TRAVEL FACTS
Travel Facts
Money:
Bhutan unit of currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.), with 100 Chetrum = 1 Ngultrum.
The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupee. Tourists are advised to
carry their money in form of traveler checks (preferably American Express) with
a little cash (US Dollars) which might be needed for incidental expenses. A
few places accept visa and american express credit cards
Language:
Dzongkha, 'the language of Dzong', is one of the Tibetan family of languages.
Originally spoken only in western Bhutan, Dzongkha is now the Bhutanese
national
language. English is commonly spoken in main towns and also it is the medium
of education in schools throughout the Kingdom.
Accommodation:
There are comfortable hotels, lodges and guesthouses at tourist destinations.
Western Bhutan has better hotels while in central and eastern part of the
country,
accommodation establishments are simple and offer minimum facilities. There
is no star categorization of hotels and five star luxuries are not available.
Eagle Tours has carefully selected the list of accommodation units with the best
of location, service and ambience. Away from the towns and villages there are
purpose-built huts on some of the principal trekking routes. Otherwise, there
is nothing like camping out under the clearest night skies that you have ever
seen. Wherever you spend the night, the warm Bhutanese hospitality will make
you feel welcome.
Tour Escorts:
All Eagle Tours tours are escorted by well trained, knowledgeable guides,
Certified
by Tourism Authority of Bhutan. Eagle Tours has English, German, Japanese
and
French speaking guides. The services of Italian, Spanish, German,
Russian-speaking
guides could also be provided with prior information and on additional cost.
Food :
Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies and cheese. The Eagle Tours
selected list of hotels and lodges offer delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese
and Indian Cuisine. Even on trek Eagle Tours trained cooks prepare dishes
suitable
to western Taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Indian.
Climate:
The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, Mongar, Trashigang and
Lhunsthi enjoy a semi tropical climate with very cool winters, while Thimphu,
Tongsa and Bumthang have a much harsher climate, with heavy monsoon rains
in the summer and heavy snow-fall in the winter, which often blocks the passes
leading into the central valleys.
Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November until mid-March, and at this time of
the year the climate is dry, with daytime temperatures sometimes falling below
zero celcius. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June, with the rain falling
mainly in the afternoons and evenings.
At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly
arrives, and is a magnificent season for trekking until November.
The southern part of Bhutan is tropical, and in general the east of Bhutan is
warmer than the west of the country.
Clothing:
Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions it is advisable to
bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold layered clothing is
better than a few thick ones, so choose your cloths accordingly. Cloths should
preferably be made from natural materials, which allow the body to breathe
better.
You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes.
Although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, we would advise
women to wear skirts or loose trousers, men should not wear singlets. During
visit of monasteries, Dzong and other religious institutions you should not wear
shorts & hats.
What to Pack:
The following is fairly exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip
:
1. Clothes as per season,
2. Sunglasses / spare glasses or contact lenses,
3. sun screen, preparation for relief of sunburn,
4. Pair of casual shoes,
5. Washing kit,
6. Shaving kit,
7. Towel,
8. Hat,
9. Umbrella,
10. camera, film and accessories,
11. Books, maps,
12. Insect repellent,
13. Hand cream,
14. Small sewing kit & safety pins,
15. Torch or flash light with spare batteries,
16. Mirror,
17. Nail clippers,
18. Scissors,
19. Lip salve or soluble aspirin,
20. Antiseptic cream,
21. Anti-histamine cream,
22. Anti diarrhea pills,
Photography:
The photographic opportunities on all trips are immense. You will also wish
to record the local people, their houses and shops etc. Always ask by gesture
if it is ok to do so. Don't take your destination as living museum. Also while
visiting Dzong, monasteries and religious institutions, please follow your guide's
instruction carefully.
35mm colour print film is readily available. Slide film is more difficult to
find. Bring enough batteries if you use lithium batteries.
Health information:
No vaccinations are currently required for travelling to Bhutan. However if
you are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to
have a yellow fever vaccination and should be administered at least 10 days
before your arrival in Bhutan. Also if arriving from a Cholera infected area,
the vaccination is strongly recommended. Anti-malarial medication is also
recommended
for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the distgricts that border
India.
Shopping:
The country's exquisite postage stamps, lovely handwoven fabrics, carved
masks,
woven baskets, woodedn bowls, handmade papers, finely crafted metal objects,
thangka paintings are the items mostly purchased by travelers in Bhutan. Buying
and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in the Kingdom.
Gratuity:
In general, tipping is neither compulsory nor there is any fixed amount and
the bottom line in determining whether and how much to tip is to ask yourself
how much the individual did to make your travel more enjoyable.
Electricity:
In Bhutan, electricity runs 220/240 volts. If you do bring electrical appliances,
take along an international converter kit complete with a set of adapter plugs.
Time:
Bhutan time is 6 hours ahead of GMT and there is only one time zone throughout
the country.
OTHER INFORMATION
Tourism has been strictly limited in Bhutan so that traditional culture can
be preserved and nurtured. The Bhutanese are highly religious people and
therefore
it is important to show respect and understanding for local customs, way of
life especially while visiting religious institutions.
The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability
meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially
and culturally acceptable and economically viable. And for these reason the
number of tourists visiting Bhutan are kept to an environmentally manageable
level.
