Food

Food and Drinks

Bhutanese food is generally good. Set meals for travelers tend to be on the bland side, because local food is heavily seasoned with red chilies and can be quite hot. Most hotels provide meals buffet-style. There are usually continental, Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese dishes. The food in hotels is often the best in town, but in main towns now there are few restaurants increasingly becoming popular. All tourist hotels have good selection of international and Bhutanese beverages.

Food provided during tour is quite elaborate and generally consists of followings:

On Cultural Tour

BREAKFAST; Canned juice with choice of orange, mango, pineapple, apple etc, Porridge/cornflakes/cereals, Fresh fruits, Sausages/bacon, Toast, butter and Jam, Eggs, Tea/coffee

LUNCH; Salad, Rice, 2 Non-vegetable items, 2 Vegetable items, Roti/Nan, Desert, Tea/Coffee

DINNER; Soup, Salad, Rice, Noodles, 2 Non-vegetable items, 2 Vegetable items, Desert, Tea/Coffee

EVENING TEA; Tea/Coffee, Cookies/sandwich, Biscuits/pasteries

On Trek

BREAKFAST; Canned juice with choice of orange, mango, pineapple, apple etc., Porridge/cornflakes/cereals, Fresh fruits, Sausages/bacon, Eggs, Tea/Coffee

LUNCH; Vegetable cutlet/sandwich/boiled potato, Chicken roast/roast beef, Boiled eggs, Roti/Naan, Fresh fruits, Canned juice, Boiled drinking water

DINNER; Soup, Salad, Rice, Noodles, 2 Non-vegetable items, 2 Vegetable items, Desert, Tea/Coffee

EVENING TEA: Tea/Coffee, Cookies/sandwich, Biscuits

Even though the locals drink water straight from the tap, we suggest visitors to drink only bottled water. On treks, we provide boiled and filtered water. A reasonable variety of both hard and soft drinks are available in hotels, restaurants and shops in most towns. Many Bhutanese enjoy drinking traditional homemade alcoholic brews made from wheat, millet or rice.

* Bhutan is the only country in the world to totally ban the import and sale of all tobacco products. You can bring in a reasonable amount of cigarettes for personal consumption, but you will be charged an import duty of 100%. Smoking is banned in all public places including restaurants and bars.

Clothing

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Clothing and Accessories

Comfortable clothing and sturdy, soft-soled shoes are essential for travel in Bhutan. Warm clothing is recommended; and except for summer months, down jackets and woolen sweaters are suggested. In summer, heavy cottons and lightweight woolens will be acceptable. Altitudinal differences account for a wide range of temperatures from day to night the year round. It is, therefore, suggested that clothing be layered so that you can adapt to the changing conditions.

While visiting temples and other religious places, you will need to dress conservatively. Slacks are more appropriate for men; and longer-length skirts are more appropriate for women. Shoulders must also be covered when inside religious buildings. Please keep in mind that shoes must be removed when entering temples. It is, therefore, suggested that you carry a pair of socks to wear inside religious buildings.

The items you should carry for this trip are: clothes as per season, sunglasses / spare glasses, pair of casual shoes, hat, umbrella, camera, films and accessories, insect repellent, hand cream, small sewing kit & safety pins, torch or flash light with spare batteries, mirror, scissor, sun cream, lip salve or soluble aspirin, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream, anti-diarrhea pills, a preparation for the relief of sunburn.

Camping Equipment Whilst on a trek

Whilst trekking you are provided with foam mats but we recommend you bring  a self-inflating mat pack called Thermarest.  This packs up small but when inflated gives very good insulation and is more comfortable than a single closed-cell foam mat.  We do not recommend you bring an airbed.

You should also bring your Sleeping bags which should be 4-seasons bags as the temperature will decrease especially at 4,000m camp sites.

Other useful items

It would be prudent to bring all essential items from home; razor blades (or battery operated shaver), toothpaste, shampoo, make-up etc., insect repellent, soap, alarm clock, binoculars, torch, sunscreen, sufficient reading material and plenty of batteries for all electrical appliances.

Laundry service is available in most of the hotels at main destinations. However, it is advisable to check the hotel's individual laundry return policy and pricing schedule before choosing to have laundry done at a hotel.

