Trip Includes
- Seven nights three-star hotel ( by local standard), based on double occupancy.
- Meals: Full board (3 meals a day).
- All transfers and sightseeing as on itinerary.
- English-speaking local guides.
- Bhutan visa fee and government royalty.
- Sightseeing admission fees.
- Service of in-tour airfare booking.
Trip Does Not Include
- Drinks, tips and other personal expenses such as phone, laundry, etc.
- Extra expenses or loss due to nature and unforeseen events beyond the control of our management.
- Travel Insurance.
- International airfares and airport taxes.
- Hotels in the gateway cities before and after the trip.
Note on Itinerary
We do our best to adhere to the itinerary but it should be taken as a general guideline in terms of what you expect to do or see during the tour and may differ in the real ground from exact sequence or order of the sights to the overnight places depending on the local conditions. As we continuously work to improve the tour, the final tour itinerary may be different which will be sent to you about 2 months before the trip date.
Trip Activity Level.
This trip is motor vehicle-based sightseeing with some short hikes and village visits; it is suitable for all travelers in general good health. Hiking to Takstang Monastery in Paro can be strenuous, but you can ride a pony for about two-thirds of the trail, but onward the path is narrow on the cliff-side, and so we do not recommend pony ride for the last one-third part and also for the return trip down.
The longest drive in this trip will be six hours, from Thimphu to Phobjikha Valley. The return from Punakha back to Paro also takes about 4.5 or 5 hours. We will undoubtedly have stops along the way for photography and to grab refreshment drinks. Roads in Bhutan are narrow, often in the mountainside and some portions may be under paved or damaged. The trip does not need you to be athletic, but it's advisable to keep yourself fit. If you are not leading an active life, we advise that you start some exercises like jogging, swimming, cycling or practice some aerobics in the months before the trip. It’s your responsibility to determine that your fit for the trip. If you have any health conditions, please consult your physician before you sign up for this trip.
Accommodations and facilities
The hotels are comfortable three-star properties by local standard. Most hotels are locally managed small properties with traditional decor and friendly services and ensure adequate comfort. You will have en suite bathroom with 24-hour running hot and cold water. There may be a disparity in the rooms and travelers of the same group may get different types.
Meals
Your trip features three meals a day (total 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 breakfasts).Most meals are arranged in tourist class restaurants or at your hotels. Meals are usually set menu, served in buffet style. Most in-house restaurants don't serve a la carte, unless you have a special dietary requirement.There are not whole lot of choices but meals are hearty and plentiful.Meals include rice, bread, curried vegetables, noodles or spaghetti and chicken or pork dishes. As Bhutan is a Buddhist country, they don't slaughter animals in Bhutan and the meats are imported and so you may find meat chewy or tough. Beware: Local style meat dishes are cooked with bones and traditional dishes always features hot pepper, and the most popular dish, ema datshi, is made with large, green hot chilies in a cheese sauce.
Tour Guides
Our Tour Guides are local people with college degrees, government certifications, and experience with knowledge of the destinations and their history, culture and religion. Our guides are, just as importantly, easy-going, detailed oriented, patient, and committed to a high level of customer service. They will uncover the wonders of the destinations that you would never find on your own, and make sure your tour is without a hitch. Your guide will also deal with the bureaucracy and passport or permit control, carry all necessary documents and vouchers, and stay alert to road and weather conditions. Note: Guides will change in each country, due to local licensing requirements
Vehicle
We use clean, reliable, comfortable vehicles for all transfers and tours, often the Toyota Hiace microbus (capacity 8-9 persons) and Toyota Coaster Bus (capacity up to 20 persons); depending on group size, we might also use Japanese-made sedans, SUVs or minivans. We provide separate drivers and guides. Our drivers might speak little or no English, but they know the roads and are in a pinch, mechanically skillful.
Altitude sickness and Health Concerns
The chances of altitude sickness on this trip are very slim. There are two occasions when you are at the high altitude; Dhochula Pass (10,171 ft.) and Taktshang Monastery (10,240 ft.) but you will attain these heights gradually and also the fact that all the towns where we spend overnight are in lower elevations.
There are no mandatory vaccinations required for traveling to Bhutan. However, you may consider vaccination against rabies and Hep A.
You’ll be glad if you start some physical exercises in the weeks before leaving; jogging, swimming, cycling, hiking, and aerobics are all helpful. Fitness makes for a better trip and helps you accommodate the altitudes.
International and Internal Flights
The trip starts and completes in Paro, Bhutan. Flights to Paro arrive from Bangkok, Kathmandu (Nepal) or Kolkata and New Delhi (India). Currently, there are two Bhutanese airlines-Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines serving these destinations and they are partner to none of the major international carriers. Therefore, you are not able to book through fare from the Europe and Americas. You need to book two separate tickets-first, from US to the gateway city (e.g. Bangkok) and then separately with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines to Paro, Bhutan. You can book the internal air on the airline website or we can help you with.
Visa and Permits
Remaining validity of your passport must be a minimum of 6 months beyond your return date. Make sure; you are not running out of blank visa pages. Bhutan visa needs one blank visa page (Not the endorsement page) and some empty spaces for entry and departure seals.
We will obtain your Bhutan visa in advance and will email you a copy of this about a few weeks before your arrival in Bhutan. You need to present the document when you check in flight for Paro. You will get the actual visa seal on your passport at Paro airport on arrival. Visa fee is pre-paid, and photos are no longer required.
If your travel starts from India, you should obtain an Indian visa beforehand as India does not grant visa on arrival.
Booking and payment schedule
As there are limited flights and accommodations in Bhutan, you need to plan several months or even a year before. We request an initial deposit of US$300 along with a completed trip application form and a passport scan.
The second payment will be for the airfare. Once we book the reservation, we will advise you the cost and the deadline.
The balance and the final payment is due ninety days before the travel date. Reservation booked within 90 days before departure requires a full amount at the time of booking. Balance payment credit card attracts a 3.5% additional fee.
Cancellation and refund
If you need to withdraw from the trip, please notify us in writing, by email or fax. Following cancellation fee will apply.
- 90 days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 150 per person.
- 60-89 day's prior departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- 45 days to 59 days prior departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- 30 days to 44 days prior departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than 30 days:100%.
- Visa fee is non-refundable.
Cancellation, and refund of air tickets will be as per the airline's policy and the air ticket consolidator will levy $25. For details, please view booking and cancellation terms and conditions