Laundry

Laundry service is available at the hotel in Bangkok, Paro, and Thimphu.

Electricity

Bhutan is on the 220V system. Sockets are usually the three-pin variety, but they vary. Bring a converter and a selection of plug adapters. Of course, there won’t be electricity while on camp.

Time Zones

Bhutan is Greenwich Mean Time plus six hours. That means that Thimphu is eleven hours ahead of New York and fourteen hours ahead of California. Therefore, if it’s 8:00pm in Thimphu, it’s 9:00am in New York and 6:00am in California.

Communications

Fax machines and telephones are available at most hotels. Keep in mind, however, that telephone calls and faxes from Bhutan are very expensive.

Cross Cultural Tips

Remember that you are traveling to a foreign country where you are the visitor, and need to adapt to the culture and customs of the local people, not vice-versa. Although most people in the populated areas of Bhutan learn English from an early age, it should not be assumed that everyone you’ll meet understands or speaks it, particularly in the remote villages in the mountains. Should you have difficulty communicating with any of the locals, please ask your local guide for assistance. It is also common for events to arise that place your own cultural beliefs in contrast with those of your hosts. On a short trip, you will not learn all, or even most, of the cultural differences. It is possible, however, to learn enough to better understand these differences, and to attune your behavior to that of the people around you. A lot of the comforts you are accustomed to may not be available to you, and time flows at a different pace. Patience and respect are the crucial ingredients for a successful trip and an enriching experience.

Gifts For Children

We discourage handouts of candy, chewing gum, and other items to the children you meet, whether you’re on trek or in the cities. “Junk food” is dangerous because dental care is just about non-existent in Bhutan, and handouts encourage children to beg. Postcards and pictures are wonderful to bring along to show the locals.

Environmental Responsibility

We pride ourselves on being an environmentally responsible company. We request that on trek, you carry out whatever you carry in, including non-biodegradable items such as batteries, flashlight bulbs, empty film canisters, empty plastic containers, and so on. The areas of Bhutan that we trek in do not have the proper facilities to process this kind of waste and your throwaways will end up in the river or tossed down a hillside. We suggest that you carry a large Ziploc bag in your backpack while you’re on the trail for daily accumulations, and also keep one in your duffel to store your trash. As you pack for your trip, think about ways to minimize the trash that you will have to bring home. Take film out of paper containers, for example, and take such things as your powdered drink mixes and “wash and dry” towelettes out of their foil packets and put them into reusable plastic containers (wide-mouth Nalgene-brand bottles work well).

Visa

With the exception of visitors from India, Bangladesh and Maldives, all other visitors to Bhutan need a visa. Visas are issued only when a confirmed booking through a Bhutanese tour operator has been made. Bhutan best Inbound Tour can guarantee 100% visa issuance

Currency

The Ngultrum (Nu) is at par with the Indian Rupee and 1 US dollar is approximately Nu. 63.0 (2018).

Foreign currencies can be changed at the airport and from the banks. ATM and banks accept Visa International and MasterCard. Currently, most business outlets in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue, Trongsa, Bumthang, Monggar,Trashigang and Phuentsholing have Point of sale terminals.

Accommodation & Fooding

A wide variety of accommodation is available ranging from luxurious 5-star hotels to cozy little hotels and homestays in traditional Bhutanese homes and settings. Visitors can be assured of their warmth and comfort of the hotels. Similarly, the ambience and hospitality offered by the hotels are incredible.

Dining out Most of the restaurants serve Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines in addition to other international cuisines. Bhutanese dishes are available in all the restaurants and Ema Datsi – a cheese and chilly dish is popular among Bhutanese and visitors. All Bhutanese dishes use an abundance of chilli so do order according to your palette strength! Besides the locally produced beer and whisky, the local brew, Ara that is distilled from rice, barley or wheat is also popular.

Shopping

Bhutan is popular for its textiles, cane and bamboo products. There are a lot of shops and emporiums that sell handwoven Bhutanese textiles, handicrafts, thankas, jewellery, antiques, organic herbal products which the Bhutanese use for a variety of purposes.

Telecommunications

Bhutan is well connected and virtually every town has good telecommunication services. Internet cafes are available almost everywhere. Cell phones can also be used in most places around the country. Sim cards are available at the airport and in most shops.

Additional Cost

Additional Cost is involved if you want to partake in the following activities

• Cycling (USD 40/Cycle/Day)
• Basic Painting Class (USD 40/Person/Session)
• Meditation Class (USD 30/Person)
• Yoga Class (USD 30/Person)
• River Rafting In Punakha (USD 150/Raft)
• Lesson On Traditional Weaving (USD 30/Person)
• Private Cultural Performance (USD 80 for 1 Hour)