Getting Into Bhutan
Visa
Immigration and Customs requirements, Visa cost and procedures.
Entry into Bhutan requires a passport and visa. You must have a valid passport and it must be valid for at least six months beyond the date that you complete the trip. Obtaining a passport can be a lengthy process so start early.
All visitors (with the exception of Indian Bangladesh and Maldives Nationals) must apply for visa prior to arrival. It is important that you provide us with a CLEAR color photocopy of your passport well ahead of time for us to process the visa. Information needed for visa processing:
- Full name as it appears in your passport
- Permanent address
- Occupation
- Nationality
- Date of issue and expiration of passport
- Date and place of birth
Visas are processed by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thimphu. BTS makes full advance payment of land costs to the Government of Bhutan (TCB) including your visa fee. Your visa is processed ahead of time and a visa approval letter will be sent to you by email. They will send a visa confirmation to Drukair and only then will you be allowed to board the flight on the day of travel. It is very important to carry a printout copy of your visa letter during check-in at the Drukair counter. The actual visa will be stamped in your passport upon arrival at Paro Airport. The visa fee for Bhutan is US$40.BTS
- Your passport must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay
- You must have air tickets and documents for return or onward travel
- Visitors are required to fill out a Custom Declaration Form upon arrival
Exempt from duty:
- Personal items for day to day use by the visitor
- 2 liters of alcohol
- Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal use
Import and export of the following goods are strictly prohibited:
- Arms, ammunition, explosives and military stores
- All narcotics and drugs, medically-prescribed drugs are allowed
- Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species.
Tobacco import allowance:
Only 200 sticks of Cigarettes or 50 pieces of Cigar are subject to 100% customs duty and 100% sales tax (200% tax ) are allowed for personal consumption even though there is a ban on smoking in public.
Pricing
Pricing per person, discounts, and cancellation policy
The Government of Bhutan obligates travelers to visit only through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. The daily minimum is inclusive of:
- Tours specified in the itinerary
Accommodation in Govt. approved 3 star Hotels - All Meals
- Land transport within Bhutan
- A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the extent of your stay
- Trekking and camping equipment: sleeping tents, dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, mattresses, and rubber sheets
- Trekking cooks and assistants
- Pack animals – horses or yaks
- Museum and monument fees
- All internal taxes and charges
- A sustainable development fee of $200. This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.
There is a government surcharge based on size of group and duration of stay. We will work with the government policy to give you the best rate. There is a single supplement charge for all single travelers.
- Cost of air ticket
- Alcohol and other beverages, cigarettes, laundry, telephone calls and other personal expenses
- Personal shopping
- Visa Fee of US$ 40.00 per person (one time only) payable at the time making advance payment for the tour/trek
- TIPS for Guide & Driver
- Rescue operations by helicopter
- Transfer and services outside Bhutan
- Wire fee for transferring tour payment from your bank to Bhutan.
- Travel insurance
- There shall be no charge other than visa fee of USD 40 for children below the age of 5 years.
- Children between the ages of 5-12 years shall be given 50% discount on minimum daily package rate.
- Full time students below the age of 25 years, holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions, shall be given 25% discount on minimum daily package rate.
- A GROUP SIZE DISCOUNT of 50% on minimum daily package shall be given to one person in a group of 11 people. 100% discount shall be given to one member in a group exceeding 16 persons.
- A 50% DURATION DISCOUNT on SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FEE shall be provided after the 8th night and 100% discount on SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FEE shall be provided after 14th night.
- 100% SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FEE FREE ZONE DISCOUNT shall be provided on SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FEE on first and/or last night for groups with night halt in Phuntsholing, Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar on arrival and/or departure.
- Please Note: Children below 5 years will not be eligible for GROUP SIZE DISCOUNTS, DURATION DISCOUNTS and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FEE FREE ZONE DISCOUNT and All Children and Students will not be eligible for DURATION DISCOUNTS
Tour Programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows:
- At least 30 days prior to start of tour~ Full Refund
- Within 29 to 21 days prior to start of tour ~ 90% Refund
- Within 20 to 14 days prior to start of tour ~ 85% Refund
- Within 13 to 7 days prior to start of tour ~ 70% Refund
- Less than 7 days prior to start of tour ~ 50% Refund
- On the day of start of tour or after arrival in Bhutan ~ No Refund
Entering Bhutan
Ways to enter Bhutan, tips and recommendations
By Air
There are a number of airports where you can fly into Bhutan from (Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, and Mumbai). There are only two carriers operating to Bhutan, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines.
As flights may be delayed because of weather in the monsoon (July & August), it is advisable to keep a 24-hour gap before any onward international connections.
BTS can assist you in arranging your Bhutan flights. For reservation, we would require a scanned copy of the front page of your passports and payments. We will buy your air tickets and send them to you in advance.
