Aside from its expansive serentiy and Gross Domestic Happiness agenda, what sets the Kingdom of Bhutan apart from the rest of the world is its $200 daily travel fee required of all visitors.
The fee is essentially a permit, and it is a flat fee charged to any visitor regardless of income level, length of stay, etc. There is, simply put, no way around it. And the Bhutanese government plans to raise the rate to $250 a day in 2011.
But what many outsiders do not know is that this fee covers all the in-country basics: food, lodging, permits, etc.
Bhutan’s economy, incidentally, is the second-fastest-growing in the world, due in large part to a big hydroelectricity project. Even still, as of March 2006, the country’s per capita income was $1,321, so your incoming travel dollars go far.
Embark will be announcing more trips to Bhutan soon, but for now, our existing trip provides a great outline for what you’ll get out o f a trek through this magnificent, well-preserved, and tranquil landscape. The base cost covers the daily travel fee.
Each year, Embark has a handful of adventure trips that are looking for extra adventurers.
One of our most popular treks continues to be Kilimanjaro as it has several departure dates this summer and fall: July 5, August 16, September 6 and a New Year’s eve summit. Find out more details about our climb up Kilimanjaro. We are looking for more people for all the departure dates – but are trying extra hard for the Sept departure!
Climbing and trekking continues in Asia as well. October 16 is the start date for the 19 to 23 day Island Peak/Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Climb Island Peak and explore Everest Base Camp in the best time of year to visit the country. Nepal is a great, affordable country for trekking, climbing and exotic culture
Embark is fortunate enough to be leading a group through Bhutan, a country that only allows a very limited number tourists in per year. Bhutan’s self-enforced isolation and contrasts never disappoint. Explore Bhutan on the Chomolhari Trek. The Chomolhari Trek in Bhutan departs October 31 and should not be missed.
Embark’s newest venture is into the world of adventure yoga holidays. Beginners, experts and complete novices can benefit from a practice while traveling. Our 14 day Nepal Yoga Trek offers trekkers the option to open mind and body on the Annapurna range and departs October 23.
And, as always, Embark has other adventure trips around the world: Uganda, Costa Rica, Tibet, Morocco and other destinations.
If you are interested in a company that offers Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Tours, please contact Embark, or visit our Kilimanjaro Tours section for more information.
If you have any questions, send us an email to inquire about any of our expeditions or adventures.
Gadling has just released its top 10 adventure travel destinations for 2010, and we think they’re onto something with their number one choice: Nepal/Tibet/Bhutan. Here is the explanation:
Okay, so I lied when I said this list would include ten places for adventure travelers, but in my defense, when it came time to select a destination from the Himalaya, it soon became abundantly clear I couldn’t choose just one. The legendary mountain range is amongst the most breathtakingly beautiful places on Earth, offering great trekking opportunities, wild paddling expeditions, and the most challenging climbing trips anywhere. Throw in a healthy dose of unique culture and spiritualism, and you have the makings of a trip that can only be described as “life altering”. If any of that appeals to the adventurer inside of you, then you can’t go wrong with a visit to either Nepal, Tibet, or Bhutan. They each have their own unique appeal, and to visit any of them, you’ll have to go through Kathmandu, a city that is as eclectic and fascinating as the Himalaya themselves.
Check out our Asia page for trip details to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, where trekking, paddling, yoga, and more await.
