These Bhutan Travel Tips are helpful whilst traveling in Bhutan.
As your Bhutan Tour Operator, we at “Bhutan Jewel Travel ” will give you updated information,travel advice and tips so that all travelers to Bhutan are aware of the Bhutanese etiquette, the Laws, custom rules and regulations and general information especially for first time travelers to Bhutan.
Many travelers ask about the weather and climate conditions in Bhutan, Use of credit card facilities, accepted currencies, travel insurance, tobacco rules, Tipping Guides and Drivers and Indian Rupee note issues, etc etc. All of these and more questions are answered here, but if you require more information,please contact us at bhutanjewel@gmail.com
Bhutan is a very safe travel destination. However it is always good to be “safe” than “sorry”, so we advice all tourists to Bhutan to take precaution regarding important items like your money, passports, and valuable items(cameras,Jewelry, watch, etc) and keep it safe with you or you can hand over to Bhutan Jewel Travel office for safe keeping.
Follow the advise of your Guides and you will not come in conflict with the Bhutanese law..
Bhutan has its Customs Policy where goods are Taxable or Exempt from Taxes, or which Goods are Illegal and not permitted for import as all.
a. Goods Which are Tax exempt From Tax and Duty:
One Liter of any alcohol, Daily Personal use goods, cameras and other photo equipment that will be used for normal photography and video, and other items that may have to be used professionally like some instruments that a tourist may need.
b. Goods That Have a ceiling on import and Taxable:
All Forms of Tobacco and CIGARETTES : Tourists can bring in 200 pieces of cigarettes on payment of 200% import duty ( NOTE : Cigarette smoking is forbidden and BANNED in all PUBLIC places ).
c. Goods That are Completely prohibited For Import:
All Arms and ammunition, Antiques, Animal Products especially endangered species, and Narcotics and Drugs
Traveling to Bhutan without prior Bhutan Travel Visa is Illegal and you can be deported immediately if caught.
Following are the list of countries whose currencies are accepted and can be exchanged at the Foreign Exchange Counters at the Air port, Banks in Bhutan and Authorized Foreign Exchange Outlets
Australia – AUD
Switzerland – CHF
European Union – EUR
United Kingdom – GBP
Hong Kong – HKD
Japan – JPY
United States-USD
India – INR
NOTE: Indian Rupee (INR) denominations of 1000 Notes are illegal for use in Bhutan.
CREDIT CARDS: Visa and Master Cards can be used in Bhutan and most handicrafts shops accept credit card payments, but it is advisable that while in Paro and Thimphu, you withdraw money from the many ATMS available here and use cash in other parts of the country as acceptability of credit card payments is very less or non existent.
It is mandatory for all Travelers to Bhutan to have a Travel and Medical Insurance when traveling to Bhutan, especially when trekking, otherwise you will have to purchase a policy in Bhutan. Although there are only isolated cases of accidents in Bhutan, still it is advisable to have your Insurance done before coming to Bhutan, so that you are fully covered in case of any mishaps and accidents.
Bhutan is a safe and a Divine holy land thus we always pray that all tourists to Bhutan, enjoy their stay and return home safe and sound.
For us at Bhutan Jewel Travel, we have been blessed by our Gods and Local Deities as apart from minor cold, coughs or head aches and fever, or minor bruises , we have never had any major accidents and we shall continue to pray to our Gods and all local deities to protect our Guests from all of harms way for all times to come.
Showing your gratitude and tipping the Guides and Drivers is a kind gesture and is highly appreciated by the Guides and Drivers as it adds to their Income apart from feeling a sense of happiness that they are being rewarded for their services to the tourist.
Although it is not mandatory to tip the Guides and Drivers,Porters and horsemen,cooks during treks in Bhutan,yet such gestures have prevailed at the end of the tour.
