Indian citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Bhutan. They can also freely move around the country. Citizens of Bangladesh and Maldives do not require a visa if they hold a valid passport for at least 6 months after the date of entry. Holders of official or diplomatic passports issued by Switzerland and Thai nationals are exempt from visa requirements for up to 90-day visits to Bhutan.
Bhutan does not offer a Visa on Arrival. Getting a Visa is not difficult for foreigners. It is, however, the most strict process on earth. It is important to know that the Bhutan Embassy doesn't offer travel visa services. You cannot apply for a visa on your own. Booking a trip through an international tour operator or a local agent registered with the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) and the Bhutan Foreign Ministry is the only way to get into Bhutan. Your tour operator will apply on your behalf through an online system after you book a trip.
You must send your tour operator a photocopy of your passport and an electronic version. The Tourism Council of Bhutan will process your visa using the information on your passport. This can be done as soon as 72 hours. Once the visa application has been approved, a visa clearance number is provided in a letter. The tour operator will receive this number, along with the immigration terminals of Paro International Airport and the border checkpoints at Phuentsholing, Gelephu, or Samdrup Jongkhar. It will also be forwarded to national airlines, Druk Air, and Bhutan Airlines. Your visa will be stamped in your passport at the entry point, depending on whether you entered Bhutan via the road border, the airport, or the airline.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan will process your Bhutan visa once the tour operator has paid the cost of the tour package. Your visa clearance number will be sent as a letter as soon as three days after your application. It will then be forwarded to your tour operator, airport immigration terminals, and airlines. Your agency will usually receive your visa clearance 1 to 2 weeks before you arrive in Bhutan. This clearance number will determine the visa stamping on your passport when you enter Bhutan.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) usually sets a daily minimum fee for foreigners visiting Bhutan. Depending on the traveler's comfort level and time of year, a trip package per person can range from US$ 200 to US$ 290. The visa cost is included in this package, but the price for a Bhutan visa alone is US$40 per person. The cost will increase if you want to upgrade your accommodation, transportation, or food options. The package cost will rise per day if you upgrade your hotel accommodation, food, and transportation options.
Accommodation on the Bhutan Cultural Tour
The government approved and classified hotels in Bhutan as grades A, B, and C. These government-approved hotels are equivalent to 3-4-star hotels elsewhere. Based on availability at the time of booking, we will be accommodated in A-grade hotels in Paro and Thimpu and B-grade hotels in Punakha, Wangdue, and Bumthang. All accommodations are on a twin-shared basis. A single supplement will be served on request.
Meals on the Bhutan Cultural Tour
All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) will be made available on the trip. A variety of meals are available in most hotels, the most popular being Indian, Chinese, and the more common continental food. Non-vegetarian dishes are generally available in Bhutan - pork, beef, chicken, and fish. The best advice is to ask the hotel and restaurant to recommend what is fresh and in season.
Weather Information
There is no appropriate season which is to say that Bhutan's warm and temperate climate, never-ending festivals, and rich and abundant heritage sites provide visitors with a wide array of experiences throughout the year across the country. Bhutan has all four seasons, and the climate varies widely depending on the altitude.
Spring (March, April & May)
This is considered the most beautiful time of the year, radiant and ablaze with a spectacular array of bright colors. This is when the valleys are green with fresh vegetation, fruit trees are blossoming, and locals are naturally mirthful and cheery when visitors are most welcome. Also, you can witness the famous Paro tsechu festival.
Autumn (September, October & November)
Autumn is lovely, with clear and crisp blue skies providing a grand view of some of the tallest unclimbed mountains in the world. It is the best time for trekking and traveling. The climate is cool and temperate. You can get lovely photography opportunities of willows shedding their golden brown leaves, the solitude of parks, and somber views of dzongs and monasteries.
Monsoon (June, July & August)
During these months, Bhutan receives more rainfall than any other region in the Himalayas. Glorious sapphire skies and warm weather are a pleasant time to spend visiting places of cultural and historical interest though this season is not the best time for trekking. Enjoy a warm, aromatic tea while watching the rainfall from your hotel window. Or, if you possess an adventurous spirit, grab an umbrella/raincoat while it is raining and take a day tour through the town.
Winter (December, January & February)
Winter in Bhutan is sunny, calm, and agreeable. Much of the east-west highway remains snowbound during winter. It is the best time to tour the western districts of Paro, Wangdue, Punakha, Thimphu, and Haa. One of the chief attractions in winter is the beautiful Gangtey (Phobjikha) valley, where you can expect to see a vast expanse of rolling plains with bamboo shrubs.
Safety Guidelines, ATM, Currency & other General info
Credit cards are not a convenient payment source in Bhutan, as only a handful of hotels in a few places provide this facility. Also, only MasterCard and Visa. US dollars are the most convenient currency and are cashed by most banks.
You should avoid drinking tap water altogether, but it is okay to use it for brushing your teeth. Bottled water is widely available and is best for drinking. It is also wise to carry water purification tablets when trekking in remote locations of Bhutan.
The local currency is the Ngultrum, pegged to the Indian Rupee. Note: The Indian Rupee in 500 and 1000 is no longer accepted in Bhutan.
Bhutan is the only country in the world that has banned the consumption and sale of tobacco, resulting in smoking being disallowed mainly in public places. Consumption is not entirely prohibited in Bhutan so if you want to smoke, bring your cigarettes and ask your guide where you can light up. (seal opened pack only)
Tuesdays are considered the national 'dry day,' with the sale of alcohol prohibited.
When taking photos/filming inside Dzongs, monasteries, temples, or any religious institutions, check with your guide whether it is permitted, as some areas do not.
