All travels to Bhutan are required to go through a licensed tour operator. At MICE Bhutan, we will be able to handle your trip from end-to-end including visa applications.
All travellers except citizens of India, Bangladesh and Maldives are required to apply for a visa. Visa application fee to Bhutan costs USD40.
Your visa will typically only be released 10 to 3 days prior to your departure date to accomodate for any last minute changes. Depending on your booking confirmation, you’ll be able to get your visa within 1 week.
The SDF is the Sustainable Development Fee, a daily levy paid by visitors to support Bhutan’s development. Since the kingdom first opened its doors in 1974, guests have played a critical role in the country’s growth. As Bhutan reopen on September 23rd 2022, this partnership is once again evolving to enable the country to protect and preserve the kingdom and its priceless assets. It also helps the Kingdom to ensure that tourists visit in sustainable numbers and that they can continue to offer guests tranquillity and an intimate experience.
The SDF is collected by the national exchequer and funds are allocated to various projects that enhance facilities, services and infrastructure for Bhutanese nationals and visitors, as well as funding free healthcare and education.
For all visitors except those from India, the SDF is US$200 per person, per night. For guests from India the SDF is 1,200 ngultrum, or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees, per person, per night.
Children aged 6 to 12 at the time of travel receive a 50% concessionary discount on their SDF. Those aged 5 or younger are exempt.
Day visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India are also exempt from paying the SDF until they reach a point designated by the Bhutanese government.
The biggest hall that Bhutan can accommodate is at 300 pax in banquet style or 275 pax in theatre style.
Rooms are subject to availability. Advanced booking is highly recommended. If rooms are not available in the selected hotels, we’ll be able to arrange for other nearby accommodation for all the other group members.
No. There is no limit on the number of people who can visit Bhutan in a year.
Yes. Absolutely. We believe in working hard and playing hard. Our friendly travel consultants will be able to help your team plan for sightseeing in this exotic Kingdom in your schedule.
Yes. You can extend your stay in Bhutan after your business trip. Daily tariff costs will apply for your extended nights in Bhutan.
Yes. You’ll have a designated transport and guide with you throughout the trip.
Guide for the following languages are available: Chinese, Spanish, Portugese, Korean or Japanese. However, there will be an additional charge of USD150 per day. Please speak to your travel consultant should you require a guide who speaks those languages.
Mobile or internet connectivity is good in bigger towns like Thimphu, Paro, Trongsa and Bumthang. If you are travelling on the road between valleys, the network might not be as stable. Most hotels in Bhutan have free wifi but the connection might be unstable depending on the number of users. It is better to get a SIM card and purchase a data plan should you intend to use the internet extensively.
Yes, aside from the airport, you can also exchange for the Bhutanese currency (Ngultrum) at Bank of Bhutan in Thimphu and Paro. However, they only accept 10 major currencies: U.S. Dollar, Pound Sterling, Euro, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, Hong Kong Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Danish Kroner, Australian Dollar and Singapore Dollars.
The exchange rate varies according to your currency denomination. We will encourage you to bring larger denominations for the exchange.
Please check out https://www.drukasia.com/news/latest/all-you-need-to-know-about-bhutanese-currency/ for the daily exchange rate.
You may not be able to withdraw any money from the local ATMs. It is advisable for you to bring along cash for out of pocket expenses.
Altitude sickness is not common with visitors to Bhutan except for the very few cases. The first two days should get you acclimatised as most of the tour places have an altitude below 3000m.
If you are intending to go for trekking (which will be above 3000m), it is always good to set a reasonable pace, avoid overexertion, and keep yourself hydrated. Consult with your healthcare provider if taking acclimatisation medication is appropriate for you.
Southern Bhutan has a hot and humid subtropical climate that is fairly unchanging throughout the year. Temperatures can vary between 15-30 degrees Celsius (59- 86 degrees Fahrenheit). In the Central parts of the country which consists of temperate and deciduous forests, the climate is more seasonal with warm summers and cool and dry winters. In the far Northern reaches of the kingdom, the weather is much colder during winter. Mountain peaks are perpetually covered in snow and lower parts are still cool in summer owing to the high altitude terrain.
For more information on the temperature for the different month, check out https://www.bhutan.travel/page/climate-weather.