Bhutan women only group tour - ex. Bagdogra

Kingdom Of Bhutan – Happiness & Bliss

Kingdom of Bhutan

8 Days

Moderate Walk/Climb (3-5 km/day)

Starts in 29 weeks

START DATE

19 DEC, Sat

END DATE

26 DEC, Sat

₹ 79,900

₹78,900*

on double sharing

* 5% GST extra

❮

Kingdom Of Bhutan – Happiness & Bliss

₹ 79,900

₹ 78,900 * 5% GST extra

START DATE

19 DEC, Sat

END DATE

26 DEC, Sat

₹ 79,900

₹ 78,900 * 5% GST extra

Did you know that apart from being one of the happiest places on the earth, it is also the only country with a negative carbon footprint? Bhutan has preserved its history beautifully and embraced a progressive outlook. Join F5 on our Bhutan women only group tour. Let’s embark on breathtaking journeys of high passes, beautiful valleys and majestic fortresses. Meet the locals and learn about a culture that is a little known and a little mysterious.

Welcome to the Last Shangri La!

Highlights

Trek to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Visit the Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang temple

View the majestic Buddha Dordenma Statue

Permits and Sustainable development fee of INR 1,200 per day for Indians included

Important

Our Bhutan all women group trip is only for Indian Passport holders / Indian Voter's Card holders. International travellers / OCI card holders please reach out to us. For kids below 17 years of age with no Voter cards and passports, Birth certificate and school identity card is imperative.

Getting there

Any doubts on arrival and departure guidelines?

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Arrive by 12 PM on 19 DEC

Bagdogra Airport (IXB)

Siliguri, West Bengal

Return anytime on 26 DEC

Bagdogra Airport (IXB)

Siliguri, West Bengal

Itinerary

-5°C to 10°C | Pleasant days, Cold nights

Chance of rain: Low

Note: This is a prediction. The weather may change

Day 1 : Arrive in Bagdogra. Drive to Phuentsholing.

Arrivals

Drive: 4-5 hrs

Reach Bagdogra and start for Phuentsholing. We are doing this road trip to avoid uncertainties and scarcity of flights to Paro. Check in to your stay and relax. While we process the route permit, explore the little border town on foot. Overnight at Phuentsholing.

Indians do not require a visa for Bhutan but a permit is required. We will be arranging the permit for you. Documents required for the issuance of route permit: Valid Indian Passport (with validity of more than 6 months at the time of travel) or Indian Voter’s identity card. Aadhar, Driving License or OCI etc are not valid. Also, we will need two passport size photos.

Alokeparna Chaudhury

I traveled with F5 for the first time to Bhutan, and it was a really refreshing experience. No compromise on safety and hospitality...They covered all major sight seeing places…It was a lot of fun and I would definitely be travelling with them again in the future.

Day 2 : Drive To Thimpu. Craft Market. Clock Tower area.

Drive: 4-5 hrs

Local Attractions

After breakfast, start your journey for Thimphu, stopping at the villages and scenic spots to enjoy and photograph the landscape which is replete with bounties of nature. Thimphu has a thriving local culture. Upon arrival in Thimphu, check in at the hotel. Take a walking tour in the capital city visiting Bhutanese Crafts market and Clock Tower Square area. Overnight at Thimphu.

This is the Winter season in Bhutan. Paro and Thimphu, will have temperatures ranging between -5°C to 10°C. Carry sweaters/thermals etc. Room heaters will be available at hotels.

Indian food will be available in Thimphu and Paro, but not always. We will try a lot of local Bhutanese delicacies. Cafes in Thimphu and Paro will serve continental food as well.

FUN FACT!

In Bhutan, when you meet people, smile and say ‘Kuzu zangpo la’ (hello); and when you have to thank someone, say ‘Kadrinche la’!

Day 3 : Explore Thimpu. Museum. View points. Markets. Monasteries

Walk: 3-4 hrs

Local Attractions

Explore Thimphu today. Visit Simply Bhutan – a living Museum/studio showcasing the age old culture and traditional heritage. Fine peace at Buddha Dordenma Statue. Visit the incense and handmade paper factory. Visit the National Post Office and get stamps with your pictures on. Later in the evening, explore Takin Preserve and soak yourself in beautiful surroundings. Overnight at Thimphu.

You've seen stamps featuring famous people, landmarks, wildlife, and more - but how about a stamp with your own photo on it? At the National Post Office in Thimphu, you can get personalised stamps with your photo on it and use them to send postcards back home.

You cannot wear shorts while visiting monasteries, temples, and Dzongs, though they’re fine for trekking.

FUN FACT!

