Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Reaching at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatise to the altitude. Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel and lets have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine and some light sight-seeing in Thimphu if possible.
Takin enclosure – See the national animal of Bhutan, the Takin.
Heritage Museum – Dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past though exhibition of artefacts used in rural households.
Textile Museum – witnesses the art of traditional weaving.
Thimphu Dzong – the largest Dzong, is also the seat of the office of the King of Bhutan.
National Memorial Chorten – which was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.
Paper making factory – witnesses the art of paper making.
Simtokha Dzong – Five miles from Thimphu, on a lofty ridge, stands Semtokha Dzong the oldestfortressin the Kingdom.
Drive from Thimphu to Geynikha. From there we make a climb up to a ruin from which good trail starts descending to the Geynitsang Chhu, passing a small waterfall and an irrigation channel built on some stakes till the first campsite is reached. If we arrive at camp early, we will visit the villages Zamto and Chhochhekha up the valley.
Distance : 1.25 miles / 2 km
Duration: 5 hours (first 2 hours for drive)
Leaving campsite we make a steep climb and then steadily through the oak forest. The trail becomes less steep, skirting around the hillside through a big birch forest that gradually gives way to bamboo. Soon we reach our campsite Gur. We could have reached this place in a day, but Gur is about 1,000m higher than Thimphu so we have to watch the altitude. Gur camp is just within the recommended height gain between campsites.
Distance : 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
Duration: 2 hours
A clear and wide trail leads us to a beautiful high altitude landscape with gentians and a fine view of the Dagala Range including some rocky peaks. Soon we enter a broad main valley where there a are quite a few yak herders huts. We continue to the end of the valley and camp just below the cliffs near the lake. If you have obtained a fishing permit, enjoy some golden trout fishing.
Distance : 6.2miles / 10 km
Duration: 5 hours
The lower route crosses a pass of 4300m. The pack animals and horsemen uses this trail since it is easier. Alternatively, adventurous travellers can take the high route reaching altitudes of 4520m and is even higher if you want to climb to a viewing point , Jomo Peak (4716m). The Jumolhari and Kanchenjunga can be seen on a fine weather.
Several short climbs follow in and out of minor valleys finally reaching a small saddle with a cairn. Then we make the last climb for the day before reaching our campsite at Kiwi Chowa next to a little stream.
Distance : 6 miles / 10 km
Duration: 3-4 hour
We climb to a pass where four trail meets. We take the trail going towards Talakha Gompa. On our trek to Talakha Gompa, we have to be careful because there are big loose stones, very unpleasant for horses. It leads us to a meadow from where we make a final long descent through mixed fir, juniper, and rhododendron etc. We will reach the beautiful Takakha Gompa with a well looked after garden with a superb view of Thimphu Valley. Below the gompa is the road where our transportation will be waiting for us to take us to Thimphu.
Distance : 5.5 miles / 9km
Paro Valley – The beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan’s old monasteries and temples. The country’s only Airport is in Paro. The valley is also home to mount Chomolhari (7,300 meters) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pachu flowing through the valley. The following are some of the prominent places to visit in Paro.
Paro Dzong – Also known as Rinpung Dzong, this 15th century massive fortress/monastery, is also the administrative center of the dzonkhag.
Ta Dzong – Built as a watch tower the Ta Dzong, it was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum boasts antique Thangka, textiles, weapons and armour, household objects and rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
Drukgyal Dzong – A morning drive, north of Paro valley brings us to the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate.Explore the ramparts and relive the memories of a glorious past.
Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) – A one hour hike to the cafeteria is also a vantage view whereby you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. Prayer flags adorn the cliff and this is also where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century.
Kyichu Lhakhang – After a sumptuous local lunch, we will retrace our steps to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back to next destination. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments! Tashi Delek!
We compiled a list of frequently asked questions about Bhutan travel. If you do not find what you are looking for, please feel free to contact us (WhatsApp/ call +975 17171610 or email at asiavalleystravels@gmail.com)
The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a daily levy paid by visitors to support Bhutan’s development. Since the kingdom first opened its doors in 1974, guests have played a critical role in our country’s growth.
The SDF is collected by the national exchequer and funds are allocated to various projects that create long-term, sustainable opportunities for the Bhutanese people, through free healthcare, education and training, upskilling the tourism and hospitality industry, improved infrastructure, environmental preservation and conservation, cultural preservation programmes and initiatives that support local businesses and economies. The SDF is also a vital means of maintaining the exceptional forest cover and carbon-neutrality for which our small nation is world-renowned and globally critical. The SDF also helps us to ensure that we can continue to offer guests tranquillity and an intimate experience.
