Bhutan Travel

Bhutan banknotes Golden langur monkey The Cham festival Simtokha The ritha tree

Bhutan has always been very cautious with tourism in order to avoid a negative impact on the country's culture and environment. The first tourists entered the kingdom in 1974 and still today their numbers have been kept limited.

Tourists wanting to visit Bhutan will need to have a valid passport, a visa and a return ticket. Visas will only be issued to tourists booking with a local licensed tour operator, or through a foreign travel agent.

The currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum (Nu). 1 Ngultrum equals 100 chetrum (Ch). Notes are in denominations of Nu 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Nu 1, and 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 Ch. US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the country. Traveler's cheques in US Dollars can be exchanged in any branch of the Bank of Bhutan or at all BTCL hotels. Traveler's cheques get better exchange rates.

When visiting Bhutan please keep in mind that Bhutan has outlawed the sale of tobacco products, and also banned smoking in public places. Tourists are allowed to bring 400 cigarettes and 150g of pipe tobacco into the country for personal use. Cameras, videos, mobile telephones and all other electronic equipment for personal use must be registered with the authorities on arrival and will be checked by customs on departure.

Things to do in Bhutan

Go witness one of Bhutan's numerous Buddhist festivals: a riot of masks, dancing and ritual which centre on Dzongs in cobbled courtyards. The monks recount Buddhist history and myths through more than 40 religious folk dances. The most famous is at Paro.

Enjoy the Dance of the Stag and the Hounds where hundreds of monks perform. The dance represents the conversion of the hunter Gonpo Dorji to Buddhism by the saint Milarepa. It is part of the Thimphu Festival in the Tashichhoe Dzong.

Hire a bicycle in Thimpu and go mountain biking along the Paro Valley. This is a fascinating experience. But beware; some of the trails are very hard and only suitable for professionals.

Bird spotting in Bhutan: see 300-plus varieties of birds, including the rare black-necked crane.

Go to The Manas Game Sanctuary to see a wide variety of wildlife. It is the best place in the world to see the golden langur monkey.

Buy stamps. Bhutan is well known for them and they are highly sought after by collectors. You can go to the headquarters of the Philatelic Office of Bhutan in Phuentsholing to buy them.

Things to see in Bhutan

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is a visit more than worth. It lies at a height of over 2,400m in the valley of the Wangchhu River.

Go see the country’s main administrative and religious centre in the Tashichho Dzong. It houses the government ministries, National Assembly Hall, Throne Room of the King and the country’s largest monastery, the summer headquarters of the Je Khempo and 2,000 of his monks.

Visit monasteries and temples. Simtokha, not far from Thimphu, has Bhutan’s most ancient fortified monastery. The Kharbandi Monastery sits on a forested hill overlooking Phuentsholing, the gateway to Bhutan.

Visit the National Museum of Bhutan, located in the Paro Watchtower in the Paro Valley. On display are weapons, antiques, mammals and Bhutanese artifacts.

Explore the district of Wangdiphodrang, known for its slate carving and bamboo weaving.

Climb the 3,100 m high Dochu La Pass, and get a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayan chain. On a clear day it is possible to see Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan.