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Prayer wheels for public use outside a store, inside for purchase, Paro, Western Bhutan

Small Bragpa or Brokpa boy, people of remote valleys of far Eastern Bhutan

 

 

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Bhutan Travel Regulations

Old woman at Jambay Gompa in Bumthang Valley, Central Bhutan

Tourism in Bhutan is a Bhutan Royal Government monopoly, an enterprise run by the Bhutan Ministry of Tourism.

It implies that only licensed Bhutanese tour operators can carry out tours in Bhutan, tourists can stay only in government approved hotels and guest houses, follow only along permitted routes and allowed to visit only certain open areas, all the while having to be accompanied by the licensed tour operator whose responsibility it is to procure the necessary travel permits for their clients, including entry permits to specific monuments.

 

The system thus operates along well-defined rules and regulations inclusive rates. The regulations also govern what is understood by High and Lean Travel Season to which a different Minimum Daily Tariff / Royalty applies.

 

Bhutan High and Low Travel Season & Tariffs

 

Please note that effective January 1st, 2007, the Lean Season months have been reduced to only two months a year, namely JULY and AUGUST. The respective Tariff is typically a little less per day while the customary Royalty for the designated lean season months (July & August) remains the same. The high season Tariff / Royalty apply for the rest of the months of the calendar year (i.e. January, February, March April, May, June, September, October, November and December).

 

Bhutan Tour  Minimum Daily Package Rate

 

The Tariff / Royalty lowest rates are based on minimum three persons traveling together in a group. For less than three pax in a group, a Surcharge is added to the Minimum Daily Tariff. The minimum daily rate charged by operators, foreign or domestic,  includes a mandatory 35% Royalty & tax to the Government but per the regulations must further include accommodations and certain other minimum services. The rates apply uniformly irrespective of location and the type of accommodation establishment provided, all of which must be on the list of the Department of Tourism approved establishments. Based upon these regulations the local operators set their rates for their foreign counterparts, at an average of $200 per day minimum. Any operator is free to increase the rate based on extras and/or quality of services offered.

 

In summary the minimum daily tariff includes:

          1. 35% royalty & taxes to the Government

          2. accommodation on twin sharing basis

          3. all meals

          4. service of a guide

          5. all transfers/transport within Bhutan as per itinerary

          6. riding ponies & pack animals on treks

          7. fees to monasteries, temples and monuments

 

Excluded from minimum daily tariff are:

-Druk Air airfare & airport tax

-Tourism Development Fund (US$ 10 per visit)

-Bhutan Visa Fees (US$ 20 for two weeks)
-Personal expenses - laundry, room service, phone calls, etc.
-Medical, Evacuation and Trip Cancellation Insurance

 

Much has been written elsewhere about Bhutan minimum travel rates. In summary suffice to say that at any time, and for any type of basic services, whether cultural tours, treks or any other special interest tours, the minimum tariff for Western Tourists set by the Bhutanese government for visiting in a group of 3 or more members traveling together are set per person per night halt and these are base rates charged to us as Western Operators, and while we as Western Operators may on occasion receive a discount from our Bhutanese counterparts, we mark up from these rates. If there is any type of tour where any operators may provide additional or any other services it feels is above the norm or standards to which Government rates apply, the respective rates charged to clients will be above said rates. Above all it is necessary to understand that the fixed cost that you pay is not just a fee for travel in Bhutan. As stated above, the tariff covers lodging, food, tours, comfortable transportation in well-maintained mini-Vans or cars and professional guiding services, not to mention travel logistics and planning done by all parties involved in preparation of your itinerary. Above all the 35% of the daily cost contributes towards education and health in Bhutan as that's how the compulsory royalty is spent by the Bhutanese government.

 

In relationship to the minimum daily Tariff / Royalty, there shall be no charge for delays in departure because of weather conditions disrupting flights or roadblocks, however, the tourist must bear the cost of food, accommodation, transport and other services required. 

 

Note: there is a way to visit Bhutan and stay in Luxury Accommodations that are not included on the list of standard accommodations set by the Department of Tourism and subject to much higher daily rates; for details please email us. More specificlaly, the rates discussed above do not include the new luxurious hotels of Amankora and Uma resorts.
 

Bhutan Tour Mandatory Surcharges

 

Individual tourists and groups of less than three persons traveling together (01 or 02 pax only) are subject to a Surcharge over and above the minimum daily rate applicable as follows:

Single Individual:

US$ 40 per person per day

Two Pax  only:

US$ 30 per person

per day

The Surcharge is the same for all tours, whether cultural tours, trekking itineraries, or any other special Interest itinerary!

 

Bhutan Tour Single Room Supplement

High Season: 

US$ 30

per person per night

Low Season (July, Aug.):

US$ 20

per person

per night

 

Druk Airlines, Bhutan's National Carrier

 

Bhutan can be reached by air and by road. By air, Druk Airlines, Bhutan's national carrier, retains monopoly on all flights to and from Bhutan. The international airport is in Paro and Druk Air operates six flights a week from Bangkok and Kolkatta, and three flights from New Delhi and Kathmandu. During the festival season, Druk Air arranges for additional flights accordingly. Do note that per government regulations Western tourists need to book a tour, apply for a Bhutan visa in order to be able to receive their Druk Air tickets, in other words the process is interconnected and your ticketing and visa application is a simultaneous process that we as operators handle for you. Your Druk air tickets are typically picked up at the Druk Air counter at the airport you will be departing from, and the Druk counter is also in receipt of the proof your visa, which is stamped into your passport on arrival in Paro, has been issued.

By road Bhutan is connected with India, with two main road entry points open for tourists, one is near the West Bengal airport in Bagdogra, which can be reached by plane from Delhi and Kolkatta (approximately 3 to 4 hours from the Bhutanese border), the other en route to Guwahatti in Assam. It takes approximately 6 hours from Phuentsholing to Thimphu or Paro, but several days to reach Western Bhutan from the one in south-eastern Bhutan, at Samdrup Jongkhar, thus this point of entry is best used as exit point only.

 

With the continued increases in the price of jet fuel throughout 2006 Druk Air as all other carriers has increased their rates. Rates are subject to change any time and other fees may apply. Detailed costs will be provided at the time of your reservations, hence following rates are only for illustration:

 
Sector Y J YQ YR PSF PS Y J
DEL-PBH 315 380 5 7 6 - 333 398
PBH-DEL* 315 380 5 7 - 7 334 399
CCU-PBH 190 230 5 7 6 - 208 248
PBH-CCU 190 230 5 7 - 7 209 249
BKK-PBH* 360 440 5 7 - - 372 452
PBH-BKK* 360 440 5 7 - 7 379 459
KTM-PBH 190 230 5 7 - - 202 242
PBH-KTM* 190 230 5 7 - 7 209 24
 

Y - Economy Class

 

 

 

J - Business Class

 

 

 

YQ - Insurance Premium Tax

 

 

YR - S/Fuel Charge

 

 

 

PSF - Passenger Service Fees

 

PS - Passenger Surcharge (Paro)

 

 

 

 

 

Paro Airport Departure Tax - US$ 12pp

Bangkok Airport Deparure Tax US$ 20 pp


*Airfares subject to change without notice.
*Round trip airfare is twice one way airfare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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