Bhutan - All You Need To Know Before Visiting
Perched amidst the dreamy Himalayas, we have Bhutan, one of the most exclusive country to explore. The top question that I got from everyone was, "Why Bhutan?" Let's just say, I had a calling and I answered. The rest was history and Bhutan has officially topped all my wanderlust adventures around the world.
Visiting Bhutan for the first time
Prior to my trip, I had no idea what to expect and little information about this magnificent country was available online. Luckily, I was recommended Dragon Trails Tour after doing a poll on Instagram & it was honestly the best decision I have ever made.
Independent travel is forbidden in Bhutan. Therefore, you will have to go through a licensed travel agency to get your trip sorted. I actually tried a couple of agencies concurrently but I picked Dragon Trails Tour eventually as I felt that they were the most sincere in making my Bhutan experience a memorable one.
I will be sharing a couple of tips on how to get to this exotic country and what you can expect when you are there. The experience is unique to each & definitely not one to be missed. You have to visit Bhutan with an open heart. Once you are there, it will be filled with lots of beautiful memories and a warmth that you can’t find anywhere.
Checklist Before Your Trip
Settle On A Tour Operator
Due to its restrictive tourism policy, tourists are required to prebook their tours through an approved operator prior to visiting. You can find the comprehensive list of tour operators here. I settled on Dragon Trails Tours for my trip. You can email a couple of agencies to discuss about your trip and what you would like to experience before settling on one that you are comfortable with. Your tour agency will be the one responsible for booking your flights, planning your itinerary, sorting out your visas and booking the hotels.
The other agencies that I have contacted were more "business-like". They were more concerned about securing the transaction than planning a trip to suit my needs. With Dragon Trails Tours, they went all out to make my trip possible despite my hectic travel schedule. My flight tickets were secured according to MY stipulated dates while other agencies told me that it was impossible. When we were 3 weeks away from my flight dates, I had a last minute news to travel on a business trip and the amazing people at Dragon Trails Tours promptly secured another flight for me in just two days. From hotels, visas, to itinerary, everything was done by them and I was so thankful for it. I also enjoyed the flexibility of inputing places of interests into my itinerary and they kindly integrated it during the trip. If you are already spending a sum of money to visit the country of your dreams, might as well make it happen with a tour operator that would go all out to realise it, no?
Ps: This is an unsponsored review and I paid full for my entire trip to Bhutan.
Tourist Tariff
3 Star Hotel in Bhutan
There is a minimum daily package fee that covers a 3 star hotel during your stay throughout (can be upgraded with extra charges, please liaise with your tour operators), all meals, guide, tourist attractions & car. The daily cost is US$250 (US$200 in low peak months) and if you are travelling solo, there is an additional tax of US$40/day. For a solo traveller like me, it would total to US$290/day. These fees are incorporated into your tour fees with the agency. I love this idea as it makes everything so transparent.
A brief costing for a trip excluding any upgrades will be:
Cost of Flight Tickets + Tourist Visa Fee + (Daily Tariff x Number of Days in Bhutan) = Total Amount You Should be Paying
If you are worried about the accommodation, trust me, the 3 star hotels in Bhutan are extremely cosy, spacious and definitely comfortable! Upgrading your stay to a 5 star hotel will allow you to experience a lap of luxury. Bhutan’s hospitality & hotels are definitely top-notch!
How Much To Bring?
Since we are on the topic of money, here are just my tips on how much you need during your trip to Bhutan. Since all your necessities are covered in the daily tariff, you will only need enough money to cover any extra expenses such as shopping, eating out at a restaurant, drinking, massages & spa etc;
If you are not an avid shopper, you would only need to bring sufficient money to shop for souvenirs and tip your guide/driver. Most spas in hotel accept cards so that is extremely convenient.
I recommend bringing about US$300-$500 if you are not much of a shopper. You can get your guide to change the USD to their local currency at the bank.
