Bhutan Travel Tips

Booking your trip

It is advisable to book your holiday several months in advance to ensure the smooth planning of your trip. Since tourism started relatively recently in Bhutan (1974), tourist infrastructure is still limited. There is also a limited number of flights in and out of the country. This means that peak season can be quite busy, so the earlier you book, the better chance we have of securing flights and good hotel rooms for you.  Some hotels are already filling up for October/November 2009 and at festival times you need to book around four or five months ahead to get flights, especially if you are unable to be flexible and are tied to particular dates. You can find a simple step-by-step guide to booking your trip here

What does it cost?

Every traveller to Bhutan has to book through a recognised tour company (of which Medieval Bhutan Tour is one). The standard tourist tariff imposed by the Royal Government of Bhutan is US$200 per person per night for groups of three persons or more.  The government has also recently approved a US$20 daily surcharge to combat the decline in the dollar rate which has led to a reduction in the amount tour operators are receiving in local currency to run trips.  We are applying this surcharge for trips run from spring 2009.  Single travellers and those in a group of two also pay an extra $40 and $30 per night respectively by way of a small group surcharge. This determines the basic cost of your trip. The itinerary cost covers practically all the in-country costs for your holiday.  You will have a personal guide and driver throughout your trip.  All accommodation is included (unless you opt for luxury hotels for which you pay a supplement) and all food, transport, sightseeing, festival and trekking arrangements, permits, entrance fees, airport transfers and so on will be arranged for you and included in this price.  In effect, this means that the only extra money you need to bring with you to spend during your holiday is for things such as gifts and souvenirs, personal items and laundry, soft or alcoholic drinks and tips. We arrange the flights in and out of Paro for you with Druk Air, and these are charged separately from the tour price above.  Find out more about getting to Bhutan here. The tourist tariff is discounted to US$165 per person per night during the off season months of January, June and July and a number of other discounts are available.   The surcharges referred to above will still apply to this off season rate. In some cases (particularly where a single traveller chooses a long trek or a journey to the east) the costs of running the trip are not covered in full by the rates referred to above as a result of a recent marked increase in local costs such as trekking animals and fuel costs.  In such cases we will quote a price for you based on us running the trip on an economic basis and will explain this to you when we quote.

How do I confirm my booking?

Payment for your trip is made via bank transfer to Bhutan through the Department of Tourism.  We will provide you with bank details once your choice of trip is confirmed.  Please note that it is not possible to make payment by credit card as the payment has to be routed through the DOT and is not paid direct to us.  Payment should be made at least 30 days in advance for cultural tours and treks and 60 days in advance for festival tours. During the high season (March–May, September–November), it is advisable to dispatch payment for Druk Air flights at least three months in advance to allow us to confirm seats.  Once we receive notification from the bank that your payment has arrived we will send you a formal trip confirmation and receipt.

Payment shortfalls

If your payment is sent in sterling (or any currency other than US$) it is not uncommon for there to be a small shortfall on receipt of the funds.  The reason for this may be that intermediary banks deduct charges en route, but also because your bank will work out the sterling or other currency equivalent of the dollar amount on sending, but the money is converted on arrival in Bhutan at the prevailing dollar rate, which may be different.  Our bank deducts US$7 in bank charges from the funds received and we cover this cost.  If there is a shortfall of more than this we will confirm to you the exact amount received (and if requested send you a copy of the receipt from our bank showing the dollar amount received) and will ask you to make up the shortfall in US$ cash on arrival.

Flights

Once your funds arrive we instruct the bank to transfer the part of the payment which relates to flights directly to Druk Air on your behalf.  Druk Air will then issue your ticket in the form of an e-ticket and we will forward this to you on receipt to print out and take with you when you go to check in.

Security

The Dept. of Tourism (DOT) will continue to hold the money you have sent for your tour until your trip has taken place.  It will not be released to Medieval Bhutan Tours  until you have left the country on your return flight.  This provides you with the security of knowing that your money is safe until your holiday takes place.  If for any reason the trip doesn't go ahead then the government will not give your money to Medieval Bhutan Tours  but will return it to you (subject to any cancellation charges which apply if you have cancelled the trip).  So in the unlikely event that we do not run your trip for you, you would not be out of pocket. Passports and visas Your passport needs to have at least 6 months' validity.  You will also need to make sure that you have a spare page for a visa for Bhutan, as well as space for the visas for any countries you are visiting en route.  If you need to get a new passport please do so well before your planned trip so that there is no delay in applying for your Bhutanese visa. You will need to fill in a form for us with some personal information, and send us a scanned copy of the identity page of your passport, and then we will apply for your visa for you around a month before your trip and as long as your funds have arrived. We will send you a copy of the confirmation showing that your visa has been authorised. Your actual visa will be issued on arrival at Paro or Phuntsholing.  If you are entering via Phuntsholing you need to bring 2 passport photos with you.  Visas can be extended for up to six months in Thimphu if necessary on payment of a further $15. Don't forget to make enquiries about visa requirements for any countries you are passing through en route even if you are only in transit.

Accommodation and food

Tourist accommodation in Bhutan is generally comfortable but can be fairly basic, especially as you travel further east. Most hotels in the main tourist destinations have rooms with private bathrooms, hot water, telephone and electricity. Plumbing is not always up to the standard you may be used to and there are no hotels with central heating.  Heaters of some sort will generally be provided, but you may find yourself making good use of thermal underwear and thick socks!

If you are hankering after a bit of luxury (particularly at the end of an arduous trek) you could treat yourself to a stay at one of the 5-star establishments. These are Uma Paro and Hotel Zhiwaling (in Paro), Taj Tashi in Thimphu andAmankora (in Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and Gangtey and Bumthang).  Three of these are overseas owned and they are the result of a recent decision to allow limited foreign investment in Bhutan.  All offer something quite different from any local accommodation - but be prepared to pay for the privilege!  If you are interested in sampling the delights of these hotels let us know and we can arrange it for you.  At the other end of the spectrum Medieval Bhutan Tours can arrange for you to spend a night in a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse - ask us if you want to include this in your itinerary.

Tourist hotels throughout the country tend to provide meals buffet-style which gives you the opportunity to try a variety of Bhutanese dishes. In the larger hotels a la carte service is also available, although they may not always have everything on the menu. Many restaurants, especially in Thimphu, also offer Chinese, Indian or Nepalese dishes.  Thimphu even has a pizza restaurant (the Seasons) and if you are craving western food there is a particularly good café in the centre of Thimphu (near the Swiss bakery) called the Art Café which serves sandwiches, pasta and cake. As you go further east you should be prepared for less choice and variety, but just see it as a chance to sample the local cuisine!