Enjoy five-star accommodations at each of Amankora
The Team
Questions? Look here.
General
Accommodation in a 3-star hotel is included in your Minimum Daily Package. We can shift you to another hotel if you are not satisfied with the current one but this is subject to the availability of the rooms.
You can upgrade your accommodation to a 4-star or a 5-star hotel at an additional cost but, again, this is subject to availability.
Financial transactions are carried out in Ngultrum (Nu), the official currency of Bhutan. Certain shops and hotels in main urban centres accept USD or Euro but balance amount (if any) will be returned in local currency.
All establishments accept Indian Currency (Rupee) in the denomination of Rs. 100 and below.
Travellers’ cheques are accepted only at banks. Most establishments accept Credit/Debit Cards.
We strongly advise you to carry some cash and exchange money at only at banks. Our guides will help you throughout the process.
Bhutan Airlines operates limited flights to Bangkok, Kolkata, New Delhi and Kathmandu.Click here for information on Druk Air flights. Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan. Flights within Bhutan fly to and from:
- Paro
- Bathpalathang Airport, Jakar, Bumthang
- Gelephu Airport, Gelephu
- Yonphula Airport, Trashigang
There is no fixed number. Anyone can plan a trip to Bhutan if they follow the correct process for booking and visa. Please visit our Travel Information section for more details.
There are a wide variety of culinary options available in the main towns across Bhutan. If you have any dietary restrictions, then inform us before your arrival. We will send instructions for customized meals to your hotel.
All the hotels in Bhutan have WiFi.
We have highly trained and knowledgeable female guides within our staff.
We don’t provide sim cards to our guests but our guides will help if you wish to purchase one.
The voltage supply in Bhutan is 230V and the standard frequency is 50hz. All sockets are round pin C, D, F and M type. We suggest you bring a universal power adapter.
Click here to learn more about the weather and best time to visit the country.
CDC recommends getting vaccinated against following diseases as a precaution before travelling to Bhutan:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Malaria
- Rabies
We provide clean and safe bottled water for all our guests throughout the journey. Although Bhutan is one of the cleanest nations in South Asia, we recommend that you bring (or buy here) a good mosquito repellant.
Baby cots and cribs are not available in the hotels.
Unfortunately yes. Especially around the town center. Although we try our best to arrange peaceful accommodations for all our guests, we have little control over the external elements. If dogs are giving you sleepless nights, we will be more than happy to shift you to a more secluded hotel on the outskirts. But dogs are ubiquitous in Bhutan. We highly recommend bringing noise cancelling earplugs for this trip.
Smoking is banned in public places and shops don’t sell cigarettes here. Visitors can bring their own stock (up to 200 pieces) but they must declare them at customs on arrival and pay 200% tax.
Tours
You can drive in Bhutan if you have a valid international driver’s license. Visitors need a special road permit to drive in Bhutan which we can obtain for you upon request. However, we recommend that you travel with our highly experienced and skilled drivers who know every loop and bend on the roads and can drive in every weather condition and terrain.
All International visitors must obtain a visa prior to their arrival in the country. The only exception to this rule are visitors from India, Bangladesh and Maldives who can obtain route permit on arrival.Click here for more information on Visa Process.
Tour operators obtain a visa from Tourism Council of Bhutan on behalf of their guests. You must have passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Bhutan. The $40 fees for a visa must be paid in advance along with copies of the valid documents. As long as you follow the instructions, there is no difficulty. We do the paperwork (and legwork) for you.
Route Permits are 7-day travel permits only for the citizens of India, Bangladesh and Maldives. It allows them to travel to Phuentsholing, Paro and Thimphu. Route Permits are issued at Paro International Airport on arrival. Those who plan to enter Bhutan via road can obtain the permit at Phuentsholing. You must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of Arrival. or a voter card (valid only for Indian citizens) to obtain the permit. Anyone who wishes to go further must obtain Special Area permit from the Immigration Office at Thimphu although we suggest that you get your permit via a tour company to save time and avoid paperwork. Click here to learn more about Route Permits.
