5 Days The Glimpse Of Bhutan

Transcription

1 5 Days The Glimpse Of Bhutan Destinations: Thimphu and Paro Package Type Fly In/Fly Out Valid Till : Dec 2017 Overview Snuggled in the arms of Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is the only country in the world where Vajrayana Buddhism is a way of everyday life. For the Government of Bhutan Gross National Happiness is more important than the Gross National Product. To the local people traditional values, environmental preservation and good governance is far more important than material things. Bhutan is the travel world s best kept secret. Bhutan can be best described as Beautiful, friendly and Nature. It has been known for its untouched culture, pristine nature, lush green valleys and majestic snow covered mountains. Brief Description of Cities Thimphu: Capital and the largest city of Bhutan - Only capital city in the world that does not have traffic lights - Main center of Commerce, Religion and Government in the country - Most modern city of Bhutan and has abundance of restaurants, internet cafes, nightclubs and shopping center. It is one of the few cities of Bhutan having ATM facilities. Paro: Small town in the western part of Bhutan - Also home to Paro Airport, Bhutan s only International Airport - The valley has many isolated small villages and is known for red rice - Also home to most of Bhutan s oldest temples and monasteries. Highlights of the tour Visit old Monasteries and majestic fortresses. Explore a capital city with no traffic lights. Feast on Ema Datsi and Red Rice, two of the most popular dishes of Bhutan First-hand experience of untouched Nature and unique Culture Experience the Sacred Spirituality. Prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Village houses and rural life Shop for Silks, Souvenirs and More Structures adorned with Phallus paintings. Hike through pine forests to visit Tiger s Nest KENT HOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com 1

2 Day Wise Itinerary Day 1. Paro Thimphu: Driving Distance: 65 Km, Driving time: Hr., Altitude of Thimphu: 2,350 m Your flight to Paro on a clear day, is marked with the panoramic views of the Himalayas including the Everest and other famous Peaks. The approach through the foothills and the landing (including few steep turns) at the tiny airstrip of Paro has been termed as adventurous by many travelers. After the completion of immigration formalities at the Paro Airport exit door, you will be received by your Bhutanese guide with traditional Tashi Khadar. Afterwards drive to Thimphu following the Pa Chhu (River). Check-In to the hotel and have your first experience with Bhutanese Cuisine. Rest of the day is at leisure. You can explore the Thimphu valley and town or shop till your heart s content. Meals Lunch and Dinner; Overnight at the Hotel in Thimphu Day 2. Thimphu Sightseeing: Today you would be driven in and around Thimphu covering key places of interest. After breakfast you would visit Kuensel Phodrang, the gigantic Buddha Dordenma Statue located atop a hill in Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. National Memorial Chhorten, a Stupa built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Every morning till night old people and young people circumambulate the Chhorten. You may choose to light butter lamps and also circumambulate around the Chorten. Zorig Chusum, Premier institute of traditional arts and crafts in Thimphu established with an objective of preserving thirteen arts and crafts of Bhutan. Folk Heritage, traditional house giving an insight to the Bhutanese lifestyle, and artifacts from the rural households Thereafter, you would be taken to a local restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon you would be taken to Sangaygang View Point, also known as BBS Tower offering panoramic view of Thimphu Town situated at an elevation of 2,685 m. Changangkha Monastery, popular temple perched on a ridge above Central Thimphu built in 15th Century by Lama Phajo Drugom Zhipo. Takin Preserve Centre, see Takin here (National animal of Bhutan) It is a unique combination of Goat and an Antelope Tashichhodzong, or the fortress of the glorious religion. Initially erected in 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was rebuilt in the 1960s during the reign of Bhutan s third king in the traditional style, without plans or nails. It houses some ministries, His Majesty s secretariat, and the central monk body and opens after 5 PM. KENT HOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com 2