Did you know? The Buddha Dordenma Statue is not only regarded as one of the largest Buddha stupas in the world, but also houses over 125,000 smaller Buddha statues, all made of bronze and gilded in gold!

Day 4 : Punakha. Suspension Bridge. Punakha Dzong. Fertility Temple

Drive: 3-4 hrs

Walk: 2-3 hrs

Sightseeing

After breakfast, start for Punakha. From Thimphu, the road climbs up to Dochula pass (3,050m), where you have the opportunity to view the peaks of the eastern Himalayas. Descend into the Punakha valley (1450m above sea level). Visit Chimi Lhakhang temple or the fertility temple, dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley. Later visit the impressive Punakha Dzong, built at the confluence of two major rivers in Bhutan, the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, which converge in this valley. Walk on the longest suspension bridge of Bhutan. Overnight in Punakha.

The fertility temple is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley, popularly known as ‘the divine madman‘ - a folk hero and cultural icon around whom countless yarns of stories and legends have been spun.

Chandana Karuna

I thoroughly enjoyed the recent trip to bhutan with F5. The trip lead and the host ensured the trip is smooth and everything is taken care of.

Day 5 : Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. Paro via Dochu La.

Moderate hike

Local Attractions

Shopping

In the morning, drive a short distance through the idyllic countryside and walk a short distance uphill to Khamsum Chorten on Nyenzangang hill. The view of the terraced rice fields, dotted with traditional houses, the river and the valley surrounded by mountains is amazing! Start your journey towards Paro, crossing the Dochu La. Arrive in Paro, and explore the market. Try traditional dresses and get clicked. Shop and relax. Overnight in Paro.

Day 6 : Trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Trek: 6 kms (one-way)

Duration: 7-8 hrs

We will be climbing to the most identifiable and spiritual icon of Bhutan – the Taktsang Monastery or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It is blessed and sanctified as one of Bhutan’s most sacred religious sites. It hangs on a cliff and stands above a beautiful forest of blue pine and rhododendrons. The trek will take up the whole day. Later, return to the stay and indulge in a hot stone bath if you like. Overnight at Paro.

The trek will take up the whole day. The last part of the trek consists of climbing at least 400 stairs. Please reconsider if you have knee issues. We will take it at our own pace, but you will need stamina. If you do not exercise regularly, this may be challenging for you.

At the base of the Tiger nest trek, there are horses available for rent for a fee. You can sit somewhat comfortably on horseback to reach the cafeteria about mid-way up the trail, then continue hiking from there. To descend the mountain though, you’ll have to do it on foot – horse rides are not available for descent. While some will probably not make it all the way to the monastery, it is worth getting till the first viewpoint.

In case you want to skip the trek, we will plan an alternate sightseeing expedition for you. It will be charged if it is outside Paro city limits. Within the city, it would be free of charge but without a guide.

Day 7 : Drive Back to Bagdogra.

Drive: ~10 hrs

After breakfast, start your return journey to Bagdogra. This will be a long drive and we will make stops on the way to make this journey comfortable and interesting. Overnight at Bagdogra.

Day 8 : Fly out. Trip ends.

Return flights

Fly out Of Bagdogra. Our Bhutan women group trip ends.

Book your return tickets anytime today. Hotel check-out is at 10 AM.

Important

Add ons

Single Occupancy Supplement: INR 25,000 + 5% GST

Children (5 yrs to 10 yrs): INR 74,000 + 5% GST

Children between 11 and 17 years of age pay the same price as adults. If your child is less than 5 years old, please reach out to us.

Alternative sightseeing:

In case you want to skip the Tiger’s Nest trek, we will plan an alternate sightseeing expedition for you. It will be charged if it is outside Paro city limits. Within the city, it would be free of charge but without a guide.

Inclusions & exclusions

Inclusions

We want to enable you to travel wallet free. That’s why, when you travel with us, we take care of most of your travelling expenses. Our Bhutan tour package includes:

Permits for Bhutan

Sustainable development fee of INR 1200 per day for Indians travelling to Bhutan

Group Travel Insurance (mandatory for Bhutan)

Accommodation for 7N on double sharing basis.

All transportation in an AC vehicle as per the itinerary – we will change the vehicle at the border.

Entry tickets

Dedicated Bhutanese guide along with your F5 trip lead

All meals starting from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8.

Tolls and Parking

All Bhutanese taxes

Your F5 trip lead

Exclusions

Some expenses are excluded (especially those of personal preferences) and will have to be taken care of by the individual. Exclusions include:

Flights from your city of residence to Bagdogra and back.

Food, snacks other than mentioned in inclusions.

