Checklist
Before coming to Bhutan, make sure that you attend to the following:

Travel/Medical Insurance
The Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan has initiated a travel and medical plan solely for our visitors. Hence it is important that you get detailed information about the insurance scheme from your travel agents here in Bhutan. You may also visit the web site at www.ricb.com.bt

Customs
Export of antiques, plants or animal products are strictly prohibited. Cameras, video cameras, computers and personal electronic equipment must be declared on arrival and will be checked upon departure.

The following articles are exempt from duty :

a) the visitor shall be allowed to import temporarily free of Customs duty his/her personal effects and articles required for the visit, provided that items imported are for personal use and that the items will be re-exported on their leaving Bhutan.

b) 1 bottle of Spirits or wine one liter
c) 200 pieces of cigarettes, on payment of import duty of 200%sales tax
d) Equipment or appliances for professional utilization
e) Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic gadget for personal use.

The articles mentioned under (d) & (e) must be declared on the declaration form. If these items are disposed of in Bhutan by sale or gift, they are liable for customs duty. Visitors are required to surrender their forms to the Customs authorities while departing.

IMPORT/ EXPORT

Import/export of the following goods is strictly prohibited
• Arms, ammunitions and explosives
• All narcotics and drugs excluding medically prescribed drugs
• Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species
• Antiques

Imports of plants, soils etc. are subject to quarantine regulations. These items must be cleared on arrival. Visitors are advised to be cautious in purchasing old and used items, especially of religious or cultural significance, as such items cannot be exported without a clearance certificate.

Clothing
Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold-layered clothing is better than a few thick ones, so choose your cloths accordingly. Cloths should preferably be made from natural materials, which allow the body to breathe better. You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes. Although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, we would advise women to wear skirts or loose trousers, men should not wear sing lets. During visit of monasteries, Dzong and other religious institutions you should not wear shorts & hats.

Currency
The national currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum (Nu) and it currently trades at approximately Nu 43 to US $1.00. The three currencies accepted within Bhutan are the Ngultrum, the Indian Rupee and the US Dollar. There are two Banks in Bhutan.

They are as given below:

1. Bhutan National Bank Limited (BNB)
2. Bank of Bhutan Limited (BOBL)

Currencies accepted as foreign exchange within the banks are:

• US Dollar
• Pound Sterling
• Euro
• Japanese Yen
• Swiss Franc
• Hong Kong Dollar
• Canadian Dollar
• Singapore Dollar
• Danish Kroner
• Swedish Kroner
• Norwegian Kroner

Credit Cards
American Express and VISA credit cards are accepted in a few shops. Traveller’s cheques are also accepted. There are banks charges of 1% for cheque encashment. If you are carrying cheques, you should carry Visa, Thomas Cook, Citibank or Barclays.

Time Difference
Bhutan standard time is 6 hours ahead of GMT.

Accommodation
Comfortable hotels and lodges built in traditional architectural style are available in the major towns.

Cuisine
Tourist hotels have a choice of Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese and Continental food.

Photography
Carry plenty of films and batteries. Photo shops in Bhutan do not sell equipment or accessories.

Insurance
To protect against unforeseen accidents and mishaps, we advise you to have Travel insurance policy from your country. It should adequately cover helicopter evacuation and medical assistance. We regret the unavailability of such policies in Bhutan.

Safety
Bhutan is generally a safe place and the streets are safe to walk around.

Shopping
Traditional handicrafts, textiles, jewelers, baskets, and masks. Paintings and woodcarving make good buys.

Telephone & Communication
IID service is widely available and you can bring your GSM 900 mobile phone and get a local SIM card for
the duration of your stay.
Bhutan Telecom provides IID services, ISD, STD, B-Mobile and T-Cell which is the service provider and is
now almost well connected through out the country. Email is available in mostly every town as there are local
internet café, in the hotel and some of the hotels provide you with the wireless internet facilities, ISD, STD
and fax services. The STD code for Bhutan is 00975.

Bhutan Post
Is the general post office and has offices in every town where you can send postcards. It is open from 9 am – 5 pm from Monday – Friday (Sat till 12 pm). Parcels can be sent and received from Bhutan Post and also has Western Money Union Transfer. DHL services are also available.
There are post offices in every town where you can send postcards and DHL you will find in Thimphu.

Newspaper
The major newspapers in Bhutan are

Kuensel – English / Dzongkha,
Bhutan Times- English
and Bhutan Observer - English
The Journalist
Bhutan Today

Radio
Bhutan Broadcasting Service has different programs in short wave transmission.
There is FM Radio stations known as Kuzoo FM 90 that broadcasts from morning 6am – 9 p.m. daily

Electricity
Electricity and voltage available is 220/240 volts, three-pin power round and two-pin outlets

Television
Bhutan Broadcasting Service transmits from 7:00 am. - 11a.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. daily. Cable television is almost everywhere as of now where you can watch different programmed like CNN, BBC, Star Movies, Star Sports, Zee TV, HBO etc.

Tour/Trek Booking

Cultural Tours
Advance booking arrangements must be completed at least 4 weeks for regular season (Jan, June and July).
Advance booking arrangements must be completed at least 6 weeks for peak/festival season (Feb-May/Aug-Dec). The spring and autumn festivals are our peak times for tourism, and without early reservations it can be difficult to confirm flights and hotels.

Trekking
Advance booking arrangements should be completed at least 8 weeks.

Don’t leave home without

Culture tour
• Good walking shoes
• Sunglasses ,sunscreen & lip balm
• Headgear for sunny days
• A compact umbrella/rain jacket

Trekkers

• Good Jacket and hiking boot
• Walking poles
• Sun glass or goggles ,sun screen and lip balm
• Headgear and rain coat
• Flashlight/torch
• Sleeping bag
• Insect repellent
• Swim wear(hot spring trek)
• Camera

(Note –The load for trekking is 25kgs)

We Provide
Two person tents with foam mattresses
Eating utensil and kitchen equipments

First aid kit
(Note -we request you to still carry your own basic medical needs)