BHUTANvisit the kingdom of happiness

with tragopan tours & travels

Our company’s name is inspired by Satyr Tragon, an extremely beautiful bird indigenous to the Himalayas. Elegant, rare and mysterious, the bird exemplifies Bhutan, an ancient Himalayan Buddhist Kingdom, which still remains an enigma to the out-side world.

Licensed by the Bhutanese government and registered with the Tourism Council of Bhutan, Tragopan Tours & Travels was started, more than a decade ago, to introduce the “hermit” Kingdom to international travelers through an unforgettable so-journ of discovery and learning.

We have organized Bhutan trips for thousands of visitors and, in so doing, accumulated a wealth of experiences. Many have shared with us their boundless joy in having materialized, as they put it, their “lifelong dream” and, gladly for us, we did con-tribute to it with heart and soul.

Our secret to success is hard work coupled with the wish to ex-cel. With these ethics we have built a flawless credential while, back at home, our team of tour leaders, guides and ground crew are among the finest and the most driven in the industry.

We do offer a wide choice of tour packages. Be it a cultural tour, or a trek high up into the mountains, or to observe a local festival, we are ever raring to go. We also do have specialized packages like filming, bird watching, biking, river rafting, culi-nary tour, to mention a few.

Welcome to Bhutan with Tragon Tours and Travels.

TRAGOPAN TOURS & TRAVELS

What makes Bhutan, a tiny Kingdom with a population of un-der a million people wedged between two gigantic neighbors (China in the north and India in the south), the most sought after destination for high-end international travelers?

WHY VISIT BHUTAN? Bhutan is the only country which is pursu-ing happiness as a state policy. Under the ambit of what is termed as Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan has debunked the conventional GDP (Gross Domestic product) model of growth and, instead, steadfastly believes that material well-be-ing, important as it is, is not the panacea to creating a happy and contented society. Happiness matters!

HappinessIn equal measure, Bhutan believes that a so-ciety without values is one without a soul and identity, thus the thrust on preserving and pro-moting the ancient mores, customs, culture, traditions, and etiquettes. Yes, modernization is imperative but what good is it if, on its own and at the end of the day, all you have is a so-cial fabric that is in tatters, a community bereft of vitality, and people who struggle to define and forge an identity for themselves?

Values

However, a strong identity derived from culture and pro-happiness approach to things would be incomplete without protecting and preserving the natural environment. Imagine a place where - as someone wrote - no birds sing, no streams flow, and no flowers bloom. Bhutan is a champion of earth, one of 10 global environmental “hotspots”, has 70% of land under green cover, and one that has unilaterally declared to the world to be a net carbon sink in perpetuity. Bhutan is truly an envi-ronment paradise.

EnvironmentBhutan believes in a society with a strong spir-itual anchor because that is what gives the peo-ple the strength and conviction to live a con-structive and meaningful life. For Bhutanese, Buddhism is a philosophy, a way of life, the ulti-mate refuge. The strength of the Buddhist faith is evident in prayer flags, monasteries, temples, stupas, and sacred places that dot the country all over. From the chimes of monastery bells and the chanting of prayers to the surrealistic daily rituals, Buddhism indeed is a living faith.

FaithBut Bhutan is much more. As its epithet “Land of the Peaceful Dragon” aptly sums it, it is a nation that deeply cherishes peace, so serene and tranquil that one could stop over anywhere within the Kingdom to meditate, con-template and reinvigorate. It is a land of awe-inspiring castles and fortresses, of people renowned for their sim-plicity and hospitality, of saints, kings and yetis, of majes-tic Himalayan peaks that reach for the sky, of a breathtak-ing natural beauty that is not found anywhere else.

Peace

Nothing brings the people together more and with greater zest than the religious extravaganza of masked dances. The occasions come with a profu-sion of colours with the people dressed in their best clothes and jewellery, children in tow, carrying picnic lunch baskets as they proceed to receive blessings, to rejoice and to be reunited with families and friends.

One gets to meet people from various backgrounds, to witness customs, traditions and etiquettes from close quarters and, likewise, to see the influence of Buddhism, the significance of the dances and other performing art traditions. A day at the festival allows one to learn about Bhutan in the quickest way possible, up-close and from many dimensions.

