Yuelkor Tours

Is licenced tour operator and is operated by a highly experienced and committed staff. We organise trips in responsible and professional manner with the aim to provide visitor the best experience of Bhutan. We are committed to making your stay in our country special and memorable.

Our specialised tour and trekking programmes will give you an intimate insight into Bhutan’s unique culture and fiercely guarded environment. We also design trips to suit specific interests of our clients like cycling, photography, walk, pilgrimage, rafting, among others.

TREKKING BETWEEN UNCLIMBED PEAKSTrekking in Bhutan involves walking along routes over 7,000m mountains. The peaks are permanently covered in snow. Mountaineering is restricted in Bhutan because the locals believe that mountains are the abodes of gods and deities.

In Bhutan, all trekking supplies – camping equipment and meals are carried by pack animals. For walkers, the most appropriate trekking times are mid-March to mid-May and mid-September to the beginning of November. There are, however, also trekking routes that are better suited for summer and winter. Trekking detail can be found on our web site.

TOURISM POLICYThe tourism policy of the Royal Government of Bhutan is based on a concept of “High Value & Low Impact”. Founded on the principle of sustainability, tourism must be environmentally friendly, socially and culturally beneficial, and economically viable.

A portion of tariff (currently 35 percent) helps sustain the provision of free medical care and education for all in the country. All tour operators are subject to this all-inclusive rate.

LANGUAGEDzongkha is the national language of Bhutan. Although English is widely spoken, it may be helpful to learn a few simple words:

• Hello Kuzuzangpo • Your name, please Na gi tsen, la• Thank You Kadrinchey • No Thank You Mizhu• Good Bye Lok jey ge • Good Luck Tashi Delek• Toilet Chabsa• How much? Ga dem chi mo?• Water Chu• Tea Jha• Meals Zhego• Money Teru• Car Numkhor• Driver Deyop• Guide Lamten pa

Experience your holidays in Bhutan…

Yuelkor Tours & Travels

YUELKOR TOURS AND TRAVELPost Box: 738

Thimphu, Kingdom of BhutanPh: +975-2-323280

Mobile: + 975-77113620E-mail: yuelkortours@gmail.com

Web: www.yuelkortours.com

Tours and Travel

THE WAY TO BHUTANUntil the 1960s, the Kingdom of Bhutan was accessible only by foot. The construction of road from Phuentsholing to Thimphu and Paro made travel by car and bus possible. The lone international airport in Paro was constructed only in the1980s.

FLYING TO THE LAND OF THUNDER DRAGONOne of the country’s two airlines, Drukair, flies to seven destinations - Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Singapore. Bhutan Airlines, which was launched in October 2013, currently flies between Paro and Bangkok.

On a clear weather, one can see the Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga.

Drukair’s flight schedules are available on www.drukair.com.bt. Flights are booked through Tour operators who will also arrange Visa.

TRAVEL BY LANDVisitors can enter the country from the border town of Phuentsholing, 170km from Bagdora airport, India. A combination of overland and air travel is also possible. Overland travel requires Visa.

TRAVELLING IN BHUTANAll the major towns in Bhutan are accessible by road. However, difficult terrain can make travel slow. But visitors will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the towering virgin mountains, lush green jungles, rural hamlets and the many beautiful monasteries that dot the hillsides.

10th day of the Bhutanese calendar. Due to the nature of lunar calendar, tshechu dates vary from year to year. Visitors can check the dates on our website.

Below are the most prominent festivals in Bhutan. We also recommend some of the lesser-known festivals in smaller monasteries.

