Sikkimg/Darjeeling information

Bhutan
The Last Shangri-La on the Earth " The Land of Thunder Dragon" The kingdom of Bhutan is an exotic land of high mountains and lush valleys snow-clad peaks and clear running springs a pristine ecology and an incredible wealth of wild life. Hidden in the eastern Himalayas between India and Tibet. This sparsely populated country in of six hundred thousand people is the last surviving Mahayana Buddhist state. Bhutan has remained a hidden secreted by the choice for many years. Now it has opened for the visitors and limited numbers of people are welcome to explore this fascinating and mysterious land.

Visa
Foreign travelers must possess a visa for Bhutan, which is granted initially for 14 days. While the actual visa is stamped on arrival in Bhutan upon payment of US $20, visitors need to obtain visa clearance from the Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB) in advance. The visa can be extended in Thimpu for up to six months. The operator making your travel arrangements will handle the official formalities.

Access
Druk Air, Bhutan's airline, operates flights to Paro from Bangkok, Kolkata, Dhaka, Kathmandu and New Delhi. The overland entry/exit point is from the Indian state of West Bengal into Phuntsholing in southwest Bhutan. Phuntsholing is four hours' drive from Bagdogra, the nearest Indian airport, and seven hours' drive from both Gangtok (Sikkim) and Darjeeling. The drive from Phuntsholing to Thimpu takes six hours.

Tariff
The Department of Tourism has set minimum tariffs, which are different for the high and low seasons. Individuals and groups of less than four persons must pay a surcharge. The rates are the same for both cultural tours and treks.

Season
March-May and September-November are the high season months, while June, July and December-February comprises the low season. Bring cotton or light woolen wears in summer (maximum temperature 30 degrees Celsius) and heavy woolens and down jacket in winter (minimum 1.1 degrees Celsius).

Paro airport -Bhutan
International Departure Airport Tax
Any destinations Ng 300/-
(about US$ 7/-)