Bhutan Cultural Tour
4 Nights / 5 Days

Bhutan Highlights :
Bhutan is an independent kingdom in the eastern Himalayas. It borders India, to the south and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China to the north. King Jigme Singe Wangchuck is the present monarch and the fourth ruler of the dynasty founded by his great-grandfather in December 1907. Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom and practice Mahayana Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyupa sect. Because of its strict regulations and monitoring system, it was always difficult for outsiders to enter this Himalayan Kingdom. Centuries of isolation have kept the Bhutanese religion and culture to its original state. It is the most isolated country in the Himalayas, which opened up to tourism only in 1974. Two and a half decades have not brought much of a Western or industrialized influence into the Bhutanese society. Most of its natural resources have not been exploited for commercial development as yet. Ancient Dzong fortresses and monasteries, unspoiled landscape, lush green hills and valleys, turcoise blue mountain lakes, clean rivers, and sharp snow-capped mountains are among the attraction here. The highest mountain in Bhutan is Mount Chomolhari 7,200 meters.

The attraction of Bhutan includes not only the beautiful mountains but also its clean environment, sparsely populated countryside with attractive scenery, friendly people, great hospitality, and well preserved tradition and culture. Tsechu festivals are held in honor of Padma Sambhava, the Buddhist saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 11th century. The festivals consist of 3 to 5 days of spectacular mask dances performed by monks. These festivals are held in the months of February, March, April, June, September, October, November and December, usually between the second and the fourth week of each month. The Bhutanese gather in their finest clothing and jewelry in the courtyards of Dzong fortresses to witness and celebrate the sacred teachings of the Buddha. Tsechu festivals are the best times to visit Bhutan. Formal dress is required for all festivals.

Blue sheep, numerous species of birds including Tibetan snow-cock and Langur monkeys, in the river valleys with heavy forest cover, are some of the wildlife commonly seen along the Chomolhari and other highland trekking routes. We also encounter many nomadic Yak herders and villages in the valleys of the mountains.

We offer quality tour programs throughout Bhutan, cultural tours range from four days to two weeks and trekking programs from one week to four weeks covering vast areas of the Bhutan Himalayas, and bird watching programs from ten days up in the lowland rainforests.

Best Season to visit Bhutan :
March through May and September through November are best times for travel in Bhutan. High altitude treks are done best between September to November and March to May. Cultural tours in the lower elevations can be done year around.

High Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November).
Full particulars of all participants should be provided at least 60 days in advance in order to hold all services on confirmed basis. These months are peak seasons and flight seats and other related services are very difficult to confirm.

Low Season : (January, February, June, July, August, and December)
The low season period travel is definitely more comfortable with fewer people and facilities are not difficult to arrange. But you will not experience the picture perfect weather.

Bhutan Travel Tips :
Travel to Bhutan is adventurous and exciting because it is the most isolated country on the Asian sub-continent located in the lap of high Himalayan peaks where the local traditional customs and the natural environment are well preserved. For these reasons, we want to visit Bhutan. But remember that this is an under-developing country where we may face delays and difficulties in modern transportation and communication systems. Therefore, if you are planning to visit Bhutan for trekking, involving high altitude passes and remote places, should be prepared physically and mentally. All our treks in Bhutan involving high altitude pass crossings finish by the end of October. Trekkers should bring warm winter clothes. If you are visiting Bhutan for cultural tours, you do not need to be prepared as much as you would for a trek. Cultural tours mostly go through central part of the country, where we would drive to sightseeing places instead of trekking; however, tours still involve some short walks, but easy. Even if you are not trekking, you still need to bring good selection of cold weather gears. See equipment details in the trip preparation guide.

Bhutan Visa:
To process your visa, we require confirmation of your trip followed by full payment and passport details. We process your visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thimphu, Bhutan which takes two weeks or more.
Once your visa is processed, we will immediately fax or e-mail your visa numbers. These numbers are required for boarding a flight to Bhutan. Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you must present your visa numbers along with your passport, 3 passport photos, and pay US$20 visa fee and US$10 Tourism Development fee, payable directly on arrival at Paro Airport in Bhutan. A visa will then be stamped in your passport for the duration of your tour.

