Bhutan almost entirely lies in the Himalayan mountain range. This small country fitted between China and India is one of the best destinations in the world for a rejuvenating holiday. Thimphu is one of the cleanest, calmest and safest capitals in the world with something most people will enjoy, no traffic jams.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Bhutan must have a valid passport. Citizens of three countries only can enter Bhutan without the requirement of a visa. These countries are the Maldives, Bangladesh, and India. Citizens of any of these three can obtain a permit at the port of entry on producing a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity. All other nationals are required to obtain a visa prior to their trip. You are required to send the photo-page of your passport to your tour operator who will then apply for your visa.  The visa will be processed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) once the full payment of your holiday (including a USD $40 visa fee) has been wire transferred and received in the TCB bank account.  Once received, the visa clearance will be processed within 72 working hours. At your point of entry, you will be required to show your visa clearance letter, the visa will then be stamped into your passport. Visitors who choose to drive in Bhutan must know that the country is not part of either of the Geneva conventions and although an international driving permit is not officially recognized, it is honored and can generally be helpful with police interactions. The only way to get a private vehicle into Bhutan is to drive from India to Bhutan, n.b. there are only two roads leading into the country. Traffic moves on the left side of the road. Most road signs in the country are written into two languages, the official Bhutanese Dzongkha and English.

Traveling hazards

All those who wish to drive in their private vehicles in Bhutan must know that driving conditions in the country, outside of Thimphu are generally difficult. Whilst roads in Thimphu are generally well paved, marked and have proper signage, roads outside of the capital are poorly maintained, often lack any sort of guard rails in dangerous spots and have few signs. Most roads are narrow and steep which adds to the danger. Tourists should consider hiring a local professional driver who is accustomed and knows how to get around Bhutan safely.

Environmental hazards

Although Bhutan is relatively small, its mountainous landscape and vast unpopulated swaths of land which are difficult to access for humans made it a place where large predators flourish. Asiatic black bears, considered to be among the most aggressive bears inhabit parts of Bhutan. These animals are bold and won’t hesitate to rob people of their food or even attack them. Himalayan wolves inhabit Bhutan however attacks by these animals on humans are so rare they are almost unheard of. Despite that, these animals should not be approached when spotted. Bengal tigers can be found throughout Bhutan. These animals are responsible for many deaths around Asia yearly and very few people get out of these attacks without any life-threatening injuries. Rhinos and elephants, both gigantic creatures inhabit various national parks of Bhutan. These creatures generally do not attack people, however, maddened or during the mating season, these behemoths may easily trample people to death. There are several venomous snakes in Bhutan, these include King cobra, several krait species and vipers including the temple viper. The venom of these snakes is lethal and is particularly dangerous in Bhutan due to lack of emergency services outside of large urban areas. There are several large and venomous spider species in Bhutan however none of these have venom potent enough to kill a healthy grown adult. Bhutan is a landlocked country meaning there are no dangerous fish and marine creatures in the country.
Bhutan experiences earthquakes however none in the recent years have been serious enough to cause major damage. Seasonal monsoon rains are the biggest problem in the country as these often cause floods and landslides which create additional danger. Up in the higher mountains, avalanches are a serious hazard. Glacial lake outbursts are also very dangerous and are one of the most serious natural threats in the Himalayan region.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Bhutan however the government of Bhutan requires all visitors traveling from countries with a risk of yellow fever to get a yellow fever vaccination and to be able to present a proof of such upon arrival. Failure to do so will result in not being let into the country until such proof is presented. There are several other vaccinations which are not required but recommended. These are the routine vaccines also known as the MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis and rabies vaccine. Malaria is present in Bhutan and although there are no vaccinations against it, there are several ways to protect from it. The disease is contracted through mosquito bites, therefore, it is vital to protect against these by using bug sprays or installing mosquito nets in the windows of your accommodation. Medicine on prescription against malaria is also available however it may not be readily available on the spot. There are 32 public hospitals across Bhutan and although they are distributed throughout Bhutan’s largest settlements, some of the most remote areas of the country do not receive proper health services or emergency services. Despite that, the situation is constantly improving as healthcare is the number one focus of the Bhutanese government. When purchasing medical insurance, make sure it covers for emergency airlift if you plan on hiking the cross country. Private services are also available however most of these are focused in around Thimphu.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Bhutan is generally safe. Crime, in general, is very low, both violent and petty crime is rare making Bhutan considerably safer than its neighboring countries. Despite that falling, a victim of either violent or petty crime cannot be ruled out. Tourists, especially those who are the first-time visitors should not let their guard down and stay cautious regardless of their surroundings. Staying low key, being discreet with money and not wearing expensive jewelry always significantly reduces the risk of attracting any unwanted and potentially dangerous attention. Bhutan is a party to the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances however there is very little information on the nature, extent, and pattern of drug use in Bhutan, even less so on consequences of drug use.

Summary

Bhutan is certainly one of the most unique spots in Asia and the entire world. The country is most notable for some of the tallest and yet unclimbed mountains, incredible architecture, unique Bhutanese culture and what follows is the amazing festivals. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.bhutan.travel/page/visaentry-permit
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/bhutan