Trekking in Bhutan - does anyone have information regarding the visa process to visit Bhutan?

Question

I am American and my wife is Singaporean. We would like to trek in Bhutan and are beginning to plan. I have read that one must use a guide service. Can someone tell us if that is true and, if so, how difficult and costly is the typical guide service? Also, when is the best time to go? Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

All tourists (group or individual) must travel on a pre-planned, prepaid, guided package tour or custom designed travel program. Independent travel is NOT permitted. For more information, see: [e-mail]
ALL visitors to Bhutan must have a valid visa before arrival. The government recommends that you begin the process of visa acquisition at least 90 days before projected departure for the Kingdom. A 2-week visa is US$20.
Travel, visa, accommodation info, etc, is available at the excellent government site at:
http://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/

Answer 2

The government has limitations on the number of tourists each month, so plan as far in advance as possible. They also have a minimum amount of money that you must spend each and every day you are in the Kingdom. I would check out the government web site to see if it is really worth the trouble going there, especially without an escorted tour.

Answer 3

Bhutan embassies and consulates do not grant tourist visa nor can any agent abroad apply for visa.

All tourists have to apply for their visa through a Bhutan Government licensed tour operator like us.

For all tourists its mandatory by Government rule to deposit the full trip payment payable to the agent in advance. Its only against this payment that the visa is granted.

All payments are by default deposited in Bhutan Government’s account.

No travel agent in Bhutan is allowed to allowed to maintain a foreign currency account in Bhutan.

All payments transferred in foreign currency is automatically segregated by the local bank and deposited either in Bhutan Tourism Council’s or Bhutan National airline’s account.

There is no visa restriction to any nationality and there is no limit on your duration of stay as long as you pay the daily tourist tariff fixed by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

For your tourist visa we require a copy of your passport with minimum six months validity.

A visa fee of US$40 is charged by the Department of Immigration. In case of extension of your visa you will have to pay US$15 as extension fee.

You can apply for a tourist visa for any length of time or as for extension for any duration.

Tourist visa gives you permit to travel to all most all the places in Bhutan. For some places special permits are required which we apply in advance.