Bhutan travel information

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Bhutan is the small kingdom on the south slope of Himalayas. By recent years the Kingdom was closed to other countries, there are still unique culture.
It is not difficult to travel to Bhutan. From year 1974, tourist can get into the Kingdom, now you can flight easily to Bhutan by a jet air plane.
While your trip to Bhutan, you may see the himalayas peaks nearby and unique alpine plants and animals. You will feel flowing times gently. Above all you touch the culture which Bhutanese people bring up.
Well, there are special regulations for trip to Bhutan different from other nations. Please be sure the points of Bhutan trip.

The points different from other nations as follows:

You cannot get into the Kingdom without contract of tour company.
Tour expence is fixed rate by government, which is so expensive as US$200.

A number of tourist is limited around a few thousands in a year, but you may not worry about this limitation. Most of tourist is Japanese but tour guide mostly speaks English only. So you can enjoy with Bhutanese tour guide.

You can contact travel agent in Bhutan. For your information, you can refer a table of Bhutanese travel agent in the last part of this page.

Bhutan trip is available throughout a year.
Top tour season is Tsechhu festival in Spring and Autumn. For your reference in 1999, Tsecchu festival was held from March 27th to 31st at Paro and from September 17th to 22nd at capital Thimphu. The other locations festivals are held.
In Summer July or August is monsoon season much rain not suitable for trekking. Please refer the papers from Tourism Authority of Bhutan seasons of trekking as follows:
：Suitable for trekking.
：Trekking available but mostly raining.
：Closed for snow.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Bumthang
Gantey
Samteygang
Lingshi/Laya/Lunana Snowman
Gasa Hot Spring
Jhomolhari
Druk Path
Dagala

Routes to Bhutan are two. one is the air route by the Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines), the other is the land route through the Indian border. Anyway you must make contract with a tour company.

• Air route by the Druk Air
  Druk Air is the national flagship airline. From Japan the best gateway airport are Bangkok, Thai or Kathmandu, Nepal. Their own jet engine airplane equipped 72 seats fly to Paro international airport. From Paro to capital Thimphu the distance is 65Km, 2hours by hired car.
• Land route through the Indian border
  You can enter the Kingdom at Phuentsholing town the Indian border. You need Indian visa because you go into Indian teritory. From Phuentsholing to capital Thimphu the distance is 176Km, about 6hours by hired car.

At good season, you can enjoy the great himalayas summits from the windows of Druk Air far away. I recommends left hand side to see the giants.

The procedure entering Kingdom of Bhutan.

1. Make a contract with tour company
   Please contact travel agency in your country or land operator in Bhutan directly. Through the contract you get the visa clealance number by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bhutan. Visa clealance number is required at the time purchasing of Druk Air ticket.
2. Get a DRUK AIR's ticket
   By air route entering, you get a Druk Air's ticket through your agency.
   

   DRUK AIR's ticket

3. Procedure entrance into the Kingdom
   At the time of entry into the Kingdom, by showing the visa approve papers, you get visa at your passport actually. A fee of visa for staying within 15 days is US$20. You can extend the visa with fee 510 Nu. at Thimphu office within 6 month.
   

   Disembarkation card

4. Returnning ticket
   Returnning ticket of Druk Air is get at the counter of Druk Air main office Thimphu. Only US$ cash is accepted.
5. Air port tax at leaving the Kingdom
   At Paro international airport you pay 300Nu. in cash only.

While a festival is held, many tourist vists Bhutan. Especially the biggest festival is Paro Tshechu festival in Spring.
Based on the Bhuddhism story, you will see mask dances. Many Bhutanese families come to see the festival. The last day of Paro Tshechu you will see a huge Thangka picture for the climax.

Schedules of festivals of Bhutan (1999）

	Place	Period	Remarks
Punakha Domche	Punakha	2/20 - 24	Serda on 2/24
Chroten Kora Tshechu	Trashiyangtse	3/16 - 17
Gom Kora Tshechu	Trashiyangtse	3/25 - 26
Chukha Tshechu	Chukha	3/25 - 26
Paro Tshechu	Paro	3/27 - 31	Thongdrel 3/31
Ura Yakchoe	Bumthang	4/25 - 5/1
Kurjey Tshechu	Bumthang	6/23
Nimlung Tshechu	Bumthang	6/21 - 23
Thimphu Dromche	Thimphu	9/16 - 17
Thimphu Tshechu	Thimphu	9/17 - 22
Wangdi Tshechu	Wangdiphodrang	9/17 - 20
Tamshing Phala Choepa	Bumthang	9/19 - 21
Thangbi Mani	Bumthang	9/24 - 26
Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Bumthang	10/24 - 28
Prakhar Tshechu	Bumthang	10/25 - 28
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar	11/15 - 18
Trashigang Tshechu	Tashigang	11/16 - 19
Trangsa Tshechu	Tashigang	11/17 - 20
Lhutse Tshechu	Tashigang	11/17 - 19

Company name	Mail address	FAX number	Remarks
Shangri-la Bhutan Tours & Treks	shangrila@overseas.net	+975-2-24410
Bhutan Yod Sel Tours & Treks	dawa@travel.bt	+975-2-23589
Bhutan Tourism Corporation Limited (BTCL)	---	+975-2-23292	There is no mailaddress but a homepage.
Yangphel Tours and Travels	yangphel@overseas.net	+975-2-22897
Yu-Druk Tours and Travels	yu-druk@overseas.net	+975-2-22116
Gangri Tours and Trekking Co., Ltd.	gangri@abac.com	+975-2-23322
Sakten Tours & Treks	Sakten@bootan.com	+975-2-25574

TAB:Tourism Authority of Bhutan

Address: P.O.Box 126, Thimphu, Bhutan
Telephone: (975)2-23251,23252
FAX: (975)2-23695