| Money |
The
Bhutanese currency is the Ngultrum.
The Ngultrum is at par with the Indian Rupee. US Dollars are widely accepted
throughout the kingdom and traveler's checks can be exchanged at the bank.
Ngultrum will be required for smaller purchases of souvenirs beyond Thimphu.
Credit cards are now accepted in some locations but checks are generally
not accepted. |
| Accommodations |
There
are comfortable hotels, lodges and guesthouses at tourist destinations.
Western Bhutan has better hotels while Central and Eastern part of the
country has simple facilities. There is no star categorization of hotels
in Bhutan and no five star luxuries are available. We use a carefully selected
chain of accommodations around the country and are approved by the Department
of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan. All the hotels, lodges and guesthouses
are equipped with telephones, fax machines and international dialing. |
| Transportations |
Japanese
vehicles are regarded as the most appropriate for the Bhutanese conditions.
To ensure comfort and safety for our guests we use vehicle of high quality.
We use Toyota Coaster buses for larger groups and Toyota or Nissan cars
for smaller groups. The vehicles are given an all round mechanical check
up before the tours. |
| Foods |
The
Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies and cheese. Our selected
chain of hotels; lodges and guesthouses offer delicious Chinese, Continental,
Bhutanese and Indian dishes. Even on treks, our trekking team is prepared
to serve Continental, Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese dishes. |
| Time |
Bhutan
Standard Time is half an hour ahead of
Indian Standard Time and 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Bhutan
GMT +6
Bhutan
MET +5
Government
offices to resume summer timing from March 2004
Starting
March 1, 2004 all government offices in the country will resume the summer
timing. According to a press release from the Royal Civil Service Commission,
offices will open at 9 AM and close at 5 PM. |
| Current |
Current
is 220-240 Volts. |
| Plug
type |
The
plug is round, 3 prong, British Type |
| Tipping
& Gift |
Tipping
is at each visitor's discretion.
Visitors
are requested not to give candy, gum, pens, pencils, balloons, etc. to
children, who soon learn to demand gifts;
or not to hand out medicines to local people which may be inappropriate for their medical problems and delay their seeking
professional help. If you want to give children pens, pencils, etc. it
is better to give them to local schools. We will be happy to arrange a
visit to a local school if you indicate at the time of booking. Instead
of gifts, you can show them books and pictures of your country, your home,
your children, etc. or teach them a song or a game. |
| Shopping |
All
visitors are welcome to visit the Handicraft Centre or all local shops,
which contains a very wide range of traditional and modern items. Beautiful
hand woven textiles, postage traditional handmade paper, colorful bamboo
baskets, thankas, ceramics, musical instruments and masks are some of many
favorite items for purchase from Bhutan. The textiles with intricate patterns
that take months to weave are made of cotton, wool or raw silk. Ethnic
silver jewelry can also be found. The best shopping to be found is in Thimphu,
the capital of Bhutan. |
| Photography |
All
visitors should bring with them everything they need to take pictures.
The photographic opportunities are immense on all trips. Also most important
while visiting Dzongs, Monasteries and other religious monuments, please
follow your tour escort's instructions properly and carefully. |
| Health
Information |
No
vaccinations are currently required for
traveling to Bhutan. However if you are arriving an area infected with
yellow fever, you are required to have a yellow fever vaccination and it
shall be administered at least 10 days before your arrival into Bhutan.
Also if arriving from Cholera infected area, the vaccination is strongly
recommended for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the districts
that border India. |
| Clothing |
Because
of the variety of climates you may encounter in one day, choose garments,
which can be layered. This means that the majority of your clothing can
be worn in layers, so that you can put on more clothing if it is cold or
take off layers as it warms up. In general, from June to September cottons
and a good sweater will be enough, but from October to May you will need
warm clothes including long underwear or woolen tights to wear under trousers,
and a down jacket or a warm coat. Also don't forget to bring an umbrella
or a rain jacket. Comfortable sports shoes are highly recommended and mountain
boots are necessary if you come on a trek or plan to hike up to Taktsang.
In Bhutan, you can get sun burnt quite quickly. Don't forget to include
a sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and barrier cream for your nose and lips
in your packing list. |
