Getting a Bhutan Visa
Application for a Bhutan visa can be
processs by a travel/tour agent through the Tourism
Authority of Bhutan. Once the visa has been processed you
will be sent a visa number (automatically forwarded to all
Bhutan's National Air Carrier: Druk Air). Without a visa
number, you may be denied boarding Druk Air's planes. A visa
is then granted on arrival at Paro Airport for a total of US
$30 (with US $10 tax, subject to revision by the Bhutanese
government) for 14 days. You can apply for a visa extension
for an additional fee.In
order to get a visa for Bhutan, you need to forward your
passport details 4 weeks in advance to a local agent. Supply
Name (exactly as it appears on your passport), Passport
Number, Date of issue, Validity, Occupation, Nationality,
Date of Birth and Home Address.
Note: Bhutan's National Tourism organization
has embarked on a protection campaign to preserve Bhutan's
as the Forbidden Kingdom of lore. The unofficial word is
that yearly tourist numbers are limited to 6,000. Agents
serving Bhutan are required to qualify tourists by charging
a minimum of $200.00 per day for services offered.
Tourist Season: From March through November,
December and February are very cold and itineraries change
because of road blocks, due heavy snow, on the way to some
parts of Bhutan.
How to
enter Bhutan from Nepal: There are two
flights a week between Kathmandu and Paro sector on every
Monday and Thursday by Druk Air. The fare is US $190 per
person for one way, US $380 return. The fare and schedule
are subject to change by Druk Air, Bhutan's National
Airline.You can also enter Bhutan by road. From Kathmandu,
take a day/night coach to Kakarvitta in about 14 hrs, ugh!
Or... fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur/Biratnagar (far east
Nepal) and drive to Phunsoling at the Bhutan/India Border in
approximately 5 to 6 hrs. The next day, you'll drive to
Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu, in about 6 hrs. |
