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Bhutan Pre-Departure Guide

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Bhutan Pre-Departure Guide B h u t a n P r e - Departure Guide Introduction Country: Bhutan (Locally known as Druk or Drukyul) and its citizens are called Drukpas. Area: Approx. 38,000 sq. km (14,700 sq. mi.) Population: 716,896 (estimated) as per July, 2012 demographic survey. Capital City: Thimphu (population 104,000) estimated. Area – 2067 sq. km. Altitude - 2320 m. Languages: Dzongkha is the official language and there are many other local dialects. English is widely spoken and it is taught in schools. Sharchopkha, which is an Indo- Mongoloid language, is the dominant language in eastern Bhutan. Nepali is spoken widely in the south. Religion: Himalayan Buddhism 75%, Hinduism 20% and rest Christians. Form of Government: Democracy King: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Time Zone: UTC+6 Climate & Weather The southern part of Bhutan is tropical, and in general the eastern region of the country is warmer than the central valleys. However, bear in mind that the higher the altitude, the cooler the weather. With a brisk wind blowing down off the mountains, even a low-lying valley can become quite chilly. The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdue, Mongar, Tashigang and Lhuentse enjoy a semi-tropical climate with cool winters, whilst Paro, Thimphu, Tongsa and Bumthang have a much harsher climate, with summer monsoon rains and winter snowfalls which may block passes leading into the central valleys for days at a time. Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November till mid-March, and at this time of the year the climate is dry and sunny for the most part, with temperatures peaking at around 59F in the daytime to 24.8F at night. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June, with light rain falling mainly in the afternoons and evenings. At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly arrives, and it is a magnificent season for visitation due to the great weather and spectacularly clear views. Spring (Mar–May): Warm days and cold nights. Average maximum temperatures of 75.2F vs. minimums of 35.6F - (especially at high camps). This is a great season for camping and trekking. Summer (Jun–Aug): Warm days and balmy nights with rain most afternoons. Average maximum temperatures of 78.8F vs. minimums of 57.2F. Fall (Sept–Nov): Warm days and cool nights. Average maximum temperatures of 74F vs. minimums of 35F - (especially cold at high camps). There can be rain in the early part of autumn. This is another great camping and trekking season. 1440 W Taylor St. #623, Chicago, IL 60607 • +1 (224) 888-1006 • [email protected] • www.travelherway.com - 1 - Winter (Dec-Feb): Crisp sunny days great for mountain views and cold dry nights. Average maximum temperatures of 68F vs. minimums of 24.8oF - snow may fall but won’t settle for long in the Western and Central valleys. V i s a For Bhutan, Travel Her Way will arrange the visa for you. The cost of the visa is included in the tour price. The Bhutanese visa is issued to your passport on arrival. No passport photos are required for this. In order to arrange the Bhutan visa, you must provide us with the following items 40 days before departure: Scanned color passport copy Arrival and Departure flight details for Paro The visa letter will be forwarded to you 7-10 days before departure. Please understand that we are not able to get the visa letter issued any sooner. After you receive the letter, please print it out and bring it with you when you travel. You will be required to show this before boarding your flight to Paro. Important: If arriving and departing Paro from India, please note that the Indian government has recently made some changes to visa regulation due to misuse of the Tourist visa. We encourage all passengers to contact the Indian consulate or embassy in their home country to get up to date information on entry requirements. This is especially important for those planning on entering India multiple times in a two-month period. Foreigners holding an Indian Tourist visa, who after initial entry into India plan to visit neighboring Nepal, Bhutan or Sri Lanka and then re-enter India within two months need to get special authorization. E m e r g e ncy Contact Should you need to contact us during a situation, it is best to first call our local representative. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. Contact Info: Mr. Pelden D. : +975 1763 3317 Mr. Sherab D. : +975 1771 9310 1440 W Taylor St. #623, Chicago, IL 60607 • +1 (224) 888-1006 • [email protected] • www.travelherway.com - 2 - A r r i v a l After passing customs at the airport, our local representative will greet you at the arrival gate, holding placards with our company's logo and your name on it. In case you have trouble finding our representative, please contact the emergency contact and our local contact will help you. Age Requirements Adventuresses are required to be at least 18 years old if traveling independently. Our tours are open to younger adventuresses aged 15 or older, who must be accompanied by an adult over 21. A parent is required to fill out the “Travel with Minors” form in this case. If the adult is not a parent, he/she is required to fill out a “Parental Consent Guardianship Form” and get it signed by the minor’s parent. Travel Insurance Travel insurance is mandatory for all our travelers. Your travel insurance must provide coverage against personal accidents, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation (including air ambulance and helicopter rescue services) with a recommended minimum coverage of US $200,000 for each of the categories of coverage. We also strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide proof of your travel insurance on the first day of your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without it. H e a l t h & V accinations Although no vaccinations are currently required for any of the featured destinations, please note that the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) & the World Health Organization recognize a risk of malaria for certain areas of South East Asia and South Asia. Therefore we suggest you contact your personal physician for details of the health measures you should take prior to your departure. Please note that all travelers are required to complete the sections ‘A’ and ‘B’ of the medical form. If you have indicated that you have a pre-existing medical condition you are required to complete section ‘C’ also which must be signed by your physician. This is to ensure that travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. 1440 W Taylor St. #623, Chicago, IL 60607 • +1 (224) 888-1006 • [email protected] • www.travelherway.com - 3 - Traveling From India Or Other Countries All visitors flying to and from Bhutan via India must have Indian visas prior to departure from your country. Visas for India must be obtained prior to arrival in India. Similarly if you are traveling to China or Myanmar, visas are not available upon arrival. Nepal visas can be obtained upon arrival at the airport, so it is not necessary to obtain before departing. Flight, Airport, Baggage Allowa nce Bhutan has one international airport, Paro, and two airlines, government-owned Druk Air and a private airline Bhutan Airlines, a division of Tashi Air. As Paro Airport is “daylight restricted” and totally dependent on weather, flights can sometimes be delayed. Passengers should allow at least 24 hours transit time for connecting flights out of Paro to cover in case of flight delays. Flights into Paro are also sometimes disrupted by weather. To be prepared for such an event, you should carry essential personal items like medicine, toiletries, extra cash, etc. in your carry-on baggage. It is also advised that international flights be at least be booked with one full day of transit time especially in cases of long delays and cancellations due to severe weather conditions. Carry-On Allowance Druk Air requests that passengers limit their hand baggage to one piece, with weight not to exceed 5 kg (11lbs). In addition to this piece of luggage, a passenger may also carry on a laptop or camera bag. Checked Baggage Allowance Economy Class: 20 kg (44 lbs) Business Class: 30 kg (66 lbs) Bulky items should be booked ahead as unaccompanied baggage/cargo. Departure taxes are included in the cost of your Druk Air tickets. M o n e y Financial institutions in Bhutan have been greatly enhanced and today there are a number of banks that cater to the needs of the people. Some of the banks in Bhutan include the Bank of Bhutan Limited, the Bhutan National Bank, the Druk PNB and the Tashi Bank. ATMs are located in a number of places where you can withdraw your money especially in Thimphu, Paro and in the border town of Phuentsholing. There are bank branches in all major towns. A few hotels and shops in Thimphu accept payment by credit 1440 W Taylor St. #623, Chicago, IL 60607 • +1 (224) 888-1006 • [email protected] • www.travelherway.com - 4 - card, but with a surcharge added. Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard or American Express. Traveler’s checks can be easily withdrawn and exchanged into local currency.
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