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bhutan

Air Travel

Druk-Air, the national airline of Bhutan, is the only airline that flies in and out of Bhutan. To enter Bhutan, a visitor may board the Drukair from any of the following airports: Kathmandu, Nepal; Bangkok, Thailand; New Delhi, India; and Kolkatta, India.

We can arrange your Drukair tickets – at a much cheaper price – since purchasing in Bhutan will not attract VAT or, you can get your travel agent to purchase from one of the many Drukair Reservation offices around the world. Upon request, we can forward to you the name and address of the reservation office in your country.

AIRCRAFT

Druk-Air has a modern fleet of two Airbus A319 aircrafts.

Due to the small size of the aircrafts, cargo capacity is limited. As a result, checked in baggage can get offloaded during peak seasons. However, in most cases, offloaded baggage is delivered on the next flight. As a matter of policy, tourist baggage gets priority and is seldom offloaded.

Carrying capacity of the aircraft will be determined by many factors such as ground temperature, wind speed and weather conditions. Full load capacity is sometimes not possible depending upon the condition prevailing on the day of the flight.

CHECKED-IN BAGGAGE

All passengers are allowed check-in baggage free of charge as follows: Executive Class 30 Kgs. Economy Class 20 Kgs.

HAND BAGGAGE

Only one baggage is allowed.

BAGGAGE/CARGO SIZE LIMITATION

Extremely over-sized packages cannot be loaded on to the aircraft’s cargo hold. Please consult us on the maximum permissible height and length of baggage in the aircraft when planning your trip. If you expect to carry a lot of luggage or if your baggage is likely to be bulky or lengthy, it
is a good idea to explore alternate method of shipment prior to your entry into Bhutan so that your baggage/cargo reaches Bhutan on time for your trip.

Visa Formalities

We will process Visa application with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf. The visa processing will take minimum of five working days.
It is mandatory for the tourist to get his/her visa clearance before departing to Bhutan.
Before receiving the 100% tour payment in our Government Account, our Visa Department will not issue your Bhutan visa.
While transferring the tour payment you should also send us your scanned passport copy in JPEG format for the processing of the visa.
Once the visa is approved, it will be sent to you via E-mail. You will then have to print it out along with your E-ticket and bring them to Druk-Air counter at the airport.

The cost of visa is USD 40.

Visa can be extended at Thimphu up to six months after the payment of Nu.510

Cancellations

Tour programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject
to CANCELLATION FEE as follows:

  1. Within 30 days of start of tour programme – NO CHARGE
  2. Within 21 days – 10 % of costs
  3. Within 14 days – 15 % of costs
  4. Within 7 days – 30 % of costs
  5. Less than 7 days or cancellation without notice – 50 % of costs
  6. After arrival in Bhutan – 100% of costs

TARIFF

  1. The government Sustainable development fee or SDF of USD 100 per person per night needs to be deposited in the account of Department of immigration prior to applying your Bhutan Visa.
  2. For children aged 6 to 12 years old, the SDF is USD 50 per person per night.
  3. The Visa Fee is USD 40 per person.
  4. 24 hours SDF free for tourists staying in border towns.
  5. Our tour services is USD 200 per person per night. So in total inclusive of the government SDF  and our service charges is USD 300 per person per night.
The minimum daily package rates shall be inclusive of the following:
  1. An English speaking licensed guide with wide knowledge of History/culture/ trekking experience/Flora and Fauna accompanying you during your stay in the country.
  2.  Luxury Tour Coaches, SUV, Car of your choice with licensed driver with you during the entire stay in the Kingdom.
  3. Your accommodations  in tourist standard Cottages/ hotels ( Equivalent to 3 stars) of your choices with great views. Home stays can be arranged as well.
  4. All three meals (Buffet style) in tourist standard restaurant, choice of Bhutanese, Chinese, continental, and Indian cuisines.
  5. All three meals (Buffet style) in tourist standard restaurant, choice of Bhutanese, Chinese, continental, and Indian cuisines.
  6.   As added complementary we offer bottled mineral water.
  7. The tours will be personalized. Based on your interest, age, health condition, and dietary habits we design the holiday.
  8. On the last day your transport to the airport and meals are complementary.
Not included in the package are the following;
  1. Cost of air ticket
  2. Alcohol; international truck calls
  3. Medical expenses
  4. Personal shopping
  5. Visa Fee of US$ 40.00 per entry payable at the Airport upon Landing
  6. vi. Air port tax
PAYMENTS (FITS)

100% payment shall be made in advance and in US dollars. The payment be remitted by Telegraphic/Electronic transfer to the Account
of:

  1. Bank Address
    Standard Chartered Bank Ltd.,
    One Madison Avenue, New York,
    NY 10010-3603
    SWIFT Code: SCBLUS33
    CHIPS ABA: 0256
    FED ABA: 026002561
  2. Beneficiary Bank Account : 358-202-171-9001 (USD A/C)
  3. Beneficiary Bank : Bhutan National Bank, P.O Box 439,GPO Building, Chang Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan SWIFT Code: BNBTBTBT
  4. Beneficiary/Ultimate Beneficiary : Account No 41889019 of Bhutan Lakhor Tours &Treks maintained with BNB, Thimphu, Bhutan

A copy of the remittance of the transfer must be sent to us by fax in order that we can process the visa and ticketing. NOTE: Please note that the payment for Druk-Air is a must to secure confirmation with the Airways. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB) will not process visa if the payment is being delayed.

Filming in Bhutan

The rules and rates for filming in Bhutan differ from that of normal rates of Tours & Treks. Tourists’ professionals’ intend of filming on Bhutan must abide by the Bhutan Filming Regulations, 1995, available with the implementing agency i.e. the Tourism Authority of Bhutan. (The Regulation does not apply to feature and cinematography films).

Applications for a filming permit must be submitted to the Tourism Authority of Bhutan at least 30 days in advance. The application must be accompanied by:

  1. Synopsis of the film – theme/background/objective/purpose
  2. Specific location/objects/activities
  3. Composition of the filming team and the list of equipment including accessories and consumables (Filming crew members have to pay
    full daily tourist tariff)
  4. Letter of recommendation from sponsoring agency (application form available with TAB at the cost of Nu. 300.00)

Royalty on Filming

  1. First 30 minutes or part thereof – US$ 10,000
  2. Next 30 minutes or part thereof – US$ 6,000
  3. Every additional 30 minutes or part thereof – US$ 3,000

Miscellaneous Information

Clothing: Not to forget that you are heading for the mountains with a wide range of temperatures appropriate
dressing can be varied. From May to September normal traveling cloths
plus a light woolen sweater or a light jacket and a lightweight walking boots are sufficient. From November to end April on the other hand, you will need very warm cloths including underwear or woolen tights to wear under trousers, thick socks, strong boots and down Jackets.

Custom Regulation: The Bhutanese authorities strictly prohibit the export of any religious Antiquity or antiques
of any type. All personal electronics, Cameras, Video Cameras, Computers must be listed in the arrival forms and will be checked on departure. Two liters of Alcohol may be brought into the country without duty. Tobacco, however, is banned and is subject to 200% custom duty if brought into the country.