Tip amount is not fixed but with reference to past tips received by them, usually for a tour of 2 to 5 nights for 2 to 5 pax in a group, the Guides and drivers are tipped USD 100 to 200 per person depending on how happy the tourists were ,with their services. And accordingly as number of people increase in a group or the number of days in Bhutan , they are paid more. However there are rare incidents of No Tips OR tipping of insane amounts.
Bhutan Jewel Travel Office recommends that you tip what you feel is right and satisfying to you.
Bhutan Jewel Travel however strongly condemns any misbehavior and uncaring attitude from its Guides and Drivers towards the Guests of this office and Bhutan, and so, in case of misbehavior by the Guide or the Driver, there is NO Question of Tipping them. INSTEAD we request our Guests to inform us immediately regarding their behavior and we will Take Strict Action on them. Whereby we can even appeal to cancel their Service License depending on the severity of their actions.
Bhutan’s climatic conditions differ from North to South, with the Northern,Central and Eastern parts of Bhutan being colder than the Southern parts.
Mornings and evenings are cold and chilly so we recommend that you bring along clothes that can be worn in layers.
Trekkers should bring good trekking shoes,ankle length and altitude sickness medicines if trekking above 3000 meters of altitude.
Apart from the above, bring in good high SPF Sun screen/lotion as with the clear skies sun burns are quick.
Apart from items for personal use, bring in Sun glasses, spare camera batteries, vehicle sickness medicines, and what ever you may need like your favorite snacks, hat, prescribed medicines etc
In Bhutan, we do not have beggars and the few that a traveler may see in Bhutan, may either be mentally unstable or left on their own as they prefer the vagabond life.
One can see the elderly citizens around the temple and monastery parks. Most are taken care of by their families and some who do not have the family support, live within the temple complex, or in the Old Age Home which was built under the Royal Command of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.
Yes we do have poor people and some are indeed very poor and alone. The Royal Government of Bhutan and the King of Bhutan has offices that look after the poor people, but still a little help from our Guests is always well received.
If our Guests want to make some donations or do some charity work while in Bhutan,we advice you to consult our Bhutan Jewel Travel office,and we will give you the Best advice and support you to do good where it is genuinely needed.
While touring Bhutan, if tourists suddenly feel that they want to extend their financial support to some one or some institute, once again consult with “Bhutan Jewel Travel” office as we Bhutanese appreciate your support but at the same time, we as your travel partner in Bhutan would want to protect our Guests and would never want any one’s hard earned money to be wasted or usurped by someone undeserving.
We strongly believe that if Tourists and Travelers to Bhutan want to do a good deed, its a positive Karmic Action and you will gain abundant merit and feel truly happy BUT let the beneficiaries of your good deed go to the ones who genuinely need it.
Bhutan is known as the Land of Happiness but even in this happy land there are living beings suffering, and this is where we would like your help to be channelized.
Charity and Donations do not have to be Big and Significant amounts, small actions of just feeding some monks, or donating a little for some poor villagers home, or even buying some school uniforms for the poor under privileged students, or even buying soaps and towels etc, or even sweets and distributing them when on your journey from one place to another brings so much happiness for you and for the ones receiving them. Its just a simple fulfilling service of “Giving”
Most travelers to Bhutan are not aware of the power voltage in Bhutan.
Bhutan is a carbon neutral destination where power and electricity is generated from Hydro Power stations so its clean and green power.
The power and electricity voltage used in Bhutan is 220 – 240 volts so bring chargers for your gadgets and equipment that can work at these voltages. Bring along flat pin to round pin converters as most places in Bhutan have the round pin plug sockets.
UNAUTHORIZED FLYING of DRONES : Flying of unauthorized Drones is strictly prohibited in Bhutan.
Any person operating Unmanned Aircraft without the prior approval of BCAA ( Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority ) shall be liable for a fine of Nu. 20,000 to Nu. 50,000 as determined by BCAA and seizure of UAS ( Unmanned Aircraft System). In addition, the Local Tour operator shall be liable for a fine of Nu 20,000 to Nu. 50,000 for failure to inform the Tourist of restrictions.
