General Information

1. Entry
2. Health
3. Electricity
4. Clothing
5. What to Pack
6. Photography
7. Insurance
8. Shopping
9. Currency
10. Telecommunication
11. Time Difference
12. Driving Time
13. Climate

1. Entry: Bhutan can be entered either by land or air. The national airline Druk Air flies from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Gaya and Kolkota. Entry by land is from India through the state of West Bengal that shares a border with Bhutan's border town Phuentsholing in the southwest.

2. Health:
No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However, visitors coming from an area infected with yellow fever are required to have had a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before their arrival. Cholera vaccinations are strongly recommended for visitors coming from a cholera infected area. Anti-malarial medication is also recommended for all travelers who will be visiting rural areas of districts bordering India.

3. Electricity:
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. Thimphu electrical appliance shops stock adapter plugs, but they are unlikely to be available elsewhere.

4. Clothing:
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. You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes. Shorts are not welcomed and women are advised to wear below the knee skirts or fairly loose trousers. Do not wear sleeveless T shirts (singlets, vests) as outer garments. Dress modestly and respectfully for visits to monasteries, dzongs and other religious institutions, and refrain from smoking while on the premises. Hats, caps etc. should be removed before entering the premises.

5. What to Pack:
The following is fairly exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip: Clothes as per season, sunglasses/spare glasses, pair of casual shoes, knife, hat, umbrella, camera, films and accessories (including spare camera batteries), insect repellent, hand cream, small sewing kit & safety pins, torch or flash light with spare batteries, mirror, scissors, 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. Bring about twice as much film as you are expecting to use, and plenty of spare camera batteries, as these are unlikely to be available locally.

6. Photography:
The photographic opportunities on all trips are immense. The natural scenery is superb, and you will also wish to record the local people, their houses and shops etc. Always ask by a gesture if it is ok to do so. Don’t take your destination as a living museum! Also, note that photography in shrine rooms of dzongs, monasteries and religious institutions is generally not permitted. Outdoor photography is usually permitted, but when visiting such places, please check with your guide before taking any photographs.

7. Insurance: Travel insurance policies are not available in Bhutan, hence, it is strongly suggested to purchase appropriate travel insurance policies from your own country and any other appropriate place. It is advised to protect you against unforeseen problems like theft, accidents and mishaps, loss and medical problems. Please be advised that it should also adequately cover helicopter evacuation and medical assistance.

8. Shopping: Bhutan is popular for its textiles, cane and bamboo products and traditional paintings. Some of the popular products are bamboo baskets (Bang-chung), textile fabrics (Kira). There are lots of shops that sell handwoven Bhutanese textiles, handicrafts and cane and bamboo baskets which the Bhutanese use for variety of purposes. By and large, Bhutan is producer of one of the best handwoven fabrics in the world.

9. Currency: The Bhutanese currency is called the Ngultrum and is at par with the Indian Rupees and both are used in Bhutan.

1 Nu. (Ngultrum) = 100 Ch (Chetrums)
US$ 1 = Nu. 45 (approximately)

Foreign Currencies can be changed at the airport and from the banks. Some credit cards like the VISA, the American Express and the JCB are accepted by the bigger hotels and business establishments mostly confined to the bigger towns like Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing.

10. Telecommunication: Bhutan is well connected and virtually every town has IDD services. Internet cafes are available almost everywhere. Within last few years, the mobile service has expanded so vigorously, now all the 20 Dzongkhags (districts) are connected to molibe service. Cell phones can also be used in many places outside of cities and towm. One should have a phone with a GSM 900 specification.Top-up or recharge vouchers for pre-paid SIMS are available in most of the shops in Bhutan.

11. Time Difference: Bhutan has one time zone for the entire country. It is six hours ahead of GMT. Bhutan is 30 minutes ahead of India, one hour behind Thailand, and 15 minutes ahead of Nepal.

12. Driving time: The approximate driving time between different places in Bhutan are as follows:

13. Climate: For details, refer section on "About Bhutan".