The SDF is USD 100 per night for adults from all countries except for India. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay USD 50 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.
The SDF for Indian nationals (showing a valid Indian passport or Voter ID card) is Nu. 1,200 (or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees) per person, per night. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay Nu./INR 600 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.
No. This incentive is not combinable with the SDF waiver for border towns.
Tourists visiting Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrupjongkhar towns for 24 hours need not pay Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) beginning April 14, 2023. The waiver will be enforced for a year. The SDF waiver will only apply for tourists who do not travel beyond the designated zones of border towns. However, SDF will apply for visitors who travel beyond the designated zone of border towns.
Tourists will be charged SDF if they go beyond Gurung Basti in Samtse, and beyond Rinchending Checkpost in Phuentsholing. The designated zone in Gelephu is at Aipoli Bridge and Pinchinna checkpost in Samdrupjongkhar.
Extensions must be made in person at the Department of Immigration and must be paid in US Dollars.
For Indian Nationals, extensions can be made in person at the Department of Immigration and must be paid in INR.
The guests should cancel their visa application and apply again. Please allow at least five working days to process the visa application. The SDF that they have already paid can be used when applying again and any excess will be refunded. SDF payments cannot be refunded after guests have either arrived in Bhutan or have departed Bhutan.
Yes, guests who have already obtained a visa and booked trips to Bhutan can take advantage of the new SDF incentive. They will need to cancel their existing visa application and re-apply. Please note that DoI will forfeit their original visa fee (USD 40) and guest will be required to pay the USD 40 visa fee again when they process their new visa application. The SDF that they have already paid can be used when applying again.
Only guests from India are eligible to pay the rate of Nu. 1,200 (or equivalent in Indian Rupees) per day.
Yes, the SDF will be refunded by the Department of Immigration for any cancelled or shortened trips; any bank charges will be deducted from the total refunded. Requests for SDF refunds should be submitted online using the visa portal. The refund will be processed after visitors leave Bhutan.
Yes, the SDF will be refunded for any nights that are not spent in the kingdom.
The most popular time of the year for visiting Bhutan are the spring months of March, April, and May and the fall months of September, October, and November. Also, many festivals take place in spring and fall. However, we believe, Bhutan is a year round destination. The winter months start from December to February, but the typical sky then is clear with bright sunshine. The monsoons start from June through August with only light showers during the evenings & nights. Many savvy travelers are discovering the advantages of lean season travel to Bhutan during the winter months of December through February and the summer months of June and July.
All International tourists wishing to enter Bhutan require a visa which must be pre-arranged through a license Bhutanese Tour Operator like us. Visa clearance must be obtained through us prior to travel. For Indian passport (or VIC) holders, Bangladeshi nationals and persons from the Maldives may obtain a visa on entry. There is a misconception that obtaining visa to visit Bhutan is very difficult. This is not the case. Visas can be obtained in about three working days, if all papers are in order. All forms and paperwork will be processed by us and the following items are the only things required of you, to process visas for Bhutan
You may depart for Paro International Airport (Bhutan) from Bangkok, Singapore, Kathmandu, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bagdogra or Guwahati airports. At present two carriers operate to Bhutan – Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. We can help secure reservations on either of the airlines. Ticket purchase can also be taken care of by us and sent across to you, as all tickets are E-tickets. Reconfirmation, changes etc can all be routed via our office.
Bhutan now has a host of variety of hotels. You can get standard hotels with all the basic necessities, clean and hygienic. There also a number of luxury hotels offering the best of facilities matching any international 5 star property. You can also choose to camp or try out the home stays in villages that are now becoming very popular with guests.
The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chillis are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that is not spicy. Rice forms the main body of most Bhutanese meals. It is accompanied by one or two side dishes consisting of meat or vegetables. Pork, beef and chicken are the meats that are eaten most often. A wide selection of western and Indian food is also available in many of the restaurants around the country.
The weather varies across different parts of Bhutan. Depending on the altitude, the climate varies from semi-tropical to alpine. In Thimphu, the capital city, the temperature ranges from -2.5°C in winter to 25°C in summer. In Southern Bhutan, the climate is tropical in the monsoon season and may range from 15°C in winter to 30°C in summer. The east is also warmer than the west. The central regions enjoy sub-tropical climate with very cool winters while the northern parts of the country have harsh climate including snowfall two to three times every winter.
Bhutanese currency is known as the Ngultrum. It’s value is tied to the Indian Rupee which is also accepted as a legal tender. Most tourist hotels and few shops also accept international currencies like US dollar and the Euro and major credit cards i.e., VISA and Master card are accepted. Major convertible currencies and travelers’ cheques can be exchanged at banks in all major towns.
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