Bhutan, “The Last Shangrila” will be the next place you may want to visit and enjoy your vacation.
It’s the best place in the Himalayan neighborhood to explore the unspoiled culture and natural beauty.
You can observe spectacular mountain peaks and untouched wilderness preserved for ages.
The surroundings are serene and pristine throughout the year, with four seasons doing their magic on nature and the environment.
Bhutanese, although simple and minimalistic, know how to live wonderful lives. A jam-packed calendar of events all around the year keeps them cheerful.
Everyone who visits Bhutan has the same typical sentiment, “stunned by mystical places and people’s friendliness.”
Bhutan is 100 % safe for tourists, including solo travelers. There is no record of tourists being mugged or harassed!
You won’t regret planning a solo trip to Bhutan.
However, you need to know about tourism in the country. Then, you can devise a master plan to enjoy your days in Bhutan.
In this article, you can find every tiny detail to plan a perfect solo trip to Bhutan.
1. Look for The Best Tour Operator in The Country
There are 235 officially recognized Bhutanese tour operators to accompany you on your journey.
Find a licensed tour operator in Bhutan that the Tourism Council has approved. Consult tourist sites and forums before booking a tour operator if you aren’t sure which to pick.
Check how your single status influences the daily rates of your potential trip operator. Some companies provide discounts to groups of three or fewer people, while others charge extra for lone travelers.
Most tour operators offer packages for group, solo, and family trips. So, choose the best among them.
Once you have hired your tour operator, they will assist you in obtaining your visa, booking your hotels, and transportation.
2. Pay The Tour Operator in Advance for A Solo Trip To Bhutan
You must pay for your trip’s expenses in advance to travel to Bhutan.
The fee includes a daily $250 fee for your visit, which covers lodging, food, guide services, transportation, driver, and the visa.
The $250 tariff includes a $65 royalty that goes to the Bhutanese government’s education, healthcare, and welfare services and covers your trip expenses.
3. Work With Your Tour Operator To Get A Visa
You will need a visa to visit Bhutan unless you’re a citizen of India, Bangladesh, or the Maldives.
Fortunately, you only have to fill out an online form and email a photocopy of your passport to your tour operator to complete this process.
After you pay your total fee to your tour operator, they will pass it on to the Tourism Council of Bhutan, and then the TCB will process your visa within 72 hours.
4. Book a Flight Ticket To Bhutan
You can book a flight to Bhutan as soon as your visa is confirmed. Flights are available to Paro airport from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, and Singapore.
The Paro International Airport is one of the most dangerous in the world, and only eight professional pilots are allowed to operate the flights in Bhutan.
Due to the harsh and often changing weather patterns, it’s best to book flexible tickets, where you can rebook canceled flights or change plans based on weather conditions.
5. Carry Additional Cash in Your Pocket
It doesn’t mean you won’t need money throughout your vacation just because you have paid for your lodging, transportation, tour services, and food.
In case of an emergency or additional plans, you are on the safer side if you carry extra cash.
You should anticipate paying substantial fees for some sacred and traditional artifacts that you don’t want to miss.
When you reach Bhutan, you can exchange your currency for Bhutanese Ngultrum. You can pay in Ngultrum wherever you go in the country.
6. Check Your Health Insurance
Check with your health insurance company before visiting Bhutan to be on the safer side in case of emergencies.
No need to worry about paying bills for hospital check-ups and painkillers. It’s free in Bhutan!
However, if you plan for trekking in Bhutan, you may be weeks or days away from the nearest medical clinic.
Your tour operator can arrange for a paid helicopter to help you reach hospitals in the event of acute altitude sickness or other mishaps.
7. Get Your Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A Vaccines
Get vaccinated against tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A, as well as hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, influenza, and rabies before leaving.
In addition, you should get any additional preventative therapy or vaccines relevant to your medical history.
8. Learn About Local Customs in Bhutan
Try to learn the local culture and customs of Bhutan before your flight. It will help you a lot to blend in when you arrive, and also help you assimilate the culture to its fullest.
