Bhutan, best known to the world as the last Shangri-La, has a rare combination of harmony and accord amidst a landscape of incredible beauty. Protected by the mighty Himalayas from the rest of the world and enriched by the essence of Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism, Bhutan has managed to remain deeply shrouded in a fervently guarded isolation. Independence and adherance to the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism are the cornerstones of the Bhutanese culture. The rich cultural traditions and the unique architectural styles of the many homes and fortresses throughout Bhutan are set on a backdrop of rich Himalayan flora and fauna, dazzling white peaks, and lush valleys. Bhutan has carefully introduced itself to the world in the last few years by limiting the number of foreign goods and visitors allowed to enter each year. This is truly the last of the pristine Himalayan kingdoms. A visit to Bhutan is a rare chance to step back in time and experience the wildness of the Himalaya, the beauty and perserverance of her people, and the peacefulness of a Kingdom aware of its fortunes.

VISITING BHUTAN

All foreign tourists traveling to Bhutan must travel through all-inclusive package tours organized by an agent. The Royal Government of Bhutan does not grant tourist visa to independent and individual travelers.

Booking Procedures
The procedure for acquiring a visa and paying for the trip are complicated by the restrictions imposed by the Bhutanese Government. The government requires full payment of the entire trip cost before the flight into Bhutan can be booked. Below is an outline of the rules and proper procedures. We will send a sheet outlining the most efficient procedure at the time of your booking.
· First select the program you are willing to undertake. We will send you the flight schedules and departure limitations (if any).
· Fill in the Trip application and the Visa application form and forward to us with your trip deposit. Your visa will, however, only be processed after the receipt of the total trip payment. It takes a minimum of 10 days to process the visa. Your payment should arrive in our offices well ahead of the time that your flight needs to be booked (and in accordance with our stipulated payment schedule as outlined in the trip Terms and conditions).
· The Tourism Authority of Bhutan issues a 'visas clearance' letter with a reference number, which in fact, is the confirmation of your visa. With this reference number, you can get your flight ticket issued from the Druk Air in Kathmandu, Delhi, Calcutta or Bangkok. Earthbound Expeditions can make your travel arrangement without any problem, however because of the visa requirement for booking flights into Bhutan, we recommend you process your trip application, visa application, and trip payment as soon as possible.
· We will mail you the official tour confirmation letter and service voucher, which you will need to produce once you arrive in Bhutan.
· Your passport is stamped with the actual visa at the port/boarder or entrance to Bhutan against the payment of cash USD 20 with 2-passport size photographs. Extra copies of photos will be an advantage.

TRAVEL COSTS (custom tours only)
The Royal Government of Bhutan has set an all-inclusive fixed tariff, which allows no room for bargaining.

Peak Season (March, April, May, September, October and November)
Tariffs: USD $240 per person per day
( Earthbound Expeditions offers a discount of $20/day/person for groups of 4 or more and $40/day/pesron for 6 or more)

Off-Season (June, July, August, December, January and February)
Tariff: USD 200 Per person per day

SUPPLEMENTARY CHARGES:
For individual and small groups of less than four pax (04 pax), there is additional surcharge above the daily applicable rates as mandated by government regulations ( Earthbound Expeditions offers a 50% discount on these surcharges):

Single Pax : US$ 60 per day
Group of 02 persons : US$ 50 per pax /day
Group of 03 persons : US$ 40 per / per day

The rates are inclusive of the following:
a) Accommodation on a twin/sharing basis with meals
b) Transfers and sight seeing within Bhutan by a deluxe vehicle
c) The services of the guide/porters/ponies (wherever required)
d) Royalty & Taxes to the Govt.
e) Monastery and Monument entrance fees, if any.

DISCOUNTS (for custom trip only)
The following discounts on daily rates shall be allowed (these are off the standard government dictated rates given above):
1. Diplomats from foreign embassies and missions accredited to Bhutan shall be given a 25% discount on the daily tariff*.
2. The students below the age of 25 years holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions shall also be given a 25% discount on daily rates *.
3. Children up to the age of 5 years are free of cost. Those between 6 to 12 years accompanied by their guardians are entitled 50% discount*.
*this is true for custom trip only, not for prescheduled tours

MONEY
Bhutan unit of currency is the Ngultrum. 1Nu = 100 Chetrum. The Ngultrum is pegged to the value of Indian Rupee. Approx. 1 $ =Nu. 42 .

