1. Travel to an international airport that services Paro International Airport - PBH. We generally recommended Bangkok (BKK) – also known as Suvarnabhumi Airport - but it is not necessary to travel through this airport. Note that depending on which country you choose to travel through, you may require a visa for that country as well (i.e. India requires a Visa for certain nationalities).

2. Please plan to arrive in Paro (Paro International Airport – PBH) on Day 1, before 10 AM local time.

Important: To book your flight to PBH please contact Naomi and Choki Dorji at Blue Poppy Bhutan, Wild Women Expedition’s local ground operator in Bhutan as soon as possible: choki@bluepoppybhutan.com.

As our local agents, Blue Poppy will be arranging the tourist visa's for the group and coordinating flights based on the Day 1 date of your trip. Visitors cannot travel in Bhutan without an agent and an escort/guide.

Group Rendezvous Point:

Date: Day 1
Time: When your flight arrives - we ask that this is before 10 a.m.
Location: At the exit door in Paro International Airport (PBH)

Notes about Pick-Up:

Someone will be at the rendezvous point holding a Wild Women Expeditions sign. They will take you to the hotel.

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

Your visa is associated with the group, and you must arrive and depart Paro on the exact trip dates (i.e. Day 1 and Day 13). Please see Arrivals section above.

In your travel details form, please note the city you are staying in the night before and flying to Paro (PBH) from, and which hotel.

DEPARTURES FROM BHUTAN

As soon as possible, please work with Naomi and Choki at Blue Poppy (choki@bluepoppybhutan.com) to book your flight out of PBH on the last day (Day 13).

You will be transferred to the airport in conjunction with your departing flight time. Most airlines depart between 7 AM – 11:30 AM and you need to allow 2 hours for the airport formalities.

The airport drop-off for the group is usually based around the Bhutan Airlines flight to Bangkok (BKK) departure. Naomi will help you organize your departure flights from Paro (see Arrival Overview Section).

You are responsible to book your flight home after your Paro flight.

Drop-Off Point:

Date: Day 13
Time: In conjunction with your flight
Location: Paro International Airport (PBH)

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

Due to the visa requirements arranged for your Wild Women Expeditions Group, we recommend departing Bhutan on Day 13 (that last day of your tour).

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

Wild Women Expeditions will assist you in obtaining your visa for Bhutan, but you are fully responsible for providing us with the correct information as soon as possible in order for us to secure for your visa, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country’s Consulate and your country’s travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Visa:

We will be initiating the paperwork to get you your visa in order to travel to Bhutan and back.

We will need three pieces of information to start this process. Please upload them when you submit your travel Travel Detail Form (TDF).

1. Photocopy of your passport.

We will need a photocopy of your passport where the full picture page is showing, placed straight on the page and we need to see the two rows of numbers and letters at the bottom of the page in full. The lettering on the page must be legible and not blurred.

2. Passport pictures.

Please provide a copy of a standard passport photo.

3. Travel Insurance Documentation

We will need a PDF or copy of your travel Insurance. It will need to have visible the dates you are travelling in Bhutan to be considered.

We will send you your Bhutan Visa via email as soon as it is issued and WWE receives it. This is usually about 10 days before your trip begins in Bhutan. You will need to print it out and keep this Visa clearance with your passport and show it both on check in for your flight to Bhutan and then again at customs upon arrival.

If you are travelling within any other country on this trip, we encourage you to research if you need a visa for that country. We will not be responsible for any visas outside of Bhutan.

If you are coming in or out via India, you will need an Indian visa and you need to apply for this before you leave home. If you are in transit through India and don’t leave the airport, in theory, you don’t need a visa, but you should check with your international airline that they will allow you to fly without one.

Note: You can’t check your luggage all the way through to Bhutan, so it is easier to manage this if you can go through immigration, collect your luggage and check in again from there. Don’t forget to get a multiple entry visa if necessary.

If you are flying with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines and have a touchdown en route, you don’t need a visa for India/ Nepal/ Bangladesh, as you don’t get off the plane.

