General Travel
Information
Entry and VisaThe easiest way for
visitors to enter Bhutan is by air on Druk Air, Bhutan's national carrier and the only
airline operating in Bhutan. Druk Air's fleet consists of two Airbus A319, which are specially designed for
Bhutan. Druk Air flies to Paro airport in Bhutan from Bangkok in
Thailand, Delhi and Calcutta in India, Kathmandu in Nepal, and Dhaka in
Bangladesh. Latest flight schedules are available from Druk
Air. 
On clear days
the flight into Paro offers spectacular views of the Himalayan Mountain
Range, including Mt. Everest (Jhomo Lungma), Mt. Kanchenjunga (Kangchen
dzonga), Chomo Lhari, and Kula Gangri. One will also notice the
green and dense forest cover as the flight crosses over the
international border into Bhutan. The country boasts more than 70%
forest cover, which is one of the highest in the world. Following
the exciting flight into Bhutan, Yu-Druk's
licensed guide will meet you at the airport. From the moment you
enter Bhutan, you are an honored guest and you will enjoy the
traditional hospitality and friendship of the Bhutanese. Paro
Airport, located in the mountains, is subject to the vagaries of mother
nature, and weather conditions do sometimes prevent flights from landing
and taking off. Druk Air itself has an impeccable safety record, without
a single mishap since its inception in 1983. Yu-Druk can book your
tickets with Druk Air well in advance, avoiding last-minute rush during
peak tourist seasons of Spring and Autumn. 
Druk-Air Tickets and
VisasDruk Air e-tickets will be issued in Bhutan and sent to you.
To expedite this procedure, it is essential that you send us all
information detailed below immediately so that the visa application can
be made. This process takes about 3 to 5 working days.VisasVisas are not
issued by Bhutanese embassies abroad. Visas are issued only when you
arrive in the country, either at Paro airport or (if by road) at
Phuentsholing. You must apply in advance. You can either fill in the visa application formusing Adobe
Acrobat, fill it out and fax it to us or email or fax us the following
information. We will take care the rest:- Your full name as it
appears in your passport
- Permanent
address
- Occupation
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Date of
issue and expiration of passport
- Date and place of
birth
Double check that the information is correct; if there are
discrepancies in any important numbers when you arrive in Bhutan, there
are delays and complications in issuing the visa.After the visa
clearance is issued by the Department of Immigration, they send a visa
confirmation number to Druk Air and your tour operator. The actual visa
endorsement is stamped on your passport when you arrive at Paro International Airport. You will then receive a
visa for the period you have arranged to be in Bhutan. We will process
visa extensions for you if they become necessary. 
AccommodationIn the major towns such as
Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing, comfortable hotels await the visitor,
while in smaller towns, modest but still comfortable hotels await the
visitor. Yu-Druk will ensure that the best available accommodations are
arranged for you. More information is available from the Tourism Council
of Bhutan, which regulates hotel standards and all travel regulations in
Bhutan. Accommodations are included in the daily tariff
rates.We also arrange luxury hotels that range from 250-1,300 US dollars per night. PaymentGovernment regulations require that the tour
payment be deposited before the visa can be processed. The easiest way
to make this payment is to transfer the money to Bhutan National Bank using
the following details.Transfer to Bhutan National Bank
NEW YORK ;
Bank address ; Standard Chartered Bank Ltd.,
; One Madison Avenue,New York
; NY10010-3603
Swift Code : SCBLUS33
CHIPS ABA : 0256
FED ABA : 026002561
Beneficiary Bank
Account No With SCB: 358-202-171-9001(USD AC
Beneficiary Bank : Bhutan National Bank,P.O.Box:439
GPO Building,Changlam,Thimphu Bhutan
Swift Code : BNBTBTBT
Ultimate Beneficiary : Yu Druk tours & Treks
Ultimate Benf A/C nr. ; 1006002 maintained with BNB,Thimphu Bhutan
NEW YORK
Bank address ; Bank of America
100 West 33rd. Street New York
N Y 10001, USA
ABA # ; 026009593
Swift code ; BOFAUS3N
Beneficiary Bank
Account # ; 6550691700 ( USD A/C)
Beneficiary bank ; Bhutan National Bank,PO Box 439
GPO Building, Chang Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
Swift code ; BNBTBTBT
Ultimate Beneficiary : Yu Druk tours & Treks
Ultimate Benf A/C nr. ; 1006002 maintained with BNB,Thimphu Bhutan
After depositing the
funds, please advise us of the details and fax the receipt to us at +
975 2 322116 for verification. 
Food and DrinkTraditional Bhutanese food
is hot and spicy. For our visitors, however, Chinese, Indian, and
Continental fares are also served. The more adventurous can try hot
Bhutanese dishes. For visitors on treks, we serve simple but nutritious
and tasty dishes. Meals are normally served buffet style in the hotels.
