Undoubtedly the best way to visit Bhutan is arriving by air. Druk Air is the only airline allowed to fly into Bhutan so there is not much choice there, but it is a good one. The Druk Airline consists of two British Aerospace jets, BAe 146s, perfectly designed and crafted for high altitude landings and takeoffs. Druk Air has a spotless safety record due to the fact that all pilots are specially trained and internationally licensed for mountain flying. The aircraft are impeccably maintained.

The flight to Bhutan has to be the most spectacular in the world offering spectacular views of the Himalayas, Mount Everest and Chomolhari. Flights into Paro International Airport, one of the highest in the world, arrive several times a week from Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi & Calcutta and sometimes Dacca. Check our schedule page for the latest dates and times. Druk Air Schedules

We will book your Druk Air reservation in and out of Bhutan as a compliment to our tour services without the added commission that outside travel agents charge. To do this we book in advance as soon as you confirm your trip so we can avoid the peak season rush of the Spring and Autumn festivals. Tickets can only be issued once your visa is approved by the Home Ministry of Bhutan. Don't worry about getting approved our staff will hand carry your passport details and personally book your tickets. Make sure the visa information you send for your ticket is EXACTLY the same as it is on your passport or you won't fly. Druk Air is very sticky about that.

The alternative of coming in to Bhutan by road is now allowed to tourists wanting to combine their visit to Bhutan with other places in India such as Sikkim & Darjeeling. Entering and departing Bhutan by surface road through the border town of Phuentsoling is the only official point of entry other than flying. Now travelers are also allowed to fly into Bhutan and exit by road through Phuentsoling, or vice versa.

Air tickets will be issued only after your visa is approved by the Home Ministry of Bhutan. To expedite this procedure, it is essential that you send us all passport information required to apply for your Bhutan visa (see below). The air-tickets cannot be issued until the visa is approved - and this process takes a week or more.

Tour Reservation

• All tours must be booked through a recognized Bhutanese tour operators such as Antique Expeditions-Bhutan, with entire land arrangement provided by the one and the same operator.
• For cultural Tours, booking arrangement must be completed 4 weeks in advance, but for cultural tours during festivals, arrangement must be completed 6 weeks in advance. Since the spring and sutumn festivals are our peak times for tourism, and without early reservation it is difficult to get confirmed flights and lodgings.
• For trekking groups, the booking has to be done 8 weeks in advance as this activity requires comprehensive planning before departure.

Visa

• Visas are required for every individual traveling to Bhutan. And the visa applications are processed through our agent in conjunction with the tour booking. The visa fee is $20 for unlimited duration of stay, paid on arrival. No foreign missions abroad grants Bhutan tourist visa.
• The visa application forms along with the required informations must be forwarded to us 3 weeks prior to your travel, but note that for all FITS/GITs traveling during festivals, details should be sent at least 6 weeks prior to the date of travel.
• Whether entering Bhutan by land or by air, each visitors are requested to bring two passport size photographs with the name and pass port number printed clearly at the back of the photographs along with cash of $20 for visa fee. Visas are stamped on arrival at the port of entry.
• For the travelers traveling by Druk Air, visa clearance is required for issuing of the Druk Air ticket. The visa clearance number is forwarded to the Druk Air station at which the flight originates. Travelers without a visa clearance number on record will not be permitted to board their flights.

We will need all of the following details to apply for your Visa.

1. Your full name (EXACTLY as it appears in your passport)
2. Permanent address
3. Occupation
4. Nationality
5. Passport number
6. Date of issue and expiration of passport
7. Date and place of birth

Please download the Visa Form

Accommodations

The cost of all accommodations are included in tour costs. In the major towns of Thimpu, Paro, and Phuentsholing, comfortable hotels are available for the visitor. In smaller towns, modest, but adequate, hotels, lodges and guest houses are readily available. We will ensure that the best available accommodations are arranged for you. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB), regulates hotel standards and all travel regulations in Bhutan.

Food and Drink

Traditional Bhutanese food is hot and spicy. For our visitors, however, Chinese, Indian, and Continental fares are served. The more adventurous can try the local delicacies like the tasty and fiery the national dish of Bhutan, Emma Datshi which is made with chilies and Local Bhutanese cheese. Meals are normally served buffet style in the hotels. On trekking tours a trained cook will accompany your group to provide simple but nutritious dishes. All meals while you trek or visit in Bhutan are also included in the daily tour cost. Other services include trekking arrangements. Your only extra expenses will be, liquor, laundry, souvenirs and tips if you choose.