ACCESS (Getting there & away)

AIR: The best way to enter Bhutan is by Druk Air, the national air carrier. Following stations are connected with Druk Air flights:

INDIA : Delhi, & Calcutta
NEPAL : Kathmandu
THAILAND : Bangkok

DRUK AIR SCHEDULES AND AIRFARE: (Round trip is double the price.)

ECONOMY(SINGLE WAY) BUSINESS CLASS.
Paro to: Delhi (Mon & Thus) $315 $380
Kathmandu (Mon & Thus) $190 $230
Calcutta (Tue, Thus & Sat) $190 $230
Bangkok (Tue, Thus & Sat) $360 $440
Kathmandu, Delhi to Paro (Mon & Thu)
Bangkok/ Calcutta to Paro (Wed, Fri & Sun)

Druk Air is the only Airline operating in Bhutan. For more information about the Airline, please check the web: www.drukair.com OR you can E-mail us at: info@earthboundexp.com

Airport tax.
India Rupees - 300.
Nepal Rupees - 500
Paro - 300 local currency.

ROAD:

· Entry or Exit to / from Bhutan is also possible through Phuntsoling, the southern Bhutanese border town. Bagdogra, in the state of West Bengal (India) is the nearest airport Approx. 04 hour drive from this place. For travelers wishing to visit Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal along with Bhutan, Phuntsholing serves as the convenient point.

· Exit from Bhutan can be made through Samdrup Jongkhar also. This frontier Bhutanese town is approx. 3 hours drive from Guwahati, the capital town of Indian northeastern state of Assam. Samdrup Jongkhar is the authorized exit point only and an important link for visiting further Indian northeastern states.
· AS PER GOVERNMENT RULE IT IS MANDATORY TO TRAVEL AT LEAST ONE WAY BY DRUK AIR, IT CAN BE EITHER ENTRY OR EXIT OR BOTH. In an exceptional case, special permission can be obtained.

TRIP INFORMATION

TOUR ESCORTS
Well-trained, knowledgeable guides certified by the Tourism Authority of Bhutan escort all our tours. Most of the guides are English speaking but Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian-speaking guides can also be provided with prior information and on additional cost.

FOOD
Bhutanese delicacies are limited, featuring spicy chilies and cheese. However you will be served a buffet of Continental food with some local dishes too. Even on trek, our trained cooks prepare dishes suitable to western taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Indian.

WHAT TO PACK
When you sign up with Earthbound Expeditions, we will provide you with a detailed recommended packing list, including recommended vendors and some things you can probably buy enroute. For most of the cultural tours, you will not need to spend additional money on new gear. The trekking trips do require some specialized gear such as a daypack, large duffel bag, etc.

CLIMATE

The southern part to Bhutan is tropical, and in general the east of Bhutan is warmer than the west of the country. The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, Mongar, Tashigang and Lhuntshi enjoy a semi tropical climate with very cool winters, while Thimphu, Tongsa and Bumthang have a temperate climate, with monsoon rains in the summer and snow-fall in winter. Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November until mid-March, and at this time of year the climate is dry, with daytime temperature of 16-19 degree centigrade (with sunshine and clear skies) and nighttime temperature falling below zero. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June, with the rain falling mainly in the afternoons and evenings. At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly arrives, and is a magnificent season for trekking-lasting until mid-November.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN BHUTAN (In Degree Centigrade)