Flight and road connections to Bhutan:
Bangkok (Thailand), Kathmandu (Nepal), Delhi and Kolkata (India), and Dhaka (Bangladesh) have direct flight connections to Paro, Bhutan. Among the above, Kathmandu and Bangkok have the most convenient flight connections to Paro, Bhutan while by road entry and exit is most convenient at Phuntsoling (India-Bhutan border town).

Currently, Druk Air, Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the only airline that ferry passengers to and from these five major cities. Availability of seats are always very limited. Therefore, advance booking is required.

Itinerary: Bhutan Cultural Tour 4 Nights / 5 Days :
Day 1 Arrive Paro
Early morning depart from Bangkok Airport. A short stop at Kolkata Airport is made for refueling. Then, continue flight until you reach Paro Airport. Once you exit the immigration, your Bhutanese tour guides will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Evening visit to Paro market and take a stroll through this small town main street. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Upon arrival in Paro Airport, you will be received by our Bhutanese tour guide or representative and will transfer to the hotel.
Evening, take a stroll through Paro market.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 2 Paro Tour
Breakfast at hotel, then, depart to visit Ta Dzong or National Museum. Rated among the best natural history museums in Asia, the Ta Dzong offers a unique and varied collections ranging from ancient armour to textiles and thangkha paintings. Then, walk down the trail to visit Paro Dzong (Rinppung Dzong) built during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646. It now houses the Paro monastic school and office of the civil administration. Also Rinpung Dzong is venue of Paro Tshechu, held once a year in spring.

Afternoon, drive up valley to the Drukgyel Dzong or the Fort of Drukpa victory. From this fortress Bhutanese repelled several invasion by Tibetans throughout the course of history. Looming above the smoldered ruins is the snowcapped peak of Mount. Chomolhari. Also visit traditional Bhutanese Farm House nestled below the dzong. Then drive towards Paro town en-route visiting Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest monastery of the Kingdom reflecting introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.
Dinner and overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day 3 Paro - Thimphu Tour
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Thimphu, the capital town passing via idyllic countryside, through villages and paddy fields. En-route visit the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the country now houses the School for Buddhist studies.

Afternoon sightseeing of Thimphu valley, visiting Tashichhodzong; the seat of the government, Memorial Chorten; the stupa built in the memory of Bhutan's Third King and Handicrafts Emporium displaying rich traditional crafts of the Kingdom. Also you may be able to catch a game of archery in progress at the Changlimethang compound, just below the town.

Evening take a stroll around market area.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 4 Thimphu Tour and evening to Paro
Morning, visit to National Library, which has fascinating collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and texts, the Painting School, Medicine Institute. Afternoon drive to Paro and overnight at hotel.

Day 5 Depart Paro
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Paro International Airport for your next destination flight.

Package price valid until June 2008 Bhutan Cultural Tour 4 Nights / 5 Days High Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November) TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$900
3-6 persons	US$868
7-15 persons	US$840
16+1 persons	US$840 (One tour leader free of charge)

Low Season : (January, February, June, July, August, and December) Bhutan Cultural Tour 4 Nights / 5 Days TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS :
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$812
3-10 persons	US$784
11-15 persons	US$752
16+1 persons	US$752 (One tour leader free of charge)

Single Supplement: US$35 per night per person
Festival Surcharge: US$30 per night per person based on festival days .

Tour Cost Includes:
Four nights accommodation in quality hotels in Bhutan on twin sharing,
Meals on full-board plan (3 meals a day),
All tour activities as mentioned in the program,
Entrance fees to monasteries and monuments visited,
English speaking local tour guide service,
all ground transportation including on arrival and departure,

Tour Cost Excludes :
Visa fees, international airfares, airport departure tax, personal clothing, personal insurance, alcoholic beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, civil unrest, and emergency rescue costs.

The prices are same for cultural tours, treks or any special interest tours.
Visa Fee: US$20 + US$10 as Tourism Development fee payable directly on arrival in Bhutan with 3 passport photos.
Visa Processing Time: Two weeks

High Season : (March, April, May, September, October and November)
Full particulars of all participants should be provided at least 60 days in advance in order to hold all services on confirmed basis. These months are peak seasons and flight seats and other related services are very difficult to confirm.
Low Season : (January, February, June, July, August, and December)

The minimum daily package prices include the following services:
Accommodations on twin sharing basis, all transfers and sightseeing within Bhutan, services of accompanied guide, all meals, royalty and taxes to the government, riding ponies and pack animals on treks, fees to temples and monuments.