For Kathmandu, if you are stopping over you can get a transit visa on arrival for a short visit for $5 USD or a 15-day visa for $25 USD – you need to take a passport photo with you.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

Customs

All travelers are responsible for getting into the country to join the Wild Women Expedition. Here are some helpful links:

TIPPING

What and who you choose to tip during your time in Bhutan is entirely up to you and will obviously depend on the service you have received. As a guideline, you may want to bring around $150 – $200 USD to use for local tips.

It is hard to be prescriptive also, as tipping is a personal thing. And it depends on the size of the group, as the amount the local team may expect will vary depending on how many people they are looking after.

But there is also an unwritten hierarchy, with the local tour leader expecting the biggest tip, followed by the driver, the trek cook, and then by the helpers and horsemen on the trek in that order.

To help you work out how to allocate the total amount you propose to tip, we can suggest that you give 50% of the total to your local tour leader, 30% to your driver, 10% to your cook, 10% to be shared among the 3 helpers on trek and 10% to be shared among the 3 horsemen on the trek. If you have an assistant guide with you then you can give an amount from the tip you had set aside for the local tour leader to be shared with that assistant guide (so perhaps dividing it 40% / 10%).

It is up to you if you wish to tip in restaurants or hotels – some hotels have a tip box where you can put some cash to be shared among the staff, or you can give a small tip in local currency to someone who carries your bag to your room, but this is up to you.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

Our trip prices are based on a twin share (two people per room), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner. Private room upgrades are subject to availability. Please contact support@wildwomenexpeditions.com.

Electricity / Internet / WiFi / Cell Coverage

Internet will be available in some hotels. WIFI can be weak in certain areas. You can purchase a local SIM card upon arrival that will enable you to have wifi in certain areas. Your phone must be unlocked to do this.

If you want to charge electronic equipment during your stay you should bring an adaptor suited to India or Nepal – they have two or three round pins, slightly larger than those used in Europe. The two-pin plug will fit in a three-pin socket as well. The voltage in Bhutan is also the same as India – 230V, 50 cycles AC.

Bathrooms

The hotels all have flush toilets, some restaurants will only have Asian squat toilets. Asian squat toilets are basically a ceramic basin in the floor. You stand on the other side of the basin and squat. You use these toilets by facing the wall and squatting with the drain hole slightly farther away from you. There is either a string that you pull to flush or you grab a bucket of water available and pour it down the drain.

Make sure you always have toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you in your day pack. On the trek, there will be a toilet tent with a hole in the ground and during the day while hiking you will have to find a bush. It is good to dig a hole and then cover up your waste with the earth. Pack all toilet paper out (you will need to carry a ziplock bag with you in your daypack to keep soiled toilet paper until you find a garbage can).

Potable Water

It is not advised to drink the tap water. You will be provided with a water station and clean drinking water every day.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

Lifestraw

GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection

Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge

Water-To-Go

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Metta Resort, Paro
Zhingkham Resort
Yangkhil Resort, Trongsa
Gongkhar Guesthouse
Dewachen Resort, Gangtey
Wangdi Eco Lodge, Wangdi
Zhiwaling Resort, Paro

QUICK FACTS ABOUT BHUTAN

About

Here are 10 things you may not know about Bhutan:

- Bhutan first got television in 1998
- Archery is the national sport
- Smoking is prohibited in public places and the sale of cigarettes is banned throughout the country
- National dress is compulsory for Bhutanese citizens – men wear a gho and women wear a kira
- The 4th King was married to four sisters
- There are blue sheep at higher altitudes
- There are about twenty internet cafés in Thimphu and there is mobile phone coverage in most of the main towns
- If you see a royal vehicle on the road you have to pull over until it has passed
- There are no beggars or homeless people
- Plastic bags are banned for ecological reasons

People of Bhutan

The people of Bhutan are composed of three main ethnic groups: the Sharchops of the East, the Ngalops of the West and the Lhotshampas in the South. Together, they form the indigenous population known as the Drukpas, famed for their rugged strength, ready sense of humour, hospitality and friendliness.

The Sharchops, believed to be of Indo-Mongoloid origin, are considered to be the earliest, indigenous inhabitants of Bhutan, while the Ngalops are thought to have migrated from the Tibetan plains, importing Buddhism into the country. The Lhotshampas came from Nepal in the early 20th century in search of agricultural land and work, settling in the southern foothills of the country. Minority groups in Bhutan include the Layap, Brokpa, Doya, Lhopu, Dhakpa and Lepcha.This diversity in ethnicity, as well as the geographic isolation of Bhutan’s highland villages, has resulted in the emergence of about 19 different languages and dialects spoken by different ethnic groups around the country. The national language of Bhutan is Dzongkha, but schooling is done in English, which is widely spoken.

