Bhutan Travel Tips

The climate varies widely depending on the elevation in Bhutan. The southern area is tropical, while in the north, the high Himalayan regions, there is perpetual snow, where the average temperature is 0°C in winter and may reach 10°C in summer,. Temperatures in the far south range from 15°C in winter (December to February) to 30°C in summer (June to August). In Paro the range is from -5°C in January to 30°C in July, with 800mm of rain. 

The best time for travelling throughout Bhutan is autumn, from late September to late November, when skies are generally clear and the high mountain peaks rise to a vivid blue sky. Though the climate is best in autumn, an umbrella should be taken along. Whenever you go, there is likely to be rain periods.

In Bhutan, visas are issued only when you arrive in the country so that you must apply in advance through a local licensed tour operator or a foreign travel agent and receive approval before you travel to Bhutan. Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan, so visitors are required to book with a registered tour operator, which can be done directly through an affiliated travel agent abroad. Visa clearance takes at least 10 days to process and should be applied for at least 60 days prior to arrival in Bhutan.

Ngultrum is Bhutan’s currency, which is pegged to the Indian Rupee that is also accepted as legal tender. US Dollars are also widely accepted. 1 dollar equals 52.96 Nu. ATMs only accept Bhutanese bank cards. And traveller's cheques can be exchanged in any branch of the Bank of Bhutan or at all BTCL hotels and receive a better exchange rate. Leading foreign currencies are also accepted. Major hotels in Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing will also exchange foreign currency.

There is no restriction on visitor numbers. However, there is a minimum daily tariff fixed by the government. The daily tariff for tourists visiting in a group of three people or more is US$200 per day, which includes all of your accommodation, food, land transport within Bhutan, services of guides and porters, and cultural programs as appropriate, etc.

Bhutan time is six hours ahead of UTC/GMT (London). Bhutan does not observe any Daylight saving time.

Full medical insurance is strongly advised. Medical facilities in Bhutan are good but not always close at hand. You should make a comprehensive insurance plan before your tour to guarantee your safety. To declare any existing medical conditions you have to make clear which will cover you. The insurance should cover Medical expenses, loss or damage of personal possessions, and accident of adventure activities.

The voltage in Bhutan is 220/240V. In most cases, electrical sockets (outlets) in Bhutan are three types: he "Type C" European CEE 7/16 Europlug, the "Type G" British BS-1363 or the "Type D" Indian 5 amp BS-546. It's just anybody's guess as to which of the three types will be installed at any given specific location. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shapes, you will need a travel plug adapter to plug in.

1. Clothing: You should bring your clothes in terms of your travel time. Since the temperature difference is big between day and night, you should bring more clothes to keep warm. 
2. Medicine: You are suggested to bring extra medicines from home, like Aspirin, Cold-symptom relief tablets, antihistamine, cough drops, Ace bandage and so on in a small first aid kit. All of them should be packed in their original, clearly labeled containers.
4. Bring enough memory cards and batteries for photography fans.
5. Cash and important travel documents.