Most people fly into Bhutan and the only point of entry by air is Paro. If you drive you must have the correct documents to transit through India so you should contact the nearest Indian embassy to see what you need. Bhutan is a clean, safe and peaceful country that is slowly adjusting to a more modern way of life. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of rivers which form deep valleys. It's also pretty high up! The average altitude is m above sea level.
Mild effects of altitude sickness do not tend to come into effect until you're higher than 2, metres, but there are ways to prepare for this. You can visit your GP before heading overseas to see if you should take Diamox, it is used to reduce symptoms of altitude sickness. Bhutan is a very safe country to visit, crime is uncommon, even petty crime! The country has no traffic lights, there are traffic wardens instead and the locals love it. The production and sale of tobacco are illegal, as are hunting and fishing except for catch and release.
It is forbidden to climb high peaks where spirits dwell , and employees must wear traditional clothing during work hours. Social etiquettes in Bhutan pretty much align with its South Asian neighbours like taking off your shoes before entering a temple or house, refraining from wearing short clothing, and public display of affection.
A common question is 'where is Bhutan? You can only travel to Bhutan as part of an organised tour. My trip to Bhutan was kindly sponsored by Druk Asia who is the leading expert in unique Bhutanese adventures.
My guide, Penjor, quickly became my good friend and we had a great laugh together exploring Bhutan and knocking back a beer or two in the evenings. Check out Druk Asia, here. For more inspiration, have a read of my experience trekking in the mountains of Bhutan.
Want more deetz on why we love it so damn much? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop! Volunteering overseas is a great way to experience a culture whilst doing some good in the world. There are lots of different volunteer projects in Bhutan which you can join ranging from teaching, to animal care, to agriculture to pretty much anything!
Bhutan does benefit greatly from volunteers, but opportunities can be hard to come by. Most gigs are in rural areas, where travelers can aid community development by teaching English or partaking in social work. Our go-to platform for finding volunteering gigs is Worldpackers who connect travellers with host projects.
Have a look at the Worldpackers site and see if they have any exciting opportunities in Bhutan before signing up. Alternatively, Workaway is another excellent common platform used by travellers searching for volunteering opportunities. You can read our review of Workaway for more info on using this terrific platform. Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers and platforms like Workaway are usually very well-managed and reputable.
However, whenever you are volunteering do stay vigilant, especially when working with animals or children. Reduce your plastic footprint: Perhaps the best thing you can do for our planet is to make sure you do NOT add to the plastic problem all over the world.
Instead, pack a tough travel water bottle. Mass-farming of cows etc leads to the rainforest being cut down — which is obviously a huge problem. Recently, my gear-venture, Active Roots has started to sell water bottles. Need more guidance? If you visit small communities in the rural areas which you will almost certainly do always ask before taking photos.
The people who live in these villages are not exhibits in a museum. They are normal folks just living their lives. Always show them the complete respect that they deserve. When buying a local craft, do not haggle so low that the price is unfair to the person who spent countless hours crafting it.
Pay people what they are worth and contribute to the local economies as much as possible. I know it can be hard, but do your best to use the l east amount of plastic water bottles that you can. Refill the ones that you do buy!
Use a Grayl Geopress. Refill at your hostel! There are plenty of ways to reduce plastic!!! Backpacking India or any region for that matter often illuminates some of the great socio-economic inequalities of the world.
Never take it for granted that you are healthy and financially able to go traveling especially to Bhutan! Show the world around you some gratitude and help to make a positive impact on it.
Most of all have the time of your life and spread the love! Bhutan is a nice place. It is a new form of tourist gouging. Find a local operator and go to nearby Tibet for a real cultural experience.
If Bhutan changes their ridiculous tourist tariff policy, then l would like to go back, but not until. Should you want a more luxurious hotel — four or five-stars — you could ask for it, but you will need to pay for the daily difference in price. Yangphel gave me the opportunity to stay at the only five-star hotel in Bhutan owned by a Bhutanese, the Zhiwa Ling Hotel which is recognized as one of National Geographic Lodges , and Oh my God… that place is worth it!
So beautiful! On the other hand, it is not possible to downgrade to two or one-star hotels should you want to pay less for your visa. But, should you be on a tight budget, you can join tour groups instead of having a private tour. Three or more travelers is the regular price.
Unfortunately, Bhutan is not a budget-backpacker friendly country, but even with the relatively high expenses, it is worth visiting it. Malaysia and Indonesia are seasonal departure points. Often comes cheaper, but not always, so check both options. The airport is wedged in between mountains, so pilots have to do some serious maneuvering and turns to reach the landing strip.
In Bhutan, you can stay in farmhouses in the countryside, but they operate like a hotel, with hotel standards western standards. On the plus side, you eat with the family at every meal. When trekking, the camping experience is more like regular camping, but you have a cook, horses to carry your stuff, and a guide. When you plan your trip, you will either tell your tour company where you want to go or they will suggest popular places to go.
Be aware that changing plans will incur some extra costs, as expected. It is also possible to extend your stay if your visa allows it or if you extend your visa. Bhutanese eat chili for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner. On the other hand, if spicy food is not your thing —like me— you can ask them to make non-spicy dishes when you have the option of ordering food.
Most meals will be buffet style, so, unfortunately, most dishes they cook will have some spice but sometimes they accommodate you with a non-spicy batch if ordered.
It is also topped off with ezay salsa, which is also made from dried chilies. This phallic worship is a nod to the teachings of Drukpa Kunley , a revered saint who traveled the country teaching a new form of Buddhism—through sex. To me, he sounded like a horny monk who wanted to have sex with everyone even with a cow , but hey, this is part of the interesting history of Bhutan.
Women with fertility problems hold a wooden penis about two feet tall and give three rounds around the temple while holding it on their chest like a baby. While you can use the local currency, the Ngultrum or Nu for short , it is convenient to take US dollars for any souvenir purchase, tips, or drinks.
Major cities do have several, though. The Nu and the Indian Rupee are paired one to one, so it is accepted almost everywhere in the country.
This study of the movements and relative positions of celestial objects is so prominent in the country that it is consulted even to build a house, have children, get cremated, and so on. Hiking is possible up to 6,m in elevation. Peaks under that altitude are considered trekking peaks. Anything above that is considered mountaineering, and it is forbidden as the mountains are sacred for the Bhutanese.
Then in and , a huge drought came, affecting the crops of the country. Then when they finally harvested, a rainstorm came, damaging, damping and rotting the rice grains. Farmers consulted astrologers, who told them the goddess of the mountain had been disturbed. Since then, climbing has been forbidden in Bhutan. Also, September to November are considered their tourism high season months. Summer, on the other hand, brings heavy rains. A Dzong is a traditional building that is half a temple and half municipal offices.
Jeans are acceptable as is casual clothing as long as they cover your arms and legs. Closed shoes are also required. For my trip, since it was during the summer and relatively hot, I traveled with a day pack with a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Every time I went to a Dzong, I wore them over my shorts and short sleeve t-shirt.
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