Tipping could range about US$15/day for the guide & US$10 for the driver. Of course, the amount is your choice at the end of the day but they will gladly appreciate it. The tips are basically their salary for the whole tour so if they provided you with an unforgettable experience, you can give them a little more to help them out.
What To Pack?
If you are from Singapore, Bhutan in comparison is generally cold throughout all seasons. I visited both in April and December and based on Singapore’s definition, it was freezing! I certainly under packed during my first trip. General temperatures are around 15-25 degrees during Summer/Fall and -1 to 10 degrees during Spring/Winter.
There is quite a bit of hiking involved so I will recommend packing light but smart! Heattechs from Uniqlo will come in handy. I wear about 2 layers during my trip in December. A lightweight windbreaker that is packable is highly recommended. If you are visiting in April, you can bring along a cardigan to keep you warm. Here are some ideas for you:
Cashmere Socks / Gloves (During Winter)
Lightweight Hiking Shoes
Backpack
Also, do keep in mind that you have to dress appropriately before you visit the Dzongs. Dzongs are Bhutan’s ancient fortresses that houses administrative offices, temples, towers and courtyards. Make sure you are not wearing anything revealing out of respect.
Language & People
The people are pretty well educated in basic English, if not, fret not as your guide will always be with you. Bhutan is one of the most friendliest countries that I have been to. The people have a heart of gold and they will stop at nothing just to ensure that you are happy and well taken care of. It is definitely a very safe country, especially if you are a female solo traveller. However, just like anywhere else, it doesn't hurt to be careful along the way.
Before we start, meet the wonderful people who took care of my every need throughout the entire trip! On my left, is Kencho Tshering, our driver who has amazing driving skills. He even managed to manoeuvre the car down the hill when the entire place was foggy & blank white! No idea how it was done but I know if it were to be me driving, well.. I definitely wouldn't be writing this post now.
On my right, is one of the most thoughtful and kindest soul I have met, Sonam Chopel. He was my guide and well, he's basically an encyclopedia & storyteller. His passion for his work and dedication to be a good human being has greatly moved me. Sonam made sure that all my needs and princess requests were met, aka dressing me up in their traditional Kira and I can't imagine a trip without the two of them. I promise, with the company of these two, you will be in the best of hands.
Food & Drinks
Bhutanese cuisine are spicy and I love it! Think everything with dried chilli. It is quite similar to Asian food just a different style of cooking and different spices. Their main staple is rice, and as Asians, WE LOVE RICE! Aside from that, you also have to try the momos which are basically dumplings, so good!
Well, majority of what you will be eating during your guided tours are international buffets from hotels & restaurants, but you definitely should give their local cuisine a try. I also paid separately to dine at Indian restaurants as that is something I enjoy.
In Thimphu, the city of Bhutan, there are definitely more options and different cuisines ranging from Western, Korean, Indian, Chinese and even quaint cafes to dine at. All these are of course, at your expense, so if you are a food connoisseur, you might want to bring some extra money to fuel your passion of eating!
Bhutan also has their own share of night entertainment so yes, you can still have your daily dose of alcohol. However, you have to try the Butter Tea, a unique blend of churned tea with butter that is a drink for the highlands. I find that this helped my body to adapt more to the higher altitude.
Altitude Sickness
Yes, this is real. Many people faced this and even I myself felt a bit of heart palpitations during the first day of my visit to Bhutan. You will need to stay hydrated as much as you can to quickly get acclimatised. Bringing some medications may help as well but overall, if you are not planning to trek the mountains, you should be fine. Just take it easy and your body will get used to the difference in altitude.
Well, that kind of sums up everything you need to know before visiting the beautiful country of Bhutan. I hope you find these tips helpful and I wish you a fantastic and memorable trip to the land of happiness! After two visits to this beautiful country, I am still wanderlusting on the next time I get to set food on this kingdom. For now, I can only reminisce on my lovely memories of this country.
Tashi Delek!
xx,
Winter
