GENERAL INFORMATION

There are various kinds of tour packages for all kinds of tourists. The tariff for package tours is set by the
Tourism Department of Royal Government of Bhutan. The Government fixed tariff includes services of accommodation, transport, guide, meals, entrance fees for monuments and charges for cultural program, if any.

Visa is required for traveling to Bhutan which is processed and arranged by Changshe Norbu Tours and Treks.

Druk Air is the only Royal Bhutan Airline. The Druk Air flights offer most scintillating spectacle of the snowcapped mountains which would remain etched in your mind forever. To view Druk Air schedule go to the Druk Air website.

Bhutan's currency is Ngultrum (Nu.) with 100 Chetrum = 1 Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupee.

Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions it is advisable to carry appropriate clothing including thick woolen clothes. Loose and comfortable clothes are advisable although shorts, hats, or caps are not permissible inside the religious institutions.

A comprehensive list for your package: clothes as per season, sunglasses, pair of casual shoes, knife, hat, umbrella, camera, films and accessories, insect repellent, hand cream, small sewing kit, torch or flash light with spare batteries, sun cream and first aid box.

PAYMENT PROCEDURE

a) All tour payment shall be made in US dollars or in any convertible currency acceptable to the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan and shall be made in advance to Department of Tourism for the visas to be processed.

b) When advance payments are not possible, the Tour Agent shall arrange to deposit its counter value in local currency which shall be released on receipt of the tour payment in convertible currency.

c) The Department of Tourism shall not process tourist visa applications of those Tour Agents who are not able to deposit advance payments either in convertible or in local currency.

d) The exchange rates shall be based on the rates published by the RMA from time to time. Any loss or gain resulting from exchange rate difference or fluctuation shall be entirely at the risk or the benefit of the tour operators / agents.

e) As far as possible, all tour payments shall be routed through either Bank of Bhutan or Bhutan National bank. f) Payments must be received either by telegrahic transfer to an overseas account of the two banks mentioned above or by means of a bank draft or bankers cheques drawn in favour of Department of Tourism. In all the cases, the name of the local tour agent as the "beneficiary" shall be clearly stated.

g) Bank charges involved shall be borne by the local tour operator or agent abroad as may be mutually agreed between them. Department of Tourism shall shall have no responsibility in this regard. h) Any other modes of payments other than the ones mentioned under

(f) above, especially in cash, are illegal and are discouraged by the Department of Tourism. However, under certain circumstances where payments are received in such forms, tour operators shall declare to the Department of Tourism alongwith proper documentary testimonials supporting the mode of payments and the amount. Any such payments without the supporting documents shall be considered illegal and shall be liable to be confiscated as per foreign exchage rules.

CANCELLATIONS

Tour programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows:
a) Within 30 days of the start
of the tour programme - Free
b) Within 21 days - 10% of the rate
c) Within 14 days - 15% of the rate
d) Within 7 days - 30% of the rate
e) Less than 7 days or
cancellation without notice - 50% of the rate
f) After arrival in Bhutan - 100%

DELAYED ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE

a) There shall be no charge for the number of days of delays in arrival of visitors due to weather conditions, Druk Air problems or road blocks.

VISAS & PERMITS

a) All applications for tourist visas shall be submitted by the Tour Agents in the prescribed Visa Application Form in triplicate to Department of Tourism in advance to allow time of one week for processing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b) As far as possible, 3 copies of original passport size photograph must be furished with the visa applications. However if this is not possible, the photographs must be presented by the tourist on arrival to the Visa Officer at the entry point.

c) All request for visa, visa extensions and cancellations for tourists shall be routed through the Department of Tourism and no Tour Agent shall accept any tourist whose visa has been processed through other channels.

d) All requests for other types of permits required for tourists shall also be routed through Department of Tourism. The following information must be sent to us to process visa approval. To download visa form click here.

TARIFF

The minimum daily package rate to be applied by Tour Agents shall be fixed by by the Royal Government of Bhutan. This package rate will be an all-inclusive rate. The break-up of the daily package rates into its component items viz agent commissions, discounts, royalty and other levies and the details of payment procedures are given in the Schudule of Tariff for International Tourists, 1999 at Annexure I of these Rules and Regulations