By Land
There are three land border crossings which you can travel into the kingdom overland. All crossings are along the Indian border only – Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar. All travel arrangements to Bhutan must be made through BTS Tours and Travel Services.
Best time to visit Bhutan
It is advisable to plan your trip during the peak seasons of spring (March, April, and May) or autumn (September, October, and November). During spring, the landscape is adorned with vibrant wildflowers like rhododendrons in full bloom, creating a picturesque setting. Bird enthusiasts will find this season particularly appealing as many bird species thrive during this time. However, it’s essential to note that the legendary blue poppy (meconopsis Grandis, mecanopsis sikkimenses) is only visible in June and July.
Autumn in Bhutan, on the other hand, boasts sunny days with clear blue skies, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. This season also coincides with numerous vibrant festivals that add cultural richness to your experience. Keep in mind that due to the favorable weather conditions, there is a surge in tourist numbers, emphasizing the importance of making advance bookings, especially with Druk Air.
While winter (December-February) brings chilly air and closed trekking routes due to snow, the summer months (June-August) can be unpredictable with frequent rainfall. Nevertheless, visiting during off-peak seasons has its advantages, including assured reservations on Druk Air and preferred hotels, lower tariffs, and fewer crowds.
Health and Safety
Bhutan is considered extremely safe, with no social unrest within its borders. While no specific vaccinations are required for entry, consulting a travel clinic or your physician is recommended for updated recommendations on immunizations such as tetanus, hepatitis, polio, measles, mumps, and malaria. Travel insurance, covering cancellation, medical emergencies, and evacuation services, is highly recommended. Ensure your policy is comprehensive and valid for the entire trip.
Food in Bhutan
The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chillis are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that was not spicy.
Rice forms the main body of most Bhutanese meals. It is accompanied by one or two side dishes consisting of meat or vegetables. Pork, beef and chicken are the meats that are eaten most often. A wide selection of western and Indian food is also available in many of the restaurants around the country.
Wines in Bhutan may vary in quality, but local beers and quality whiskey, cognac, and rum are available.
Other Tips
- Electricity in Bhutan is supplied at 220 volts, and bringing an adapter for electric appliances is advisable.
- The local currency is the Ngultrum, and currency exchange can be done at Paro Airport or hotels. It is recommended to bring a combination of traveler’s checks and cash, preferably in $100 bills, as businesses may not accept small bills or coins. Banks have ATMs, but they may dispense limited amounts of Ngultrums per day.
- For air travel, Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines operate flights to and from Bhutan’s only airport in Paro.
- Hand baggage is limited to specific dimensions and weight, and checked baggage allowances vary based on the class.
- It is essential to be prepared for possible flight delays, especially due to weather conditions, by carrying essential items in your hand baggage.
- For trekking, you will walking on a clearly marked trail and distances vary based on the trip that you choose. If camping is involved, you will carry a day pack and the rest of your gear is carried by horse or yak. If camping, please provide your own personal sleeping bag that can withstand at least -15°C (5°F).
The most popular attraction for visitors and citizens alike in Bhutan is the annual festival called the tsechu. The festival defines Bhutan in its traditional, cultural and religious grandeur and with overtime has become very popular.
The tsechu Festival is a religious event held on the tenth day of the Bhutanese lunar calendar. It is held in different months in different places. The festival unravels the essence and beliefs of tantric Buddhism in magnanimity and it is believed to ward off evil through masked dances choreographed hundreds of years ago with music and rituals. The originality of the dance moves has been retained for centuries and it is considered a sin to alter any of its form.
The tsechus are a delight for tourists to take photographs. The festival itself is a tiny Bhutan that encapsulates almost everything about Bhutan, to people, religion, tradition, culture, arts and architecture and mythology. It is believed that the mask dances blesses onlookers, cleanses all sins, and teaches the dharma. The dancers emulate deities, gods, demons, animals, in compassionate and wrathful forms to impart the teachings. The festival lasts for three to five days. On the last day, a large scroll painting, usually centuries old, is unveiled and it is believed that the sight of the painting will liberate onlookers. The tshechu is an honor to the life and teachings of the Indian saint, Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche, who came to Bhutan in 746 AD and introduced the Nyingma school of Buddhism in Bhutan.
Punakha Tshechu | 23-27 February 2015
The festival commemorates the success of the man Ngawang Namgyel who unified Bhutan for the first time in history. A lama who came to Bhutan from Tibet in 1616 AD and became a powerful ruler. Between 1616 and 1651, the Tibetan forces attacked Bhutan to recover some important Buddhist relics which the Zhabdrung brought with him. He invoked the help of guardian deities and defeated the Tibetans every time.
Thus, the festival commemorates the victory over the Tibetan forces and also worships the local guardian deities who helped the Zhabdrung. The deities are still considered to be the national deities protecting the country, they are invoked in times of national threats and emergencies.