Bhutan has never had a rigid class system. Social and educational opportunities in the country are open to all, and Bhutanese men and women enjoy equal rights in every respect. Indigenous culture is kept alive by wearing traditional clothing. Men wear a gho, a long robe hitched to the knee, tied around the waist by a small belt called a kera, while women wear a kira, an ankle-length robe also held in place by a belt. Both the gho and kira are made from beautifully coloured and finely woven fabrics with fascinating traditional patterns on them. The Bhutanese are fond of heavy gold and silver jewellery decorated with pearls, turquoise and precious stones known as dzee, or the ‘tears of the gods’.

Climate & Weather:

On the same latitude as Miami and Cairo, Bhutan has a climate that varies with altitude. The southern border near India is tropical with a hot, humid climate, while the Himalayan mountains in the north are blanketed with snow almost all year round. Unless you are trekking, most of your time will be spent in the central region between the two. You can get specific information about temperatures in Bhutan at lonelyplanet.com.

There are two main seasons for visiting Bhutan, both of which offer the chance to visit festivals and to trek. The first is in the Spring (March to May). This is the season for wonderful flowers and birds, the days are warm and the mountain peaks are still visible for much of the time. Daytime temperatures in the main centres you are likely to be visiting are around 62 - 71°F (17 - 22° C), increasing through the season. It can even get much hotter – up to 82 - 86°F (28 - 30°C), especially in low lying areas such as Punakha or Wangdi. But nights can still be cool at this time of year, especially early in the season.

The other good time is Autumn (September to November), when there is much less rain, the skies are clear and the drying of chillies on the roofs of houses provides a very photogenic sight. In September, it is slightly wetter with the tail end of monsoon, with rainfall reducing as you go through the season. September temperatures will be between 68 - 77° (20 - 25°C), with pleasant temperatures at night, reducing by about 5 degrees during October/November when nights will also become cool again. Trekking at altitude you need to be prepared for much lower temperatures than are mentioned here.

Summer (June to August) is the monsoon season which means heavy rains, especially in the south. Mountains disappear behind the clouds and the valleys are shrouded in mist. Landslides are frequent occurrences and can cause communication and transport difficulties. However, we don’t actively discourage travel during this season, because it is still a good time to visit Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and surrounding areas in western Bhutan, as long as you are prepared for rain. Striking sights at this time of year are the electric-green rice paddies against a background of the dark forests. In late summer wild orchids are abundant. Summer temperatures will be from 77 - 86°F (25 - 30°C), cooler in the evenings.

Winter (December to February) can be very cold, although December to early January can be a pleasant time to visit western Bhutan, with dry, clear days. Temperatures reach an average of 59°F (15°C) in the valleys (although nights are much colder, sometimes below freezing). Snow is frequent from mid-January to mid-February.

Flora & Fauna

The tiger, one-horned rhino, golden langur, clouded leopard, hispid hare, and the sloth bear live in the lush tropical lowland and hardwood forests in the south. In the temperate zone, grey langur, tiger, common leopard, goral and serow are found in mixed conifer, broadleaf and pine forests. Fruit bearing trees and bamboo provide habitat for the Himalayan black bear, red panda, squirrel, sambar, wild pig, and barking deer. The alpine habitats of the great Himalayan range in the north are home to the snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, Tibetan wolf, antelope, and Himalayan musk deer.

Flora and birds abound with more than 770 species of bird and 5,400 species of plants known to occur throughout the kingdom.

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

The Bhutanese unit of currency is called the Ngultrum and is pegged to the Indian rupee. Ngultrum is not available outside Bhutan and you cannot easily convert Ngultrum back to dollars. You can spend Indian Rupees in Bhutan, and they are at par with Ngultrum. For spending money you should bring US dollars if possible, as they are the easiest currency to change. You get better exchange rates for high value ($100 USD) notes and also in some of the luxury hotels. Euros and sterling are also accepted throughout.