FESTIVAL TOURS

CULTURAL TOURSCulture is Bhutan’s biggest attraction for tour-ists. Indeed to step into Bhutan is to enter a new world of sights, sounds and colours of a uniquely different society. From the way the people dress, eat and conduct themselves in their daily lives to paintings, architecture, art and craft, and Buddhist rituals, the cultural mosaic is as complex and enthralling as it can get. Enter, say, a gigantic 17th century castle-fortress-monastery to feel the sheer weight of the ingenuities of yesteryears that went into making the cultural composite that is Bhutan. Or, watch a spiritually-induced masked danc-er move in tandem with religious music to get a sense about practices and beliefs that took centuries to evolve.

Our Packages

1) PARO TSHECHU

2) THIMPHU TSHECHU

3) THE NOMADS FESTIVAL

4) MATSUTAKE FESTIVAL

5) HAA FESTIVAL

Our Packages1) WESTERN BHUTAN TOUR (5 DAYS)

2) MAGICAL BHUTAN TOUR (7 DAYS)

3) AMANKORA JOURNEY (7 DAYS)

4) CENTRAL BHUTAN TOUR (13 DAYS)

Special Packages1) FAMILY PACKAGE

2) HONEYMOON PACKAGE

3) MARRIAGE PACKAGE

4) FILMING

5) PHOTOGRAPHY

About half of Bhutan is designated as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biological corridors, all protected by law and carefully nurtured in order that no species, either flora or fauna, is put on the brink of extinction. A forest cover of 60% of the total land area is in fact enshrined in Bhutan’s constitution.

The country has a staggering diversity of flora and fauna - some 800 species of birds, rivalling the to-tal counted in the whole of America - up to 400 species of orchids, 800 species of butterflies, and 120 mammalian species besides an unparalleled floral diversity. The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in south Bhutan, for example, is the only place in the world where six big cat species are found in the same habitat.

NATURE TOURS

Bhutan has the most rugged of topography - from the steep mountain walls, hair-raising gorges, streams and rivers tumbling out of sheer drops, and impenetrable thickets to the visually stunning valleys, meadows and land-scapes. Up north, this tiny country has no less than a dozen peaks above 7,000 meters.

In between the altitude range of 500m to nearly 8,000m, one comes across vegetation zones ranging from the deciduous forests of the sub-tropics to the coniferous to the alpine. The Kingdom’s challenging geography cou-pled with the sheer diversity of nature makes any adventure challenging, be it mountain cy-cling, motor biking, rafting, kayaking, or treks of all kinds.

ADVENTURE TOURS

1) DRUK PATH TREK (5 DAYS)

2) JHOMOLHARI TREK (9 DAYS)

3) LAYA-GASA TREK (14 DAYS)

4) WHITE RIVER RAFTING

5) FISHING

8) MOUNTAIN BIKING

9) MOTOR BIKING

11) BHUTAN CULINARY ADVENTURE

Our Packages

1) FLOWER TOUR

2) BUTTERFLY TOUR

3) BIRD WATCHING

4) ROYAL SAFARI TOUR

Our Packages

Mumbai

INDIA

VisaTourists must obtain visa clearance be-fore travelling to Bhutan. The actual visa is stamped upon arrival. The Tour-ism Council of Bhutan approves the visa clearance only after receiving the full tour payment including the visa fee of USD 40 along with a scanned colour photocopy of the passport which should be at least six months valid.

Booking ProceduresTo book the trip, 100% advance tour pay-ment must be made via bank transfer

preferably six months in advance. Ser-vices are confirmed subjected to advance payment only.

Entry pointsOne can take a flight into Bhutan any-where from Kathmandu (Nepal), New Delhi/Kolkata/Guwahati/Bagdogra (In-dia), Bangkok (Thailand), or Singapore. The road access is from the India-Bhutan border at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing, Dad-gari-Gelephu, Guwahati-Samdrup Jong-khar.

GETTING INTO BHUTAN

Daily TariffThe minimum daily cost of stay in Bhu-tan is fixed by the Bhutanese government through its “high value, low impact” tourism policy.

The minimum tariff for tourists visiting in a group of three person or more are as fol-lows:

High Season Tariff US$ 250 per person per night halt for the months of March, April, May, September, October and November.

Low season Tariff US$ 200 per person per night halt for the months of January, February, June, July August & December.

Visa Fee US$ 40.00 (a one time payment). A Tourism Development Fund (TDF) con-tribution of US$ 10.00 per person (a one time payment) is charged.

SurchargeIndividual tourist and smaller groups of less than three persons are subject to sur-charge over the minimum daily rates as follows:

Single IndividualUS$ 40 per night halt. A group of two per-sons - US$ 30 per person per night halt. Single room supplement charge is US$ 35.00 per person per night halt.