Paro Tsechu | 31 March-04 April 2015
The Paro Dzong, where the festival is held, is one of the most beautiful fortresses in the country. With the only airport of Bhutan located in Paro, the festival is one of the most popular with tourists. It is believed that Bhutanese should visit this festival at least once in their lifetime. Therefore the festival attracts thousands of people around the country.
The main highlights of this festival is the unveiling of Thongdrel (giant applique scroll painting) early in the morning on the last day of the festival. It is said that onlookers are cleansed from their sins by seeing it. History has it that despite several fires, the thongdrol escaped miraculously, every time. Just about 200 meters away from the dzong is located the oldest museum in the country.
The festival is dedicated to the main protecting deity of Bhutan, Yeshey Goenpo, an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the God of Compassion. The Dalai Lama is also believed to be one of the reincarnations of Avalokiteshvara. Yeshey Goenpo, also known as Mahakala, is a wrathful deity that brings the mind into attentive focus.
Thimphu Festival | 3-5 October 2014
The whole capital comes to life during the festival as public holiday is declared for the four-day event.It began in 1687, which takes place at the courtyard of the offices of the fourth and fifth Kings of Bhutan. People of all ages are seen in their best attire. It is the time when Thimphu has the maximum number of tourists. The crowd runs into thousands and people go to watch the dances very early in the morning.
Gomkora Festival | 27-29 March 2015
The festival is one of the most popular gathering in eastern Bhutan and attracts visitors from Arunachal Pradesh in India, who walk for days to reach there.
The main highlight of the festival is to ‘circumambulate’ a holy black rock therefore Kora i.e. ‘circumambulation’ is a derivative and a tribute to Guru Rinpoche who subdued a demon at this site in the eighth century. Legend has it that the demon escaped from Tibet and fled to the site and hid inside a big rock that stands today where the festival takes place.
Guru Rinpoche meditated at the cave inside the rock for three days. The demon took the form of a big snake and Guru Rinpoche subdued him in the form of a garuda (a giant mystical bird). The demon was then converted into the guardian deity of the place.
The legacy stands to testify itself at the site where the fight between the garuda and the snake is imprinted on the rock. There is also Guru’s thumbprint indicating the subjugation. Such legends thrive all over the country. This festival also offers an oversight of a unique tradition of eastern Bhutan. The east has many couples who meet during the festival.
Wangdue Tsechu | 1-3 October 2014
Wangdue is about two hours drive from the capital, Thimphu. The festival is not as crowded as in Thimphu or Paro and offers tourists a good opportunity to experience a tsechu. It is held at the courtyard of the Wangdue dzong which was built in 1638 and is one of the oldest fortresses in Bhutan. The tsechu has been held at the fortress since the dzong was built.
Chorten Kora | 05 & 20 March 2015
The festival draws people from all over the country and also from the neighboring Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh who walk for days to attend the festival. It is held at a stupa near a river. The stupa is one of the few in the country that resembles the Boudanath Stupa in Nepal.
It is believed to be built in the 18th century by a lama to subdue a demon. Locals say a beautiful, virtuous and virgin princess from Arunachal Pradesh in India voluntarily agreed to be buried alive as the main relic of the stupa. It is one of the reasons why people from Arunachal Pradesh still visit the festival.
Bird lovers can time their visit to the place during winter when the endangered black-necked crane flies down all the way from the Tibetan plateau from up north.
The festival is also popular with young men and women who often come to the festival anticipating to find their life partners. They circumambulate the stupa at night and resort to adventurous means to entertain themselves. Many end up in nuptials.
Trongsa Festival | 30 December 2014-01 January 2015
Trongsa, in central Bhutan, is a small town. It was from this place that the royal family came to prominence. The Trongsa dzong is the longest dzong in Bhutan.
The festival is not as crowded as in the western towns and provides more space for tourists to mingle around, take photographs and experience Bhutan.
The Trongsa dzong, built in the 17th century,has a unique collection of historical artifacts as it was the seat of the father of the first king of Bhutan. It also houses a recently converted museum.
Jampay Lhakhang Drup | 06-09 November 2014
The festival is held at Jambay Lhakhang (monastery) in Bumthang, central Bhutan. The hilly town of Bumthang is one of the most scenic places in Bhutan. A distinct feature of this festival is a naked dance performed during the night. It is believed to ward off evil.
The Jambay monastery has mystical roots. It is believed to be one of the 108 monasteries constructed in a single day by a Tibetan King to subdue a demon. Of the two temples built in Bhutan, the other one stands in Paro, called the Kichu temple. The rest of the 106 sister temples are spread all over Tibet.
Trashigang Tsechu | 30 November-2 December 2014
Trashigang is one of the biggest towns in eastern Bhutan. During the festival, people all over Trashigang, which includes tribes from Merak and Sakteng visit tsechu and it is a good time to see the less known people of Bhutan.
The festival also brings people from all over eastern Bhutan together and it is a good time to experience Bhutan in a way which will be missed by visiting just the capital, Thimphu.