Buzz
Bhutan is renowned as the 'happiest place on earth.' It is a landlocked country in South Asia, bordered by India and China. When you visit Bhutan, you can feel the serene atmosphere of this mysterious country. Hence, Bhutan tourism has always been a dream of travelers worldwide. However, Bhutan does not heavily promote tourism, so gaining entry is not straightforward. Let's explore the reasons with Mytour.
Restricted tourism policies
Bhutan imposes strict requirements for foreign tourists. Tourist visas are only issued through government-approved tour companies, and the duration of stay in Bhutan is limited to the scheduled and prepaid tour time. The government sets a minimum price of $200 per person per day for all expenses on tours to Bhutan. Therefore, if you are an independent traveler, you will not be granted a visa. The Bhutanese government is concerned about the negative impacts of tourism on the country's balance, ecosystem, and indigenous culture.
Limitations of the aviation industry
In Bhutan, there is only one international airport, Paro, located 65 km from the capital Thimphu. If you want to fly to Bhutan, you have to transit in Bangkok, Calcutta, Dhaka, Delhi, Bagdogra, or Kathmandu. Moreover, the airline serving Bhutan is Druk Air - the royal airline of Bhutan with a very limited number of tickets available, and tickets can only be purchased directly at the airport.
Difficult currency exchange and high prices
Bhutan uses the ngultrum (Nu), pegged to the Indian rupee exchange rate. Here, payment cards like Visa and Mastercard are only accepted at some major hotels and restaurants. It's best to exchange cash at the airport for spending. Finding banks or ATMs in Bhutan is difficult, and transactions can be time-consuming.
Additionally, prices in Bhutan are very high. The Bhutanese government imposes high taxes on all tourist items, including tour guides, drivers, private cars, hotels, etc. Even package tours are heavily taxed. Typically, visiting Bhutan requires spending up to $300 per day during peak season and $240 per day during off-peak season. Therefore, there's no such thing as cheap travel in Bhutan.
Bhutanese Cuisine
Bhutanese people are known for their love of spicy food, where chili peppers are considered ingredients rather than just spices. Therefore, Bhutanese dishes use chili peppers as the main ingredient, making them extremely spicy and not suitable for most tourists' palates. A traditional Bhutanese dish is eme datshe, consisting of large green chili peppers served with cheese sauce.
Bhutan is renowned as the land of Vajrayana Buddhism, which is also the state religion in Bhutan. About two-thirds of Bhutan's population follow Vajrayana Buddhism. Therefore, Bhutanese culture is deeply influenced by Buddhism. Consequently, the cuisine in Bhutan mainly consists of various vegetables. Although hotels may offer meat and reduce the spiciness in dishes, it's not easy to adapt when traveling domestically in Bhutan.
