Tourism has been strictly limited in Bhutan so that traditional culture can be preserved and nurtured. The Bhutanese are highly religious people and therefore it is important to show respect and understanding for local customs and way of life, especially while visiting places of religious significance.

The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable, and also economically viable. For these reasons, tourism is carefully monitored and the number of tourists visiting Bhutan is kept to an environmentally manageable level.

Visitors may experience Bhutan only on all-inclusive package tours for which a fixed tariff is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan. This tariff covers the following services: accommodation & all meals, transport, guide, entrances fees to museums, monuments and cultural sites, and additionally a cultural program for visitors traveling in a group of three or above.

TOURS RESERVATION

TARIFF

The INTERNATIONAL TOURIST TARIFF is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and is valid for all-inclusive packages.

Peak Season : (March, April, May, September, October & November)

Off-season : (January, February, June, July, August & December)

We give you 10% discount on the above tariffs for both peak/on and lean/off season which is deductible at the source.

FIT PAX surcharge- in addition to the above costs.

The above package tariff includes excellent services within Bhutan for all land transport (luxury coach, cars), horses and yaks for trekking within Bhutan, the best available hotels, meals (catered to personal orders and tastes), sightseeing, experienced and friendly guides, religious festivals.

TOUR PAYMENT
Advance payment in full for the entire tour must be sent to our Bhutan agent by Bank transfer, within the specified time frame. Services are confirmed subject to advance payment only. See under Department of Tourism Regulations for full information on remittance of tour payment.

For high seasons (March, April, May, Sept, Oct, Nov), it is advisable to remit payment for Druk Air flights 3 months in advance. This will help us to obtain confirmed seats on the requested flights.

ACCESSIBILITY
The most convenient way of entering Bhutan is by Druk Air, the country's national (and so far only) carrier. As flights can be delayed due to weather conditions (particularly during the summer months), it is advisable to allow 24 hours before any onward connection. As flights can be delayed due to weather conditions (particularly during the summer months), it is advisable to allow 24 hours before any onward connection.

Druk Air flies regularly between Bhutan and the following countries :

FLIGHT FREQUENCY & AIRFARES
Druk Air flies several times a week between all destinations except Bangladesh, for which the service is more infrequent. The timetable varies according to season, so please check with us for the current schedule when making your tour arrangements.

Airfares given below are current at time of printing, but subject to change without notice. Prices are in US dollars, for a round trip journey. One way travel is half the cost of the round trip fare. Please check with us for latest rates when making your tour arrangements.

The spectacular mountain scenery en route is seen at its best in the winter months, when skies are generally very clear. The flight between Kathmandu and Paro gives the most extended view of the Himalayan massif, including the Everest region. Given suitable weather conditions, Mt. Kanchenjunga will be visible for some time on all routes. Flying in and out of Bhutan is an unforgettable experience, whatever route you take!

CUSTOMS
Visitors are required to complete a passenger declaration form for checking by concerned officers on arrival. The following articles are exempt from duty: -

(a) Personal affects and articles for day to day use by the visitor;
(b) 2 liters of alcohol (spirits or wine);
(c) 400 cigarettes, 150 gms of pipe tobacco, 2 boxes of cigars (or 50 pieces);
(d) Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional use;
(e) Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal use.

The articles mentioned under (d) & (e) must be declared on the declaration form. If any such items are disposed of in Bhutan by sale or gift, they are liable for customs duty. On departure, visitors are required to surrender their forms to the Customs authorities.

MONEY : Bhutan's currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.), with 100 Chetrum = 1 Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupee. Tourists are advised to carry their money in the form of traveler's checks (preferably American Express) with some cash (US dollars would be best) which might be used for incidental purchases/expenses. There are bank branches in all major towns.

ACCOMMODATION : There are comfortable hotels, lodges and guesthouses at our tourist destinations. Generally speaking, hotels in western Bhutan are better appointed, while accommodation establishments in the central and eastern part of the country are more modest, with fewer amenities. There is no star categorization of hotels and five star luxuries are not available.

VISITS TO DZONGS, MONASTERIES, TEMPLES & FESTIVALS

A good insight into the kingdom's unique cultural heritage can be gained through visits to any of those dzongs, monasteries, temples and festivals which are open to visitors. Please note that although some of our religious establishments are permanently closed to visitors to ensure that monastic life can continue unhindered, it may from time to time be possible for us to arrange visits to places not included in the selective list given below.

Etiquette : Dress neatly and modestly (covered arms, no shorts or short skirts) and do not wear a hat in the precincts of dzongs or religious complexes. Do not smoke. Walk clockwise around chortens (stupas) and mani (prayer) walls. If you see a prayer flagpole on the ground waiting to be erected, do not step over it, as this is considered extremely disrespectful: walk around it instead.

Photography : Photography is usually permitted in public areas, such as courtyards and dance grounds, but not permitted inside the chapels of religious complexes. Check first with your guide to avoid inadvertently giving offence, and at all times take care not to intrude upon the social space of others when taking photographs. NEVER stray onto the dance ground at a festival in search of the perfect shot - this is the height of bad manners and will definitely give offence to all Bhutanese who see you!

FESTIVALS & FESTIVAL ETIQUETTE

At various times throughout the year, annual festivals known as "tsechus" take place around the country, but there are other festivals too. Tsechus are festivals extolling the great deeds of the Buddhist Saint, Padmasambhava, popularly known as "Guru Rinpoche" in our mountain kingdom. All of Guru Rinpoche's great deeds are believed to have taken place on the 10th day of the month, which is the meaning of the word tsechu, and all tsechus do in fact take place/begin on 10th days. All the districts, dzongs and a large number of villages in the east, hold annual tsechus, which attract people from far and wide.

Tsechus are celebrated for several days (usually between three and five, depending on where taking place) and are the occasion for dances that are clearly defined in religious content. They can be performed by monks, laymen or gomchens and the repertory is more or less the same everywhere.

Certain tsechus end with the veneration of a huge applique thangkha, called a "thongdroel". The thongdroel is unveiled at dawn to bring enlightenment to all who view it. Festival goers believe that by simply viewing this thongdroel, they can be delivered from the cycle of birth and rebirth, which is the ultimate aim of Buddhism.

Some tsechus also have a "wang", a collective verbal blessing given by a high lama. Colored threads are distributed, and people tie them around their necks as witness to the blessing. Sometimes the wang is called "mewang" meaning "blessing by fire" which burns away their impurities.

Atsaras are clowns whose expressive masks and postures are an indispensable element in any religious festival. They confront the monks, toss out salacious jokes, and distract the crowd with their antics when the religious dances begin to grow tedious. Believed to represent Acharyas, religious masters of India, they are the only people permitted to mock religion in a society where sacred matters are treated with the highest respect. For a few days these popular entertainers are allowed the freedom to express a formulaic challenge within an established framework that does not, however, upset the social and religious order.

Some religious festivals include only a few dances and consist mostly of readings from a particular text. On these occasions, villagers assemble in a temple and participate in the prayers while at the same time drinking strong alcoholic beverages. Each village takes pride in its annual religious festival, and any villagers who have gone to live in the city are expected to come back home for it. Such villagers will themselves sponsor a large part of the cost of mounting the festival.