Bhutan Travel Tips and advice for any guest coming to Bhutan. Tourism policy keeps on changing the rules framed by the Royal Government of Bhutan. Moreover due with the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 till date made the Bhutan Tourism industry cripple. Still, Bhutan Tourism is not restricting tourist flow in Bhutan.
Toursit traveling into Bhutan need to follow a set of procedures before entering Bhutan. Please find below the flow chart that will help you to get into Bhutan without any problem.
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Bhutan Tourism Tariff
In Bhutan, it is important for travelers to know the minimum daily tariff or Bhutan Tourism Tariff that is applied to individuals. Bhutan tourism is divided into two categories. Daily tariff for international tourists and regional tourist tariff.
a) International Tourist Tariff
International tourist tariff is based on the tour package by your tour agency in Bhutan. The daily tariff laid down by the Department of Tourism is US$ 250 per person per night(Bhutan Tourism Tariff). It includes accommodations in the 3-4 star category, all meals, standard transportation in Bhutan, All taxes, entrance fees for all places of visit in Bhutan, and An English-speaking guide.
It excludes Internal and international flights, alcoholic beverages beyond entitlement, Medical and personal insurance, and Luxury and 5-star accommodations & meals. Extra charges will be levied if the client wants the services.
Bhutan Travel Tips for tourist traveling to Bhutan has to note FIT’s charges to an individual tariff for International tourist. Individual travelers single or couple has to pay surcharges extra from the daily tariff of US$ 250
US$40 per person per night for one person from a daily tariff of US$250.
For couple needs to pay US$30 per person per night from the daily tariff of US$250.
Bhutan undergoes four different seasons. The Tourism Council of Bhutan provides an off-season discount rate of US$180 per person per night and a peak season rate of US$225 per person per night. The months of December, January, February, June, July, and August fall under the offseason. Rest months fall under peak season. Peak season tourist flow is high and one needs to book Bhutan flight tickets in advance.
b) Bhutan Travel tips for Regional Tourist
Regional Tourists are from India, Bangladesh, and Maldives. Bhutan Tourism Tariff for regional tourists from India, Bangladesh, and Maldives are charged ₹1,200(SDF US$17 at the exchange rate of ₹72.00 fees for entering Bhutan). 25 percent of the tourism levy of USD 65 per night halts the regional leisure tourists visiting Bhutan.
The fee is called a ‘Sustainable Development Fee’ (SDF).SDF goes directly to the Bhutan government and the government revenue is direct revenue. “Sustainable Development Fees (SDF)” refers to the government levy on all leisure tourists per person per night and is applicable throughout the year.
Your interest in traveling to Bhutan
Find out your interest in traveling to Bhutan with your interest. A lot of festivals take place in different districts. if your travel dates coincide with the Bhutan festival or any activity that will be excellent. Paro and Thimphu festival is very good and turns out to be better. Even the Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival is beautiful.
Day Hike in Bhutan is beautiful because of Nature. Bhutan is the only carbon negative in the world. Bhutan maintains always has 60% forest coverage. The Constitution of Bhutan says “Bhutan should be covered with 60% with forest”.
Trekking in Bhutan is another interest of travelers traveling to Bhutan. Bhutan Trekking is different from any trekking in Bhutan. Any trekking route in Bhutan you trek is not crowded. You will enjoy the hospitality of the Bhutanese people.
Mountain Biking and Motorbike tours will be another interest to travelers. Much more interest in your choice can be asked.
Accommodations in Bhutan
Any Bhutan Tour agency will provide you best accommodations in Bhutan. Bhutan Travel tips and advice for tourists is to find accommodations in Bhutan. Any client is to stay at least one night in the farmhouse. You will get a real taste of the Bhutanese lifestyle. Phubjikha and Bumthang will be good places to stay a night in a Bhutanese farmhouse.
As an emerging tourist destination, you will find a limited choice of accommodation in Bhutan, although the king recently permitted the first luxury resorts to open and these now extend beyond Paro and Thimphu to increasingly remote parts of the country. In the meantime, most accommodation is much more basic, and in many rural areas, there are often power failures. However, all the rooms we use have bathrooms en suite and often have a bukhari (a wood-burning stove) to take the chill off the cold night air.
Hotels in Bhutan are standardized by the Department of Tourism with different categories. Many international chains of Hotels are in Bhutan. Hotels in Bhutan have international standard facilities and services to the client.
Bhutan Culture & Traditions
Food and Drink
The food of Bhutan is different from the rest of the world. They mainly consume meat, rice, Vegetables, and dairy products. The most common spicy curry they consume is “Emadatse” (chili and cheese mix). It is the national dish throughout the country. Most people consume chilly as common spicy for every food Bhutanese take. Any dishes are with red peppers. You can see on most of the roofs in rural villages in Bhutan with red pepper dried for winter.
Other Food and drink would be salted butter tea, or “Suja”. “Doma” or betel nut wrapped beetal leaf with “Chuna” is offered to anyone as a gesture of greeting for the Bhutanese people. “Chang” or “Ara” in Bhutan is a local wine that is brewed from maize, rice, wheat, or barley.
When you are in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Bumthang your meals will generally be in the form of a small buffet. You will be served with a variety of dishes. In Thimphu and Paro you can get international cuisine but once you cross Punakha you will not get International cuisine. Every 5-star and luxurious hotel is served with international cuisine. Most Homestays in Bhutan will be served with Bhutanese food with organic vegetables from the garden.
Tipping in Bhutan
Tipping in Bhutan is not compulsory but when you pay them you will get good services to you. Guide and driver will be always with you and he or she will provide the best services to you. Hotels and restaurant bills include service charges of 20% against the tour operator bill and the owner will be paying to employees. The tipping of your guide, driver, and trek crew is purely a personal matter but most of them expect it, and many tourists are happy to pay them because of the services they provide to you. Trekking in Bhutan most of the team members are also tipped.