Planning a trip is not easy work for anyone. Having a well-planned idea in your mind might not be as easy to implement as it is to think. Therefore, everything you do needs proper planning and needs to be just as realistic. If you are planning to go on a Nepal and Bhutan tour, you have to keep in mind that your trip depends on the policies and different cultures in these countries. Both the spellbinding countries have their own beauty and obligations for the visitors to explore and remember.
In this article, we have mentioned everything you need to know about planning a Nepal and Bhutan tour. Make sure to read till the end of this article to know more!
Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Bhutan
Guide to your Nepal tour
Nepal is possibly one of the most enchanting countries with a lot of prospects for tourism. There is plenty of natural beauty in almost every sphere of the country as there are cultural aspects to discover. The Himalayan country also has a few sets of regulations or cultural differences from the rest of the world, that any visitor from another country needs to remember at all times during their visit.
What is the best season to go on a Nepal tour?
The best season to go on a Nepal tour is either fall or spring. The temperature and weather in Nepal is moderate almost throughout the year. Likewise, the hilly region of Nepal is very accommodating for all types of people. You won’t have to go through extreme weather conditions here. Spring and fall during your hilly region tour is going to be favorable. And, winter and summers in the hills are not as extreme either, since it is neither too cold nor too warm here.
However, if you are going to the Terai or the Himalayan region during your tour, it is best to skip summer, winter, or monsoon. The trails and roads in rural parts of Nepal are not as convenient to travel through. While even some locations in the hilly region of the country aren’t as easy to travel, the trails are extremely dangerous during winter or summer in the Himalayan region. And, the terai region can get extremely hot during summer, which will not be as suitable for making tours of the region.
Overall, the best possible season to go on a Nepal tour is either fall or spring when the weather is moderate, the air is crisp and fresh while both nights and days provide convenience to the visitors in every possible way.
Things to remember during Nepal tour
The following are some of the things to remember during your Nepal tour:
Visa requirements
The regulations and requirements for visas vary from country after country. Hence, you have to be familiar with the visa requirements of Nepal. You can visit Nepali embassies or consulates in your country to proceed with your visa development.
Etiquettes and culture
Before you start your journey, you have to move as per the etiquettes and culture of Nepal. The country is extremely traditional in their core values and morals. The Western or any other part of the world might not even have known of the culture as that followed and respected in Nepal. To avoid or lessen any cultural barriers, it is necessary to get adequate knowledge about the same.
Transportation
Finding transportation in Nepal might be an issue for many. The most popular forms of transportations in the country are motorbikes, private cars, and public vehicles (microbus, taxi, bus, tempo, etc.). When in Nepal, you can easily get access to cheap public commutes without an issue. But, getting a taxi as a tourist is the best way to avoid confusion during travel.
Health and safety
Going on treks in Nepal requires lots of health and safety supervision from not only the guides and tour agencies but also the tourists themselves. It is necessary to get a diagnosis on any health hazards that he or she might be a victim of before starting off with the tour. And, getting vaccinations also becomes mandatory for all the visitors.
Accommodation
Finding accommodation is not all that tough either. If you have been depending on your tour agency for this factor, you can let them know about your budget and expectations. Similarly, if you are on the hunt for the best place to stay by yourself, it is wise to go through all the options you can find on the internet as well as many other hotel booking platforms both online and offline.
Get to know the destinations
Different destinations have different specialties during different seasons. You can best visit Ghorepani-Poonhill, Annapurna Base Camp, or Langtang during spring. During summer and winter, you can go on trips to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, etc. And, during fall, you can visit Everest base camp and Annapurna Circuit.
prayer flags on top of Annapurna base camp
prayer flags on top of Annapurna base camp
Guide to your Bhutan tour
Your Bhutan tour is going to be adventurous and a discovery of the old kingdom with lots of ancient aspects to marvel at. The country is not like any other countries in South Asia, though it shares a close similarity with the Chinese culture, but only to an extent. The Bhutan government has lots of strict rules that need to be kept in mind by the tourists.
What is the best season to go on the Bhutan tour?
The best time of the year to go on the Bhutan tour is fall or spring. Major destinations that you will be visiting during your Bhutan tour might take you to just as dangerous trails. One cannot always successfully complete trails that are difficult to climb in rainy seasons or during extreme winters. But fall and spring always have clear blue skies shining brightly for the visitors.
From Dzongs to the Tiger’s Nest monastery, you won’t have to go through any extreme inconvenience, even as a beginner trekker and a traveler when you choose the right season for the tour. If you, whatsoever, pay the visits during summer and winter, you may have to suffer from rainfall during tours as well as extreme cold, leading to inconveniences.
Things to remember during the Bhutan tour
The following are some of the things to remember during Bhutan tour:
Local etiquette
The Bhutanese people are very conscious about their behavioral patterns and morals. Therefore, you need to learn about the Bhutanese culture and etiquette before you visit the country. Visitors have to be respectful and considerate of the Bhutanese etiquettes throughout their tour to ensure they themselves get the best experience as a tourist.
No smoking policy
The mannerisms in Bhutan may seem odd too many, but the country has a restriction against smoking. This rule has been formulated by the authorities of Bhutan in order to ensure a healthy environment and sound health for the people living there.
Travel insurance
Everyone traveling to Bhutan has to buy travel insurance as per Bhutan’s Tourism Rules and Regulations 2022. The country has very strict policies for tourists and the wellbeing of their visitors. In order to avoid any risks or in order to be able to cover any damages to the lives and property of the tourists, the compulsion of this insurance had been implemented.
Guides
Though it has been permitted for foreigners to travel on their own by the latest rules of the country, Bhutan has been mandating taking a tourist guide along everywhere you go. Traveling alone often means that a visitor has to go through a lot of confusion, as well as having the risks of theft and physical dangers. To avoid this, while also providing the visitors with the best guided tours through some of the major touring destinations in Bhutan, the authorities stress heavily on the necessity of tourist guides during Bhutan tours.
Names of the locations
For anyone who does not belong to Bhutan, it may be extremely confusing and even difficult to remember the names of all the locations in the country. Therefore, it is necessary for them to keep the names of the important destinations they are visiting. Having forgotten the names of the locations is going to lead one to face lots of issues throughout the tour.
Conclusion
Both Nepal and Bhutan are amazing countries with many places to visit and explore. If you are one with an adventurous heart who wants to embrace the beauty of some of the smallest and least known places in the world, then the Nepal and Bhutan tour might be the best for you. Furthermore, you should always remember to keep yourself, whether it is physically or mentally, along with keeping everyone else’s physical and mental wellbeing in mind, by learning about both the countries before you start your journey. Visitors can easily get access to the trekking or touring agencies who will guide them through everything that becomes crucial during the tours.