Trip Includes
- Accommodation on double occupancy basis.
- All transfers and sightseeing, as listed on the itinerary, by private vehicle.
- Three meals a day.
- English speaking local tour guide.
- Sightseeing admission fees.
- Bhutan visa fee.
- Service of internal airfare reservation (Airfares are not included).
Trip Does Not Include
- Airfare to and from Bhutan and airport taxes (Estimated internal airfare is $980 for Bangkok-Paro-Bangkok and one domestic fare).
- Drinks, tipping, laundry, phone and other personal expenses.
- Extra expenses or loss due to acts of nature, and unforeseen events such as flight cancellation, delay, accident, illness, etc.
- Travel Insurance.
Trip Difficulty Level, Road, and Transport
This trip is a motor vehicle-based cultural sightseeing with some day hikes and anyone in general good health can participate in it. The itinerary’s highest altitude is Chele La (12,497 feet, or 3,810 meters) for a brief stop. Our accommodations are in lower elevations where altitude sickness is not a concern. Some of the hiking excursions are steep, but they are optional; if you don't wish to hike, you stay behind with the driver. Road trips can be three to six hours of driving, sometimes on rough or damaged roads. If you are traveling during monsoon season, there can be temporary washouts and in winter, passes covered with snows.
Far & High Travel provides Korean- or Japanese-made SUVs or minivans, or Japanese coaster buses, depending on the group size. Drivers are skilled and know Bhutan’s roadways. Drivers, unlike guides, may speak little or no English. Flat tires and mechanical breakdowns are possible in these conditions, but our drivers are capable of taking the situations under control. We will appreciate your cooperation and flexibility when something unexpected happens during the tour.
Accommodations
Majority of Bhutanese hotels are small properties with 25 or 30 rooms; some are even smaller. They are built in local architectural styles and have traditional Bhutanese decor. These are “three-star” properties by local standard, but in fact, have limited choices even if you want to upgrade. You will have a private bathroom with running hot and cold water. There may be the disparity in the rooms; so travelers of the same group may get different types of accommodations. Toiletry supplies may be limited. Hotels in the towns may have internet and long distance calling available.
Meals
Our tour features three meals each day, most of them at our hotel. In Bhutan hotels, they serve meals usually in buffet style or set menu that includes rice dishes, curried or stir-fried, vegetables, noodles, and bread and one or two meat dishes. Warning: A local style of meat dish contains bones. Many past travelers commented that meat was chewy or tough and that makes sense as they import meat from India and other neighboring countries. They don't slaughter animals in Bhutan. Our guides can arrange some dinners at local restaurants at your request. One note: traditional Bhutanese food always features chilies, and the most popular dish, "ema datshi," is made with large, hot, green chilies in a cheese sauce.
Guides
Our guides are college-educated local people, proficient in English and trained and licensed by local tourism authorities. Most importantly, they are friendly and committed to delivering the best services.
International and internal airfares
The tour starts and finishes in Paro, Bhutan. There are no direct flight connections from the USA or Europe to Bhutan. You need to first fly to Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata or Kathmandu, spend a night there and next day to Bhutan. Bangkok is the most popular gateway for travel to Bhutan, as there are daily two flights from Bangkok and the US citizens and most European passport holders don't need a visa for Thailand.
From Kathmandu and Delhi also there are five or six flights a week depending on the season. Please do not buy your international airfare until Bhutan flight schedule is available.
Passport and Visa
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the last day of your trip and there must be one or two blank pages on your passport for the visa sticker, and entry and exit seals. Far & High will apply Bhutan visa for you in advance, and we will email you an eVisa copy about three weeks before your trip date. Your passport gets an actual visa seal upon arrival at the Paro airport. If you are traveling via Indian cities, you need to obtain an Indian visa before your travel begins. If you are flying via Kathmandu, Nepal, you can obtain Nepal visa upon arrival.
Note on Itinerary
Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed; it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Booking Deposit & Payment Schedule
A deposit of US$ 300 is requested along with a completed trip registration form to hold your place on the trip. We also need a color scan of the passport. You can charge the deposit on any major credit cards.
When it’s time to purchase the Bhutan flight tickets, we will request from you the second payment for the flights.
Final and balance payment is due 90 days prior departure. Final payment by credit card also attracts an additional 3.5% fee. You will save this fee by paying personal check or cashier's check. We reserve the right to refuse some form of payment. Payment within 90 days before departure must be made by cashier's check or wire transfer.
Cancellation and Refund
If you need to cancel, please email or fax your cancellation notice to us soon you decide. The general cancellation fee structure will be below:
- Ninety days before departure: US$ 150 (Administrative Fee).
- 60-89 day's before departure: US$ 300 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 US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than 30 days: 100%.
Travel Protection Plan
While we spare no effort to make your tour smooth and enjoyable, there might be unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, flight cancellation, missed connection, or loss of baggage, any of which can cause interruption, delay or total cancellation of your trip, thus putting your hard-earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you might need medical assistance, emergency evacuation, or medical transportation when you become ill or are involved in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. The trip cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses, and so we strongly recommend that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.