Booking

• You must book a tour with a government approved travel agency,

  except for above mentioned nationals

• We will keep you up-to-date from booking to your arrival in Bhutan

Getting to Bhutan

Arriving by Land

• The main border crossing is at Jaigon/Phuentsholing from India into Bhutan

• Less frequented are the border towns of Samdrup Jongkhara and Gelephu, also bordering India

• Bhutan Yogi Travels will meet you at the border

Arriving by Air

• The two national Airlines are Drukair and Bhutan Airlines

  Drukair operates flights from/to:

• Bagdora, India (seasonal)

• Bangkok, Thailand (twice daily)

• Dhaka, Bangladesh (twice weekly)

• Gaya, India (seasonal)

• Guwahati, India (thrice weekly)

• Kathmandu, Nepal (daily)

• Kolkata, India (daily)

• Singapore (twice weekly)

  Bhutan Airlines operates flights from/to:

• Bangkok, Thailand

• Delhi, India

• Gaya, India

• Kathmandu, Nepal

• Kolkata, India

  Please note this might be subject to change at the airline’s discretion

  

• Bhutan Yogi Travels will arrange for your flights to and from Bhutan (Paro)

• All flights from your home destination to any of the above ports are booked by yourself.

  This leaves you with greater flexibility to make your own arrangements if you wish to stay at any of those destinations

Best season

• The best seasons to visit Bhutan are:

  Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November)

  Generally these provide for pleasantly warm and dry conditions

• However, all depends on the altitude, from subtropical in the south to temperate in the highlands to all year around snow in the north

Climate and weather

• For more info on climate and weather go to:

  Tourism Council of Bhutan

Payment

• A deposit will reserve a space on your booked itinerary

• All payments must be made in the form of a Bank Wire Transfer in US Dollars

• Prior to your booking we will send you instructions via email

• This is standard procedure for all tour operators in Bhutan

• Once a deposit or full payment has been received we can make your flight and hotel reservations

Health/ Medical

• Bhutan is considered relatively safe and no major health alerts have been issued

• However, due to its geography medical facilities are often not within easy reach

• Medical facilities are often of basic standard in remote places

• Travellers are advised of possible altitude and motion sickness

• Travellers are encouraged to have their hepatitis and tetanus vaccinations up-to-date

• Always seek advice from your medical practitioner

• Make sure that you bring essential medication for your entire trip and have them in their original packaging

• If you intend to book a trekking tour with us, please make sure that your fitness level is adequate, in particular in higher altitudes

Religion

• Buddhism is the major religion in Bhutan and plays a fundamental role in its society

  The Vajrayana or the Mahayana discipline of Buddhism is the state religion

• Hinduism is the second most practised religion, practised by ethnic Nepalese

• Bonism/Animism is also followed by Bhutanese people

• Christianity and Islam account for about 1% of the population

Language

• Dzongkha, or Bhutanese ( རྫོང་ཁ་ [dzoŋkʰa)

• Dzongka is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by over half a million Bhutanese

• It is the sole official language of the Kingdom of Bhutan

  Source: Wikipedia

• Most people in Bhutan speak English, in particular young people

  The older generation in small villages most likely doesn’t speak English

• For more information: Wikipedia

• Conversational Dzongka, Introducing yourself by Tobias Pfütsch

Currency

• Bhutan’s official currency is the Ngultrum (BTN), One Ngultrum is 100 Chhertum

• The Indian Rupee is also legal tender, which is at par with the Ngultrum. Please note, 500 and 1000 Rupee notes are not accepted.

• You might have difficulty to get your leftover Ngultrum exchanged in India

• Many stores accept US Dollars

• You can exchange money at the Foreign Exchange desk at Paro Airport

ATMs/ Credit cards

• Be aware that ATMs are mostly found in Paro and Thimphu

• Elsewhere they are limited in the countryside

• Most handicraft places and some restaurants in Paro and Thimphu accept credit cards (Mastercard and Visa)

• Some hotels provide a currency exchange, but are often limited to US Dollars

• In other words, it’s best to bring cash that you can exchange

Electricity

• The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency 50 Hz

• Power plugs are of type D, F and G

• Check carefully your appliances voltage requirements prior to arrival

Mobile phones/ Wifi

• You can buy pre-paid SIM cards

• Make sure that your phone is unlocked

• Most hotels have wifi, however, it is often limited to the reception/lounge area and is rather slow

• Don’t expect your whatsapp messages to upload all your photos within seconds

• Check with your mobile phone provider how much international roaming fees are

Food

• Ema … Chillies, chillies, chillies …

• Ema Datshi, the staple dish in Bhutan, a very spicy mix of chillies and usually homemade cheese (Datshi)

• Red rice

• Potatoes

• Momos, Tibetan dumplings, stuffed with meat or vegetables

• Jasha Maru, spicy minced chicken

• Phaksha Paa, spicy pork

• In higher altitudes buckwheat and wheat are staple food

• There are generally plenty of vegetarian dishes on offer

• Sweet milky tea

• Tea with butter and salt

• Alcoholic beverages are available in most hotels, though it is a limited selection

• Alcohol is not included in your tour package

• Most of the meals in hotels and restaurants are buffet-style

Etiquette

• Please dress modestly when visiting monastery, i.e. wear long trousers and long sleeves, no shoes or head gear

• It is often not allowed to take photographs inside temples

• Please be mindful and show respect around monks and nuns

LGBTI Community

• Bhutan Yogi Travels welcomes anyone wishing to travel to the Kingdom of Bhutan

• However be aware that Bhutan does not recognise same-sex couples and that homosexuality is illegal

• This does not reflect in any way Bhutan Yogi Travels’ attitude

• For a better understanding of its historical and cultural context we found the Responsible Travel website useful