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) with
a little cash (US Dollars), which might be needed for incidental expenses. A few
places like handicraft shops accept VISA card but beyond that any card (ATM,
VISA) 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:
1. Clothes as per season,
2. Sunglasses / spare glasses or contact lenses
3. Sun screen, preparation for relief of sunburn
4. Pair of casual shoes
5. Washing kit
6. Shaving kit
7. Towel
8. Hat
9. Umbrella
10. Camera, film and accessories
11. Antiseptic cream
PHOTOGRAPHY:
The photographic opportunities on all trips are immense. You will also wish to
record the local people, their houses and shops etc. Always ask by gesture if it
is ok to do so. Don't take your destination as living museum. Also while
visiting Dzong, monasteries and religious institutions, please follow your
guide's instruction carefully.
35mm colour print film is readily available. Slide film is more difficult to
find. Bring enough batteries if you use lithium batteries.
HEALTH information:
No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However if you
are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to have a
yellow fever vaccination and should be administered at least 10 days before your
arrival in Bhutan. Also if arriving from a Cholera infected area, the
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,
Thangka paintings are the items mostly purchased by travelers in Bhutan. Buying
and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in the Kingdom.
DUTIES & CUSTOMS
The Bhutanese authorities strictly prohibit the export of any religious
antiquity or antiques of any type from the country. Cameras, video cameras,
computers and personal electronic equipment may be brought into the country but
must be listed on arrival and will be checked on departure.
Following with the
recent ban of selling cigarettes and tobacco products in the country a
traveler is allowed to carry the certain quantity of products in the kingdom for
his or her own consumption.
Cigarettes: 1 carton containing 200 pieces of cigarettes
Pipe
Tobacco: 3 tins of 50 grams each
Other Tobacco Products: 50 grams
GRATUITY:
In general, tipping is neither compulsory nor there is any fixed amount and the
bottom line in determining whether and how much to tip is to ask yourself how
much the individual did to make your travel more enjoyable.
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 |
