Visa and entry requirements Bhutan:
Passport required
Entry can only take place with a visa, which must be obtained through a tour operator.
Visa costs: 40 USD
Information from the Foreign Office about your trip to Bhutan:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/bhutansicherheit/226702
Bhutan is a landlocked country in the South Asian Himalayas with around 800,000 inhabitants. The kingdom borders Chinese Tibet in the north, the autonomous region of Sikkim in the south and India.
The official language of Bhutan is Dzongkha and the national currency is the Bhutanese Ngultrum, where 1 euro corresponds to around 80 BTN.
The largest cities in Bhutan include Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Paro, Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelephu, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Jakar, Samtse and Nganglam. The country's population consists of 70% Buddhists, 28% Hindus and some minorities. The national sport in Bhutan is archery.
The majority of Bhutan's territory consists of untouched forests and lies at an altitude of over 2,000 meters in the Himalayas.
The highest peak in the country is the 7,570 meter high Gangkhar Puensum. Bhutan's diverse wildlife includes tigers, leopards, elephants, goats, deer and bears.
Despite the abundant mineral resources such as iron ore, lead, copper, marble, slate, gypsum, tin, tungsten, graphite, lime. Coal or zinc, Bhutan is one of the poorer countries in Asia.
Bhutan's economy is based on raw material extraction and a small amount of agriculture, primarily on steadily increasing tourism. The unique and partly untouched nature as well as the numerous religious monasteries and holy sites are visited by almost 200,000 international tourists every year.
The most important sights in Bhutan include the legendary Tigers Nest Monastery at an altitude of 3,100 meters, the Fortress Dzong in Punakha, the Dochula Pass, the great Buddha Dordenma, the Thimphu Trashi Chhoe Dzong - the seat of Bhutan's government, the Dechencholing Royal Palace, the Punakha Bridge, the Nuns' Monastery, the Tongsa Dzong, the Phobjikha Valley, the Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum in Paro, the Drukgyel Dzong, the Traditional School in Thimphu, the Haa Valley, the Local History Museum, the Gangtey Monastery, the Bhutan Museum, the Thimphu Chorten sacred site, the Textile Museum, the National Library, the Tachogang Lhakhang Suspension Bridge, the Chimi Temple, the Bhutan Central Post Office, the Simtokha Dzong and the oldest monastery in Bhutan “Kyichi Lhakhang”.
The capital and largest city of Bhutan is Thimphu with around 120,000 inhabitants. Thimphu lies at an altitude of around 2,300 meters and is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. Bhutan's only international airport is located approximately 6 kilometers from the city of Paro and around 60 kilometers from Thimphu. From there there are regular flight connections to Bangkok, Singapore, Dhaka, Kolkata, Delhi and Kathmandu.
Bhutan is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever traveled to.
In October 2013 I visited this unique state in the world for four days from Dhaka in Bangladesh.
My previously booked tour, including a driver and an English-speaking tour guide, took me to Thimphu for an overnight stay after a first day worth seeing with the Buddha, suspension bridge and various temples.
I even tried out a few bars in the capital in the evening; they were all relatively empty and very simply furnished. However, later in the hour it became very cold both inside and outside and it was time to go.
The next day we made the long crossing through the fog-shrouded mountains to Paro, interrupted by a few interesting stops. In Paro I stayed in my hotel room for two nights until the real highlight of the trip on the third day, with the hike to the Tigers Nest Monastery.
The three-hour climb is relatively strenuous at times, but not too difficult thanks to the well-developed paths. These breathtaking views of the legendary Tigers Nest and the surrounding imposing Himalayan landscape are guaranteed to be one of the best travel destinations in the world.
During the four days in Bhutan, I had a great and unforgettable time, even if it wasn't cheap in the end.
Bhutan is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world and is in the top 3 of my personal rankings.
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