, Ministry Trade & Industry, Royal Government of Bhutan at all tourist destinations. Western Bhutan has better hotels while in central and eastern part of the country, accommodation establishments are simple and offer minimum facilities.
Bhutanese food is a tantalizing blend of hot Himalayan flavours. Northern Indian cuisine mixes with the chilies of the Tibetan plateau and traditional recipes from Bhutan's villages to create sizzling and memorable tastes. Chanterelle mushrooms, apricots, asparagus, a wide variety of chilies and a host of spices grow in abundance in Bhutan's valleys. These spices, fruits and vegetables are prepared with beef, chicken, pork, and dried yak or with each other to make dishes that resemble elements of both Chinese and Indian cuisine. Bhutanese dishes are traditionally serves with ample portions of indigenous red rice. The food prepared for tourists is tempered to western taste. The tourism authority imported the knowledge of selected European hotel experts to improve the quality of food and beverage.
Thangkas are Buddhist paintings, usually on canvas. Traditionally, it mounted on a background of brocade and hung by a stick sewn across the top. You can also buy an un-mounted painting. Jewelry, coral and turquoise, set in silver and gold are popular cross the Himalayas. Other jewelry includes silver and gold brooches, earrings, rings and bangles. Textiles, hand-woven cotton fabric are the most traditional and useful item you can buy in Bhutan. The quality is usually good, but the price will vary depending on the intricacy of the design and expensive imported silk is used in the weaving. Handmade paper is available in large sheets and is packaged into handy packets of letter-writing size. Carpet manufacturing is recent innovation and Bhutan is boasts a variety of high quality handicrafts. Bhutanese Stamps are well known among collectors around the globe. Attractive stamp albums, stamp sheets and variety of first day covers are available at the Thimphu General Post Office and handicraft shops around the kingdom.
The Bhutanese postal system is reliable, you can send mails from hotels and post offices and no special procedures are necessary. If you mail cards or letters from the Thimphu post office, you can buy exotic Bhutan postage stamps from the philatelic bureau and use them on your letters and postcards. Bhutan Post offers outgoing EMS [expedited mail service], which is a reliable and fast international mail delivery facility that is cheaper than courier services. It also has a LUM [local urgent mail] service for delivery within Bhutan. DHL is the only international courier to operate from Bhutan. Most of the kingdom’s major towns have both domestic and international direct dial facilities. Nearly all hotels and some PCOs have facilities to send and receive faxes. Bhutan has its own Internet and email services and B-mobile facilities.
Exports of antiques, plants or animal products are strictly prohibited. Visitors are required to fill up the Custom Form on their arrival. Cameras, video cameras, computers and other electronic equipment for personal use must be declared on the Custom Form. Some articles, which are exempted from duty, are 2 liters of wine or any other alcohol, 150 grams of pipe tobacco and 400 numbers of cigarettes.
Bhutan’s National airline, Druk air is the only airline that operates in and out of Bhutan. It flies daily and connects the airport in Paro Dzongkhag to several destinations like Delhi, Kolkata, Katmandu, Dhaka, and Bangkok. The schedules and other flight information are available on www.drukair.com.bt. The airlines operates two British Aerospace 100seater jet planes and two smaller Dornier planes which 80 persons each. Besides Druk Air also provides a helicopter services and can be chartered for special mountain flights for a view of the Himalayan panorama. The helicopter service is also used for rescue operation. |