Camera charges

Activity charges other than mentioned

Hot stone baths ranging from INR 1800-2000 per person. If the whole group wants it, we can get you a group price for that.

Tips and personal expenses

Any cost arising due to natural calamities, personal flight delays and aspects beyond our control. We will definitely facilitate an alternative and handle the contingency, the cost being yours.

5% GST

Policy

Terms & Conditions

REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:

15% of the trip cost if cancelled 90 days or more in advance.

25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.

50% of the trip cost if it is cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.

Last 15 days – no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.

If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges will apply.

Disclaimer

F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents, or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.

All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveller in getting medical attention.

F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions; in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.

FAQs

What type of accommodation will be provided?

We select accommodation based on their uniqueness/character, location, cleanliness and comfort, hospitality, food quality, and more. Hence, we work with a variety of stays - boutique hotels, heritage properties, well appointed standard hotels, premium homestays etc. You can download the pdf itinerary to get the exact names of the accommodation we will use during our Bhutan girls trip.

What type of food will be available in Bhutan?

Indian and Bhutanese food will be available. We will try a lot of local delicacies. Cafes in Thimphu and Paro will serve continental food as well. Indian food will be available in Thimphu and Paro, but not always. If you have any special diet requirements, please connect with us and let us know in advance.

Do I need a visa to travel to Bhutan?

Indians do not require a visa for Bhutan but a permit is required. We will be arranging the permit for you, but you will need to have the documents ready for the issuance of route permit: Valid Indian Passport or Indian Voter’s identity card. NOTE: Aadhar, Driving License or OCI etc. are not valid. Also, for kids below 17 years of age with no Voter’s cards and passports, Birth certificate and school identity card is imperative.

How long should my Passport be valid to travel to Bhutan?

If you want to join our Bhutan group tour, your Passport validity should be more than 6 months at the time of travel. Additionally, we will need two passport size photos.

What all destinations are being covered in the Bhutan women tour ex.Bagdogra?

Bhutan is filled with gompas, lhakhangs (temples), dzongs (fortresses) and stupas (chortens). We are not trying to visit all of them in every destination we go to. We are doing different things at different places and while we cover the most famous and magnificent ones of them, we are not ticking a checklist. Please read the Bhutan trip itinerary thoroughly. Consider asking questions if needed. We do not promise what we cannot deliver and we like our guests to know what they are signing up for.

Anything else to know before joining the Bhutan tour?

Please read the itinerary thoroughly. Consider asking questions if needed. We do not promise what we cannot deliver and we like our guests to know what they are signing up for. There will be considerable walking during the trip, especially on the Tiger’s Nest trek. This is East, so the sun rises early and sets early. We will start our day early to finish all that we planned. Bhutan is a carbon negative country and while there will be geysers in the bathroom, if there is no electricity in the remote areas, the water will be heated on wood stoves and not through diesel generators. Please be patient.

As a solo-female traveller, can I join the Bhutan group tour for women?

Absolutely! We design our women group tours to make it convenient, fun, and safe for women travellers. So even though you are on a solo trip for girls, you travel with a group of like-minded women, make new friends, and share experiences for a lifetime. If you have more questions, please reach out to us.

What are the company policies on smoking/drinking?

Everyone joining is an adult and we realize that we cannot dictate the behavior on how you should enjoy the trip. All we ask is to drink responsibly. Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. So please do not test your limits and enjoy in moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable. If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray.

How does F5 Escapes promote responsible and sustainable tourism?

When we travel, we visit somebody’s home, be it a city, village or a place of stay. We treat them with utmost respect. We encourage all our guests to leave no trace, only footprints. We recommend carrying one's own steel water bottles. Most places of stay we partner with provide clean drinking water and water is available for refill. Small shift, big impact. We are mindful about our group not littering the destination. We try choosing vendors who make a conscious effort to employ locals, thereby enabling us to give back to the local economy. We encourage local handicrafts and on several trips we visit local artisans. We try to reduce overcrowding by travelling in small groups of maximum 12 people. We support women-led enterprises and seek them out on our travels. We work with local organisations across India involved in conservation, culture preservation and employment generation.

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Happy memorable trip for all

Bhutan trip was an amazing experience for me! when i booked it, i didnt think too much much about …But during the trip i realized the trek to tiger's nest would be moderately tough especially if you are not a trekker. However, the whole group especially the F5 lead (...) helped me throughout the trek and made sure one of them is always with me ..I have to say I felt truly cared for :x ! I must say F5 escapes takes a lot of effort to make the trips a happy memorable one for everyone!

- Vasanthi VR