Trip Includes
- Three-star hotel accommodation in the cities and best available guesthouses where choices are limited.
- English speaking certified guide.
- All transfers and sightseeing by a private vehicle.
- Three meals a day.
- Bhutan visa.
- All sightseeing admission fees as per itinerary.
- Service of airfare reservation.
Trip Does Not Include
- All international airfares arrival and return to the gateway city.
- Travel Insurance.
- Drinks, tipping, telephone, internet, laundry, etc. and other personal expenses.
- Extra expenses or loss due to nature or unforeseen events such as flight cancellation, road blockade, no show, emergency evacuation, etc.
- Taxi from Bhutan border to Guwahati.
Trip Difficulty Level, Road, and Transport
Any travelers with an average health condition can participate in this adventure. Road conditions vary; some parts may be under paved or damaged by the monsoon rain. There may also be repair works along the way that can cause travel delays.
You attain the highest altitude at Chelela (3810m, 12,497 ft.) but you will sleep in lower elevations, so you are less likely of getting sick. The trip features some walking and hiking day trips, but they are optional. You can opt to stay back with the driver.
We use good conditioned Japanese or Korean SUVs, minivan, or minibusses depending on the group size.
Accommodations
The suggested hotels in the itinerary are 3-star properties (by local standard) and the best available where choices are limited. You will have an en-suite bathroom with running hot and cold water. The hotels are usually small properties, built in the local architectural style and ensure adequate amenities and facilities. As you enter eastern Bhutan, you will start seeing the accommodation standard and service level falling. There may be a disparity in rooms, and sometimes, members of the same group may be assigned different types of room. Hair dryers, iron, and ironing boards may not be available in some hotels. You will have to be prepared to adjust your normal routine and mentally be okay with things that may not work or be available when you want them to.
As there are limited hotels in Bhutan, the hotels listed in the itinerary are suggestions only. There will be massive demand for accommodations during the fall and spring and especially around the major festivals that draw a large number of tourists. If suggested hotels are not available, we will book the best possible alternative in that price category.
Meals
The trip features 3-meals a day, and you will eat most meals at your hotel. On a road trip, we will have meal stops on the road-side restaurants, and during the day hike, your guide will arrange a picnic lunch for you. Meals are usually served in buffet style and include rice dishes, vegetables, noodles, bread and one or two meat dishes. The hotels don't offer a la carte unless you have a particular dietary requirement. Beware: traditional Bhutanese food always features chilies, and the most popular dish is ema datshi made with large, green hot chilies in a cheese sauce.
Guides
The guides are college educated locals, proficient in English and trained and licensed by the local tourism authorities. Most importantly they are friendly and committed to delivering the best services. They are always willing to show you the wonders that you may never have been able to find on your own. Every evening, your guide will advise you of the following day's schedule. Your guide may adjust the itinerary to adapt your pace and interest.
International and Internal Airfares
Only two airlines are serving Bhutan-Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines, and they are partners to none of the major international airlines. They serve only regional cities such as Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, etc. They also fly to Singapore, Mumbai, Kolkatta, and Guwahati but offer limited services.
Most flights to Bhutan go from Bangkok, Delhi, and Kathmandu. So, choose one of these cities as your gateway and plan to stay there one night or more if you wish, at both the ends of the trip. We will book the onward ticket for you or direct you to the airline website.
Passport and Visa
Your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of travel and there should be enough blank pages for the entry and exit seals. Suggested: minimum of two blank visa pages for each country you stop during this trip.
We will apply for Bhutan visa for you and email you the clearance about three weeks before the trip date. You need to produce it when you check in flight for Bhutan and again at Paro airport immigration, upon arrival.
Best time for this trip:
Undoubtedly, the fall season ( October and November) is the best time for this trip when you have mild weather, clear skies, and lush valleys. The spring season ( March through May) is also a good season as the weather is still pleasant and the plus point is that the rhododendron and other wildflowers come in bloom in spring. You can also travel in winter when the weather is dry, but it will be cold at night, temperature falling below freezing point at night. The monsoon rain starts from mid-June and can continue till mid-September that can cause mud-slides, temporarily blocking the road. So, it's not very smart to take this trip during the monsoon season.
Note on Itinerary
Although Far & High will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed; it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control such as weather, road conditions, flight delays, etc. The sights and activities listed in the itinerary indicate the scope of activities and opportunities during the trip, rather than an inflexible schedule of events. Itinerary order might change depending on the local conditions, time availability, your pace and interests.
Booking/Deposit.
As there are limited flights and hotel options in Bhutan, we recommend an early reservation to ensure the desired flights and hotels. We request an initial deposit of US$ 300 along with a completed trip booking form and a passport scan.
The second payment will be for the internal airfare. Once we receive your booking, we book your in-tour flights and advise you the cost and deadline.
Balance Payment.
The balance and final payment is due ninety days prior departure. The payment schedule may vary with customized and private trips on case to case basis. Balance payment by credit card attracts an additional 3.5% fee.
Cancellation and refund
Things always don't happen as planned and sometimes, there may be a situation when you have to withdraw from the trip. Soon you know, you can not go, don't delay in sending a notice by email or fax. Far & High's cancellation policies are as following:
- Ninety days before departure: US$ 150 (Administrative Fee).
- 60-89 day's before departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Forty-five days to 59 days before departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Thirty days to 44 days before departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than 30 days: 100%.
Travel Protection Plan
While we plan and do our best to make your trip smooth and seamless, there may be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, flight cancellation or missed connection, or loss of baggage etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation or medical transportation when you get ill or involve in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. Far & High’s tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses, and so we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against any unfavorable conditions.