The non-smoking Thunder Dragon: Bhutan.

Flag of The Kingdom of Bhutan

Background.
Sandwiched between two Asian giants, China to the north and India to the south, east and west. The Kingdom of Bhutan is more exotic, more beautiful and more incredible than nearly all the travel magazines let on. 

With more than 70% of its land under forest cover, Bhutan is rich in flora and fauna with numerous rare and endangered species. With glacial streams gushing down narrow steep valleys, meandering rivers flowing lazily through wide valleys, snow capped mountains, lush green forests, this is the pristine natural environment that is one of Bhutan's star attractions.

Culturally, Bhutan, also known as The Land Of The Thunder Dragon is steeped in myths and tradition.
Bhutan is the only Buddhist monarchy in the World, and up until quite recently it was an absolute monarchy. However, it is now a constitutional monarchy, with a Prime Minister and elected Parliament.   His Majesty The King and his father who abdicated in favour of his son are held in great esteem throughout the country. Buddhism has had a major influence over the centuries and as such Bhutan has evolved its own and unique and traditions that will do nothing but fascinate every traveller: The traditional dress and how it shows the status of the wearer, the numerous temples and stupas, incredible fortresses (known as Dzongs), colourful prayer flags dotting the landscape, the exotic mask dances all make Bhutan one of the top places to visit in 2012.

Travellers to Bhutan leave in awe and admiration for a country that has been able to hold its own through the centuries.

In the international arena Bhutan has championed the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) which has now been endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations. GNH  emphasises the well being and happiness over Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to a recent global survey Bhutan is the eighth happiest country in the world.

Above is a little taster of what The Kingdom of Bhutan has to offer. Many travellers have called Bhutan the "Last Shangri-La", and from what you see, it is hard to disagree.

What to Do in Bhutan.

Broadly speaking, Bhutan offers a very wide range of activities. These can be grouped under the following headings:

• Adventure.
• Cultural
• Nature
• Spiritual & Wellness
• Trekking
• Tshechu & Festivals

PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
It is illegal to grow, process, distribute or supply ALL tobacco products in Bhutan. It is also illegal to smoke in any public place (hence the title of this post). Tourists are allowed to import up to 200 cigarettes on payment of import duty of 200% for their own consumption. It is advised to keep receipts for that. If you break these laws the penalties are VERY severe. 


Places to Stay
The Bhutan Government has decreed that all tourists wishing to visit must book their trip through a Bhutan licensed tour operator, and pay a minimum daily tariff of US$250 per person per day. The US$250 is inclusive of all accommodation at a Tourist Council of Bhutan (TCB) approved hotel, inn or resort (usually 3 star and above), all meals, all airport transfers, all internal transport in up market  vehicles, all internal taxes and required permits and a royalty fee to the Bhutan Government, a dedicated licensed English speaking Bhutanese tour guide, camping equipment and haulage for trekking expeditions, as well as monument fees and charges.

For more information and to have a list of Bhutan tour operators and hotels just click on:

www.tourism.gov.bt

Now, if you want to have a neutral look at the hotels in Bhutan click on:

www.globaltraveldeals.biz

Unfortunately you can not book directly off  www.globaltraveldeals.biz but it will give you an independent view of some of the hotels on offer.

Although it sounds expensive, when the tariff is broken down and when you take into consideration that you do not have to put your hand into your wallet except for personal shopping, the daily tariff is not actually that much.

The Government tariff decree and booking conditions is nothing more than a way to practice sustainable tourism. By limiting the inflow of tourists ensures a healthy environment while exploiting natural resources without depleting their natural beauty. It also ensures that traditions, customs and national culture is not eroded by an over influx of tourists.

Sensible really.

Getting There.
The only airport in Bhutan is Paro International Airport which is 54Km (34 miles) from the the capital Thimpu. The flight into Paro, especially the approach into the airport itself is an adventure in itself! Druk Air, the national airline, is the onlyairline that flies into Paro. Druk Air operates flights to Bhutan from the following countries: India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Singapore and Nepal.

You do need to fly to the various countries and connect with Druk Air for the onward flight onto Paro.

For the best and most convenient flights including the flights into Bhutan just click on:

www.globaltraveldeals.biz

Vaccinations

Although not compulsory, it is highly recommended that you have tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A.

Visas.

Citizens of India and Bangladesh do not require visas. All other nationalities require visas. Visas are arranged by your tour operator and are issued only when the tour tariff has been paid in full. Visas are usually issued in 72 hrs from Thimpu. Your visa will be stamped into your passport on arrival in Bhutan on payment of US$20.00.

Money.

The Bhutan currency is the Ngultrum which has parity with the Indian Rupee.

It is recommended that you have US$ Traveller's cheques or US notes, as they are readily exchanged at banks in the main centres.

Last Word.

Please make sure that you observe and respect local customs especially in temples, government offices (or any building that is flying the national flag) and monuments.

And of course......

Bon voyage!