Travel Information

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 daily tariff is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The Department of Tourism regulates a standard rate to ensure the country’s policy of encouraging high quality, low volume tourists. 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.
 
Tariff And Tour Payment Effective From 01 January 2007
The INTERNATIONAL TOURIST TARIFF is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and is valid for all-inclusive packages. The daily tariff is in the US$150-US$240 range, with US$200 per day charged for adults traveling in groups of three or more.A daily surcharge is applied for groups of fewer than three people. Please contact Bhutan Pelri Tours for specific costing for your requirements. 

Discounts On Tourist Tarriff 

The following discounts shall be allowed:  
1. Diplomats from foreign embassies/missions accredited to Bhutan shall be given a 25% discount on the daily rates.  

2. There shall be no charge for Children up to the age of five years. However, those between the age of six to twelve years accompanied by elders shall be given a 25% discount on the daily rates.  

3. Full time Students below the age of twenty-five holding valid identity cards from their respective academic institutions shall be given 25% discounts on the daily rates.
 
Tours Reservations
All land booking should be made through our Paro office, or through email booking@bhutanpelritours.com . All reservation requests are normally confirmed by return fax or e-mail. All tours in Bhutan must be booked through a recognized Bhutanese Tour Operator such as Bhutan Pelri Tours, with entire land arrangements provided by one and the same operator.For Cultural Tours, booking arrangements must be completed 6 weeks in advance, but for Cultural Tours during festivals, arrangements must be completed at least 8 weeks in advance. The spring and autumn festivals are our peak times for tourism, and without early reservations it can be difficult to confirm flights and hotels. 
For Trekking groups, booking arrangements should be completed at least 10 weeks in advance, as this activity requires detailed forward planning. Bhutan Pelri Tours has an impressive list of local Bhutanese resources, and offers a personalized and intimate experience of the country. 

Visa 
Bhutan Pelri Tours will apply for your entry approval with the Royal Government. Visas are required for traveling to Bhutan, and applications are processed through Bhutan Pelri Tours in conjunction with tour booking. It is mandatory for a tourist to get his/her visa clearance before departing for Bhutan. Without proof of payment, Drukair, the only airline flying in and out of Bhutan, will not issue tickets. The Department of Tourism will then not issue clearance and the Ministry of Foreign affairs will not issue your visa pending your payment. This is government regulation. The visa fee is US$20 for unlimited duration of stay is included in your tour cost.

No foreign mission abroad grants Bhutan tourist visas. 
All information as mentioned on the visa application form must be forwarded to us for processing with the concerned authorities at least 6 weeks prior to date of travel, but note that for travel during festivals, details should be sent at least 8 weeks prior to date of travel, as this is the peak time for tourism. 
Please submit the required information to us by fax or email at visa@bhutanpelritours.com . A Bhutan visa application data form is included below. We do not require any additional photos or visa forms in advance.

Click here for Visa Application Form 

Once the Royal Government of Bhutan approves your entry into Bhutan, your actual visa will be stamped upon arrival at the airport. Whether entering Bhutan by land or by air, each client should bring two passport size photographs with name/ passport number printed clearly on the back.  Please note that you will have to check if your passport is valid at least 6 months during the travel in Bhutan.  Please make at least 3 photo copies of your passport and store it in different bags in case if you lose your passport. 

For travelers entering Bhutan by Druk Air, visa clearance is required for the issuing of Druk Air tickets. The visa clearance number is forwarded to the Druk Air station at which the flight originates. Travelers without a visa clearance number on record will not be permitted to board their flights. 

For travelers entering the country by land from India, through the southern border town of Phuentsholing, the visa is stamped on arrival, as per visa clearance number. Travelers without a visa clearance number on record will not be permitted to enter the country.  

Tour Payment
Advance payment in full for tours must be sent to Bhutan Pelri Tours by bank transfer, within the specified time frame. Services are confirmed subject to advance payment only. We will provide full information on remittance of tour payment when we cost your requirements.

For high season travel (January, February, March, April, May, Sept, Oct, Nov & Dec), 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.

100% payment shall be made in advance and in US dollars.

The payment shall be remitted by Telegraphic/Electronic transfer to the Account of:  
Bhutan National Bank, PO box 439Thimphu,

BhutanAccount No: 734061(USD A/C)

AMERICAN EXPRESS BANK
LTD.300 BOULEVARD
EASTWEEHAWKEN NJ07087-6702

Swift code: AEIBUS33ABA BO: 124071889

Ultimate Beneficiary Account no: 0005603902011 of Bhutan Pelri Tours.

Maintained with BNB, Paro, Bhutan

A copy of the remittance of the transfer must be sent to us by fax in order that we can process the visa and ticketing.
 
NOTE: Please note that the payment for Druk-Air is a must to secure confirmation with the Airways. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB) will not process visa if the payment is delayed.  

Single Supplement 
Participants who specifically request single accommodations, subject to
availability, pay a single supplement. If you are traveling alone and wish to
share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate. However,
if a roommate is not available, the forced single supplement will be charged.

Air Cancellation 
Airfare on Druk Air must be wired within two weeks from the date of booking. Failure to pay promptly will result in the confirmed seats on Druk Air being cancelled automatically. Please note that as per the Druk Air regulation, a trip cancelled 60 days prior to departure date will be charged with US$ 25 as documentation fee and during the month of Mar., Apr., Sep., Oct., and Nov., (Peak Season) between 60 – 30 days of arrival there will be 50% cancellation charge on Druk Airfare and 100% cancellation charge for cancellation after 30 days before arrival. During rest of the month trip canceled within 15-30 days prior to departure, 50% of the cost and below 15 days 100% of the cost. 


