Travel Information

For trekkers, comfortable high altitude tents of good quality standards are provided; at some places you will also find all-purpose huts for campers and trekkers.  Palatable dishes are provided by trained cooks while trekking. The Bhutanese have a tradition of hospitality that always makes you feel welcome wherever you go.

Bhutanese delicacies are limited to spicy chilies and cheese. However, you will be served a buffet of Continental & Chinese food with local dishes too. Even on trek, dishes are served suitable to your taste ranging from Continental to Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese.

The whole of southern region of Bhutan is tropical; Punakha & Wangduephodrang valleys in the west and Mongar, Trashigang, Lhuntse valleys in the east enjoy a semi tropical climate with very cool winters, while Thimphu, Paro, Trongsa and Bumthang has quite a harsher climate, with heavy rains in the summer and heavy snow fall in winter. Winter here begins by mid-November and stays till mid-March; at this time of the year the climate is dry with daytime temperature of 16-18° C and night time temperature falling below zero degrees Celsius. The monsoon usually arrives by mid-June, with the downpour mainly in the afternoons and evenings. Autumn begins by end of September, and throughout October till mid November and is pleasant for everything, especially for those who wish to trek in the deeper Himalayas.

For a relatively small land mass, the wide geographical variation gives Bhutan its varied climatic character and four distinct seasons. The southern plains are warmer and more tropical while the central valley is warmer and the alpine north cold. Summer month from June-August are warm with frequent rains. Spring and autumn are cooler and the winters spanning from December to February can be extremely cold.

Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions, it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold, layered clothing is better than a few thick ones. Clothes should be preferably of natural material, which allows the body to breathe better. It is also not advisable for you to walk around in skinny or tight fitting clothes. It is advisable for the women to wear shirts or loose trousers. Please avoid wearing shorts and hats while visiting Dzong, Monasteries and other religious institution.

Mode of transportation within Bhutan is prominently by Motor vehicle. Domestic air services connecting Eastern, Central and Southern Bhutan is just introduced in 2012 which is in an initial phase of its  development in terms of infrastructure; thus domestic air services is yet to confirm its established service. Since land transportation is the most reliable mode, roads are well maintained and are linked to most parts of the country. Due to the mountainous terrain and the winding roads, the average driving speed is restricted to not more than 40 kilometer per hour.

Bhutan Post is the national postal organization in Bhutan and has a reliable service. You can send your cards, mails, letters, etc. from the post offices available at each place that you visit. No extra formalities are required to avail the facilities for a foreign national. International Courier Services like DHL International, First Flight, EMS (Express Mail Service) and Blue Dart Courier are available in Thimphu. 

All major towns in the country have both domestic and international direct dialing facilities. Most of the hotels and PCOs have STD/IDD facilities and fax transmission facility. There are two Mobile service providers in the country, one operated by the state owned Bhutan Telecom and the other totally a private venture by Tashi Mobile; Bhutan is also connected to Internet and email since 1999. Country dialing code of the kingdom is +975. Area code of Thimphu is 2.

Bhutan has only one time zone. It is exactly six hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

Ngultrum (Nu) is the official currency of Bhutan and has equivalent value to the Indian Rupee, which is also accepted in Bhutan. Selective international ATM cards are accepted by local banks and certain business houses including hotels. US dollar and Euro is widely accepted all over the country. Changing of money is possible in the Banks as well as in the hotels.

not all places of religious establishments are open to tourists. This is to ensure that monastic life can continue unhindered and for environmental and safety concerns. Details can be provided with a full list of places and festivals that are open to tourists.

Visitors are required to complete the Customs formalities by submitting Declaration Form to customs authorities on arrival. The following articles are exempted from customs duty.

1. Personal effects and articles for day to day use by the visitor
2. 2 liters of alcohol; 400 sticks of cigarettes; 150 gms of pipe tobacco after declaration and payment of taxes.Please note selling of Cigarettes and Smoking in public places is banned in Bhutan and violation of this regulation can face imprisonment.
3. Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional use
4. Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal use
5. Articles described in sl.no.3 & 4 must be declared on the Customs Form. If such items are disposed of in Bhutan by sale or gift they become liable for customs duty.

1. Arms, ammunition, explosives and military stores
2. All narcotics and drugs (medically prescribed drugs are exempted)
3. Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species
4. Antiques

Visitors are advised to be cautious in purchasing old and used items. Customs authorities will not allow any old/used items to be taken out of the country if they have not been certified as non-antique.  Import of plants, soils etc. are subject to quarantine regulations. These items must be declared on arrival.

Commercial filming in Bhutan is permissible only upon grant of approval from the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) and payment of royalty as per the Bhutan Filming Regulation, 2007. Applications are to be submitted at least 30 days in advance along with following details:

1. Synopsis of the film-theme/background/objective/purpose
2. Specific locations/objectives/activities
3. Duration of filming activity in the country
4. Composition of the team and list of equipment, accessories/consumables
5. Letter of recommendation from the sponsoring agency, company profit and resume
6. Any other additional information, as the Authority may require.

Documentary @ US$ 3,000/-

1. Commercial Films @ US$ 10,000/-
2. Advertisement US$ 5,000/-
3. Music Video US$ 3,000/-
4. TV Series (per episode) US$ 3,000/-

In addition, a security deposit of US$ 2,000/- will have to be deposited to BICMA on a refundable basis.

Photographic opportunities are immense on all trips. In general, people do not mind if you take their photograph. However, you are advised to follow the guide’s instructions carefully, while visiting Dzong, Monasteries and other religious institutions.

Ministry of Health, Bhutan has not felt the necessity to take vaccination of any kind to enter the Kingdom. However, you may at your own concern, wish to take immunization against certain preventable diseases. We suggest that you go through US Centers for Disease Control for updated information on this issue.

is one important concern that a traveler needs to be aware of. Even though most visitors do not encounter any problem, some face problem especially trekking at high altitude, which at some routes goes as high as 5000 Meters. International Society for Mountain Medicine will provide you good information on prevention and management of this sickness. International Society for Mountain Medicine too would provide you with information on altitude sickness.