Visitor Info

Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan is a Himalayan Kingdom nestled between Tibet Autonomous Region to the North and the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Bengal, Assam and Sikkim lying to the East, South and West. The mountain sides are scattered with century old monasteries perched precarious on the cliff faces, the chanting of the Buddhists monks or the ringing of the the prayer wheel bells are familiar sounds as you navigate your way throughout the majestic country. With a diverse culture and age old Buddhist traditions, the kingdom will leave you with a lasting impression of your time in Bhutan.

Bhutan prizes itself on environmental protection and in 2006 the 4th King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck was awarded with the J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership. Every effort has been made to conserve the environment of Bhutan. It is a country so rich in geographical diversity combined with an equally diverse climate which is the home to tigers, snow leopards and red pandas. Due to the enormous variations in altitude - from the dry southern plains (150m) ascending up to the lush valley bottoms to the mountain peaks reaching 7,554 m, you can expect to experience some of the most rugged terrain in the world in a small country just slightly larger than the size of Switzerland.

Entrenched in nearly 100 years of Monarchy the kingdom will celebrate its centennial year in 2008.

Visitor info

Tourism in Bhutan is based on the principal of sustainability. It has to be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable, and economically viable. It is in this light that tourism in Bhutan is restricted to a limited number of tourists every year. However, visitors to Bhutan will find a friendly people with a vast sense of hospitality.

For the first time guest we are posting some links below so that you can get a better feel for the country before visiting.

Bhutan portal, general information on Bhutan

Kuenselonline, a national newsletter

Lonely Planet Guide

Visa

We, the Bhutanese tour organizer will submit all visa applications on behalf of all our guests. Visa clearance letter from Thimphu must be obtained before coming to Bhutan therefore prior to our guests departure, a clearance letter will be emailed or faxed to each individual guest of Marathon Bhutan. Visa clearance takes at least 10 days to process.

When entering Bhutan, each client is required to bring TWO passport size photographs with name and passport number printed clearly on the back. You will also require US$20 in cash for the visa fee.

All visitors are required to enter Bhutan only through a recognized travel agency. All guests are required to have a tourist visa before arriving in Bhutan.

No Bhutanese Embassy or Mission abroad grants tourist visas. These have to be processed through the local travel agent.
Download Visa Application Form:

Visa Application Form (PDF Format) 634 KB
Visa Application Form (DOC Format) 348 KB

Payment

Advance payment for the entire tour must be paid in advance to DragonQuest Adventure. Please contact us for Bank transfer details.

For Marathon Bhutan to be held on September 7, 2008 registered runners are required to :

• Transfer the race registration fee to us by Bank wire
• This has to be followed by the package payment in full within THREE WEEKS of registering.

We will confirm by email and our website the moment we receive the race registration fee. In future events we will have an account set up with Active Networks to make this process easier.

Accessibility

The most convenient way of entering Bhutan is by Druk Air, the national airline. Due to unpredictable weather, especially during the summer months, it is advisable to allow for 24hours before any onward connection.

Druk Air flies to Bangkok, Thailand; Kolkotta, India; New Delhi, India; Kathmandu, Nepal. Please visit the Druk Air website for further details or contact us as Druk Air schedules tend to change depending on the tourist season.

Customs and duties

Upon arrival visitors are required to fill out a customs declaration form. The following articles are exempt from duty :

• Personal effects
• Professional equipment and instruments for personal use
• Photographic, video and electronic equipment for personal use
• Two liters of alcohol

Please note that tobacco and tobacco products are banned for sale in Bhutan. Visitors are permitted to import only ONE carton (200 pcs) of cigarettes upon payment of 100% duty.

Import/Export restrictions

• Arms, ammunition and explosives.
• All narcotics and drugs except medically prescribed drugs
• Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species
• Antiques

Imports of plants, soils, etc. are subject to quarantine regulations. These items must be cleared on arrival. Guests are advised to be cautious in purchasing old and used items, especially of religious and cultural significance, as such items may not be exported with a clearance certificate. It is best to check with your guide or us before purchasing such items.