Bhutan is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas in South Asia. It is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and India to the south. Some people find it mystical, others mysterious and magical, but everyone falls in love with this small and beautiful country in Mighty Himalayas. From beautiful landscapes to waterfalls, everything feels so fresh and pure. You feel transported in a different era when you walk these mountains and villages.
Bhutan can teach people and countries how to respect the land, each other and what matters in life.
“Bhutan Thimphu – Tashi Cho Dzong – Thimphu Tsechu” by Anja Disseldorp is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Black cranes” by Nagarjun is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Bhutan – Takin, National Animal” by Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn) is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The best moment to visit Bhutan is between end- March until mid-May, and from late-September to December. During spring season and autumn season, the weather is perfect to visit cities and different places, as well as, for doing trekking trails with the best Himalayan views. The air is clear but fresh but accompanied by sunny days. In spring the climate remains dry and pleasant, with the famous rhododendrons bloom appears filling with colour the different valleys. It is important to avoid monsoon season, (from June to early September), because several paths and roads may be closed or with difficult accessibility, and rains cover the mountains with no good visibility.
Hiking: from mid-October until early December, with clear and blue skies and spectacular views. The sun makes pleasant almost every day with temperatures upward 20°, falling during the night below 7°. Also, spring season is a good moment, from end March, early April until mid-May, the weather gets warmer during spring season proceeds with the stunning and colourful rhododendrons flowers full the valleys. However, you can have some rainy days and some high passes can be snowed until March.
Birdwatching: Bhutan is the ultimate paradise for ornithologists and bird watchers. With around 72% of the land area covered with dense vegetation. It is best to come to in September to May, when the migrating birds descend on the country from the north to spend the winter in their typical feeding grounds. Every year in September and October, the migratory birds fly south from northern Tibet and Mongolia to spend the winter in Bhutan. Some of the endangered species that can be found in Bhutan, like the black-necked crane, it can only be found in the winter months from December to February in Punakha, where they have their winter-feeding grounds.
Festivals:
| FESTIVAL | DESCRIPTION | DURATION | WHEN |
| Thimphu Tshechu Festival | is preceded by days and nights of prayers to invoke the divine gods | 3 Days | 10th Day of 8th month of Lunar Calendar |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup
|
The Dance of Treasure, or Tercham, is the highlight, where masked dancers perform naked to bless infertile women so they may bear children | 4 Days | anytime during October – November, depending on lunar calendar |
| Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu | The Dance of Ox is the major attraction where people dance to ensure a peaceful afterlife | 3 Days | according to the Lunar Calendar, anytime during October – November. |
| Punakha Tshechu and Drubchen | a dramatic recreation of the scene from the 17th century battle with the Tibetan army. | 3-4 Days | February or March |
| Paro Tshechu | Monks and laymen dress up in vibrant costumes and dance together. On the last day, a gigantic thangka or embroidery painting is shown to all | 3-4 Days | March or April |
| Nimalung | the Mask Dance, when locals beseech the gods for their blessings and pray to help them get rid of their misfortunes | Daytime 10 days 9 nights
|
Mid July |
| The Annual Black-Necked Crane
|
The motive of this festival is to create awareness on creating and protecting the endangered black necked cranes. | 1 day | November |
There are more festivals in Bhutan, it is important to check with your agent tour which festival you are interested in visiting during your stay.
The Bhutanese Ngultrum is the official currency. Typically, 71 to 89 ngultrum per Euro and 66 to 74 ngultrum per US Dollar.
Dzongkha. Your guide and driver speak English or other languages depending on your preferences.
You need a Bhutanese visa to enter and exit Bhutan. All visas are approved in the capital, and are only issued to tourists who have booked travel with a local licensed tour operator, either directly or through a foreign travel agent. Applications for tourist visas are submitted by the local tour operator. Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian nationals can obtain a permit at the port of entry on producing a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity (Indian nationals may also use their Voters Identity Card (VIC)), with or without the services of a tour operator. Once, you have chosen your Tour operator, will book you into hotels approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. It is important to explain which range of hotels you prefer during your stay in Bhutan. This daily tariff includes apart from the hotel, all internal taxes and charges, accommodation, all meals, all travel with a licensed Bhutanese Tour Guide, all internal transport, camping equipment or trekking guide, driver, and car.
If you decided to visit Bhutan is good to know that you must pay a daily tariff, the minimum tariff for tourist visiting in a group of 3 persons or more are as follows, during high season is: USD 250 per person per night (March, April, May, September, October & November), during the low season is: USD 200 per person per night (January, February, June, July, August & December).