PLACES	JAN Max  Min	FEB Max  Min	MAR Max  Min	APR Max  Min	MAY Max  Min	JUN Max  Min	JUL Max  Min	AUG Max  Min	SEP Max  Min	OCT Max  Min	NOV Max  Min	DEC Max  Min
Paro	9.4 58	13.4 1..5	14. 5  0.6	17.6 4.6	23.5 10.6	25.4 14.1	26.8 14. 9	25. 3 14.7	23.4 11.7	18.7 7.4	13. 9 1.4	11. 2 1. 7
Thimphu	12.3 2. 6	14.4 0. 6	16.4 3. 9	20.0 7.1	22.5 13.1	24.4 15.2	18. 9 13.4	25.0 15.8	23.1 15. 0	21. 9 10.4	17. 9 5. 0	14. 5 1.1
Punakha	16.1 4. 2	19.6 5. 3	21. 2 9. 9	24. 4 11. 9	27. 2 14 . 8	31. 2 19. 5	32. 0 21 . 6	31.4 19. 8	29. 9 20. 4	27.8 18. 9	22. 3 13. 0	15. 0 7. 9
Wangdi	17. 0 4. 3	19.0 7. 8	22. 8 10. 4	26. 2 12. 9	29. 1 17. 7	29. 2 20. 1	18. 4 16. 2	29. 1 20. 0	27. 5 19. 1	26.1 14. 7	22. 6 9. 6	19. 1 6. 3
Tongsa	13.0 0. 2	13. 9 0. 4	16. 7 4. 4	20. 1 6. 6	21. 0 11. 6	22. 2 13. 6	25. 3 15. 3	23. 8 15. 0	22. 6 14. 2	21. 8 11. 7	18. 8 6. 4	18. 2 2. 5
Bumthang	10. 8 5. 1	10. 0 1. 4	16. 2 3. 5	18. 7 3. 9	21. 3 9. 5	22. 5 13. 5	14. 1 10. 9	23. 0 13. 7	21. 6 12. 1	19. 5 5. 9	16. 1 0. 5	12. 3 2. 3
Mongar	15. 5 8. 2	15. 9 8. 3	20. 0 11. 6	22. 8 14. 0	25. 1 17. 4	26. 1 19. 5	16. 1 15. 8	25. 4 19. 6	24. 7 19. 4	22. 7 15. 8	19. 9 11. 2	15. 7 9. 5
Tashigang	20. 4 10. 5	21. 7 11. 5	24. 8 14. 4	28. 3 17. 0	30. 0 20. 6	30. 7 22. 6	31. 5 23. 1	30. 2 22. 7	30. 0 23. 9	29. 1 17. 7	26. 1 13. 6	23. 0 11. 6

 

TOURING IN BHUTAN
Earthbound Expeditions offers numerous cultural tours throughout Bhutan, ranging from 4 days/3 nights, to 15 days/14 nights. Longer trips can be arranged for custom groups. All of our cultural trips and tours have little or no trekking and emphasize the cultural highlights of Bhutan. For custom groups, your itinerary will be assembled with the help of our skilled travel experts or you can choose to pattern your trip on one of our pre-assembled itineraries. Please fell free to email or write us to receive more information on putting together a trip or a pre-planned itinerary.

TREKKING IN BHUTAN
The scope for trekking in Bhutan is immense from short walks to arduous treks. Trekking gives the opportunity to see Bhutan at its most magnificent. All of the trekking routes follow old trading routes, from the towering snow peaks of the inner Himalayas to the verdant forests that cloak the hills above its peaceful valleys. The trails are clean and unspoiled, and the wilderness is still pristine in its' beauty.

SUMMARY & SEASONS FOR TREKKING IN BHUTAN

Trek Routes	BEST TIME	MID SEASON	LEAN SEASON	Trek Duration (DAYS)	Highest Altitude (m)	Average Distance (Km/day)	REMARKS
Chomolhari Full & Chomolhari Base	Mar, Apr, Sept – Nov	Nov & May	Jun – Aug	10 or 7	4820 or 4040	16	Moderate + or Moderate
Druk Path	Mar, Apr, Sept – Nov	May	Jun – Aug	6	3540	10	Moderate (-)
Gangtey  Gompa	Mar, Apr; Sept – Nov	Jan, Feb, May, Aug, Nov, Dec	Jun , July	3	3400	15	Moderate (–)
Punakha (winter)	Mar, Apr, Nov & Dec	Jan, Feb, Sept, Oct, Dec		4	2700	10	Easy (+)
Chelila Nature	Apr, Sept, Oct	Mar, May & Nov	Jun – Aug	3	3800	10	Moderate (-)
Laya – Gasa (full) & Laya Gasa (short)	Apr, May; Aug – Oct	March & Nov	Jun, July	16 or 9	4400	17	Strenuous
Lunana Snowman or Lunana Gangkar Puens	Sept & Oct	July & Aug		23 or 19	5100 or 5230	17	Strenuous (high)
Bumthang Cultural	Mar, Apr, Sept & Oct	May, Nov Dec	Jun – Aug	3	3350	15	Easy (+)
Dur Hot spring	Apr, May, Sept, Oct	Nov	Jun – Aug	8	4700	16	Moderate (+)
Wild east Rodungla	Mar, Apr, Sept, Oct	May & Nov	Jun – Aug	18	3727	17	Moderate- Strenuous

Please, write or email Earthbound Expeditions for a detailed itinerary for any of these treks (info@earthboundexp.com).