Your tour cost includes all meals, accomodation in tourist standard hotels.Your only extra expenses should be
imported liquor, laundry, souvenirs and optional tips to the guide and
driver.TransportWe use comfortable and safe Toyota vans
and cars to transport our guests. The cost of transport is also covered
by the daily tariff.GuidesYou will be accompanied
throughout the time in Bhutan by an English-speaking guide and have a
vehicle and driver at your disposal at all times.All of our guides are
trained in programs conducted by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) and
licensed by the Government. Our trekking staff undergoes an additional
mountain guide training, including safety and first aid instruction,
also offered by TCB. TCB has received assistance from the Austrian
Government in the form of trainers and funds to establish the training
programs.The cost of the guides and drivers is covered by your
daily tariff and no additional payments have to be made. 
Tourism Council of Bhutan and
TariffsTourism Council of Bhutan regulates all tourism
related activities in Bhutan. The existing travel agencies are
registered with them, and they also fix the daily tariff rates.
Thirty-five percent of the daily tariff goes directly to the national treasury. These funds are used by
the government for the socioeconomic development of Bhutan, and
hospitals, schools, and roads are built and maintained with the income.
The Department of Tourism has released a travel information website at
www.tourism.gov.bt detailing
their role and the regulations by which we and all other travel agencies
are governed.Peak Seasons and Sample ItinerariesThe
peak seasons when most visitors come to Bhutan are during the Spring and
Autumn. Spring is from April through June and Autumn from September
through November. There are many festivals during these periods, and
visitors come to take advantage both of the pleasant climate and the
festivals. However, Bhutan has limited tourism infrastructure and during
peak seasons facilities are packed. For more private visits, off-peak
seasons are recommended. For a list of he latest festivals and suggested
itineraries click
here. TariffThe normal rate for travel in Bhutan is
US$250 per day. The following surcharges are applied for small groups:
Two people travelling together - US$30 per night per person
One
person travelling alone - US$40 per night per person Contact us via
email if you have any questions regarding the tariff. The daily rate
may sound high at first, but remember that this includes your
accommodation, all food, guide, and transportation within Bhutan. 
What to BringThe following list will cover
your needs for a vehicle-based cultural tour. Since you will be
travelling in Yu-Druk's private vehicles, there is less concern about
bulk and weight than if you were transferring your own luggage on and
off various forms of public transport. There is a 20 kg (44 lb) weight
limit (30 kg or 66 lb in business class) on Druk Air. You should hold
yourself to this allowance. Even if you pay for excess baggage, it still
travels standby and may be offloaded. As with all travel, the less you
carry, the easier it is to move about and the less there is to
misplace.Casual clothes are fine, but you would also do well to have
a set of dress-up clothes (jacket and tie for men, dresses for women)
for festivals or in the likely event that you are invited to a Bhutanese
home or social function. Thimphu and other towns in Bhutan have a
small-town atmosphere, and you might easily find yourself in the company
of a high government official. If you have scheduled your trip around a
festival, you definitely should carry a set of dressy clothing.
Bhutanese people dress quite formally, and dirty jeans don't fit in on
such occasions. Even in the summer, it can be cool in Paro and
Thimphu, and it's downright cold in winter. Days can be quite warm,
especially in the lower regions such as Punakha and Phuentsholing, and
you could start off driving in the cold of dawn and be uncomfortably
warm by mid-morning. Use a layering system, starting with thermal
underwear and adding a shirt, pile jacket and windbreaker or parka as
necessary. If you are not trekking, you will need: - Underwear
(including thermals for cold weather)
- Swimming costume (for the
hotel swimming pool in Punakha)
- Cotton trousers
- Cotton skirt for
women
- Pile jacket or sweater - even in summer
- Down jacket - in
winter; not needed in summer
- T shirts or short sleeved (not
sleeveless) cotton shirts * sneakers or walking shoes and
socks
- Sandals or flip flops
- Rain jacket - Gore-Tex if you can
afford it, otherwise a poncho or nylon jacket
- Dress-up clothes for
festivals
- Sun hat
All hotels provide sheets, blankets or
quilt, and a pillow. Unless you are trekking, you won't need to carry
bedding or a sleeping bag. Most hotels also provide some sort of heating
in winter, either an electric heater or a wood stove. The heating, plus
the pile of blankets on your bed, should keep you warm.You will be
outside a lot, and much of this time is at altitudes above 2,500 m
(7,800 ft); so there is plenty of sun and wind. Bring a supply of sun
cream and some lip protection, such as Blistex; these items are not
available in Bhutan. Essential ExtrasThere are several
things that you should carry to make a trip to Bhutan more comfortable.
All of the following items are essential:Pack a folding umbrella;
especially if traveling during the monsoons. Rain is possible any time,
and is almost certain from June through August.Be sure to carry ear
plugs (and spares) to reduce the noise from the barking dogs at night.
The Bhutanese are Buddhists and do not euthanize stray dogs.There
are occasional electric outages throughout the country; so you should
always keep a torch (flashlight) beside your bed. Miscellaneous
ItemsCarry a pair of sunglasses (as protection from high altitude
glare). A Swiss army knife has many uses, such as cutting cheese and
opening bottles. Bring a small clock with an alarm to help you wake up,
because not all hotel rooms have telephones.PackingIf
you are on a cultural tour, it's OK to bring a hard suitcase, though a
soft bag is more versatile and easier to pack into the luggage space of
a vehicle. You will also want a small rucksack or waist pack to carry
your camera, water bottle and other essentials in the vehicle and when
you are walking around town or visiting monuments.
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