For Indian Citizens: Bhutanese authorities DO NOT accept Aadhar Card as proof of identification for issuing the Route Permit.
Tourism Council of Bhutan issues e-visas to all the visitors. Once you confirm your trip, send us a scan of your passport at least 2 weeks prior to the planned date of arrival. Upon receiving the full payment for your vacation, the Tourism Council of Bhutan will issue your visa within 72 hours. We will email you a copy of your visa and airline tickets a week before your trip commences.
We currently offer flexible Multi-Country Packages for Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal and India. Check our multiple-destination itineraries here.
Here is the checklist.
Trekking
Trekking in Bhutan is relatively easy compared to other high altitude Himalayan destinations. In most treks, the highest point is between 3500m to 4800m and even the inexperienced trekkers can hike the steepest trails with little effort. However, some treks cross high-altitude passes and we recommend those only to experienced trekkers.
Here is the difficulty level for each trek in our portfolio:
| Trek | Levels | Highest Point |
|---|---|---|
| Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek | Easy | Highest Point: Jomo Peak (4716mtrs) |
| Druk Path Trek | Easy | Highest Point: Simkotra Tsho (4100 mtrs) |
| Jomolhari Trek | Difficult (not recommended for people with respiratory disorders) | Highest Point: Yeli La( 4930m) |
| Soi Yaksha Trek | Medium | Highest Point: Bonte La(4890m) |
| Laya Gasa Trek | Difficult | Highest Point: Sinche La(5005m) |
| Merak Sakteng Trek | Easy | Highest Point: Merak (3480m) |
| Rodang La Trek | Difficult (although you don’t climb higher than 4200m, there are several steep sections on the route) | Highest Point: Rodang La (4160m) |
| Bumthang Owl Trek | Easy | Highest Point: Day 2 campsite ( 4076m) |
| Sagala Trek | Easy | Highest Point: Saga La (3720m) |
| Nub Tshona Pata Trek | Easy | Highest Point: Bjara La(4500m) |
Tiger’s Nest sits at an altitude of 3120m and it takes a 3- hour steep hike on a dirt track to reach there. During the last leg of the hike, visitors negotiate 900 steps to reach the entrance. Horse rides are available up to the midpoint though visitors are on their own for the return journey. If this sounds intimidating, then we suggest you bring good hiking shoes and we will take you there. We won’t let you miss the most famous site in Bhutan.
Trust and Safety
No. All the major landmarks in our cultural itineraries lie between the altitudes of 2000 to 3000 meters. The only exceptions are Chele La (3988m) and Tiger’s Nest (3120 m) but you don’t require any breathing aid to hike there. However, if you have asthma or any other respiratory disorder, we strongly suggest you carry your medication everywhere.
Here are the altitudes for some popular destinations in Bhutan:
| Thimphu | 2334 m |
| Paro | 2195 m |
| Punakha | 1200m |
| Phobjikha Valley | 3000m |
| Pele La | 3425m |
| Trongsa | 2200m |
| Yutong La | 3425m |
| Bumthang | 2800m |
| Phrumseng La | 800m to 4400m (highest point) |
| Mongar | 1600m |
| Trashigang | 1610m |
| Trashiyangtse | 1715m |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | 219m |
| Haa | 2670m |
| Phuentsholing | 293m |
| Highest motorable point in the itineraries | Chele La(3988m) |
| The highest point during the trek | Sinche La (5005m, Laya Gasa Trek) |
Pricing
Currently, only the visitors from India, Bangladesh and Maldives are allowed to set their own travel budget. All other travellers have to pay a Minimum Daily Package for visiting Bhutan. Click here to know more about Minimum Daily Package and additional tariffs.
Minimum Daily Package is set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and no tour operator has authority to change or offer any discounts on it. Any tour company offering discounts and tourists subscribing to such offers are breaking the law and Tourism Council of Bhutan can take disciplinary action against such unscrupulous elements. All the government-approved discounts and offers are prominently mentioned on our website. Click here to know more.
We accept payment via credit cards. Click here to know more about the payment process.
