Bhutan Discovered

20 Apr 2018

Bhutan Discovered

HJKB

Validity: 01 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2018

Bhutan is the little secret of Asia. Overshadowed and nestled between China and India, it is a relatively new travel spot, with many undiscovered secrets in its natural scenery and quiet townships. The land is dotted with red-clothed monks, ancient Buddhist temples and friendly smiles. It is one calm country, where gross national happiness is more important than money, where chillies are used as a vegetable rather than for spice, and the thunder dragon, Druk, is emblazoned on the national flag, symbolising the people of Bhutan: loyal, patriotic and living with a total sense of belonging within the kingdom.

Comfort

Explorer

Private vehicle

3

The Hotel Dorji Elements is a centrally located hotel in Thimphu.The hotel has just 24 rooms offering free wi-fi.
Each room has tea and coffee making facilities, A/C and heat.
The hotel has a restaurant and cafe and is just a short walk from the Post Office, ATM's and central Thimphu.

An arrival transfer is included for all travellers to Bhutan. Paro airport is small, quiet and generally only deals with one flight at a time. The new arrivals hall makes for a pleasant arrival into Bhutan.
Your driver and guide will be waiting for you after you after you collect your luggage and exit the airport. Please look for the welcome sign
If you have any issues with your arrival, please do not hesitate to contact the emergency number on your documents.

All Intrepid group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Internet access is generally very good in the major towns and villages. There may be limited internet access when rafting.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Your consultant will also be happy to point you in the right direction with acquiring visas. Visas can take several weeks to process, so familiarise yourself with any requirements as soon as you have booked your trip to allow for processing time.

All nationalities require a visa for Bhutan. Travellers can only enter Bhutan as part of a group visa. Independent visas are not issued. The cost of the visa is covered in our tour.

At the time of booking, please provide Intrepid the following:

- scanned colour copy of the photo page of your passport
- full name
- gender
- date of birth
- nationality
 - passport number & date of issue / expiry,
- travelling email address

Intrepid can assist you with your flights into Bhutan. Please speak to your travel agent or reservations advisor. Alternatively both Druk Air and Air Bhutan take bookings directly on their websites. Please ensure that Peregrine has a copy of ALL your international flight details to assist with your booking and for your visa application. 

Due to the nature of travel in Bhutan the group visa can only be submited once we have ALL travellers details. Failure to advise any of the information as above can slow the visa issue process and delay the group visa. Generally visas are issued within 5 days of departure and as close as 48 hours prior to travel into the country. If required we can send your group visa to your travelling email address. Please print this visa and carry with you at time of boarding your Bhutan flight.

You must show the copy of your Bhutan Group visa at the check-in for your flight to Bhutan and on arrival at immigration in Bhutan where you will have your Bhutan visa stamped into your passport.

All nationalities require a visa for entry to Bhutan, except Indian nationals holding a valid Indian passport. Visas must be obtained in advance.

We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself.

You must provide Intrepid at the time of booking with your full name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport number & date of issue / expiry, plus a scanned copy of your passport, your email address and a contact number for you when you are in Bhutan.

If you have not booked flights to Bhutan with Intrepid, we will also require your flight details to finalise the visa process.

Intrepid will then forward you the scanned copy of your Bhutan Group visa shortly prior to your trip start date.

You must show the copy of your Bhutan Group visa at the check-in for your flight to Bhutan and on arrival at the immigration in Bhutan where you will have your Bhutan visa stamped into your passport.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION
Travel in Bhutan is strictly controlled and to do any independent travel outside of a group tour is extremely difficult and expensive to arrange. We provide a group visa for travellers on our tours in Bhutan, which stipulates that all travellers must arrive and depart on the same days that our tour program starts and finishes. For this reason we are generally not able to provide additional accommodation outside of our tour dates and advise all travellers to book flights in and out of Bhutan that correspond with the start and finish day of the tour. In the rare case that no flights are available and you need to arrive earlier or depart later we are only able to book additional accommodation for you in conjunction with a special individual visa which can add around AUD1000 to the cost of your tour, to be paid at the time of booking.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are flying in and out of Paro via India, please check what visa you need for India. If you plan to spend time travelling in India on your way to Bhutan (or vice versa), please be aware you will generally need a tourist visa (rather than a transit visa); and tourist visas currently need to have a gap of 2 months between visits. Please check the limitations on Indian visas if you plan to spend time in India on the way to Paro. Please also be aware that currently the maximum amount of time allowed for passenger transiting via an India airport for a connecting flight is 18 hours. Note that this information can change at any time and you will need to check this information for yourself.

Whilst only a small country, there are long travel days in Bhutan, most roads are single lane and travel by vehicle is slow and tiring.

The trek to Tigers nest is quite vigorous, but its well worth the climb.

Bhutan is at high altitude, a day or two taking it easy makes for a much more comfortable trip. Drink tea and lots of water on arrival and avoid strenuous exercise while acclimatising.

