Food

Spicy chilies (ema) mixed with a cheese sauce called emadatse is the national dish of Bhutan. Chilies are used in Bhutanese cooking as a vegetable and not just a spice. Red and white rice along with fresh vegetables are provided at every meal in Bhutan. Meats, poultry and fish are often found on Bhutanese menus as well as Tibetan momos and noodle dishes. Chefs in Bhutan traditionally make food extra spicy, but they also try to lessen the spice when preparing food for consumption by westerners.

 
Accommodations

All hotels in Bhutan are privately owned. The hotels in western Bhutan  & central Bhutan are better than hotels in the Far East but ensure a comfortable stay. Rooms are decorated in the traditional Bhutanese style. The bathrooms are western in style with running hot water. Food prepared at a hotel is typically tempered for a western palate and served buffet style.


Money

Be prepared to carry Bhutanese currency with you. There are no ATM machines in all of Bhutan and most small shops do not take credit cards. The Bhutanese currency is the ngultrum (nu). The exchange rate is approximately 45nu to 1 US dollar. The ngultrum is valued the same as the Indian rupee and both the ngultrum and the rupee are accepted in Bhutan. US dollars, traveler’s checks and other currencies can be exchanged at major banks in larger towns, but be aware that banks typically close at 1:00 pm in Bhutan. For the daily currency exchange rate visit: www.xe.com


Clothing

Wearing shorts for hiking in the country and walking in towns is fine, but out of respect for the Bhutanese culture; do not wear shorts in public buildings and monasteries. Wear good walking shoes, carry rain gear, and don’t forget sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray when exploring Bhutan.
 

Electronics

GSM and satellite phones work in Bhutan. Personal videos, cameras, personal computers, portable telephones or any other electronic device should be registered with the customs authorities on arrival in Bhutan and will be checked again on departure. Electrical outlets are standard Indian round pin. 230v, 50 cycle AC.


Smoking

Tobacco smoking is not allowed in most areas of Bhutan, and even the growing or sale of tobacco is prohibited. You are allowed to bring up to 100 tobacco cigarettes into Bhutan, but all tobacco is subject to a 200% tax.

Cultural Crossroads Tours of Bhutan at a Glance

• Back Roads of Bhutan
  

  Cultural Crossroads invites you to participate in a special trip to unexplored Bhutan. The country is landlocked between the Himalayas, India and Tibetan. There are few developed Bhutan has been culturally preserved and is unaltered by the modern global culture that most other nations have influencing them. It is one of the most unique places to visit. It is the only country where Buddhism is the state religion and the country does not measure its success by Gross Domestic Product, but by Gross National Happiness. Bhutan is a small country with very fragile environment, so the government is serious and giving first priority to preserve the natural environment. Bhutan is set to become first nation in the world where the citizens have a constitutional obligation to preserve the environment. Bhutan constitution emphasizes the need for every citizen of the country to protect the environment, conserve its rich biodiversity and prevent ecological degradation including noise, visual and physical pollution through the adoption of environment friendly practices and ethos. Bhutan is committed to keep minimum of 60% of its forest cover forever.

  Cultural Crossroads makes sure our travelers carry out what they carry in, and how they can help conserve water and electricity, and other items in their hotel rooms. Combined with a well preserved ancient culture, this country is truly a fascinating and unique place to visit.

  We will visit many villages, meet with local elders/leaders and farmers and learn about the challenges they face, their daily activities, and ways to improve their living conditions. Our travelers will experience the HAA district, not yet explored by other tour operators. Cultural Crossroads participants will enjoy a special permit to enter the Tigers’s Nest monastery (Taktsang). We will also meet and interact with lamas and monks from the various monasteries and temples and have opportunities to meet with local artisans and crafts people. Traditional handicraft makers and artisans form a big bulk of the Bhutanese population. The sale of their products is being encouraged to visitors helping the local people to benefit from the rich. Visitors can also contribute to locals eating their wonderful local food encouraging farmers to produce more agricultural products for the demanding market for better living. Animal husbandry is still a predominant activity amongst rural population. The purchase of fresh dairy products like cheese, butter, milk, and meat to feed the visitors during their travel to Bhutan is another economic net contributing to triple bottom line.

  The tour is for 8-16 travelers only, so you can enjoy the company of others, or fill the trip with your friends and/or family. Our small group size provides you with special opportunities and private access for unique cultural experiences.

  Cultural Crossroads donates the portion of our profits to sustainable community programs in the countries we travel to. In Bhutan we give to the Tarayana Foundation (http://www.tarayanafoundation.org/) a non-profit organization working to reduce poverty and enhance the lives of people in rural communities in Bhutan.