How to Book your Bhutan trip?
It is advisable to book your holiday several months in advance, in order to ensure the smooth planning of your trip. Since tourism started relatively recently in Bhutan (1974), tourist infrastructure is still limited. There are also a limited number of flights in and out of the country. This means that peak season can be quite busy, so the earlier you book, the better chance we have of securing flights and good hotel rooms for you. Some hotels are already filling up for March – April and October - November 2011. The festival times you need to book around four or five months ahead to get flights, especially if you are unable to be flexible and are tied to particular dates. Please find the simple step to book your Bhutan tour here.
What is the Bhutan Travel Packages cost?
Every traveler to Bhutan has to book through a recognized tour company (of which Yeoong Travels is one). The standard tourist tariff imposed by the Royal Government of Bhutan is US$250 per person per night for groups of three persons or more.
We also charge US$30 daily surcharge to combat the decline in the dollar rate which has led to a reduction in the amount tour operators are receiving in local currency to run trips. Single travelers and those in a group of two also pay an extra $40 and $30 per night respectively by way of a small group surcharge. This determines the basic cost of your trip. There is also a US$20 visa fee to pay.
The itinerary cost covers practically all the in-country costs for your Bhutan holiday. You will have a personal guide and driver throughout your trip.
All accommodation is included (unless you opt for luxury hotels for which you pay a supplement) and all food, transport, sightseeing, festival and trekking arrangements, permits, entrance fees, airport transfers and so on will be arranged for you and included in this price. In effect, this means that the only extra money you need to bring with you to spend during your holiday is for things such as gifts and souvenirs, personal items and laundry, soft or alcoholic drinks, and tips.
We arrange the flights in and out of Paro for you with Druk Air, and these are charged separately from the tour price above. Find out more about getting to Bhutan from here.
In some cases (particularly where a single traveler chooses a trek or a journey to the east) the costs of running the trip are not covered in full by the rates referred to above as a result of a recent market increase in local costs, such as trekking, animals, and fuel costs. In such cases, we will quote a price for you based on us running the trip on an economic basis, and will explain this to you when we quote. We also impose a surcharge for all treks arranged for a group of one - three, to meet the operation cost.
How do I confirm my Bhutan Travel booking?
Payment for your trip is made via a bank transfer to Bhutan, through the Tourism Council (TCB) of Bhutan. We will provide you with bank details once your choice of the trip is confirmed. Please note that it is not possible to make payments by credit card, as the payment has to be routed through the government's account, and is not paid directly to us. Payment should be made in advance to allow us to confirm Druk Air seats, and other necessary tour arrangements. Once we receive notification from the bank that your payment has arrived, we will send you a formal trip confirmation and receipt.
Payment shortfalls
If your Bhutan Travel Package payment is sent in any currency other than US$, it is not uncommon for there to be a small shortfall on receipt of the funds. The reason for this may be that intermediary banks deduct charges en route, but also because your bank will work out the other currency equivalent of the dollar amount on sending, but the money is converted on arrival in Bhutan at the prevailing dollar rate, which may be different. If there is a shortfall we will confirm to you the exact amount received (and if requested, send you a copy of the receipt from our bank showing the dollar amount received) and will ask you to make up for the shortfall in US$ cash on arrival.
Flights
Once your funds arrive, we will instruct the bank to transfer the part of the payment which relates to flights directly to Druk Air on your behalf. Druk Air will then issue your ticket in the form of an e-ticket and we will forward this to you on receipt to print out and take with you when you go to check in.
Security
The TCB (Tourism Council of Bhutan) will continue to hold the money you have sent for your tour until your trip has taken place. It will not be released to Yeoong Travels until you have left the country on your return flight. This provides you with the security of knowing that your money is safe until your holiday takes place. If for any reason the trip doesn't take place, then the government will not give your money to Yeoong Travels but will return it to you (subject to any cancellation charges which apply if you have cancelled the trip). So, in the unlikely event that we do not run your trip for you, you would not be out of pocket.
Cancellation Policy
Bhutan tour programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follow:
- Before 50 days of start of the tour programme ~ no charges
- within 50 and 45 days ~ 20% of rate
- within 45 and 30 days ~ 30% of rate
- within 30 and 25 days ~ 40% of rate
- within 25 and 20 days ~ 50% of rate
- less than 20 days or without notice ~ 100% of rate
Delayed Arrival
There are no charges for delays in arrivals and departures because of weather conditions disrupting flights or road blocks. The tourist must however bear the cost of food, accommodation, transportation, and other services required.
Accommodation and food in Bhutan
Tourist accommodation in Bhutan is generally comfortable and characterful, but can be fairly basic, especially as you travel further east. Most hotels in the main tourist destinations have rooms with private bathrooms, hot water (at least at some stage during the day), telephone, Internet and electricity. Plumbing is not always up to the standard you may be used to, and there are no hotels with central heating. Heaters of some sort will generally be provided, but you may find yourself making good use of thermal underwear and thick socks!If you are hankering after a bit of luxury (particularly at the end of an arduous trek) you could treat yourself to a stay at one of the 5-star establishments. These are Uma Paro, Hevan Resort, Naksel Resort and Hotel Zhiwaling (in Paro), Taj Tashi and Termalinkha Hotel in Thimphu and Amankora (in Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and Gangtey and Bumthang). These are owned by foreign companies, and they are the result of a recent decision to allow limited foreign investment in Bhutan. All offer something quite different from any local accommodation - but be prepared to pay for the privilege! If you are interested in sampling the delights of these hotels let us know and we can arrange it for you.
Tourist hotels throughout the country tend to provide meals buffet-style, which gives you the opportunity to try a variety of Bhutanese dishes. In the larger hotels a la carte service is also available, although they may not always have everything on the menu. Many restaurants, especially in Thimphu, also offer Chinese, Thai, Indian or Nepalese dishes. Thimphu even has a pizza restaurant (The Seasons) and if you are craving western food, there is a particularly good café in the centre of Thimphu (near the Swiss bakery) called the Art Café which serves sandwiches, pasta and cake. If you want to try local food, you can ask your guide to take you to a local restaurant, or to be served the food that is served to guides and drivers when you stop on the road. As you go further east you should be prepared for less choice and variety, but just see it as a chance to sample the local cuisine!