Accommodation

Standard Accommodation

In Bhutan, there is no star categorization of hotels however at all tourist destinations there are accommodation establishments approved by Tourism Council of Bhutan. The popular destinations such as Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Bumthang, Phuentsholing, have good standard hotels however accommodation is basic at Mongar, Trashigang, Gangtey, Samdrup Jongkhar. Interestingly all hotels / lodges / guest houses are built in traditional architecture offering good cuisine and reasonably decent, clean, accommodation. Away from main towns there are purpose built huts on some of principal trekking routes. Otherwise there is nothing like camping out under the clearest skies that you have ever seen. Wherever you spend the night, the warm Bhutanese hospitality will make you feel welcome

We have carefully selected the list of accommodation units with the best of location, ambience and service:

Phuentsholing: Lhaki Hotel, Hotel Druk, Centennial Hotel, Hotel Namgay, Sinchula Hotel & Central Hotel

Paro; The Village Lodge, Hotel Olathang, Kyichu Resort, Namsey Chholing Resort, Gangtey Palace, Hotel Eye of the Tiger, Janka Resort, Rinchen Ling Lodge, Hotel Silverpine, Hotel Valley View, Hotel Jigmeling, Tashi Namgay Resort, Dechen Cottages, Bhutan Resort, Pelri Hotel, Samdenchholing Resort & Hotel Lhaki Yangchak

Thimphu: Kisa Hotel, Hotel Druk, Hotel River view, Hotel Motithang, Hotel Pedling, Hotel Jumolhari, Hotel Pine Wood, Hotel Wangchuk, Hotel Taktsang, Druk Tshering Guest House, Hotel Kelwang, Bhutan Suites, Wangchuk Resort & Hotel Dragon Roots

Punakha: Hotel Zangtho Pelri, Hotel Meri Punsum, Y. T Hotel, Puna Tshangchu Cottages, Damchen Resort & Singye Lodge

Wangdue: Kyichu Resort, Tashiling Lodge and Dragon Nest Resort

Gagntey: Hotel Dewachen, Theckchenphodrang Lodge, Phuentshochholing Lodge & Gakling Lodge

Trongsa : Phuenzi Lodge, Norling lodge & Yankhil Resort

Bumthang: Mountain Lodge, Jakar Village Lodge, Swiss Guest House,Wangdichholing Resort, Wangdichholing hotel, Hotel Home, River Lodge, Gongkhar Lodge, Pelling Hotel, Kaila Lodge, Gadhen Resort, Rinchenling Lodge, Leki Guest House, Udee Guest House & Mepham Guest House 
Mongar: Shongar Lodge, Druk Zhongkhar Lodge, Hotel Wangchuk, New Lee Hotel & Samling Hotel.

Trashigang: Kelling Lodge, Hotel Doejung and Ranjung Guest House

Samdrup Jongkhar: Hotel Menjong, Hotel Dekling, Hotel TLT, Friends Hotel & Tashi Longched Trokhang Hotel.

National Dress

Kira 

GHO AND KIRA

If you want to try wearing a Bhutanese dress, you have many shops to choose from in Thimphu. Gyeltshen Dorji shop, just north of Tshering Dolkar’s handicraft shop, has ready-made gho and kira in a variety of patterns and qualities, including children’s sizes.

Gho range from Nu 800 for machine-woven cloth and Nu 1900 for hand-woven cloth to Nu 5000 for a silk gho.  A hand-made kira costs about Nu 1200, and a silk kira sells for Nu 6000 or more. You can find all the necessary accessories there to complete your Bhutanese outfit.

Donning a Gho

The gho, when first put on, should reach almost to the ground. Fold the sleeves of tego (shirt) back to form cuffs. Tuck the right front panel into the left and bring the left panel over to the right. Grasp the gho at the sides and fold towards the back. Gather the material at your waist until the hemline is above the knee (the king wears his below the knee).

The gho is secured with a kera (narrow woven belt) which forms a pouch. You need shoes and knee-high socks to complete the outfit. Pants are worn under the gho in winter and tucked into the long socks.

Gho

Wearing a Kira

The kira is first draped around the back under the right arm. Wrap it around the front and fasten on your left shoulder with a koma (silver hook). Fold it left to right across your front and then right to left. The remaining cloth is gathered under the left arm and wrapped around the back to the right shoulder, and fastened with a second koma. A kera is wrapped around the waist to form a pouch.

The kaymeto (widthways border) is always worn at the back.

A toego (jacket) is often worn with the kira, and the sleeves of the wonju (blouse) can be folded back over the toego to form cuffs.

Population

People of Laya, Gasa

Population and People

The estimated population of the country is 7, 00,000 with the growth rate of 3.1% per year.  The country is still predominantly rural and about 85% of the people live in villages.

Three main ethnic groups constitute its population:

Sharchops: live in eastern part of country are recognized as the original inhabitants of Bhutan and are Indo Mongoloid origins.

Ngalops:  Ngalops are descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from 9^th century and settled in the western part of Bhutan.

Lhotshampas: Nepalese group, began settling in the southern part of Bhutan in the late 19^th century. The Lhotshampa represents different Nepali speaking ethnic groups primarily Brahman, Chettri, Gurung, Rai and Limbu.