Bhutan - What's the actual Truth ?

Dimitrz

Dear Imers

What’s the real truth or let’s say the realistic situation for Indians wanting to visit Bhutan?

I have wanted to visit Bhutan and do some mild high altitude trekking in its remote untouched places.

Since Bhutan is our neighbor and due to the fact that we have good relationship with the state I presumed that this is a trip which is very feasible. And most importantly can be done on a / within a tight budget.

However after reading few articles on Bhutan at various places , I am a bit skeptical upon the possibility of such a trip.

If the information I got is true, then Bhutan will grant visa / travel permit only if the traveler takes a travel package from one of the Bhutanese travel agency; not an issue but what is the issue or concern is the fact that the minimum per day package rate prescribed by Bhutan govt is US $ 200 per night (which translates to Rs 9600 per day).

This totally destroyed any travel hope for people like me traveling on shoe string budget , which in turn a big disappointment since I wanted to visit Bhutan to see its natural beauty and heritage.

Now all of a sudden a visit to Mongolia seems cheaper and affordable to me than a visit to Bhutan.

Can someone advise me more on this and if these requirements are applicable to Indians ? or is there something to this that I am missing ? Is it possible to go for a 1 week or 2 week visit to Bhutan with majority of time devoted to some mild high altitude trek and rafting perhaps?

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Haylo

Unfortunately the entire Bhutanese Government website is down for maintenance, which is presumably why the website for their Embassy in Delhi is returning a 404 error at the moment.

I did find a google cache of the site from 23rd September, which gives the telephone numbers - I suggest you give them a call and ask them direct.

__________________
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chief61

Hi Dimitrz,

I have been to Bhutan during last summer , It s one of
the best scenic and peaceful country in the world , where
GNP is happiness.

As an Indian , you will have special privilage , you dont
have to avail any special pacakages or any kind monetary restrictions .

If you are travelling by land carry an Indian I.D. ( passport /
Voter I.D / Driving License / Ration Card ) , go to permit
office at Phuntsholing for an entry permit to Thimpu,
for other district in Bhutan you have to take permit from
Thimpu itself.

Bhutan currency is same as Indian Currency, and Indian
currency is accepted everywhre in Bhutan, ATM are very limited,
Suggest carry enough hard cash for your tour .

Cheers

__________________
Rainbow Warrior.

hvkumar

The USD 200 tariffs are meant for non-Indian tourists. Bhutan has reasonably-priced hotels and once you have obtained your visit permits (Indians don't even have to carry their passports with them), you are free to travel anywhere in Bhutan on your own terms.

The forbidding tariffs which you mentioned are meant to keep away backpacking tourists from Bhutan and ensure that only well-heeled foreigners visit the country.

I have driven into Bhutan twice and had a great time.

__________________
H V Kumar

Dimitrz

Thanks guys - This has definitely boosted my spirits

I definitely plan to visit Bhutan probably next year - if anyone has any contact details of any trekking agency there , please feel free to share.

Ps: Is it possible to start a trek from Bhutan and end in Sikkim ? or wise versa

hvkumar

One of the best-known treks in Bhutan is the Snowman Trek, details of which you can briefly read in the following link:

http://www.bhutan-trails.org/trekking/snowman.html

AFAIK, you have to enter Bhutan only through the designated gateways in West Bengal/ Assam and there is no entry route for tourists from either Sikkhim or Arunachal.

Dimitrz

Thanks HVkumar

namaste_cat

I too have had no problems at all traveling through Bhutan. It is incredibly beautiful, and an absolute must-see. The people are so wonderful, and sweet.

I have not tried to visit since I got OCI status so I don't know how easy it would be for me now or for my kids who have PIO, but in the past as an Indian citizen, there were no questions asked.

Dimitrz

Thanks guys very helpful

Is it possible to take my bike into Bhutan for a bike trip ? I always feel its always better to see a place riding a bike than sitting inside a tin box

hvkumar

I first went to Bhutan in 1994 in a mobike. The Bhutan Govt's RDSA (equivalent of RTO) issues permits to mobikes too the same way they do for cars.

theyyamdancer

This site is quite helpful in planning a trip to Bhutan:

http://www.tourism.gov.bt/

__________________
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jyotirmoy

Our old member natasha had once posted a thread detailing her travels in Bhutan.

