Mondy:
Bhutan unit of currency is the Ngultrum. 1Nu = 100 Chetrum. The Ngultrum is pegged to the value of Indian Rupee. Approx. 1 $ = Nu. 40
Access (Getting there):
AIR: The best way to enter Bhutan is by Druk Air, the national air carrier. The following airports are connected with a Druk Air flight:
India : Delhi, & Calcutta
Nepal : Kathmandu
Thailand : Bangkok
Druk Air Schedules:
Paro to Delhi & Kathmandu ( Mon & Thu)
Paro to Calcutta & Bangkok (Tue, Thu, & Sat)
Kathamndu, Delhi to Paro ( Mon & Thu)
Bangkok/ Calcutta /Paro (Wed, Fri, & Sun)
Note: Above dates, air fares, and flight schedules may change without prior notice
Druk Air is the only Airline operating to Bhutan. For more information about the Airline, please check the web: www.drukair.com OR you can E-mail us at: info@enjoytrekking.com
Road:
Entry / Exit to / from Bhutan is also possible through Phuntsoling, the southern Bhutanese border town. Bagdogra, in the state of West Bengal (India) is the nearest airport Approx. 04 hour drive from the border. For travelers wishing to visit the India states of Sikkim, West Bengal along with Bhutan, Phuntsholing serves as the convenient point of entry.
Exit from Bhutan can be made through Samdrup Jongkhar . This frontier Bhutanese town is approx. 3 hours drive from Guwahati, the capital town of Indian north Eastern state of Assam. Samdrup Jongkhar is the authorized exit point only and an important link for visiting further Indian north eastern states.
GOVERNMENT RULES STATE. IT IS MANDATORY TO TRAVEL AT LEAST ONE WAY BY DRUK AIR, EITHER ENTRY OR EXIT OR BOTH. IN AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE, SPECIAL PERMISSION CAN BE OBTAINED FOR ENTRY AND EXIT OVERLAND.
Tour Escorts:
Well-trained, knowledgeable guides, certified by Tourism Authority of Bhutan escort all our tours. Most of the guides are English speaking but Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian-speaking guides can also be provided with prior information and on additional cost.
Accommodation:
There are comfortable hotels and lodges at all major tourist destinations.
Western Bhutan has better hotels while in central and eastern part of the country, accommodation is often simple. There is no star categorization of hotels here and five star luxuries are not available. We have carefully selected the accommodation units for their location, service and ambience
Away from the towns and villages there are purpose-built huts on some of the principal trekking routes. Otherwise, there is nothing like camping out under the clear night skies.
Food:
Bhutanese delicacies are limited. Continental food is available in the larger establishments with some local dishes too. On trek, cooks prepare a variety of dishes, ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Indian.
Health:
All major towns in Bhutan have fully-equipped hospitals with all medical facilities, including specialists and ambulance services for emergencies. Certificates of inoculation against cholera and smallpox are required for entry, although Bhutan is free from these diseases. For trekking, you are recommended to consult your doctor before booking the trip.
Clothing:
Due to the wide range of temperature and climatic conditions, it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing for protection against the cold; layered clothing is better with a down jacket. Cloths should preferably be made from natural materials, which allows the body to breathe. You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy tight fitting or exposing clothes although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, we advise women to wear skirts or loose trousers during visits to monasteries.
What to Pack:
We will provide you with a full list of items to consider bringing on receipt of your booking confirmation.
Reservations:
All tours must be booked through us (Classic Asia Travels & Tours)
For clients travelling in peak seasons and festival time, it is necessary to book 05 weeks in advance. Festivals held in autumn and spring are the peak time for tourists and without early reservation it can be difficult to confirm flights and hotels.
Terms of Contract:
Classic Asia Travels & Tours makes every effort to ensure the smooth running of your tour. However, all the Bhutan programs are conducted strictly by the rules governed by the Tourism Authority of Bhutan. Cost does not include any insurance against accident/ injury/sickness/evacuation (in case of need) or trip cancellation. Therefore, it is highly recommended you are appropriately insured to cover such incidents.. A separate form of contract has to be signed by clients accepting the above conditions at the time of booking.
Booking Conditions:
It helps to book at least 60 days in advance of your planned arrival enabling us time to process your documents. The infrastructure in BHUTAN can handle only a limited number of tourists. The months of APRIL, MAY, OCTOBER and NOVEMBER have many festivals and celebrations with tourism at its height during these periods. We can process with a minimum of 2 weeks notice but the longer you are able to book in advance the easier the process is. Full payment of your tour should reach us not later. As we need to outlay a considerable amount of your tour cost prior to your arrival. A cancellation charge of 20% for confirmed bookings applies up to 15 days prior to departure, total tour cost thereafter.
Tariff:
AN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST TARIFF has been set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and is valid for all-inclusive packages.
1. The daily tariff for the tourists visiting in a group of 04 persons or more is approx.:
Cultural Tours/Trekking: US$ 180 per person per day
Surcharges:
For individual and small groups of less than 3 participants, there is additional surcharge above the daily applicable rates as follows
- Single person traveling - US$ 40 per day
- Two persons traveling - US$ 30 per day, more than 3 persons traveling no surcharge.
Inclusive:
- Accommodation on the twin sharing basis with meals
- Transfers and sigh seeing within Bhutan by a deluxe vehicle
- The services of the guide/porters/ponies wherever required
- Royalty & Taxes to the Government.
- Monastery and Monument entrance fee if any.
Discounts:
Diplomats from foreign embassies and missions accredited to Bhutan shall be given a 25% discount on the daily tariff.
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The 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.
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Children up to the age of 5 years are free of cost. Those between 6 to 12 years accompanied by their guardians are entitled 50% discount.
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1 group leader above 15 paying persons is given 100% complimentary. A discount of 50% is given to one person in a group of 11 to 15 pax.
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A discount of 10% on the daily tariff shall be provided for halts between 11 to 20 nights and 20% discounts on halts beyond 21 nights.
Note: A visitor availing discount under sections 1, 2 and 3 shall not be eligible for discount under 5.
Cancellations and Refund:
Tour programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows.
| Before 30 days |
No charge |
| Within 21 days |
10% |
| Within 14 days |
15% |
| Within 7 days |
30% |
| Less than 7 days |
50% |
| After arrival in Bhutan |
100% |
Delayed arrival/departure:
There shall be no charge for the number of days of delays in arrival/departure of visitors due to weather condition, Druk Air problems or roadblocks. They will be charged only the actual expenses on accommodation, food and transport and other required services.
Insurance:
The purchase of medical, baggage and trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended from your country of origin before the commencement of your journey. reimbursement of non-refundable air tickets, it should also cover the cost of rescue operations by helicopter in the event of an evacuation.
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