World Expeditions’ new Friendship Tour to Bhutan
Australian adventure travel company, World Expeditions, has launched a new tour in Bhutan, at a fraction of the normal price, to take advantage of a once in a lifetime “friendship offer” between Bhutan and Australia.
To mark 15 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Royal Government of Bhutan has announced a one-time “Bhutan – Australia Friendship Offer” to Australian nationals visiting Bhutan in June, July and August, 2018.
Friendship
During the ‘friendship’ period, the ‘all-inclusive mandatory minimum package rate’, which includes accommodation, meals and professional guiding services, will be reduced from US$200 per night per person, which means savings for people, whose chosen style of travel costs less than US$200 per night per person.
Western Bhutan Cultural Tour
To celebrate the friendship offer, World Expeditions has created a seven-day “Western Bhutan Cultural Tour”, a relatively short, gentle itinerary that will provide a deep impression of the land, its people and history priced from just $2190*per person (around $1000 less than a comparable trip to Bhutan).
Land of Happiness
Known as “the land of happiness”, the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures its development and progress in terms of a happiness index.
According to World Expeditions CEO, Sue Badyari, one of the most remarkable aspects of the country lies in how completely separated from the outer world it still appears.
“This specially crafted itinerary introduces many of Bhutan’s interesting contrasts and defining characteristics,” she said.
“Fortress monasteries stand as powerful symbols of the nation's history while simple village communities and ancient temples convey the relaxed atmosphere of modern Bhutan, a nation steeped in tradition. In a situation that is so completely different from the familiar, tiny spontaneous moments become treasured personal memories.”
Trip Highlights
The trip covers the highlights of Western Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha Valley including a hike up to the famous Taktshang;Tiger’s Nest Monastery and includes:
• Six breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners
• English speaking local guide
• Good quality accommodation on a twinshare basis throughout
• Private internal transfers
• All airport transfers, sightseeing & sight entry fees as listed
• Bhutan Government visa and sustainability fees (valued at US$430)
Details
Travellers are still required to book their Bhutan travel through licensed tour operators, such as World Expeditions. World Expeditions will also offer private departures with customized itineraries during this period.
The Kingdom of Bhutan will also waive the usual surcharges for groups of less than three travellers, of US$40 per person per night and US$30 each for two persons as part of the offer, and airfares and accommodation will also be discounted by the government airline and by partnering hotels.
Friendship Offer
Full details of the ‘friendship’ offer here: http://www.tourism.gov.bt/announcements/bhutan-
australia-friendship- offer
What’s the fine print?
This offer is only available to those travelling on Australian passports.
This offer is only available from 1 June and travel must be completed by 31 August,
2018.
While it is monsoon season in Bhutan at that time, this isn’t expected to be too much of
an issue as it usually only rains overnight at this time of year.
The Bhutan Government’s Sustainable Development Fee of US$65 per person per night
will remain, as will a one-time visa fee or US$40.