3 On the completion of sightseeing, you are driven back to your hotel. After relaxing for sometime you shall be served with dinner. Meals Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; Overnight at the Hotel in Thimphu. Day 3. Thimphu Paro: Driving Distance: 65 Km, Driving time: Hr., Altitude of Paro: 2,280 m After breakfast, you would be driven to Paro, for your second leg of the tour. You would be driving past the river for most of the route. On the way to Paro, you would have following options Visit Tamchog Lhakhang, located along Paro-Thimphu highway on the base of a mountain across the Pa Chhu river built in the early 15th century by the great iron bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo. Spend time by the side of river, to enjoy the natural & non polluted beauty. After arriving at Paro, you would be transferred to you Hotel for Check In. Post lunch, you would be taken around to visit Paro Rimpung Dzong, also known as Fortress of the heap of jewels, built during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower overlooking Rimpung Dzong built in 1951 now converted into national museum. Evening is free for leisure activities and shopping around the Paro Town. Meals Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; Overnight at the Hotel in Paro. Day 4. Paro Sightseeing and Hike to Taktsang: After breakfast, start your day with a hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's nest), the abode of gods and monks situated at an altitude of 3100m on the Upper Paro Valley, Bhutan. As per the legend, Guru Padmasambhana (Guru Rinpoche), the tantrum mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, came in the form of Dorje Droloe riding a flying tigress to subdue the demon that was obstructing the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayas. After the completion of the hike, you would be served picnic lunch among the woods. Post lunch, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo Later in the day, you would then drive to village house to witness the traditional rural life in a Bhutanese village. Also you have an option of experiencing a Traditional Hot Stone bath in the village house. You can also choose to have your dinner in the house with the Family or also spend your overnight in the village house (needed to be confirmed at the time of confirmation of the Tour) or be driven back to your hotel. Meals Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; Overnight at the Hotel in Paro. KENT HOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com 3

4 Day 5. Departure: Today we will bid farewell to this beautiful country and take an early flight back. We hope by now you must have made some good friends and also have taken photographs and beautiful memories of Bhutan. We certainly hope of serving you again on your next visit to this great country or the Last Shangri-La. Tashi Delek Footnotes Except for the overnight destinations, we keep the itinerary flexible in order to give the travelers the best opportunities to capture and experience Bhutan as per the situation, interest and convenience during the time of travel. The Day 1 itinerary is subject to early arrival of the flight in Paro. Please note that some of the sightseeing may be closed on government holidays and certain occasions. In such cases you shall be given options for other sightseeing or opportunities to capture and experience Bhutan. All the itineraries can be customized as per the requirements of the travelers for any duration or within any destination and can be combined with any kind of activities such as trekking, rafting, walking tour, cycling, etc. Extra Cost may be applicable for some of the activities. KENT HOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com 4

5 Tariff is based on US Dollars (Per Person Per Night) Included in the minimum daily tariff package: Visa process and arrangement. Royalty to the government and all other taxes. (3 Star Standard Hotels only) Season 1 Pax 2 Pax 3 Pax and above Low Season (Dec, Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul & Aug) High Season (Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov) Government surcharge for individual groups travelling as one or two Pax. All accommodations in 3 Star standard hotels. Standard room on twin sharing basis only. Meals on Set Menu - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Bottled Water during the tour. Full time English speaking guide. Private Vehicle for all transfers & sightseeing. Entrance fees to events, historic sites, museums and parks as indicated in the itinerary. Not included in the minimum daily tariff package: Air fares. Visa fee for single entry - USD 60. Refreshment and any alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages. Travel Insurance applicable - Must for Adventure Activities Single room supplement charges applicable - USD 50/Night Luxury star hotels and resorts available at an additional cost Luxury camping & trekking can be arranged at an additional cost Gratuities to guide, driver, trekking staff, etc. Specialized guides (Foreign Language, Photography, Bird Watching, Buddhism or any specialized guide) available at an additional cost. Any personal expense. Supplement charges may be may applicable during Festival Period or other Black out days. Special Group Discounts available. Anything which is not included in the inclusion. Hotels to be used: Phuentsholing Park Hotel / Hotel Damchen / Lhaki Hotel / The Orchid Hotel / Similar Thimphu - Dorji Elements / Hotel Pedling / Gyelsa Boutique / Hotel Migmar / Hotel Amodhara / Bhutan Peaceful Resort / Gakyil / Hotel Phuntsho Pelri / Hotel Galingkha / Namseling Boutique Hotel / Hotel Riverview /Khamsum Inn / Similar Paro - Bhutan Mandala Resort / Dewachen Resort / Hotel Drukchen / Hotel Olathang / Base Camp Hotel / Tenzinling Resort / Janka Resort / Namsaycholing Resort / Similar Punakha / Wangdue - Punatsangchhu Cottages / Meri Puensum Resort / Damchen Resort / Hotel Vara / Kingaling Hotel / Zhingkham Resort / Hotel Pema Karpo / Similar Gangtey / Phobjika - Gakiling Guest House / Hotel Dewachen / Wangchuk Lodge / Padmasambhava Lodge/ Similar Trongsa - Yangkhil Resort / Puenzhi Guest House/ Tashi Ninjay Guest House / Similar Bumthang Valley Resort/ Hotel Ugyen Ling / / Hotel Pelling / River lodge/ Chumey Nature Resort / Gongkhar Guest House / Rinchenling Lodge / Swiss Guest House / Wangdi Choling Lodge / Similar Haa Lechuna Heritage Lodge / Risum Lodge / Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge / Similar KENTHOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com

