CategoriesTips & Tricks By NEPALGOPAL

Entry to Bhutan

By Air

With the introduction of the first private airlines, Bhutan Airlines, in October 2013, air services in the country change for better. With two airlines services now, including the Royal Bhutan Airlines, DrukAir, customers have found competitive prices with better facilities often introduced. While in flight you can glimpse the most spectacular sights of the Great Himalayas. You would come across mountains such as the Everest, Kanchenjunga, Jomolhari, and Kula Gangri. One of the most enchanting sights would be the Great Tibetan Plateau.

During the peak travelling seasons, especially through festivals in spring and autumn, we will book your tickets in advance to avoid the eleventh hour rush. Unlike other agents, we don’t charge any commission for this work. All you need to do is confirm your trip with Indostan Viajes Moto Adventure. The tickets will be issued once the foreign ministry approves your visa. Our staff will handle everything. Meanwhile, the flight schedules are available in the websites.

*Important- the visa information that you send for your ticket should be exactly the same as it is on your passport.

As the air tickets are issued only after the foreign ministry approves your visa it is only essential that you send us the passport information required to apply for your Bhutanese visa. It is to expedite the procedure. This process takes more than two weeks. Air tickets cannot be issued until the visa is approved.

By Land

India is the only connecting choice tourists travel to Bhutan through road. On this same route, you can also blend your travel experience spending in beautiful hill stations, Sikkim and Darjeeling in India. The focal point of connection is Silliguri in West Bengal. Silliguri is about 170km from Bhutan’s bordering town, Phuentsholing. It takes just about four hours drive to reach to Phuentsholing from Silliguri or otherwise. Meanwhile, you can use both railways and air to travel to Silliguri from other parts in India.

While driving towards Phuentsholing, you will come across endless tea gardens in West Bengal. From Phuentsholing it takes another five-hour drive to reach to Bhutan’s capital city Thimphu. If you are planning to explore more entry points in entering Bhutan through land, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu are the two bordering towns in choice.

CategoriesAbout Bhutan Tips & Tricks By NEPALGOPAL

About Bhutan

General information

Land area: 38,394square km

Forest area: 72.5 %
Altitude: between 240metres and 7541metres above sea level
Population: 634,982
National Language: official language “Dzongkha”, English widely spoken
Religion: Vajrayana stream of Mahayana Buddhism (Also known as Tantric Buddhism)
Currency: Ngultrum (equal to Indian Rupee)
Capital: Thimphu
National Tree: Cypress
National Bird: Raven
National Flower: Blue Poppy
National Sport: Archery
National Animal: Takin
Local time: Six hours ahead of GMT and half an hour ahead of Indian Standard Time

Currency

Ngultrum (Nu) is Bhutan’s currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum. It is pegged with the Indian rupee (Rs). The value of USD in terms of Rs is the same in Nu. Tourists are advised to carry their money in form of travelers’ checks (preferably American Express) with cash (USD), which might be needed for incidental expenses.

Credit cards:

Credit Card is not advisable in Bhutan. But few handicrafts and shopping malls accept VISA & American Express Credit Cards.

Time
Bhutan time is six hours ahead of GMT and 30 minutes ahead of Indian standard time. There is only one time zone throughout the country.

Language

Dzongkha is the National Language of Bhutan. English is widely spoken in the capital city, Thimphu. It is, however, the medium of education in schools throughout the Kingdom.

Accommodation

Bhutan has comfortable hotels, lodges, and guesthouses. In terms of the standards, Western Bhutan has better hotels, while in central and eastern part of the country, accommodation establishments are simple and offer minimum facilities.

Bhutan has carefully selected a list of accommodation units with the best of location, services and ambiance. Away from the towns and villages there are also purpose-built huts on some of the primary trekking routes.

The following articles are exempt from duty

1) Personal effects and articles for day-to-day use by the visitor.

2) A liter of alcohol (spirits or wine).

3) 200 cigarettes, on payment of import duty of 200 percent.

4) Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional use

Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal use.

You have to complete the passenger declaration form at your port of entry. Visitors are advised to be cautious in purchasing old and used items, especially of religious or cultural significance because such items may not be exported without a clearance certificate. If you are importing any items to Bhutan, which are for sale or gift, they may be liable for customs duty. On departure, visitors are required to fill out a departure form, which will be asked for by customs authorities.

Import/export of the following goods is strictly prohibited
(a) Arms, ammunition and explosives

(b) All narcotics and drugs except medically prescribed drugs

(c) Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species

(d) Antiques

Import of plants and soil are subjected to quarantine regulations. These items must be cleared on arrival.

Tour escorts:

Trained, knowledgeable and English-speaking guides, certified by the Tourism Authority of Bhutan, escort all tours organized. The services of guides could also be provided with prior information and on additional cost.

Food

Bhutanese delicacies are rich and spicy. We have a list of select hotels and lodges, which offers delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese and Indian Cuisine. Even on treks, Indostan Viajes Moto Adventure will provide trained cooks having expertise in preparing dishes suitable to western taste that ranges from continental to Chinese, and Indian, including Bhutanese.

Climate

The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, Mongar, Trashigang, and Lhuentsi enjoy a semi-tropical climate with very cool winters. Thimphu, Trongsa, and Bumthang receive heavy monsoon rains in the summers and heavy snowfall during the winters.

Winter starts mid November and goes on until mid of March. In this time of the year, the climate is dry with the daytime temperature sometime falling below zero Celsius.

The monsoon usually arrives in mid of June. It rains most of the afternoons and evenings during this season. At the end of September, after the last few heavy showers, autumn appears in its magnificent form. This time of the year is highly recommended for trekking. It could be extended until November.

Meanwhile, the southern Bhutan is tropical. In general, the east is warmer.

