Basudara Tours and Travels: FAQ

Visitor Questions and Answers

Do visitors need a visa to visit Bhutan?
Yes, all visitors will need a visa to visit Bhutan, except for visitors from India, who will require a permit.

How can visitors process their visa or permit?
You can process a visa or permit online from the website of the Department of Immigration. You can also engage with us. Although visitors from Bangladesh and Maldives can process visas on arrival and visitors from India can process permits on arrival at the port of entry, it is recommended that these be applied online or through us to reduce wait time and for faster clearance at the port of entry.

What are the documents required to process the visa?
a. A passport copy is required. The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from the Kingdom; b. Travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip; and c. A recent passport size photograph.

How much is the visa fee and how long does it take to issue?
The visa fee is USD 40 per person and it is non-refundable. While the process to issue the visa is usually quick, the visa can take up to five working days to process.

What Are The Documents Required To Process The Permit (For Indian Guests)?
Visitors from India can use a passport or voter ID card. Children under 18 years of age can use a birth certificate or passport, and must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Passport size photograph is also required. Travel insurance is required and should be valid for the whole duration of the trip.

How can I purchase insurance if I don’t have any?
There is also an option to purchase domestic travel insurance from Bhutanese insurance providers and you can process it though us.


Planning your Trip to Bhutan
How does one plan a tour or trip to Bhutan?
While visitors to Bhutan can plan their own trip, we have better knowledge on ground realities so we would be delighted to organize a comfortable and enjoyable experience for you.

How can the tour payments be made?
All payments can be made directly to our business accounts as per the policy of the service provider. We will send you the account details

How long can a visitor stay in Bhutan on a visitor visa or permit?
The visa or permit will be issued for a maximum of 90 days.

How can I extend a visa or permit while in Bhutan?
The visa or permit extension can be processed by the Department of Immigration before the expiry of the visa or permit, whichever is applicable. The applicable SDF and visa or permit extension fees shall be paid to the Department of Immigration.

How long does it take to extend the visa or permit?
While the process is usually quite quick for visa or permit extensions, it can take up to five working days.

How does one make SDF payment for visa or permit extension while in Bhutan?
Visitors can extend their stay via the online visa application portal, using the same log-in details that were used to process the original visa. The SDF payment can also be made via the same portal or through us.

Who can apply for visa or permit extension?
A guest or us can process an application for a visa or permit extension.


Getting to Bhutan
What is the best way to get to Bhutan?
Visitors can travel to Bhutan by taking flights from Bangladesh (Dhaka), India (Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra), Nepal (Kathmandu), Singapore (Changi) and Thailand (Bangkok).

For now, there are two airlines that fly into Bhutan - namely, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines.

Private jets can fly into Bhutan after getting the relevant approvals from the competent authorities.

All visitors can also enter via land from Phuentsholing. Indian guests can enter Bhutan via other land entry points (Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse).


Accommodation in Bhutan
What types of accommodation are available in Bhutan?
Bhutan offers a wide range of accommodation facilities, from luxurious 5-star hotels to cosy homestays in traditional village settings.

Where can I find information about accommodation?
We will send you the list certified accommodation in Bhutan

Can the visitors stay in a private home or camp at campsite areas?
Guests must stay in an accommodation certified by TCB or if trekking, camp at the designated areas only.


Payment Options in Bhutan
What currency can the visitor use in Bhutan?
The official currency of Bhutan is Ngultrum (Nu.) and only the local currency is accepted in the country.

Can visitors use international visa cards to make payments?
International credit cards are widely used in the urban areas in Bhutan. However, this service may not be available in other parts of the country. Visitors can also use the digital wallet app called goBoB that can be operated with a local sim card and is also widely accepted throughout the country.
Visitors are recommended to inform their card issuer banks about their trip to Bhutan, in order to avoid card usage restrictions by the issuing bank.

Where can currency be exchanged?
There is a currency exchange facility at the airport, and currency can also be exchanged at the banks, hotels and at the authorised money changers in the city areas.

Other Essential Information
Are there any restrictions on dress code?
There are no restrictions on dress code in general. However, respectable dress code covering your knees and shoulders (smart casual) is recommended while visiting temples and religious places.

Where can visitors get a sim card from?
Visitors can get a sim card from visitor information centres on arrival, branch offices of Bhutan Telecom and Tashicell or from authorised agents in towns.

How much cash can visitors bring to Bhutan?
Visitors can bring cash equivalent up to USD 10,000.

Where can visitors shop for Bhutanese products?
The Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) outlet, handicraft shops, the OGOP outlets, and the Centenary Farmers Market are some of the popular shopping areas for visitors.
Guests are required to process export permits online [https://mocp.doc.gov.bt/] for non-antique products such as statues, ritual objects and religious handicrafts from the Department of Culture before exiting the country.
Where can visitors find essential customs information?
For a detailed list of prohibited, restricted or declarable items, please visit the website of the Ministry of Finance [https://www.mof.gov.bt].

When is the best time to visit Bhutan?
Bhutan is a year-round destination.

Spring is a botanist’s delight with nature in full bloom and wild flowers covering the meadows like a carpet. It's a remarkable time of the year to explore nature.

Summer is green, fresh and revitalising. The low hanging clouds draped over the head, hazy mist covering the green carpeted valleys, the place stems right out of the mystery. Most of the farming activities also take place in summer.

Autumn is a merry season of feast and festivals. As farmers reap the fruits of their work, the streets are covered with healthy harvests of the year.

Winter is crisp and clear. You can get the glimpse of the high snow glistening in the Himalayan mountains and view the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

Is Bhutan a safe destination to visit?
Yes, Bhutan is a very safe destination for visitors and crime is uncommon. However, petty crime sometimes happens and visitors should take care of themselves and their belongings.

Flooding and landslides can happen. In the monsoon season from June to September, transport and services can be affected. Check with your hotel or tour operator for possible disruptions.

There are a number of stray dogs that roam freely around the city areas. While normally the dogs keep their distance and do not bite humans, sometimes dog attacks happen. It is recommended that visitors to Bhutan do not feed or pat the stray dogs. It is also recommended that guests take care around the stray dogs and keep their distance, especially if they have children.

Where should visitors contact for grievance redressal?
Visitors can always contact the Tourism Council of Bhutan through info@tourism.gov.bt or call +975 17122257 or 2300 within Bhutan.

What are the emergency contact details?
The hotline number for general enquiries about tourism is +975 17122257 or 2300 if within Bhutan.

Medical emergency - 112

Police - 113

Disaster Communication helpline - 999

Are there any visitor information centres at the airports and land entry points?
Yes, there are visitor information centres at the arrival area just before immigration check at the airport and in all entry points.