Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [199]
Southern foothills 2000mm to 3500mm per year.
Southern border area 3000mm to 5000mm per year.
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COURSES
There are no formal courses offered in Bhutan but your tour operator may be able to arrange programs (meditation, Buddhism, cooking etc) to meet your particular interest. Given sufficient notice, the Dzongkha Development Commission can arrange brief courses and lectures on language and music.
With prior arrangement through your tour operator, WWF (www.wwfbhutan.org.bt; Click here) and RSPN (www.rspn-bhutan.org; Click here) can arrange lectures and discussion groups on wildlife and environmental issues, and the Folk Heritage Museum (Click here) can provide courses in Bhutanese cooking and paper making.
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CUSTOMS
You will receive a baggage declaration form to complete when you arrive in Bhutan. For tourists, the main purpose of this form is to ensure that you re-export anything you bring into the country. List any expensive equipment that you are carrying, such as cameras and portable computers. Customs officials usually want to see the items that you list, and then they endorse the form and return it to you. Don’t lose it as you must return it when you leave the country.
Duty-free allowances include 2L of liquor but cigarettes attract a 200% duty upon arrival and your limit is 200 (ie one carton). There are no restrictions on other personal effects, including trekking gear, brought into the country.
Departure formalities are straightforward, but you’ll need to produce the form that you completed on arrival and may need to show all of the items listed on it. A lost form means complications and delays. If you lose the form, let your guide know as soon as possible so that special arrangements can be made to avoid any inconvenience.
The export of antiques and wildlife products is prohibited. If you purchase a souvenir that looks old, have your guide clear it as a nonantique item with the Division of Cultural Properties ( 02-322284; fax 02-323286). Customs authorities pay special attention to religious statues. It would be prudent to have any such statue cleared, old or not.
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DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
Fortunately, travel in Bhutan is still largely immune to the major banes of travel in Asia – theft and begging. It does, however, have some irritations of its own.
Altitude
The maximum elevation that you can reach on a Bhutanese road (3140m in the west and 3750m in the east) is lower than that which causes altitude problems for most people. There are rare individuals who can suffer from altitude problems even at elevations as low as Thimphu (2320m); if you have had previous altitude problems at these elevations, avoid travelling to Bhutan.
Most treks go to extremely high elevations. If you are planning a trek, Click here for advice about acclimatisation.
Dogs
Those same cute dogs that wag their tails for you during the day turn into barking monsters at night. Don’t forget to bring earplugs. There is little danger of dog bites, but occasional rabies outbreaks occur in rural Bhutan, and if you are going trekking, be wary of big dogs guarding properties.
Weather
You are always close to nature in Bhutan, and often this proximity affects your travel schedule, especially Druk Air flights. Even on a cultural tour you will be windblown in towns such as Paro, Wangdue Phodrang and Jakar. Clouds often obscure the mountain views that you made such an effort to see. Rain can turn trails and paths into a sea of mud, and flights are often delayed by bad weather. Leeches inhabit the lower valleys and can be a real irritation in the monsoon season. A rainstorm can turn small streams into torrents, moving huge boulders and smashing bridges.
Winding Roads & Breakdowns
If you venture east of Thimphu, you will spend hours driving on rough, winding roads. Even those who have never been carsick before can get squeamish with the constant bouncing and motion, especially in the back seat of a van or bus. Vehicles do break