Bhutan is, of course, proud and protective of its culture. You may need to respect the culture and local customs in Bhutan.
You will learn a lot about how things are done and pick up a few Zen practices on appreciating happiness in your life by being nice.
9. Pack Up Necessary Items for a Solo Trip to Bhutan
Bhutan is a Himalayan country, and the weather is quite cold.
However, weather changes quickly in Bhutan, and you will need enough clothing to be warm without becoming overheated.
You will want to bring medicines and other first-aid supplies, especially if you plan a solo trip to Bhutan.
These nine-pointers are essential to plan a solo trip to Bhutan. You should fulfill all the necessary documentation before leaving.
That alone is not enough to have a fantastic vacation. You will need a well-organized plan for a successful trip to Bhutan. Execute the given plan, and rest is assured.
Solo Trip To Bhutan Related Q & As
Is it feasible for solo travelers to visit Bhutan?
It is much more than feasible for solo travelers to visit Bhutan.
Bhutan is 100 % safe for you to roam around and enjoy your vacation anywhere in the country.
Bhutanese travel agencies provide excellent transportation throughout your journey. They will provide you with a professional tour guide throughout your visit.
Is it possible for women to travel alone in Bhutan?
Indeed, any woman from around the world can travel to Bhutan by herself.
However, a solitary female traveler will not be able to explore Bhutan on her own without a guide.
Tourists visiting Bhutan must enter through an authorized local travel operator and be escorted by a tour guide.
Is traveling alone in Bhutan safe for a woman?
Bhutan is undoubtedly one of the safest places for a lady seeking to learn about diverse cultures and explore pristine nature.
Bhutanese people are known for their hospitality, kindness, and respect. They appreciate others because of their Buddhist values.
Bhutan was placed 13th out of 163 countries on the 2017 Global Peace Index (GPI), making it the most peaceful country in South Asia. It’s safe for all to make a solo trip to Bhutan.
Do’s and Don’ts for Travelers in Bhutan
When making a solo trip to Bhutan, you may not remember everything you should or shouldn’t do while in Bhutan.
Let’s give some do’s and don’ts that you may screenshot or download on your phone to remind yourself of while in Bhutan.
Do’s
- Bhutan is a safe place for visitors, but it’s much better if you give a zero chance for any hazard.
- Take the same basic measures you would anywhere to protect yourself.
- Always keep proper travel documents on you and be prepared to show them if necessary.
- Inquire about and be educated about the tour operators’ or hotels’ cancellation policies, as each tour operator and the hotel has its unique cancellation and refund policy.
- Report any lost or stolen travel documents to the nearest immigration, police, or TCB office.
- Dress appropriately when visiting offices and religious sites.
- Remove your footwear and hat before entering temples and monasteries.
- Respect heritage and religious places and monuments.
- Report any misconduct by guides, drivers, and tour operators to the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Don’ts
- Avoid walking in the alleyways late at night and avoid approaching dogs: Stray dogs are a lot of nuisance and sometimes dangerous.
- Touching murals, sacred paintings, and temple items are considered disrespectful in local culture.
- Smoking in public places is completely forbidden and punishable by fines, so please avoid doing so.
- Drones are not permitted to be carried or used.
- It is not acceptable to spit on the wall or other surfaces.
- Avoid taking photographs and video in prohibited areas.
- Feeding animals on highways, parks, and other public areas are prohibited.
- It is forbidden to wash, swim, or throw anything into lakes and rivers.
- It is culturally offensive to sit with legs stretched in front of the altar.
Final Thoughts
A solo trip to Bhutan is the best thing you can do to discover yourself in pristine nature with friendly locals.
You will never feel lonely traveling to Bhutan by yourself! You will be accompanied by a hiking guide, cooks, helper while exploring Bhutan.
Plan your solo trip to Bhutan through a reputed tour operator, such as Norbu Bhutan to have the best vacation!
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