Bhutan Faqs

Main referral hospital is in Thimphu, but you can find health care center in other towns also equipped enough to take care of minor health related issues. Also there will be first aid in the vehicle you will be travelling and in staying hotel.

Answer – US CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends Rabies Vaccine for those visiting Bhutan, India, Nepal, Tibet and many other countries not covered by our travels. Chances of coming in close contacts with animals are high and exposure to stray dogs are particularly high in Bhutan. Although the odds of being bitten are low but not zero and so for the peace of mind, it best to get pre-immunization rabies vaccine. However on the plus side, Rabies vaccination is available readily in almost every clinics and health centers in Bhutan and Bhutanese and tourists can avail for free if bitten.

Weekend Market in Bhutan or Bazaar. When is this weekend market and where are they held. Are they interesting to see it? Does my tour incorporate such visits or I have to do it on my own?

Weekend markets are where the farmers as well as other vendors come to sell their produce/crafts. It is colorful to see so many people and different products. The most popular weekend markets are held in Thimphu, Paro, Phuntsholing and Wangdiphodrang. Among this, the one in Thimphu is the most popular one, followed by one in Paro and Phuentsholing. Small seasonal weekend market may be held in Trongsa and other towns in Bhutan.

Thimphu weekend market starts from Friday noon and it is over by Sunday afternoon. The market in Paro and Phuntsholing are held on Saturday. Weekend markets are usually held in the site constructed by the city/town in an open area with roof and it is similar to Farmer’s market in America. Depending on the tour operators, and depending on your time of visit, we normally try and incorporate this visit, if it does not hinder other programs / itinerary of your trip.

Young women Traveler to Bhutan. I am travelling to Bhutan as solo young woman to Bhutan? Is it dangerous or do you have suggestions, feedback?

Compared to most Asian countries or developing world, Bhutan prides itself on its lack of a class system and an absence of sexual discrimination. Bhutanese women tend to have the same rights as men, including rights to education, voting and holding positions in government. Women, both foreign and Bhutanese, are not subject to harassment and do not need to take any special precautions. Bhutanese are more likely to help a woman in distress than a man. Young men have a reasonably liberated attitude towards their relations with women. There are several opportunities for misunderstanding if you don’t make your intentions clear from the very outset. As with any countries you have been to, you cannot be silly and do all the things you won’t do otherwise in your home. Exercise General Caution.

Generally all the items (Handicrafts) that are displayed in Souvenir shop are endorsed and cleared by Trade and Custom. Acquisition of handicraft and tea in smaller quantity should not pose any problem as long as it met the guideline proposed by laws of the land and upon showing the receipt.

Tipping is optional than mandatory. However, it is expected in our trade and has become a kind of tradition. Tipping is more of goodwill gesture or token of appreciation shown for the services rendered to guide and driver.

The nature of trip in Bhutan involves driver and guide with you throughout the trip. In some cases we have seen guests tipping generously in exchange of good services rendered. However, the standard practice is 8 to 10 USD per day for guide and driver for single group of family, friends or for a single traveler. And it is based on assumption of ratio 70:30 to Guide: Driver.

After having said that it is subjected to length of stay also, for instance if it’s a 15 days tour, the corresponding amount at the end could be a bit high when added each day. In such case, we advise our guests to exercise discretion based on the standard of services they received. In the same vein, for the shorter duration tour say 4 nights we again advise to adopt the principle of exercising your good judgment based on above mentioned factors. Ultimately, when summed up at the end, it would be safe to say to have baseline of 90 to 100 USD for longer tour and approx. 60 to 70 for shorter one and anything further up in addition as I said is up to you and believe me! Our guide and driver won’t be unhappy about it.

As for our group journey, perhaps it’s only natural to be higher than private trip in term of Tipping as it entails more number of members. Depending on the strength of members, you should pool together on daily basis among you or as per you suitability with the base amount of says USD 110 to 120 at the end. And less, again if the group size is small.

For the trek, the trend has been that the guests gather among themselves a slightly higher amount than cultural tour and at the end certain portion are distributed among the trek supporting staffs also. It again comes down to exercising your discretion for the concrete sum of amount.

As said tipping is optional, if any particular circumstance arises where you feel tipping is not necessary, then don’t tip.

Who do you recommend to buy trip insurance?

Yes, we do recommend Trip Insurance, There are many company providing trip Insurance, generally its based on guest discretion. For us to recommend, please visit the link  https://www.windhorsetours.com/travel-insurance/

Bhutan’s electricity is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. You will need a voltage converter if your device does not support 230 Volts at 50 Hertz. Electrical outlets in Bhutan accept 3 types of plugs: three round pins arranged in a triangle, two round pins and two parallel flat pins with ground pin.

If it does not meet our group departure date or for some reason you wish to do at your independent date. In that case, we can post your date in our website and invite other interested member. Generally, our group journey date revolve around attending a festival or good weather. In case no one sign in, still it will be a guarantee trip, however price for single person will apply.

Yes, our maximum number is 9 people per journey. In fact all our group journey basically stretch up to 9 participants. It has been designed to ensure that it’s not over crowded so that it may pose managements deficiency nor lesser number of 3 or 4, where it become difficult to avail cost effective measures