Land Cancellation 
Cancellation must be notified in writing; you can either email us or fax us your cancellation notice. Tour programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows: 
a) Within 30 days prior to arrival         $700 deposit fee 
b) Within 29 days                                                 25% of the cost 
c) Within 21 days                                                50% of the cost 
d) Within 14 days                                               75% of the cost 
e) Within 7 days                                                 100% of the cost

Please note that our cancellation policies apply in every instance. There will be NO EXCEPTION FOR ANY REASON. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you purchase TRAVEL INSURANCE. 

Entering Bhutan
Visitors can enter Bhutan through overland or by air. Our national airline flies several times a week between most of its destinations, Kathmandu, Delhi, Calcutta, Dhaka, Yangon and Bangkok but flight timings and frequency vary according to season. The other alternative is, you can drive in overland via India (Bagdogra airport, Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri, Sikkim, Darjeeling & Kalimpong) to Phuntsholing - Bhutan. 

For those who are flying into Paro will need to book their seats amply in advance especially during peak season. Druk Air is always at the mercy of weather and operates from an airport that is “daylight restricted: and totally dependent on weather. Flights can sometimes be delayed. It is recommended that passenger keep at least 24 hours transit time for connecting flights out of Paro. 

Druk Air’s website www.drukair.com.bt
I includes details of current flight schedules and airfares. Please check the website or contact Bhutan Pelri Tours for the latest information when planning your travel arrangements. If you would like the current flight schedule sent to you, please let us know. 

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 range, 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! 

Druk Air Baggage Allowance 
Passengers are allowed to carry free baggage not exceeding 20 Kgs (44 pounds) in Y class and 30 Kgs (66 pounds) in J class, and extremely oversized packages cannot be loaded on to the aircraft's cargo hold. Any excess will be charged; for excess baggage charge please visit www.drukair.com.bt .  

Hand Baggage 
Only one baggage is allowed, the size not exceeding 45+35+20cm (17.5+13.5+8 inches) and the weight not exceeding 5 kgs (11 pounds). Nu 300 (Local Currency) departure tax is charged at the Paro airport. 

Customs

Arrival: You will receive a baggage declaration and immigration form in the plane prior to landing. Please fill the form accurately as it appears on your passport. The main purpose of the declaration form is to ensure that you re-export anything you bring into country. List all expensive equipment that you are carrying, such as cameras, video cameras and portable computers etc. Customs officials usually want to see the items that you listed, and then they endorse the form and return it to you. Don’t lose it. You must return the form, and may be asked to show the items listed when you leave the country. 

The following articles are exempt from duty: Personal effects and articles for day to day use by the visitor2 liters of alcohol (spirits or wine)400 cigarettes, 150 gms of pipe tobacco, 2 boxes of cigars (or 50 pieces)Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional usePhotographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal useThe 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.        

Departure: Departure formalities are straightforward, but you must produce the form that you completed on arrival and show the items listed on it. A lost form means complication and delays. If you lose the form, let your guide know as soon as possible so that special arrangements can be made to avoid inconvenience. 

Import/export restrictions
Import/export of the following goods is strictly prohibited:Arms, ammunitions and explosivesAll narcotics and drugs except medically prescribed drugsTobacco is banned and is subject to 200% custom duty if brought into the countryWildlife products, especially those of endangered speciesAntiquesImports of plants, soils etc. are subject to quarantine regulations. These items must be cleared on arrival. Visitors are advised to be cautious in purchasing old and used items, especially of religious or cultural significance, as such items may not be exported without a clearance certificate. Bhutan Pelri Tours's advice should be sought before committing to such purchases.
 
Meeting your Bhutan Pelri Guide 
After completion of customs, immigration and baggage claim, your guide will be waiting at the Exit door of the airport main lobby. Your baggage will be handled by your driver then transfer to your destination town.  
 
Safety & Security 
Bhutan is a safe country; in fact it is the few safest countries in the world. But like anywhere in the world, it is wise to be a little cautious. Simple safety precautions such as not wearing excessive jewelry, being careful when crossing roads (remember: left-hand traffic), look before stepping, and taking care of valuables will keep you out of trouble. Valuables such as money, traveler’s checks, passports and flights tickets are best held with you all the time. 

Filming in Bhutan  The rules and rates for filming in Bhutan differ from that of normal rates of Tours & Treks. Tourists' professionals' intend of filming on Bhutan must abide by the Bhutan Filming Regulations, 1995, available with the implementing agency i.e. the Tourism Authority of Bhutan. (The Regulation does not apply to feature and cinematography films). 

Applications for a filming permit must be submitted to the Tourism
Authority of Bhutan at least 30 days in advance.

The application must be accompanied by:
 
a. Synopsis of the film - theme/background/objective/purpose  
b. Specific location/objects/activities  
c. Composition of the filming team and the list of equipment including accessories and consumables (Filming crew members have to pay full daily tourist tariff)  
d. Letter of recommendation from sponsoring agency (application form available with TAB at the cost of Nu. 300.00)  

Royalty on Filming  
1. First 30 minutes or part thereof - US$ 10,000  
2. Next 30 minutes or part thereof - US$ 6,000  
3. Every additional 30 minutes or part thereof - US$ 3,000  

Miscellaneous Information 
Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing, hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed. Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip. Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up. Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate contents.