Bhutan in April 2009

kongkona

Bhutan in April 2009
Hi All
Me and my partner will be travelling to Bhutan 8th -20th(tentatively).My partner will be coming back on 15th.
So can anyone suggest a short 3-4 day trek ,around Paro and Thimpu.Ideally my partner will come back to Paro on 14th night and i plan to proceed with my treks. So please also suggest longer trek routes for me.(around 7 days).
1)Is it necessary for Indians to book through a travel agent for treks? Because the rates they are charging (inclusive of everything) comes to no less than 4500 per person per night.As an Indian,can I simply go to Paro and then hunt for reliable trek operators? How much will they charge?
2)Anyone been to Hotel All Seasons? I have booked rooms there- since it is tsechu time, most hotels are booked.Do you have any good budget hotels in mind
And of all kinds of tips are welcome , and if any is going to be doing treks in Bhutan around that time..please let me know.

vembushankar

My suggestion is that you can take this plan:

Till the 14th you can spend time in Paro,Punakha and Thimphu.

After 15 till 20th you can go upto Bumthang , see the Phobjika Valley and do a day trek around Thimphu

There is a book avlb on the web written by a foreign national about day hikes near Thimphu

http://www.bhutan-trails.org/thimphu...-mad-hikes.pdf.

Various Treks are viable for 7 days including the druk path as well as treks around Thimphu.


It would be difficult for you to go there and look for trekking agencies as you need a lot of paperwork to be done as you might have to take permits guides etc. and moreover you need to declare where you are going while filling up the permit form.

If someone is offering you at 4500 i think it is reasonable.

I have seen this hotel it is a average one, but during that time all the hotel charge exhorbitant rates and everything will be booked. Have you tried Yeezdin Hotel ? Hotel Norbu?


I guess you can also consult a book titled 'Facts about Bhutan' by Lily Wangchhuk you can find it at www.absolutebhutanbooks.com.bt

It has the details of hotels, trekking routes etc.

Do let me know if you need any more assistance as I was there for 3 years and have practically been to all places in Bhutan!!

Have a safe and njoyable journey

kongkona

THank you for the info.Really helpful.But someone from the Druk Air office told me as Indian I donot need to book from India itself.Infact it will be cheaper if I go there and look for trek guides etc.Will Indians also need permits for trekking? And can I got there and look for permits?

vembushankar

It is cheaper , but then you will have to hunt for them and they will all be busy withe the Tsechu.

The list of guides are here
http://www.tourism.gov.bt/tour-guides?l=TrekkingGuide

You can prefix +975 before the telepone number and you can maybe speak to some of them to ask them if they would be willing to come along.

You can also take the help for specific routes through the agencies which are mentioned in the official site, I can recommend

www.absolutebhutantravel.com
YANA Expeditions,
Bhutan Abbot Tours and Travels

Yes evryone neds Permits to go anywhere that is restricted in Bhutan.

Since you are travelling by air it is better that you endorse it in Paro/Thimphu

Regards

vembushankar

I just got a email in a group called whatsonthimphu in yahoograoups which has members discussing about happenings in Bhutan.


Some one has advertised there in the egroup which I am copying and pasting:

kindorji2 <kindorji2@yahoo.co.uk>


To: whatson-thimphu@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [whatson-thimphu] Join the Druk Path Group Trek Wed 15th – Sun 19th April.
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:19:15 IST


Druk Path Group Trek Wed 15th – Sun 19th April.
The Druk Path Trek is a lovely trek starting in Paro and finishing in Thimphu. Join a group organized by Bhutan Visit, a professional tour operator. For more information contact 02-325811 or 7726-9988.

So you can contact them directly over email .

Regards
Tashidelek
shankar

kongkona

thank you so much..i am mailing them right away..
but i will be back to you for more questions :-)
including i hope its safe for a girl to trek alone with trekking guide and all in bhutan

kongkona

Hi
We have effectively 7 days with us.Do you suggest the Druk Path trek? But will that include the Tiger's Nest ? Ideally we want to see Paro,Thimphu,Punakha ..or is it better to go for day hikes in and around? how good are the day hikes?

kongkona

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, if I donot take treks but just day hikes can I do without permits? I am taking a flight and If I just plan to go to paro,thimphu ,punakha and do a couple of day hikes how do I apply for permits?
Also between places can I take buses (like If I want to go from Thimphu to Bhumtang).Bascially the plan is to go from western bhutan to the assam exit in Samdrup and from there on go to my home town of Assam...