6 Lhuentse Phayul Lodge / Camp / Similar Mongar Wangchuk Hotel / Hotel Druk Zhongar / Hotel Druk Zom/Similar Trashigang Druk Deothjung Resort / Linghkar Lodge / Similar Samdrup Jongkhar Menjong Hotel / Similar Accommodations in Eastern Bhutan may not meet the travelers expectations and shall be basic as there are not much options in these places. Key Information s: Nature of tour: The Tour will be a private Tour with your own guide and a Driver. You shall not have to join a group except for the group with whom you are traveling with. Accommodations: You shall be provided with a minimum of 3 * category Hotels approved for International Tourists by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. The types of accommodations in Bhutan can be divided into: Hotels, Resorts, Farm- stay and Home- stays. Most hotels provide their guests with Television, Room Service, Fitness Centers, Spas and Wi- Fi. However, the exact services available will vary from hotel to hotel. Additionally, visitors embarking on long treks will be provided with tents along with other camping equipment deemed necessary. Check- in & Check- out time for hotels in Bhutan is 12:00 hrs. Categories of Rooms in the packages are based on base category of rooms, unless specified. Operator reserves the right to re- arrange itinerary to suit hotel availability without changing the total number of days in each destination and without compromising with any services. Vehicle: A single vehicle mostly of Toyota or Hyundai shall be allocated for the whole tour in Bhutan, except for unforeseen contingencies as below: 1 to 2 Pax: Hyundai Tucson/ Santa fee/ Creta/ Similar 3 Pax to 6 Pax: Toyota Hiace/ Hyundai H1/ Similar 7 to 8 Pax: Toyota High Roof Hiace/ Similar 9 Pax and above: Toyota Coaster Guide: Licensed English speaking guides with good experience, certified and trained by the Tourism Council of Bhutan shall be provided. Supplementary charges shall be applicable for language guides. Other Travel Information: Bhutan Visa: Please be informed that no foreign embassies/ Missions/ Agencies can issue Visa for Bhutan except the Department of immigration, Thimphu Bhutan after endorsement by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Once the tour payment is transferred and the amount gets deposited in the Tourism Council of Bhutan s account, your Tour Operator can apply for the Visa. It takes a week to process the Visa, however the visa approval letter is issued only a month in advance from the date of travel. The Visa approval letter/ Visa KENTHOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com

