Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [217]
Lingkor Tours and Treks ( 02-323417; fax 323402; www.lingkor.com; PO Box 202, Thimphu)
Lotus Adventures ( 02-322191; fax 325678; equbhu@druknet.bt; PO Box 706, Thimphu) Whitewater rafting specialist.
Masagang Tours ( 02-323206; fax 02-323718; masagang@druknet.bt; www.masagang.com) Tours based in the Ura Valley.
Namsey Adventure ( 02-325616; fax 324297; namsay@druknet.bt; PO Box 549, Thimphu)
Passage to Himalayas ( 02-321726; fax 321727; lekid@druknet.net.bt; PO Box 1068, Thimphu)
Rainbow Tours and Treks ( 02-323270; fax 322960; rainbow@druknet.bt; PO Box 641, Thimphu)
Sakten Tours and Treks ( 02-323899; fax 323545; sakten@druknet.bt; PO Box 532, Thimphu)
Snow Leopard Trekking Co. ( 02-321822; fax 325684; www.snowleopardtreks.com; PO Box 953, Thimphu)
Snow White Treks and Tours ( 02-323028; fax 321696; www.snowwhitetours.com.bt; PO Box 112, Thimphu)
Tashi Tours and Travels ( 02-323027; fax 323666; bhutantashitours.com; PO Box 423, Thimphu)
Thoesam Tours and Trekking ( 02-365101; fax 365073; thoesam@druknet.bt; PO Box 629, Thimphu)
Thunder Dragon Treks ( 02-321999; fax 321963; www.thunderdragontreks.com; PO Box 303, Thimphu)
White Tara Tours and Treks ( 02-333224; fax 326942; wtara@druknet.net.bt; PO Box 467, Thimphu)
Windhorse Tours ( 02-326026; fax 326025; www.windhorsetours.com; PO Box 1021, Thimphu)
Yangphel Adventure Travel ( 02-323293; fax 322897; www.yangphel.com; PO Box 236, Thimphu) One of the largest, also specialising in fishing tours.
Yu Druk Tours and Treks ( 02-323461; fax 322116; www.yudruk.com; PO Box 140, Thimphu) Bicycling and trekking specialists.
Zhidey Bhutan Tours and Treks ( 02-328324; fax 327511; zhidey@druknet.bt; PO Box 841, Thimphu)
All operators in Bhutan are subject to government regulations that specify services, standards and rates. You are quite safe no matter which company you choose, though the large companies do have more clout to obtain reservations in hotels and on Druk Air.
In addition to Etho Metho and BTCL, the largest operators are Yangphel, International Treks and Tours, Rainbow and Gangri.
There are both advantages and disadvantages in dealing with the largest companies. One Bhutanese hotelier suggested that the following companies would be large enough to handle overseas queries, but still small enough that the owner would pay personal attention to your program: Bae-yul, Bhutan Kaze, Bhutan Mandala, Chhundu, Sakten, Tashi, Thunder Dragon, Windhorse, Yodsel and Yu Druk.
Chhundu is renowned for its high-quality personal service, and it’s responsible for looking after many VIP clients. Other companies known for their personal attention and quality service are Lhomen, Namsey, Yu Druk and Bhutan Travel Bureau. Bhutan Kaze and Bhutan Mandala specialise in service to Japanese clients.
If you are planning to go trekking, you might consider one of the companies that specialises in this area. The biggest trek operators are Yangphel, International, Yu Druk, Lhomen, Tashi and Namsey.
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GETTING AROUND
Because Bhutan has no domestic air service, doesn’t yet possess any helicopters and does not have a centimetre of railway track, the only way to see the country is either by foot or by road.
There is one main road: the National Highway, a 3.5m-wide stretch of tarmac that winds its way up and down mountains, across clattering bridges, along the side of cliffs and over high mountain passes. Rivers, mudflows and rockfalls present continual hazards, especially when it rains. The road can easily become blocked due to snow or landslides and can take anywhere from an hour to several days to clear. Take plenty of reading material.
Unless you want to walk, the only way to travel between towns in the south of Bhutan is via India, because there are no roads. Currently this is impractical for foreigners since the only road entry point that foreigners are allowed to use is Phuentsholing.
Tour operators use Japanese-made buses, minivans and cars, depending on the size of the group. These vehicles can take you almost anywhere in the