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

Credit Cards

Visa is more readily accepted than MasterCard but there are places that you can use either. It is possible to use credit cards in a couple of ATM’s in Paro and Thimphu, but only to draw out local currency and not foreign currency. So bring all the US$ cash you think you might need as it is difficult to get hold of it in Bhutan.

Cash

This is the best way to pay for market purchases.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Useful Websites:

Recommended Books:

Beyond the Sky and the Earth: a Journey into Bhutan **(Jamie Zeppa) – if you only read one book make it this one! A beautifully told tale of an unseasoned traveller getting to grips with life in the undeveloped world and falling in love with the country and its people.
Hidden Bhutan: Entering the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon (Martin Uitz) – a wonderful collection of anecdotes in easy to read snippets offering an informed perspective on Bhutan’s culture and customs.
Bold Bhutan Beckons (Tim Fischer and Tshering Tashi) – a fascinating study offering both western and eastern perspectives on ancient and modern Bhutan (by virtue of its dual authorship); the sections written by Tshering Tashi are painstakingly researched and are of particular interest as they allow the reader to gain an insider’s insight into the lives and customs of the Bhutanese.
The History of Bhutan (Dr Karma Phuntsho) – a comprehensive and exhaustingly researched history of Bhutan combining both traditional perspectives and modern academic analysis, with substantive discussions on Bhutan’s geography, culture, language and society, this impressive tome offers an incisive introduction to Bhutan.
Dreams of the Peaceful Dragon: Journey into Bhutan (Katie Hickman) – an account of a voyage to the little-visited East of the country long before Bhutan was a tourist destination.
Butter tea at Sunrise: a Year in the Bhutan Himalayas (Britta Das) – another Canadian following in the footsteps of Jamie Zeppa.
Kingdom of the Golden Dragon (Isabel Allende) – a novel set in a mythical kingdom loosely based on Bhutan.
The Blessings of Bhutan (Russ and Blyth Carpenter) – a study of contemporary Bhutan, written in a somewhat quirky style, which gets under the surface to connect with the reality of the life and culture of Bhutan and its people.
Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan **– written by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the first wife of the fourth King and containing interesting insights into the life of the royals and their perspective on the country at large.
Kingdoms Beyond the Clouds: Journeys in Search of the Himalayan Kings (Jonathan Gregson) – an account of his journeys through the Himalayan region and his attempts to interview the (somewhat elusive) royal families of the region, only two of whom (those of Nepal and Bhutan) remain in power.
In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon (Joanna Lumley) – an account of her grandparents’ travels in Bhutan in the 1930s and her thoughts and impressions as she retraces their steps.
Recommendations from Travel Guides
Lonely Planet Guide to Bhutan – 6th edition March 2017
The Footprint Guide to Bhutan – 2nd edition September 2010
Bhutan: Himalayan Mountain Kingdom (Francoise Pommaret) – 2009 (the author is a Tibetologist and ethnologist who has lived and worked in Bhutan)
Bhutan – A Trekker’s Guide by Bart Jordans (2018) which has maps and in-depth summaries of 27 treks across the country.
Film
Travellers and Magicians – a beguiling film directed by one of Bhutan’s most revered lamas, this box-office hit intertwines twin love stories alternating between the real and spiritual worlds in an enchanting way.
The Other Final – an enjoyable documentary showcasing the talents of Bhutan’s footballers playing against Montserrat as the two lowest ranked teams in the world on the occasion of the 2002 World Cup final.

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way the aim is to get your heart rate up.

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Hill training.

The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Practice ‘backpacking’.

Grab your backpack (or borrow one) and head for the hills! If you’re bringing your own backpack, practice adjusting the various straps so you know how it feels in different positions. We aren’t multi-day hiking every day, but you’ll be carrying a day pack almost everyday, so it’s well worth a bit of practice. Backpacks sit differently and so change your centre of balance when it’s full of gear so make sure you put a few pounds of weight in it in training.

Break in your hiking boots.

Blisters and sore feet are no fun at all! So make sure that while you’re getting yourself ready you’re doing the same for your boots. Start by just wearing them around the house, then down the road, and walking the dog. Then ideally do a couple of decent length weekend hikes to prepare them for what is to come.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].