Clothing

Bhutanese clothing is unique and simple. Traditional wears have their way of expression in bright colours. Occasions such as festivals are fondly an illustration in dressing. Gho for men and kira for women is the national dress in Bhutan. However, Bhutanese are also open to western wears today. Jeans and t-shirts are most common casuals in the country, among youth and adults.

While visiting monasteries, dzongs (fortresses) and other religious institutions, we recommend you not to wear shorts and hats. If you want to experiment the traditional attire, Indostan Viajes Moto Adventure is always ready to bring you the best.

Photography

The photographic opportunities on all trips are amazing. You can also record on video local people, their houses, and shops. While visiting dzong, monasteries, religious institutions, and museums, please follow your guide’s instruction carefully. Ensure from your guide if it is okay to take the pictures in such places.

Shopping

Buying and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in the Kingdom. You may buy country’s postage stamps for your own collection, hand woven fabrics, woven baskets, wood made products such as bowls, statues, handmade paper, scroll paintings (thangkas) and other available goods.

CategoriesTips & Tricks By NEPALGOPAL

Bhutan Travel Information

Visa process

Bhutan tourism policy is high value,low volume tourism. Therefore,the visitor must pay sustainable development fees (SDF) to the Government $100/night+$40 visa fees( one time)

Package cost

*Sustainable development fees (SDF)+visa fees+ground arrangements. The cost is starting from $300/night+$40 visa fees( one time)

The cost includes

  • 3*hotel twin sharing
  • 3 meals(Breakfast, Lunch and dinner)
  • English speaking guide
  • SDF
  • Visa fees
  • Transportation with driver
  • Entrance fees

The cost excluded

  • International flight tickets
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Payment transfer fees
  • Tips to service provider
  • and any other cost which is not included in given cost

*Additional cost for
4* hotel and above.

Visa issuing process

  • For visa issuing. We need to receive 50% of the tour payment. Payment should be transfer before 30 days of traveling.
  • Balance payment can be made on arrival or can transfer full payment before you travel.
  • We will assist you how to transfer payment to Bhutan. To transfer payment to Bhutan is very safe.
  • You need to send clear scan copy of passport and passport sized photograph. The travel document or passport validity has to be minimum 6 months.
  • Once we receive advance tour payment. We will process visa.
  • When visa is granted,we will send you visa clearance. You have to carry printed copy. On arrival in the airport your visa will be stamped in your passport.
CategoriesAbout Bhutan By NEPALGOPAL

Welcome to Bhutan

If traveling is what you love and venturing out to a place significant to seamless nature is what you desire, Bhutan is undeniably the option to add to your list. The tiny Himalayan nation offers you one of world’s most original itinerant experiences.

And if you want to mix among the natives that are defined by colourful culture and traditions, you have made a good decision giving Bhutan as a destination, a thought. People in Bhutan are distinguished for their remarkably friendly nature. Also known as the Drukyul (the land of the thunder dragon), Bhutan is rich in many aspects the world still has not discovered. One such unique entity is the globally famous philosophy of the Gross National Happiness (GNH). This identity also marks Bhutan as the only country in the world, which empowers people’s happiness with the vision of GNH against the Gross Domestic Product.

Over the years, GNH has garnered inspiration to many nations in the world. With its abundant snow-capped mountains, pristine rivers and streams, ours is a country that has stunningly wide varieties of flora and fauna. Among them are many endangered and rare species of the world.

Buddhism is the most prevailing religion here, followed by Hinduism. In the recent times, Christianity has picked up. The constitution of the country allows the people freewill in the choice of religion. In addition, Bhutanese architecture that started during the 15th century is a unique identity of the country. It is rich in colour and captivating to the sight. A dzong (fortress) is the best instance you will realize the moment you land at the Paro International Airport.

The Himalayan kingdom also shares its border to the world’s two largest economies– China and India. With a population of not more than a 700,000, area measuring 38,394 square kilometer, Bhutan is globally recognised as a small developing country. However, with everything unique, beautiful and its potential to conserve and preserve this beauty, Bhutan holds a strong identity.

With the visionary nurture and virtuous efforts of His Majesty the Fourth King of the country, the tiny nation embarked into the democratic leadership in 2008. With its second parliament elections in 2013, Bhutan is one of the youngest democracies in the world.

The country that shied away from the world few decades ago is maintains a consistent and considerable growth in economy today. It has opened up to the world, more so with the democratic culture now. A travel to this exclusive and exotic nation, which is also known as the last Shangri-La, is a MUST!

Gross National Happiness (GNH)

For several decades now, Bhutan’s development has been guided by the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). It started in 1972. It goes beyond the concept of sustainable development and rather accentuates the concept of contentment and happiness.

Although it is inevitable Bhutanese strive for economic development in order to acquire greater status and wealth, what makes Bhutan exceptional is the common understanding to nurture everything that is Bhutanese.

Meanwhile, Bhutan is the first and only country in the world to have a government pronouncement the GNH as more important than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Conceived by our Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the philosophy is about belief that happiness can be achieved through development that balances the needs of the body with those of the mind within a stable and sustainable environment.

GNH stresses material enrichment must not lead to spiritual impoverishment and that it must address emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the individual. Above all, GNH requires that the Endeavor of the government must be to create conditions that would enable its citizens to pursue happiness.

GNH has four pillars that set space to connect happiness with the people and the country. The four pillars are: sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, environment conservation, the preservation of and promotion of culture, and good governance. Although criticisms have come onboard from several countries, GNH has gained reputation worldwide. Bhutan is considered one of the happiest places to live on earth today.

The four pillars of GNH

1) Equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development

2) Preservation and promotion of culture

3) Conservation of the environment

4) Promotion of good governance