All Intrepid travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please note that if, in the opinion of our group leader or local guide, any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, Intrepid Travel reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations and anti-malarial requirements before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses) as they may not easily be obtained at the locations on this trip. For legal reasons our leaders and guides are prohibited from administering any type of drugs including headache tablets and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. On our camping trips we often cook the region's specialities so you don't miss out. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.

All group meals are included in Bhutan.
Generally meals will be buffet style and taken in your hotel or guesthouse. Lunches and dinners will generally be a mix of Continental, Chinese and Indian dishes. Rice and vegetarian options are always included.
When camping, meals will be hearty and tasty but may have little variation. Please let us know if you have specific dietary requirements.
Bottled water and alcoholic drinks are paid for locally.

Don´t rely on credit and ATM card usage in Bhutan. There are very few ATMs in Bhutan outside of Paro and Thimpu, so it is best to bring either USD cash or Indian Rupees (INR) to Bhutan. Indian Rupees are accepted currency in Bhutan if you've travelled in Indian prior to your trip.

The Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN) is pegged to the Indian Rupee and is valueless outside of Bhutan so make sure that you change back all excess Bhutanese currency before you leave.

For personal expenses, please take USD / Euro / GBP / Indian Rupees in cash, which in turn can be changed into the local currency, Nu, on arrival at the airport and in hotels. Don't forget to take the receipt if you´re exchanging the money at the airport. Without the receipt, it can be difficult to change remaining Bhutanese Nu back to foreign currency. Also note that there are variable rates for bigger foreign currency notes and currency notes of smaller denominations. Higher denominations get you better exchange rate.

Credit cards can be used in hotels and bigger shops in Paro and thimpu, but again don't rely on your card as your sole source of currency.

Please note that most establishments in Asia will not accept foreign currency notes that are old, torn or faded and they can be very difficult to exchange or extra fees added when exchanging at banks. Please ensure that you have new, clean notes.

All meals are included on your Bhutan trip. You will only need extra spending money for souvenirs, drinks and tips. Best to bring cash. ATMs are available only in Thimphu. Credit cards are accepted only in some shops.

CONTINGENCY FUNDS:
We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. Please make sure you have access to an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result there may be some extra costs involved.

The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:

Hotels / Restaurants: USD 0.50 - 1 for porters and restaurant staff

Drivers: You may have a range of drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group however a base of US$ 1-2 per person, per day is generally appropriate.

Local transport: For a city tour we suggest US$ 1 per person, per day.

Your Group Leader: You may also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however as a guideline US$ 2-3 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

FLIGHTS
intrepid can assist you with your flights into Bhutan. Please speak to your travel agent or reservations advisor. Alternatively both Druk Air and Air Bhutan take bookings directly on their websites. Please ensure that Peregrine has a copy of ALL your international flight details to assist with your booking and for your visa application.

Flights into and out of Paro Airport are restricted to daylight hours and are weather dependent. Travellers are advised to allow at least 24 hours' transit time for connecting flights to and from Paro Airport and to travel on non-restricted air tickets so that they can be rebooked on the first available airline if a connecting flight is missed.

Passengers transiting through India will need a transit visa if they intend to leave the airport or spend a night in India.

Please ensure you have hard copies of your flights into and out of Bhutan printed before you travel.

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Intrepid travellers. Intrepid's philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular, the local people who make our destinations such special places. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure on their trip. We don’t tolerate any form of violence (verbal or physical) or sexual harassment at Intrepid, either between passengers or involving our leaders, local operators or locals.

Sexual relationships (consensual or otherwise) between a leader and a passenger are unacceptable. If you ever feel another person is behaving inappropriately please inform us immediately by contacting the emergency contact number detailed in these trip notes.

Please note that accommodation in Bhutan can be very simple and infrastructure is not what it is in other parts of Asia, such as electricity and water being very sporadic.

Whilst there are approx 8000km of roads in Bhutan, the quality varies greatly depending on proximity to the major towns of Thimpu and Paro. As such, even short distances can take longer than expected. Bhutan is currently upgrading a lot of their road network and delays are common. Roads are narrow and speeds are slow. Landslides are common and occasionally trips are diverted due to debris blocking roads.

As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.

SINGLE TRAVELLERS:
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and don't involve a compulsory single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same gender in accommodation ranging from twin to multishare. Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed gender share basis and where applicable this will be specified in our Trip Notes. On a selection of our trips, you have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure that you have your own accommodation (where available). Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour - pre-trip and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis.

Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research. The information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the brochure. It's very important that you print and review a final copy of your Essential Trip Information a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff. We are here to help you! Please note that while we operate successful trips in this region throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary from time to time.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
A selection of optional activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only. Prices are approximate and are for entrance only and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability and it may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. This means that it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, however we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with booking these activities. The decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Hotel (5 nights),Homestay (1 night)