Festival Places Duration Month

Trongsa Tsechu Trongsa Dzong 3 days January

Lhuntse Tsechu Lhuntse Dzong 3 days January

PunakhaDromche Punakha Dzong 5 days February

Chorten Kora Trashiyangtse 1 day Feb/Mar

Paro Tsechu Paro Dzong 5 days Mar/April

Nimalung Tsechu Bumthang 3 days June

Kurjey Tsechu Bumthang 1 day June

Thimphu Drubchen Thimphu Dzong 4 days September

Thimphu TSechu Thimphu Dzong 3 days Sep/Oct

Wangdue TSechu Wangdue Dzong 3 days September

Thangbi Mani Bumthang 3 days September

Jambay Lhakhang Bumthang 4 days October

Prakar Duchoe Bumthang 3 days October

Mongar Tsechu Mongar Dzong 3 days December

Trashigang Tsechu Trashigang 3 days December

Gomphu Kora Trashiyangtse 3 days MarchThe month will vary according to the Lunar month

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTSTourist can book a package holiday to Bhutan through both Bhutanese and international tour operators. The Royal Government of Bhutan sets minimum selling prices for packages to Bhutan and this must be paid in USD prior to arrival in in the country:

USD 250 per person per day in the seasons (January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December)

USD 200 per person per day in the season (July, August)

The minimum Price includes: A sustainable tourism Royalty of USD 65 is levied per person per night. This Royalty goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other social cost.

ACCOMMODATIONInclusive of:

All mealsAll travel with a licenced Bhutanese tour guideAll internal transportationCamping equipment and haulage for trekking tours

The above mentioned selling prices apply to groups of 3 or more. For independent travellers, surcharges apply. For children and students discounts are available. Detailed pricing and package information are available at our web site.

GETTING A VISAWith the exception of travellers from India, Bangladesh and Maldives, all visitors to Bhutan require a Visa. Visa is issued only when a visitor’s booking is confirmed through a Bhutanese or international tour agent. Visa procurement is done via tour operator. Similarly, air ticket will be issued only after Visa is issued to the visitor. Upon entry to Bhutan, the Visa is stamped into the passport.

THE BEST TIMES TO TRAVELThe kingdom stretches across all climatic zones, from sub-tropical in the south to the moderate heights of 2,000-2,500m in the centre to the Alpine world of the towering Himalayas and glaciers of the north-east.

In winter, dry and pleasant conditions make it the best time of year for the bird watching in the jungles, villages, trekking in the lower altitudes or a bicycle trip along quite mountain roads.

The revered and endangered Black-necked cranes migrate from Tibet to spend the winter in the warmer valleys of Bumdeling in the east and Phobjikha in west.

Spring is the trekking season in the moderate altitudes. Above 3,000m forest, spectacular rhododendrons bloom. Paro tsechus, one of the most popular tshechu in Bhutan is held in spring. Temperature in the Alpine regions is pleasant and warm.

Monsoon starts from May.

In central and western Bhutan, summer pleasant. Rains fall only for a small part of day, which adequate tour and sight-seeing possible. Treks in high mountain areas, e.g. Snowman trek, will give visitors opportunity to see vast, verdant green meadows, wide Blue Poppy and Edelweiss pastures.

Autumn is the traditional high tourist season in Bhutan. September and October have the highest number of Tsechu in the country. Trekkers can enjoy the clear view of the mountains. Autumn is also rice harvest season, during which time visitors can see picturesque bucolic landscapes and breath-taking terraces of gold.

Temperature and vegetation in the altitudes between 200-300m are comparable to the moderate climate of Central Europe. The tree line lies below 4,000m. During winter there is little precipitation. Snow rarely falls below 2,500 meters.

DISTANCES AND TRAVEL TIMES WITHIN BHUTAN

From/To Distance (Km) Approx. Travel Times

Thimphu-Paro 65 1 hr 30 min

Thimphu-Phuntsholing 176 6 hrs

Phuntsholing-Bagdora(India) 170 4 hrs

Thimphu-Haa 115 3 hrs 30 min

Haa- Paro 60 2 hrs 30 min

Thimphu-Wangduephodrang 70 2 hrs

Thimphu-Punakha 77 2 hrs 30 min

Punakha-WAngduephodrang 21 30 min

Wangduephodrang-Trongsa 129 4 hrs

Trongsa-Bumthang 68 2 hrs 30 min

Bumthang-Mongar 193 6 hrs 30 min

Mongar-Trashigang 90 3 hrs

Trashigang-Trashiyangtse 55 2 hrs

THE MONASTIC FESTIVALSIn all the dzongs and major monasteries, annual three-day festival called tshechu is held. Tsechu is usually conducted on the