1) Where is Bhutan?
Bhutan is a tiny landlocked country, situated in the eastern Himalayas between India and China. Bhutan is geopolitically in South Asia and Thimpu is its Capital and largest city. Bhutan has a largely unspoiled natural environment and cultural heritage and most of the Bhutanese citizens followed Buddhism.
2) Do I need a visa to enter Bhutan?
A visa is necessary for travel documents to travel in Bhutan. If you are traveling to Bhutan, you will need a passport and visa to enter and exit Bhutan. With an approved or licensed tour operator, visas are only issued on arrival. You have to apply for a visa in advance through a tour operator and must receive visa approval before you travel to Bhutan. You have to keep a photocopy of passport visa pages and flight tickets separate from the originals. Likewise, if you want to leave Bhutan, your passport must be valid for six months after the date you aim to leave Bhutan. Nepal Adventure Team staff will help you program your tour and process all the paperwork required for you to be granted a visa.
3) How can I obtain a visa to enter Bhutan?
To obtain a visa successfully, you have to pre-book your Bhutan tour through approved tour operators then you need to finish your full payment of that pre-book Bhutan tour, and don’t forget your passport must have at least six-month validity left on it. But Indian passport holders, Bangladeshi citizens, and Maldivians don’t need a visa to enter Bhutan. Bangladeshi citizens and Maldivians, need only a valid passport with six months validity from the date of entry in Bhutan, and Indians without a visa can travel in Bhutan.
4) What is the best season for a tour in Bhutan?
The best season to visit Bhutan is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November); you can enjoy warm and sunny weather during this time. It depends on what kind of tour you want to visit such as a cultural heritage tour or festival tour. For a cultural tour, The Thimphu Tsechu (Sep/Oct) and Paro Tsechu (Feb/Mar) are two of the most famous festivals celebrated in Bhutan. Jamey Lhakhang Tsechu (Oct/Nov), and Trashi Yangtse Tsechu celebrations in eastern Bhutan can also be a good time to visit while traveling into Bhutan. For trekking, Oct to Nov and March to May are taken as the best time for the trek in Bhutan. Druk Path Trek, Jhomolhari Trek, Jhomolhari Loop Trek Laya-Gasa Trek, and the notoriously challenging Snowman Trek, etc are considered as best trek in Bhutan.
5) What type of insurance should I have?
Travel insurance is necessary for any travelers in Bhutan. From altitude sickness to sprains, broken bones, and helicopter evacuation you will need travel insurance to avoid hospital bills.
6) Is an independent tour allowed in Bhutan?
An Independent tour is not allowed in Bhutan. All the travel arrangements must be confirmed by an authorized travel agency. Due to strict regulations, traveling independently is not permitted.
7) How do I get into Bhutan?
You can get to Bhutan by air or by land. The only international airport in Bhutan is called Paro International Airport which is in Paro. The two airlines that fly into Bhutan are Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. You can take a direct flight from Kathmandu International Airport to Paro. Drukair operates regular flights from Paro to Kolkata, Delhi, Dhaka, Kathmandu, and Bangkok. Most people prefer to fly into Bhutan via Drukair. Offering spectacular views of Mt.Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga on its way to Bhutan, your flight from Kathmandu is going to be the most awesome flight.
If you love road trips, then it is only possible from India, three borders between India and Bhutan are open for tourists: Jaigaon – Phuentsholing border, Bongaigaon – Gelephu border, and Darangamela – Samdrup Jongkhar border but the most popular entry point is Jaigaon-Phuensholing border, it serves as a primary entry point to Bhutan.
8) Can I customize my itinerary for the Bhutan tour?
Of course, you can customize your itinerary. Regarding the itinerary and services, you can contact or email us directly.
9) What’s the food like in Bhutan?
Bhutan’s traditional dish is Chicken, sautéed spinach, and steamed Bhutanese red rice with lemon glazed. On the other hand, Ema Datshi is Bhutan’s national dish. “Ema” means “chili” and “Datse” means “cheese” in the Dzongkha language of Bhutan so it is made of chili peppers and cheese, paired with nutty red rice. Rice forms the main body of Bhutanese meals with two side dishes including meat and vegetables. Bhutanese cuisine is famous for its spiciness and chili flavors. Bhutan offers a wide range of foods including local, Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, and also a Western style of food such as burgers and momos.
10) What are the accommodations like?
You can find a wide variety of accommodation in Bhutan. From luxurious 5-star hotels to cozy little hotels and resorts are found in Bhutan, along with great hospitality offered by hotels. You will stay in the Amankora Hotel (For a 5-day Bhutan Luxury Tour) in Thimpu. Amankora “lodges” are located in five locations around Bhutan, Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, and Bumthang. Amankora provides a luxurious experience to the traveler which is the most unique and amazing place to stay in Bhutan.
11) Bhutan is safe to travel or not?
Bhutan is one of the safest countries in the world to travel, so you can travel to Bhutan with no worries. Also, Bhutan has a very low crime rate but it is always advised to be aware of your surroundings and check your belongings such as your passport, cameras, wallets, and purse from time to time.
12) Are there ATM counters in Bhutan?
Yes, there is an ATM counter in main towns throughout Bhutan; you can withdraw a small amount of your money using Visa or Master card. You can make money from any bank in Bhutan. You can exchange traveler’s check or cash at the foreign exchange desk at Paro airport and you can also do it at Bank of Bhutan or its branches.
13) Are there internet facilities for travelers?
There are few internet cafes in major townships such as Thimpu, Paro, Bumthang, etc. There are nine licensed ISPs in Bhutan but only four are providing active services. Providing dial-up services at a reasonable cost, Druknet is Bhutan’s main ISP, owned by Bhutan Telecom whereas Druk Com provides VSAT services to banks. You can have good Wi-Fi in almost all the international standard hotels in Bhutan.
14) What is the currency of Bhutan?
The currency of Bhutan is Ngultrum which is subdivided into 100 chhertum, spelled as chetrums on coins and pegged to the Indian rupee. Ngultrum is the best currency to use in Bhutan, although Indian currency is also easily accepted in Bhutan. Bhutan’s currency code is BTN and the symbol is Nu.
15) Are Bhutanese people friendly?
Yes, Bhutanese people are very friendly and hospitable people. Bhutanese people are considered as most trustworthy, honest, and lively people. You feel connected with them at ease because of their kindness and simplicity.
16) Do I need to worry about Altitude sickness?
The average altitude of Bhutan is 8,000 feet above sea level. You would be touring in deep valleys which are less than 2,500 meters and mountain passes are just over 3,000 meters. Altitude sickness may be a problem for travelers in Bhutan but you can avoid it by following simple precautions. Prevention is better than cure so consult your doctor and carry the necessary medicine against high altitude sickness before entering Bhutan. Staying hydrated and perfect in an Acclimatization plan is the best way to prevent Altitude sickness.