7 Clearance letter issued by the Department of immigration, Thimphu Bhutan will be mailed to you. You have to carry this document along with your passport when you board the flight for Bhutan. The actual visa will be stamped in your passport upon arrival in Bhutan. Passport: A valid passport is required for travel to Bhutan and the validity of the passport should be minimum 6 months from the date of departure from Bhutan. You will have to mail us a clear scanned copy of the passport in color and in JPEG format to apply for visa. Travel/ Medical Insurance: Please note that the given cost does not include insurance for any kind of unforeseen contingencies. It is important and highly recommended that you purchase a travel insurance either at the country of your origin or with your tour operator. Tobacco and its products: Bhutan is a tobacco free country and every citizen here have a duty to protect Bhutan from tobacco and tobacco products. There are certain rules to be followed in regards to tobacco. Please do not carry tobacco products over the limits. If you use tobacco or its products, please let us know prior to your travel so that we can inform you on the Tobacco rules and regulations in Bhutan Time, Electricity and batteries: Bhutan s standard time is + 6 Hours GMT. Bhutan uses 220/240 volts system. Electricity supply is generally good but it may be less stable in smaller towns around the country. The sockets used are the Indian round pin sockets. The adapters may be found in the hardware shops around Thimphu. You will find batteries from Japan, China and India in Bhutan but it is advisable to bring your own supply of batteries. Clothing and other Packing for your Bhutan Tour: It is advisable to bring warm clothes for the months of January, February, March, September, October, November and December. The clothing may include woolen tights to wear under trousers, down jacket or coat. For the other month s cotton clothes plus a woolen sweater or light jacket will be sufficient. Other things to pack are, sunglasses, contact lenses, casual shoes and boots for hikes and treks, washing kit, shaving kit, towel, hat, umbrella, camera and accessories, maps, insect repellent, sunscreen lotion, flash light or torch and batteries, lip slave or soluble aspirin, antiseptic cream, etc. Please do not forget to bring the Visa Approval letter, Money and your passport. KENTHOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com

8 Food in Bhutan: Bhutanese dishes mainly consist of chilies and cheese. But the tourists Hotels and restaurants in Bhutan serve continental dishes with some Bhutanese local dishes. While on trek, you will have cooks trained and certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan to serve you dishes suitable to your tastes. Money, ATM, Credit/Debit cards, travelers cheque and exchange of foreign currency: Bhutanese currency is known as Ngultrum. 1 Ngultrum is equivalent to Indian Rupee. The value with USD is USD 1 = Nu 67 (approximately). Most of the shops in Bhutan do not accept credit cards, and visa cards, except for a few establishments. It is always better to have Bhutanese local currency when in Bhutan. Travelers cheque and foreign currency can be exchanged in the bank. Your Tour/ Trek guide will help you to exchange the amounts. You can withdraw money with Maestro and Visa Cards from the ATMs in Bhutan. Dos and Don ts while in Bhutan: Your guide shall be there with you, during the tour, please take suggestions or inquire with him/her for anything you are not sure of. Please do not use tobacco products in Public places. Use of Tobacco products in Public Places and its sale is banned in Bhutan. Please take permissions or suggestions from your tour guide before you photograph religious items, people or private properties Please take off your hats while visiting Dzongs, Monasteries and in front of the National Flag. Also ensure that you are properly dressed (such as long sleeves shirts and T Shirts, full pants) while visiting Dzongs, Temples and other government offices. Before the end of each day or start of each day in Bhutan, your guide shall discuss with you the timings for tomorrow. Please ensure that it is fixed as per your convenience. This will help your tour to be comfortable and successful. If you buy any antiques from Bhutan, please ensure that you have proper and valid bills and cash memo for the same. Bhutan has strict rules in regards to antiques. Taking pictures of some parts and items in the Temples and Dzongs are prohibited. Please follow the instructions from your guide in this regards. Tipping to the hotel staffs, guides and drivers (if given) should always be given in envelopes. Please beware of street dogs. Some of them may not be friendly. Please ensure that your luggage is properly packed and counted. Please take care of your valuable items such as wallet, etc. Though Bhutan is generally safe it advisable that the valuable are taken care. Updated:NEP KENTHOLIDAYS (S) PTE LTD Tel: sales@kentholidays.com