Temples & Trails of Bhutan

The central valley of Punakha, enjoy a semi-tropical climate with cool winters, whilst Paro Thimphu, have a much harsher climate, with summer monsoon rains and winter snowfalls which may block passes leading into the central valleys for days at a time. Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November till mid-March, and at this time of the year the climate is dry and sunny for the most part, temperatures peaking at around 15 degree centigrade in the daytime and falling below zero at night. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June, with light 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.

It's best to be prepared for all weather conditions. To make it easier, here is a list of items you should consider packing.   

Essentials  

• Walking boots 

• Waterproof jacket 

• Waterproof trousers 

• Insulated jacket/top 

• Walking clothing  

• Walking socks (plus spares)  

• Sunhat 

• Gloves/mitts and warm hat

• Water bottle (minimum 2 litre capacity)  

• Headtorch

• High-factor sunscreen (minimum SPF 30)  

• Swimcap (compulsory in Itialian resorts)

• Sunglasses with a dark lens 

• Rucksack (15-30 litres)  

• Mobile phone 

• Personal first aid kit (containing your medication, blister plasters, etc.) 

• Passport 

• Visa (if applicable) 

• Copy of your travel insurance policy 

• UK Global Health Insurance Card (formerly known as EHIC) 

Recommended

• Collapsible walking poles 

• Swimwear and travel towel

• Snacks

• Dry bags

• Rubbish bags

• Insect repellent

Optional extras

• Camera 

• Sit mat

• Flask for hot drinks 

• Durable lunch box

• Gaiters 

• GPS device (excluding Bhutan, Georgia and India)

Once you have made your booking, you will receive a pre-holiday questionnaire where we ask for details of next of kin and insurance details. You must complete and return this to us - we need to have this from you at least 10 weeks before travel.

Please also inform us of any medical situation which may affect your enjoyment of the holiday. This is important because our leaders must consider both group and individual safety at all times.

Whilst out with the group, we respectfully request that you:

• Please listen to any safety instructions and other directions from the leader
• Keep group members in view, especially if weather or visibility is poor
• Please stay where you are if you become separated from the group. The leader will retrace their steps to

find you.

Each leader carries a first aid kit but is not allowed to supply any medication including aspirin, paracetamol,

antihistamines and antiseptic cream. You may wish to bring these items with you in your own kit (see Suggested Kit List).

In the unlikely event that your leader is incapacitated, please use any emergency kit in their rucksack and call emergency services on 113. Please then call our emergency number (sent in your final dispatch) and let us

know there is a problem.

Please contact us as far in advance as possible if you have any specific dietary requirements and we will do our best to meet your needs.

If you require a specific meal on the flight, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than 96 hours before travel.

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see if any health precautions are needed.

The following websites provide a wealth of information on travelling and health: NaTHNaC - Home

(travelhealthpro.org.uk); www.redplanet.travel/mdtravelhealth

Vaccines: Diphtheria Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus & Polio vaccinations are recommended. Cholera, Malaria

and Rabies are sometimes recommended too.

Visa clearance documentation: Visa clearance documentation will be sent you prior to your travel date. You must produce the visa approval document and e-tickets at the time of boarding the flight to Bhutan. The actual visa stamping is done at Paro Airport. Please post these documents in your traveling mailbox. In the event you lose the papers you can always download from the mailbox.

Please make sure to travel with the same passport on which the Bhutan visa was issued. We will not be held responsible if the passport on which the visa was issued does not match the passport used to travel to Bhutan. In such an event, you will not be allowed to board the flight or enter Bhutan.

Other Country Visas: Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines do not have inter airline agreements with most of the international carriers and hence transfer of baggage during transit will not be facilitated. Guests will have to pass through the transiting country’s immigration, collect bags and then check in for the Bhutan flight when travelling to Bhutan. After departing Bhutan, guests will have to pass through the transiting country’s immigration, collect bags and then check in for the onward international flight. Please ensure that the you obtain the necessary visa for the transiting country (a double entry visa is the min recommended) and ample transit time should be kept between connecting flights.

Passport & visa arrangements: Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your planned date of departure from Bhutan.

On your trip we advise you to dress modestly and respectfully. Both men and women should aim to cover their shoulders and knees, especially if visiting religious sites or rural areas. Opt for loose-fitting and conservative clothing to show respect for local customs and traditions.

Visitors to Bhutan must obtain travel insurance that is valid for the entire duration of the trip. We recommend visitors to arrange their own travel and medical insurance coverage before departure. For Trekkers, your medical insurance coverage must include provision for evacuation by helicopter in case of emergencies. Minimum cost for a rescue helicopter costs $3500 per hour.

Due to the wide range of temperature and climatic conditions it is advisable to dress in layers. For protection against cold, layered clothing is better than one or two thick garments. Clothing should preferably be made from natural materials, which allow the body to breathe. Bring comfortable, well-worn clothing, and plenty of underwear and socks. If traveling in the cold season, bring two sets of silk vests and long johns, as they are warm and dry quickly after washing.

Dress modestly and respectfully for visits to monasteries, Dzongs and other religious institutions. Remove hats, caps etc. before entering, and refrain from smoking on the premises.

Most of the major towns and cities in Bhutan are equipped with basic communication facilities that include telephone, fax, and internet service. Most of the bigger hotels provide email, internet and WiFi facilities within the hotel premises. Visitors can get a sim card from visitor information centers on arrival, branch offices of Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell or from authorized agents in towns.

Druk Air & Bhutan Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance (International Flight)

The checked baggage allowances on scheduled international flights are as follows:

Economy Class 30 kg

Infants paying only 10% of the applicable air fare are not entitled to any free baggage allowance.

WHAT TO PACK

The following is an exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip. Please carefully read the sections on Climate and Clothing under General Information (below) before packing your clothing.

(1) Everyone: small day pack; proper pouch to hold your travel documents, money, air tickets and other valuable items/documents; clothes as per season, & a poncho or rain gear &/or umbrella (June-September); facecloth, soap, hair shampoo, cold water detergent, sunglasses/spare glasses, comfortable walking shoes, pocket knife, hat, camera and accessories insect repellent, hand cream, torch or flash light with spare batteries, sun cream, lip salve, soluble aspirin, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream, anti-diarrhea pills, a preparation for the relief of sunburn, and any medication you take regularly, or might need to take for a periodically recurring condition, such as asthma.

There are many dogs in settled areas. They sleep in the day and roam around at night. Bring earplugs if you think their barking might bother you.

If you wear contact lenses, bring a pair of spectacles as well, as at high altitudes contact lenses can irritate the eyes.

(2) Trekkers: In addition to the above, comfortable trekking boots which have already been broken in and plenty of pairs of socks, noting that woolen socks dry quicker than cotton ones. Also bring a water bottle and plastic bags for packing clothing while on trek, as plastic bags are banned in Bhutan.

Bhutan’s currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.). The Ngultrum is fixed to the value of Indian rupees. It is only possible to obtain Ngultrum inside Bhutan, as such you are advised to carry your money in the form of cash (US dollars would be best), which might be used for incidental purchases/ expenses. Once inside Bhutan there are bank branches and ATM machines in all major towns for obtaining local currency.

It is also only possible to obtain Indian Rupees (INR) once inside India. Once again, ATMs and major banks such as Union Bank of India will be able to facilitate obtaining local currency.

In Bhutan, electricity runs on 220/240 volts, with round hole two-pin and three-pin power outlets. If you bring electrical appliances, also pack appropriate adapter plugs. In Thimphu electrical appliance shops stock adapter plugs, but they are unlikely to be available elsewhere.