The Bhutan International festival will be the experience of a lifetime, and it starts right now! Here are a few suggestions to make your planning easier.
Getting There
By Land
The best entry point, if you are going to Thimphu, is through Phuentsholing. The city is next to the Indian border and approximately 170 km from the Indian national airport at Bagdora. From Phuentsholing, it is a beautiful 6 hour drive to Thimphu.
By Air
You can fly to Bhutan with either Drukair or Bhutan Airlines from Bagdora, Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka, Gaya, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Mumbai and Singapore. All flights fly into Paro, and you can easily find a taxi or one of the festival shuttle buses to Thimphu. It’s a beautiful journey through Bhutan’s hilly countryside, and takes approximately one hour.
Visas & More
If you’re from India, Bangladesh or the Maldives, you can get a simple tourist visa on arrival. All other travellers to Bhutan must book their trip with a licensed Bhutanese tour agency or one of our international partners. The agency will take care of your visa application. The Bhutan government has a requirement that you spend a minimum of $200 per day during your visit: this can include a stay at a 3 star (or more) hotel, all meals, a Bhutanese tour guide, internal transport, and camping equipment for those who want to combine the trip with some trekking. The fee also includes a sustainable tourism royalty of $65 that goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation and the building of infrastructure. This is to ensure that the nation you visit can also prosper through your stay. The travel requirements are a part of Bhutan’s “High value. Low impact” policy.
Accommodation
There is a wide range of accommodation in Thimphu, from some of the world’s most breath-taking luxury hotels to intimate boutique venues. The charming ancient capital offers amazing Bhutanese architecture as well as beautiful locally inspired interior design.
Contact us for more information on travel packages and accommodation.
Exclusive Offer: Le Méridien is offering a very special price for your stay during BHIF. For more information and to take advantage of this incredible deal: http://deals.lemeridien.com/Le-Meridien-Thimphu-4056/special-offers?language=en_US&IM=PP_LHN_SOP_US_MD_4056
Tickets
Festival tickets will be available at all licensed hotels in Thimphu. Tickets are free for Bhutanese visitors, and $50 for tourists. This will give you access to all the events and concerts taking place over the course of the festival. Some events have a limited number of seats, so make sure to arrive in time to get a good spot.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to offer our assistance in any way we can.