Package cost includes:1: Best Accommodation (3* & 4* hotels) on

twin-sharing basis2: All meals3: Land transport within Bhutan4: Services of a professional tour guide5: Supply of pack ponies, yak, trekking

crews and porters for trekkers6: All necessary camping equipment for

treks (excluding sleeping bags) 7. All entrance fees 8: Bhutan visa9: 37% government tax10: Tea & snacks

Packages cost does not include1: Airfare2: Laundry3: Private calls4: Beverages or drinks5: Travel insurance & other contingencies6: Expenses at luxury hotels

TARIFF POLICY

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Tamalpur Tangla

RanglaPardshalaBarpetaBogaigoanSantabariBismuriBarabisaBarabisaBirparBlnnaguri

Banarhat

Nagarkata

TO SILIGURI

Kalikhola

Kokrajar

Tapani

Mathanguri Daranga

TO GUAHATI51 km

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Kiki la2950 m

BJakar Dzong

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35km

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9 km40km

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13km17km11km

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8km11km

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29km

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33km

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Tingtibi

15km

22km

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28km

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Tang

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DonglaTrek

Chelela Trek

Pangbang

Ura Lhakhang

Memorial chorten

JDWNR Hospital

Chuzom

Thakung

Ta Rimochen Lhakhang

Nabji Khorphu Trek

Pheyphey la 3565 m

Thangbi Lhakhang

Trongsa Dzong

BamjiDongthang

Gagar

Bjizam

Trashiyangtse

Chorten Kora

Galagpa

Gangola

Lingmithang

Yongkola

Nezaygang

DewathangNganglam

Narphung

Wamrong

Thrimshing

Trashiyangphu

Khaling Weaving Centre

Yonphola

Trashigang Dzong

Pema Gatshel Dzong

Riju

Bidung

Bartsham

Ramjar

Jamkhar

Gomkora

ChazamDramitse

Yadi

Tshelingkhor

Kawaipani

Bangtar

Dalim Difam

Deklai

Chaskhar

Mongar Dzong

Khothapa

Sherichu

Rangjung

DamnongchuNyuksangla (4140m)7 hrs

7 hrsJyongkhar

Phongmey

Radi

Merak

Sakteng

Muksateg

Wangduephodrang

Gonglakha

Dorokha

Gomtu

Pasakha

RinchendingZangdopelri

Chengmari

Sibsoo

Tendu

AIR PORT

Dechencholing

Minji

Khoma (Textile village)

Gonpa Karpo

Zham

T. Zam Pemi Taupang

TrashiyangtseDzong

Autsho

Shershong

Thimphu

Palace

Dochula3116 m

Chuzomsa10km

Samtengang

Bji Zam

Lamidara

Table Mountain7094 m

Jaikangphu Gang 7194 m

Teri Gang 7094 m

Tshendagang 6994 m

Masagang 6994 m

Jitchu Drake 7000m

Jumolhari 7300m

Ta Dzong

Paro Dzong

Dzongdrakha

Haa Dzong

Trashichhoe Dzong

Punakha Dzong

Gasa Dzong

Gasa Tshachu

Wochey Tshachu

Chubu Tshachu

Chhimi Lhakhang

Bajothang

Yangthang

Kajena

Tshokam

Wangjithang

Nubtshonapatta Regona Tsho

Goemba

Dobji Dzong

Khuruthang

Gyelpoizhing

Doksum

Ura

Nyelela (4700m)

Yelila (4930m)

Bongetela (4890m)

Thongbula (4270m)

Soi Yaktsa

Thongbu

Goblala (4600m)

Jarila (4750m)

Shenjila (4980m)

Tsimola(4700m)

Gangalakarchula(5100m)

Kechela (4600m)

Jezelala (4950m)

Rinchen Zoe la (5269m)

Tempela (4450m)