Money:
Bhutan unit of currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.), with 100 Chetrum = 1 Ngultrum.
The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupee. Tourists are advised to
carry their money in form of traveler checks (preferably American Express) with
a little cash (US Dollars) which might be needed for incidental expenses. A
few places accept visa and american express credit cards
Language:
Dzongkha, 'the language of Dzong', is one of the Tibetan family of languages.
Originally spoken only in western Bhutan, Dzongkha is now the Bhutanese
national
language. English is commonly spoken in main towns and also it is the medium
of education in schools throughout the Kingdom.
Accommodation:
There are comfortable hotels, lodges and guesthouses at tourist destinations.
Western Bhutan has better hotels while in central and eastern part of the
country,
accommodation establishments are simple and offer minimum facilities. There
is no star categorization of hotels and five star luxuries are not available.
Eagle Tours has carefully selected the list of accommodation units with the best
of location, service and ambience. Away from the towns and villages there are
purpose-built huts on some of the principal trekking routes. Otherwise, there
is nothing like camping out under the clearest night skies that you have ever
seen. Wherever you spend the night, the warm Bhutanese hospitality will make
you feel welcome.
Tour Escorts:
All Eagle Tours tours are escorted by well trained, knowledgeable guides,
Certified
by Tourism Authority of Bhutan. Eagle Tours has English, German, Japanese
and
French speaking guides. The services of Italian, Spanish, German,
Russian-speaking
guides could also be provided with prior information and on additional cost.
Food :
Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies and cheese. The Eagle Tours
selected list of hotels and lodges offer delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese
and Indian Cuisine. Even on trek Eagle Tours trained cooks prepare dishes
suitable
to western Taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Indian.
Climate:
The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, Mongar, Trashigang and
Lhunsthi enjoy a semi tropical climate with very cool winters, while Thimphu,
Tongsa and Bumthang have a much harsher climate, with heavy monsoon rains
in the summer and heavy snow-fall in the winter, which often blocks the passes
leading into the central valleys.
Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November until mid-March, and at this time of
the year the climate is dry, with daytime temperatures sometimes falling below
zero celcius. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June, with the rain falling
mainly in the afternoons and evenings.
At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly
arrives, and is a magnificent season for trekking until November.
The southern part of Bhutan is tropical, and in general the east of Bhutan is
warmer than the west of the country.
Clothing:
Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions it is advisable to
bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold layered clothing is
better than a few thick ones, so choose your cloths accordingly. Cloths should
preferably be made from natural materials, which allow the body to breathe
better.
You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes.
Although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, we would advise
women to wear skirts or loose trousers, men should not wear singlets. During
visit of monasteries, Dzong and other religious institutions you should not wear
shorts & hats.
What to Pack:
The following is fairly exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip
:
1. Clothes as per season,
2. Sunglasses / spare glasses or contact lenses,
3. sun screen, preparation for relief of sunburn,
4. Pair of casual shoes,
5. Washing kit,
6. Shaving kit,
7. Towel,
8. Hat,
9. Umbrella,
10. camera, film and accessories,
11. Books, maps,
12. Insect repellent,
13. Hand cream,
14. Small sewing kit & safety pins,
15. Torch or flash light with spare batteries,
16. Mirror,
17. Nail clippers,
18. Scissors,
19. Lip salve or soluble aspirin,
20. Antiseptic cream,
21. Anti-histamine cream,
22. Anti diarrhea pills,
Photography:
The photographic opportunities on all trips are immense. You will also wish
to record the local people, their houses and shops etc. Always ask by gesture
if it is ok to do so. Don't take your destination as living museum. Also while
visiting Dzong, monasteries and religious institutions, please follow your guide's
instruction carefully.
35mm colour print film is readily available. Slide film is more difficult to
find. Bring enough batteries if you use lithium batteries.
Health information:
No vaccinations are currently required for travelling to Bhutan. However if
you are arriving from an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to
have a yellow fever vaccination and should be administered at least 10 days
before your arrival in Bhutan. Also if arriving from a Cholera infected area,
the vaccination is strongly recommended. Anti-malarial medication is also
recommended
for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the distgricts that border
India.
Shopping:
The country's exquisite postage stamps, lovely handwoven fabrics, carved
masks,
woven baskets, woodedn bowls, handmade papers, finely crafted metal objects,
thangka paintings are the items mostly purchased by travelers in Bhutan. Buying
and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in the Kingdom.
Gratuity:
In general, tipping is neither compulsory nor there is any fixed amount and
the bottom line in determining whether and how much to tip is to ask yourself
how much the individual did to make your travel more enjoyable.
Electricity:
In Bhutan, electricity runs 220/240 volts. If you do bring electrical appliances,
take along an international converter kit complete with a set of adapter plugs.
Time:
Bhutan time is 6 hours ahead of GMT and there is only one time zone throughout
the country.
OTHER INFORMATION
Tourism has been strictly limited in Bhutan so that traditional culture can
be preserved and nurtured. The Bhutanese are highly religious people and
therefore
it is important to show respect and understanding for local customs, way of
life especially while visiting religious institutions.
The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability
meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially
and culturally acceptable and economically viable. And for these reason the
number of tourists visiting Bhutan are kept to an environmentally manageable
level.
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