Getting there

If you’re travelling from Malaysia, book a flight with Druk Air, which flies from either Singapore or Bangkok, Thailand. The airline flies twice weekly to Bhutan from Singapore (daily from Bangkok), although in December, it is offering an extra flight from Singapore. The flight takes about five hours, with a 45-minute layover in Guwahati, India.

Before you start planning, here are some things to consider:

Except for Indian nationals, all tourists need a visa to enter Bhutan. Bhutan also requires all tourists to engage in a licensed local tour operator.

There are daily minimum tariffs set by the government too and this varies depending on season.

For example, during high travel season (March to May and September to November), each person is required to spend at least US$250 (RM1,045) a night in Bhutan.

The tariff covers your guide’s fee (do try to tip them at the end of your trip), entrance fees to all tourist attractions, food at approved establishments and three-star accommodations. Staying at luxury accommodations means paying more.

There are surcharges to take into account too. For example, if you are travelling with only one other person, you would need to pay an extra US$30 (RM125) per night. Solo travellers need to pay up to US$40 (RM167) a night.

Planning for a trip to Bhutan can get a little confusing sometimes, especially if you have to go through many different companies or agencies. Druk Asia makes all these arrangements for clients without going through a middleman.

For quotations and more information, email hello@drukasia.com or malaysia@drukasia.com, or call 018-661 7699.