Drukwangyal Choeten

Lingmukha

Chungsekha

Semtokha Dzong

Genekha

Dolom Kencho

Lingshi Dzong

Rimchu

Chari Goenpa

Dechenphodrang Tango

Phajoding

Jigmelangtsho

Tshimkota

Chebesa

Shumothang

Zamina

Khang Bum6469 m

Robluthang

Limithang

Base Camp

Laya

Rodophu

TarinaNarithang

Gangla Karchung6395 m

LhediWochey

Gangjula Base

Gangjula Pass

Pangkhar

Ramena

Lunana

Thangza

Dangey Goma

Tshorim

Zanam

Minchugang

Jichu Dramo

Chu Karpo

Tempe Tsho

Maruothang

Thso Chena

Dangey

Koina

Chamsa

Rinchen Zoe5269 m

Warthang

Duer Tsachu

ChisangangMelongyeegang

Gangkar Puensum7570m

TshochenchenKhagthang

Rephu

Tholeythang

Tashesa

Tshingku

Barmarpo

Gorsum

Dur Choekortoe

Schonath

Kitiphu

Batpalathang

Tamshing

Chakhar Town

Mebarthso

Chhumey

Domkhar palace

Kunga RaptenTshangkha

Kamichu

Rurichu

Khotokha

Gogona

Basochu

Telekha

PankaLabamata

Gumina

Gaselo Hesothankha

Thinleygang

Lobeysa

Nubding

Dungdung Ngesa

Pelela3390 m

Yotongla3425 m

Kurjey Lhakhang

Jambay Lhakhang

Lawala

Gangtey Goemba

Nikkachhu Chazam

Sephu

Phobjikha

Chumina

Pangrizampa Lhakhang Dubchepang

Talo Lhakhang

Lobsebatty

Tsirang Dzong

Burichu

Dujegang

Daga Dzong

Chanchay

Dupidara

Darachi

Darachu

Suntalay

TrashidingTimiray

Khagochen

Waklaytar

Khosala

TongtongpheyJangbi

Kudra

Nabji

Korphu

Nimshong Wangduegang

Zhemgang Dzong

Buli

Nyimzhong

Shinkhar

Camp 2

Camp 1

Khandopang

Dakpai

Zurphey

Tsaidang

Tamala1661 m

Gomphu

Dunmang Tshachu

Pangkhar Ngangla

Dogar

Nagor

Aje BridgeTs

hach

u ga

ng

Jigmeling

Gong School

Gong Dara

NorbrangBlack Mountains

Reti

Dovan

Bhur

Jigmechoeling

Refe

Nga Lhakhang

Phokpey

Ugyen Choeling Palace

Pemi

Tangmachu

Lhuntshe Dzong

Dungkhar

Ungar

Kham

Thrumshingla 3780 m

Sengor

Korila2298 m

Sheytangla3596 m

Haa

Chukha

Phuentsholing

Samtse

Dagana

Tsirang

Gelephu

Sarpang

Paro

Punakha

Gasa

Trongsa

Bumthang

Lhuntse

Trashigang

Mongar

Pema Gatshel

Zhemgang

Samdrup Jongkhar

Khasadraphu

Bondey

Tachugang LhakhangChelela

3988 m

GurSisina

Dawakha

Bitekha

Amm

o Chhu

Wang Chhu

Punatshang Chhu

uhhC edgnaM

Chakhar Chhu

Chakhar Chhu

Kuri Chhu

Drame Chhu

Dra

gme C

hhu

Dragme Chhu

Manas

Chapcha

Bunakha

Tsimasham

Chukha Dzong

Gedu

Changakha

Takti

Dala

Monitar

Shinchula(1600m)

Piping

Mirchim

Shari

Takchu

Damthang

Thangthangka

Drukgyal

TaktsangJele Dzong

Tshokam

Kychu Lhakhang

Jangothang(Base camp)

Lingshi

Shodu

Shomthang

Barshong

Dodina

Shana

Changangkha Lhakang

River

Airport

Dzong

Trek route

Camp site

Pass

Mobile

Helipad

BHU

Wireless station

Road

Feeder road

Mountain

LEGENDS

Laya Trek

Laya

Trek

Jom

olha

ri Tre

k

Jomolhari Trek

Jom

olha

ri Tre

k

Sinc

hula

Trek

Gangtey Valley Trek

Royal Manas Trek

Merak Sakten Trek

Snowm

an Trek 1

Rodungla Trek

Lhuntse Trek

Snowman Trek 2

Snowman Trek

Druk Path

Trek

Dagala TrekSamtengang Trek

Bumthang Trek

Nabji Korphu Trek

Saga

la Tr

ek

Monastery

Manor house

School

Police station

Lake

District Hq

Town

Army

Alpine Zone

Subalpine Zone

Temperate Zone

Subtropical Zone

Bumthang Owl Trek

Yuetshola

Nubtshonapatta Trek

West Bengal (India) Assam (India)

INDIA

CHINA

MYANMAR

NEPAL

BHUTAN Bhutan tour Map

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S

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Website: www.bhutantragopantours.comPhone: 00975-17119022 (m) 00975-8-272320 (o)email: info@bhutantragopantours.com/ kjigme@yahoo.comTr

agopan Tours & Travels

Bhutan : Kingdom of Happiness