Here, I attached a list of Bhutanese Tour operators
Tours are prepaid with your Bhutanese agency, you will need money for your drinks (except water), or souvenirs. Bhutan does not have very advanced ATM services in most of the towns.
Bank services are also quite limited. Most shopkeepers do not accept credit cards or even cheques. The most widely accepted medium of payment is through cash. In fact, the credit cards are accepted only in hotels, resorts, and expensive handicrafts showrooms. Remote towns and villages do not have ATM services. In major economic centres of the country, i.e., Thimphu and Paro, limited ATM services are available, which can be used to withdraw cash. But since the rate of Bhutan currency to INR is similar, large amounts will be accepted in rupees. But do check to see if it is accepted at the vendor first.
Government offices open from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm in summer. In winter could be until 4pm, shops are open from 8am until 8pm or 9pm. Restaurants from 10am until 9pm or 10pm.
Time: GMT + 6 hours.
Paro airport is situated in the valley town of Paro in Bhutan. This airport is the country’s first and only international airport.
Bathpalathang Airport: located near the Jakar district of Bhutan, Bhutan Airlines flies to and from Paro/Thimpu whereas Druk Air, flies to and from Gelephu/Paro. It is a domestic airport.
Gelephu Airport: third domestic airport, situated in Samtenling,Gewog , near a small town named Gelephu.
Yongphulla Airport: located near Trashigang in Bhutan. It was reopened for public use as a domestic airport.
The majority of travellers enter to Bhutan and arrive by air at Bhutan´s international airport in Paro. Some travellers enter to Bhutan by road at Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar on the southern border with India. Entry procedures are easy because your tour guide will wait you on arrival. Be sure to carry your visa authorisation.
Bhutan has not railway track, the only way to see the country is by car or by plane. As you know, you travel with a tourist visa, it means that the cost of all transport and driver is included in your daily tariff, for this reason you can plan short or long distances, depending on your preferences.
Only local, residents and Indian tourists are allowed to travel by bus, the rest of tourist a car and driver is provided by tour operators, you normally do not have to concern yourself with driving.
Disrespecting “The Royal Family”, wearing too short or revealing clothes, washing, swimming, or throwing objects into lakes, killing any animal, using glasses and hats inside religious places, entering in any temple or monastery without permission, pointing finger at people or art, feeding birds/animals while visiting natural sites.
The Bhutanese diet is mainly meat, dairy products, rice (red or white) and vegetables. Traditional Bhutanese food always features chillies, meat dishes, mainly pork, beef and yak are lavishly dosed with red peppers, which are a common sight drying on rooftops.
“Emadatse” (chilli and cheese stew) is the national dish with many variations throughout the country. “Jasha Maroo or Maru” (mix of chilies, onion, tomato, garlic, coriander leaves and ginger is usually made with finely diced chicken, you will occasionally find it made with beef), “Phaksha Paa” (strips of boneless pork shoulder simmered slowly until tender with “mooli” (daikon radish), ginger, bok choy), “Momos” (dumplings, stuffed with almost anything, but the typical fillings are minced pork or beef, cabbage, or fresh cheese mixed with spices such as garlic, ginger and coriander), “Phaksha paa” (slices of pork are stir fried with whole red dry chilies and sometimes some mountain vegetables as well)
Electrical current is 230V/50Hz. Plugs have three round pins, and 230V/50Hz and the plug have two round pins.
Bhutan has offered free universal healthcare for all citizens since the 1970s. Basically, there is no privatization of any physicians or clinics, except for one private health clinic in the capital, Thimphu.
Tourists traveling to Bhutan are strongly advised to take out an international private health insurance policy in case of a serious illness or injury.
Visitors to Bhutan should make sure that all their vaccinations are up to date. Recommended vaccinations include adult diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, polio, typhoid, varicella, Japanese B encephalitis, meningitis, rabies, and tuberculosis. Vaccination for yellow fever is required for entry into the country if arriving from a yellow fever infected country in Africa or the Americas. Other possible health risks include Acute Mountain Sickness, also known as altitude sickness. Always ascend slowly when trekking, avoid gruelling activities in the first 24 hours, and avoid alcohol consumption at high altitudes.
Tipping in Bhutan is not compulsory. Hotels and restaurant bills include service charges of between 10 to 20%; there is no need to add anything further onto these bills. The tipping of your guide, driver and trek crew is purely a personal matter.