Dimitrz

Yes I read the article by natasha - very informative

HVKumar can you or someone else guide on on the exact procedure involved in taking a bike or car into Bhutan.

I am also interested in the terrain , what is it actually like ?
is it like Ladhak ( full of passes and high altitude roads ) or hilly regions with wider roads as in Himachal pradesh or is the terrain more like Arunachal pradesh ( though I have not been to north east I am presuming Arunachal to be like the western ghats predominantly flat and somewhat hilly but thickly forested )

hvkumar

http://hvkumar.googlepages.com/kumar'snortheastdrivingholiday

Check out the above link - has the complete travelogue - along with photos by veteran Mahaguru KS - of our drive to North East, including Bhutan.

Driving through Bhutan is like being in the higher reaches of Himachal/ Uttarakhand, lots of conifers, rivers, snow-clad peaks and mist.

In case you want to see the log book of the drive,
http://hvkumar.googlepages.com/kumar'sdrivinglogbooks46

Permits for vehicles in Bhutan - extracts from my travelogue
Obtaining Permits in Bhutan – never in advance, only on arrival at border

You need 2 levels of permits to enter Bhutan in your own car. You can apply only after arrival, no advance permits for Indians.

First is the Entry Permit (equivalent to visa) for each person.

You can download the entry permit form from the internet.
If you carry your passport, go to the Immigration Office in Phuntsoling (the first Bhutan town) at
9 am Bhutan Time (IST 830 am), works on Mon-Sat, except Bhutan holidays. Produce the filled up form, along with your passport, 2 photos, copies of passport. Indicate that you want to travel to Thimphu and Paro (only these 2 places are permitted from this Office). You will be given your Entry Permit in 30-60 minutes. I had planned in such a manner that I arrived on a working day, else you may get stuck awaiting the offices to reopen after the weekend/ holidays.

In case you are not carrying your passport, first visit the Indian Consulate at Jaigaon, show them proof of your Indianness (driving license, ration card, etc, for each member in your team), and take their verification certificate to the Bhutan immigration office and do the same thing indicated above. Indian Consulate opens at 830 am Bhutan time, half an hour ahead of the Bhutan Immigration Office. Be at the Immigration Office at 9 am sharp to process your application ASAP before the crowd starts.

If you are driving your own vehicle (car or bike), you have to next obtain a Route Permit.
After getting your Entry Permit (take 5 photocopies), drive ahead to the Phuntsoling Bus Stand (300-500 metres), where the Road Safety & Transport Authority (RSTA) office is situated in the second floor of the bus stand building.

Produce your vehicle documents (RC Book, Driving Licence, PUC) in original and copies, along with original and copies of the Entry Permits. You will have to run around a couple of sections (Licensing, Registration, Cash), pay some nominal fees, and you should obtain the Route Permit for your car in 30-60 minutes. This office is also open during office hours.

Once you have obtained your Entry Permit and Route Permit, generously take photocopies of each and proceed to Thimphu. You will be asked to stop at 3 checkposts on the way to show your permits. Remember - all your documents should be in original and there is no corruption in any of the offices.

In case you wish to go beyond Thimphu and Paro, like to Central and East Bhutan (like I did), you have to re-do the entire process in Thimphu - where you will be given an extension of the original Entry Permits and similarly for the Route Permits. The Immigration Office in Thinphu is located in the the Norzim Lam (main road in Thimphu), and the RSTA also in the bus stand.

santos_g15

Well can you wait for a bit more .as you might have already known i travelling to bhutan this december.i have read your thread and know your questions.i will ask the bhutanese (mainly my guide and driver) and let you know.The norm(i got quote from atleast 15 agencies) is they charge around 5000 per day for indians incl all food,transport,hotel.I think you can arrange it on your own.I am going by a guide as i got a good bargain and i am doing couple of treks and abt to test my legs with mountain biking.