Facts for travelers

Visa: With the exception of Indian travelers, all visitors to Bhutan need a visa. Visas are issued only when a confirmed booking through a Bhutanese tour operator has been made.

Entry by road: You can enter or exit from the southwest town of Phuntsholing; to do so, to access the road you first fly to Bagdogra in the West Bengal state of India, You can also enter or exit from the southeast town of Samdrupjongkhar; to access this route you first fly to Guwahati in the Assam state of India. From both airports it is a 3-4 hour drive to the southern border towns in Bhutan.

Entry by Air: May be the smallest national carrier in the world, Druk Air has a fleet of two airbus A319 aircraft and 1 ATR 42-500aircraft with 48 seater. An international flight crew and hostesses trained by Thai Airways International give the airline its credibility and charm.

Druk Air is the only airline that serves Paro so all visitors to Bhutan is initiated into the kingdom in its care. The flight into Paro is one of the most spectacular in the world. Whether flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Calcutta or Dahka, or from Delhi and Bangkok, each flight is a mesmerizing aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the kingdom. Delays do occur on account of the changeable Himalayan weather. So travelers are advised to build an extra day onto the end of their trips in case of hold ups.

Please note that there is no daily flights in each sectors mentioned above and air schedules changes between summer monsoons and the winter snow. Airline bookings should be made at the same time while booking your holiday in Bhutan.

Accommodation: A wide variety of accommodations are available to suit traveler’s preferences. Farm house stays and tourist standard hotels are included in the daily price. Several international / local luxurious hotels like Taj Tashi, Zhiwaling, Termalinca, Uma and Aman resorts are now available in Bhutan and are charged separately from the daily rate. You can get more information on www.hotelsinbhutan.bt (Please note that the information found on this website is purely based on the research done by an individual and we will not be held responsible, if found any discrepancies in the information provided on this website)

Food: Bhutanese food is a tantalizing blend of hot Himalayan flavors. Northern Indian cuisine mixes with the chilies of the Tibetan plateau and traditional recipes from Bhutan’s villages to create sizzling and memorable tastes. Chanterelle mushrooms, apricots, asparagus, a wide variety of chilies and a host of spices grow in abundance in Bhutan’s valley. Bhutanese dishes are traditionally served with ample portions of indigenous red rice. The food prepared for tourists is tempered to western taste.

Insurance
In order to protect the unforeseen accidents and mishaps, we strongly recommend you to have Travel insurance policy from your country. The insurance policy should adequately cover helicopter evacuation and medical assistance. We regret to inform that such policies are unavailable in Bhutan.

Money
Bhutan’s unit of currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.), with 100 Chetrum = 1Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupee. Tourists are advised to carry their money in form of travelers checks (preferably American Express) and cash (US Dollars / GBP / EURO), which might be needed for incidental expenses. A few places like handicraft shops accept VISA card but beyond that any card (ATM, VISA, MASTER) will not be accepted.

Tour Escorts
All Snow White tours are escorted by well-versed and knowledgeable guides, trained and certified by Tourism Authority of Bhutan.

Clothing
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, so choose your cloths accordingly. Cloths should preferably be made from natural materials, which allow the body to breathe better. You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes. Although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, we would advise women to wear skirts or loose trousers, men should not wear sing lets. During visit of monasteries, Dzong and other religious institutions you should not wear shorts & hats.

What to Pack
The following is fairly exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip:
Clothes as per season,
Sunglasses / spare glasses or contact lenses
Sun screen, preparation for relief of sunburn
Pair of casual shoes
Washing kit
Shaving kit
Towel
Hat
Umbrella
Camera, film and accessories
Antiseptic cream

Photography
Every Bhutan itinerary affords superb photographic opportunities. Most local people are willing to be photographed so long as you have gotten their agreement through gestures. Remember to bring extra photo supplies for your particular camera. Please follow carefully your guide’s instructions about photographing at religious sites.

Health Information
No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However if you are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, have a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before arrival. If you are arriving from a cholera-infected area, a cholera vaccination is strongly recommended. Anti-malarial medication is also recommended for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the districts that border India.

Shopping
The country’s exquisite postage stamps, lovely hand woven fabrics, carved masks, woven baskets, wooden bowls, handmade papers, finely crafted metal objects and thangka paintings are the arts and crafts most sought after by visitors. Buying and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in the Kingdom unless the item has been approved by the govt.

Duty and Customs
The export of any and all antiquities (religious and none) is strictly prohibited. Some older items have been approved for export. Do remember to get receipts from shops where you make purchases and documentation of approval on any antique purchases.
Cameras, etc but must be listed on your arrival card and will be checked on departure.
Following with the recent ban of selling cigarettes and tobacco products in the country a tourist is allowed to carry the certain quantity of products in the kingdom for his or her own consumption by paying 200% tax.

Cigarettes: 1 carton containing 200 pieces of cigarettes

Pipe Tobacco: 3 tins of 50 grams each

Other Tobacco Products: 50 grams

Time:
Bhutan time is 6 hours ahead of GMT and there is only one time zone throughout the country.

Note
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, way of life especially while visiting religious institutions.
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 economically viable. And for these reason the number of tourists visiting Bhutan are kept to an environmentally manageable level