Ground Transport

Again, all ground transportation is already included in your daily tariff. We use only clean, comfortable and well maintained cars, vans and coaches to transport our guests. Our experienced drivers are trained and licensed by the TAB and the department of motor vehicles in safety and mountain driving in Bhutan. You will be at ease riding in the mountains of Bhutan unlike the experiences you will have had in Nepal and India. Sanity on the road prevails, and drivers are courteous to each other.

Guides

Guests of the kingdom are required to have guide accompaniment throughout their stay in Bhutan. You will have a very fluent English speaking guide and driver at your disposal at all times. This is not to say you have to have your hand held everywhere you go. We are very accommodating and we can be flexible.

Our guides have all been trained and licensed by the TAB (Tourism Authority of Bhutan). Our trekking guides and cooks undergo an additional mountain training, including safety and first aid. None of our guests have ever needed a rescue, but we have helped lost trekkers from other tour agencies get out of the high passes safely. We have been successfully leading groups through the Bhutan highlands ever since tourism was privatized.

Tourist Seasons

A visit to Bhutan can be planned anytime of the year but the best period is from mid September to November and March to June. There are many festivals during these months, and visitors should take advantage of trekking and the Tsechu. Most hotels sell out during this time and it is important for us to plan in advance if you want to attend.

What to Bring

Druk air limits your luggage to 20 kg (44 lbs or 30 kg or 66 lbs on business class). You should try and keep to this allowance. Even if you are willing to pay for excess baggage, your extra luggage will be listed as standby and may be off loaded for the next flight. The less you carry the better. One small suitcase and an even smaller carry-on is best. There is not much room for over-head storage in the air cabin.

Comfortable casual clothes are great, but you may want to bring some semi-formal clothes (jacket and tie for men, dresses for women) just incase you are invited to a Bhutanese home for a social function. Thimpu and other towns in Bhutan have a small-town atmosphere, and you might easily find yourself in the company of a high government official. Many of our guests have been invited to big social functions or get to meet with government officers. If you have scheduled your trip during a festival, you definitely should carry a set of dressy clothing. Bhutanese people dress quite formally at these occasions, and dirty jeans just do not fit-in.

Even in the summer, it can be cool in Bhutan, and it is very cold in winter. Days can be quite warm, especially in the lowlands of Punakha and Phuentsholing, and you could start off driving in the cold of dawn and become uncomfortable midmorning. Use the layering system, starting with thermal underwear and adding a shirt, pile jacket and wind-breaker (or parka) as necessary. If you are not trekking, you will need:

• Long Underwear (for cold weather from November to March)
• Cotton trousers
• Cotton skirt for women (at least one)
• Pile jacket or sweater - even in summer
• Down jacket - in winter; not needed in summer
• T-shirts or short sleeved cotton shirts (not sleeveless)
• Sturdy Sneakers or walking shoes
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Rain jacket (Gore-Tex if possible), otherwise a poncho or nylon jacket
• Dress-up clothes for festivals
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• You probably won't need bug repellant, but if you do a small bottle of liquid drops is best.

All hotels provide sheets, blankets or quilt, and a pillow. Unless you are trekking, you won't need to carry a sleeping bag. Hotels provide heating in winter, either an electric heater or a wood stove which will keep you quite warm.

You will be outside a lot, much of the time at altitudes above 2,500 m (7,800 ft); so there is plenty of sun and wind. Bring a supply of sun cream and lip protection, such as Blistex; these items are not readily available in Bhutan.

Essential Extras

A folding umbrella; especially if traveling during the monsoons of mid June to late September. Rain is possible any time, and is almost certain from June through August.

Be sure to carry ear plugs (and spares) for when you sleep. There are a lot of dogs in Bhutan as the Bhutanese consider them next mankind in the cycle of life. These dogs don't realize this and will sometimes bark at night.

There are occasional electric outages throughout the country; so you should always keep a torch (flashlight) beside your bed.

Make sure you bring a pair of good sunglasses for protection in the high altitude.

A Swiss style army knife is a good thing to bring, but with the recent concerns over air travel you may want to bring a folding utility tool such as a Leatherman and make sure to put it in you check-in luggage.

Bring a small alarm clock if you need help waking up after all those barking dogs. Not all hotel rooms have telephones or wake-up service. Our guides will make sure you are not late for anything.

Packing

If you are on a cultural tour, it's OK to bring a hard suitcase, though a soft bag is more versatile and easier to pack into the luggage space of a vehicle. For those trekking in Bhutan a strong duffel bag as luggage is best. You will also want a small rucksack (back pack) or waist pack to carry your camera, water bottle and other essentials in the vehicle and when you are walking around town or visiting monuments.