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Nestled high in the Central Himalayas lays the ancient kingdom of Bhutan, almost entirely locked from the outside world. Entrenched between India, China and Nepal, this magnificent country will enchant you for sure. Let yourself be captured by its' pristine nature, friendly and still traditionally dressed people, ancient monasteries, unique cultural heritage, impressive customs, amazing architecture, touching rituals and rich spiritual life.

Bhutan is the only Buddhist kingdom in the world, inhabited by about 1,4 million people. With her bewildering nature, home to several endangered species you can encounter in the wild, she has managed to stay unspoiled by mass tourism. Wherever you are in the kingdom, all still breathes purity. This small country offers you subtropical densely wooded valleys, savannah grasslands, bamboo jungles, traditionally cultivated land and high Himalayan Mountains with eternal snow. The Kula Kangri (7.553 meters) overlooks the valleys as an omnipotent king.

Travelling through Bhutan will enrich your life and capture your heart.

• Geography
  With Tibet to the north, Sikkim to the west and Assam and West Bengal to the south and east, Bhutan is a land-locked country. The total area of the kingdom is about 47,000 square kilometres, about the size of Switzerland. It’s located in the heart of the high Himalayan mountain range. Read more.....
  
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  Regions & Cities
  Western Bhutan encompasses Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha valley, Thimphu valley, Paro valley and the Haa valley. These valleys are divided bij three major La’s (passes): the Pele La, Dochu La and Cheli La. Read more.....
  
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  Map
  Displaying the map of Bhutan. Read more.....

Money & Co

Bhutanese currency is the ngultrum (nu), which is divided into 100 Cheltrum. The approximate exchange rate is 45.00 nu for one USD. The ngultrum is on par with the Indian Rupee and in Bhutan you can both use the Nu and Indian Rupee. In the larger towns and hotels you can exchange euro’s, US dollars and other world currencies as well as travellers’ cheques from Monday to Friday between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. In most hotels and stores you can pay with euros and US dollars. In the more rural towns and villages you need to pay with Ngultrum or rupees. In Thimphu some of the smaller bank branches are open Saturday and Sunday for currency exchange. 

Atm cash dispenser

Presently the few Bhutan National Bank ATMs can only be used by local customers.

Cash

If you plan to make a major purchase, consider bringing US dollars or euro’s in cash.

Credit cards

Don’t count on using a credit card in Bhutan. They are accepted at the government-run Handicrafts Emporium, a few other handicraft shops and some of the larger hotels in Thimpu, but these transactions take quiete some time. Also, credit card companies charge high fees and the verification office is only open from 9am to 5pm. This precludes paying your hotel bill at night or when you check out early in the morning.

Travellers cheques

You can cash travellers cheques at any bank, most hotels and the foreign-exchange counter at the airport. Banks charge 1% for cheque encashment. Make sure you only carry well-known brands like American Express, Visa, Thomas Cook, Citibank or Barclays. There is no replacement facility for travellers cheques in Bhutan.

Local time

GMT +6

Calling

The international dialing code for Bhutan is 00975 (+975).
Most of the hotels and guest lodges have international direct dial telephones and faxes. You can make international direct dial to or from Bhutan to anywhere in the world and telephone call booths are found in all major towns. Most of Bhutan has mobile phone coverage.

Internet TLD

The internet country code for Bhutan is .bt
Most cities have internet cafes, buth the connection is slow and it is relatively expensive.

Electricity

In Bhutan you need a plug adaptor (220Volt/50Hz)

Traffic

In Bhutan people drive on the left side of the road. 

National holidays

Bhutan’s major and annual returning national holidays have a set date:

Banks, shops and government buildings can be closed on these national holidays. Besides these major holidays, there are many other Buddhist holidays which happen every year are at a different day or month.

What to bring

Bhutan has a changeable climate, so bring a layered wardrobe, rain gear and warm clothes for the evening, just like good walking shoes or hiking boots, even if you’re not hiking. Also bring a hat or cap and a good pair of sunglasses. A water bottle, binoculars and polarizing filter for your camera can be very usefull, as well as a day pack or shoulder bag and a telescoping, aluminum or composite walking stock.

Courtesy in Bhutan

• The Bhutanese deeply respect their king. Keep this in mind when you talk with local people.
• Sacred objects: always pass mani stones, stupas and other religious objects with your right side nearest to the object, and turn prayer wheels in a clockwise direction. Never sit on mani stones or stupas.
• Clothing: if you visit tempels, remove your shoes and head gear and wear clothing that expresses respect for the sacred nature of the site. You will need to wear pants and long shirts.
• Donations: it’s custom at monasteries to make a small donation to the monks as a sign of respect. Also donate to the Buddhist statues as a means of developing a generous and spacious mind. There are many places in each temple where you can donate, and it is expected that you donate to each place. Remember to have small notes for this gesture, although it’s not mandatory.
• Smoking is illegal at monasteries and in public places. Don’t bring cigarettes or chewing tobacco to sacred sites.

Bhutan is one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. According to the United Nations' development program, 26.2% of Bhutan’s population lives on less than 1.25 US dollar per day. Around 30% of the people live below poverty line. Several organisations have development aid programs to promote education and other projects in Bhutan. However, this development aid is restricted by the government in order to protect the country’s traditional culture. Although it might be a financially poor country, it has rich cultural values and nature and the preservation of these is leading.

Bhutan’s economy is mostly based on agriculture, which together with livestock keeping is the main source of livelihood for over 80% of the population. The country hardly knows real industry, exept forestry and cottage building. Most of the consumer goods and essentials are imported and its major export goods are calcium carbides, cement, wood based products, minerals and horticulture products. Hydroelectric power is Bhutan’s largest export product, yet 70% of the population doesn’t have electricity and depends on firewood for energy. Bhutan’s major trading partner is India. The two countries have a free trade relationship agreement. Bhutan exports about 90% to India, which is the country’s source for 70% imports. The kingdom also has a preferential trade agreement with Bangladesh. Besides hydroelectric power, tourism also brings a lot of money to the country. Bhutan’s tourism industry is based on the principle of environmentally friendly, economical viability and sustainability. Mass tourism is prevented by the policy of ‘high value and low volume’. Tourists have to pay about 200 US dollars per day (including hotel, guide and driver), thereby keeping Bhutan an exclusive and expensive destination and ensuring the preservation of Bhutan’s culture and traditions.

Gross National Happiness

Unique in the world and introduced by Bhutan: Gross National Happiness (GNH). It’s an attempt to define quality of life more holistically and psychologically than the sec material Gross National Product. The concept was introduced to the country and the world in 1972 by king Jigme Singye Wangchung, who wanted to build an economy serving Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values. Instead of focusing on economic growth, the concept of Gross National Happiness is based on the assumption that society only grows when material and spiritual development go hand-in-hand, complementing and reinforcing one another. In a world dominated by hard currency and mass consumption, this refreshing concept globally inspires many leaders, academics, researchers and economists. In 2004 even an international conference on GNH was held in Bhutan, attracting over 80 participants from 20 countries. 

 “We in Bhutan view ourselves not as citizens of Bhutan but as Bhutanese citizens of the world and small as we may be,
we feel that one day we might be the conscience of the modern world.”
His Majesty the Fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck