Bhutan 2024

late OCTOBER - early NOVEMBER

THE COST:

• US$7000-8000 TBC per person twin share*

• Single supplement US$1500

• Deposit of US$1600 is required to hold your spot on the trip. Deposits are non-refundable, however they can be transferred to another Tour de Trails’ or Trail Run Adventures’ trip

• Plus flight from gateway to Paro - arranged and booked by us

• All tips included

THE INCLUSIONS:

• ACCOMMODATION (3*)

• 2x MASSAGE TREATMENTS

• TRAIL RUNS (8 DAYS) All facilities and staff required on trail run

• TENTS provided IF NECESSARY. Include sleeping, dining, cook tents and toilet tent. Note sleeping bags are not provided.

• RUN GUIDES FOR THIS ADVENTURE Braz, Chris Ord and LOCAL TBC

• TRAINING PLAN For those who wish, Anna Frost will prepare a training plan specifically for this trip. Includes an initial Skype session with Anna to discuss where you are at with your running in order that she can plan appropriate to your level. For each guest, we will encourage you to contact Anna via Skype at anytime with questions or concerns.

• LOCAL GUIDES AND EXPERTS Throughout the tour from arrival to departure and extra guides while on trail. In country logistics and hosting is being arranged by renowned operator, Blue Poppy Tours, who is a full production partner in this first ever expedition run of the Jomolhari Laya Gasa trail. Without Blue Poppy Tours, this expedition would not be possible and we give huge kudos and thanks to Choki and the team in Bhutan!

• SIGHTSEEING All sightseeing and entrance fees including Tigers Nest (Paro Taktsang), Punakha Dzong and more.

• TRANSPORT Meet on arrival, airport transfers on arrival and departure and all overland transport within Bhutan

• VISAS All required royalties, visas and permits inclusive - arranged and submitted by us

• FOOD Full board throughout the trip, mineral water in the bus and boiled water on the trail

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• International flights from home country to gateway airport city (see list below. You must arrange yourself)

• International flights from gateway city to Paro return - we will arrange the booking and payment of these flights in and out, using the expertise of in-country partner, Blue Poppy Tours

• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, alcohol, personal preference trail hydration and nutrition products, laundry and tips

• MANDATORY INSURANCE You will need to show proof of insurance that covers helicopter extraction and high altitude. We recommend: Global Rescue 
  

BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS:

Flights to one of the gateway cities (Delhi (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand), Calcutta (India) or Singapore (Singapore), must be booked and paid for by the guest/s on their own arrangement. You must book your flights (and be responsible for any extra accommodation etc at gateway city), to ensure you are able to make the connecting flight to Paro. See following point.

Flights from your nominated gateway city to Paro, Bhutan, will be booked directly via us, using the services of Blue Poppy Tours. We will in partnership with Blue Poppy, collect your requests re: gateway city prior to paying your tour deposit, and then advise which flight you need to catch, time and cost. This will happen prior to you paying your tour deposit. The cost of your confirmed gateway-Paro-gateway flight will be invoiced at the same time as your tour deposit is due.

From the gateway, we will determine which Druk Air/Tashi Air flights will best suit you. We will then add the price of those tickets to your Tour Deposit. Rates for the gateway-Paro-gateway flights fluctuate and are subject to confirmation on issue of tickets.  Current prices in economy class are:

• Delhi/Paro/Delhi: US$650

• Kathmandu/Paro/Kathmandu: US$390

• Bangkok/Paro/Bangkok: US$900

• Calcutta/Paro/Calcutta: US$410

• Singapore/Paro/Singapore: US$1050

Business Class is also available on request.

PRICES ABOVE DO VARY PENDING TIME OF BOOKING

MANDATORY VISAS FOR BHUTAN

All visitors will need to have valid Visas. Via our partner in this expedition, Blue Poppy Tours, will organise visas for Bhutan, which is inclusive in the tour price. We will require scanned copies of your passports.  As we can apply for the visas only after funds for the trip have arrived in Bhutan, we request that the financials for the trip be organised as a priority so we can secure the required permits and visas ahead of time. As you may be aware, travel in Bhutan is controlled by numbers and thus we are required to be very organised and prompt in our payments and applications. 

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - ARRIVE - ACCLIMATISATION

• Fly in to Paro, Bhutan (2200m)

• Check into accommodation

• Lunch

• Optional run/hike to Zuri Dzong

• Welcome massage treatment

• Dinner and welcome briefing

• Hotel in Paro

DAY 2 - LEISURE - ACCLIMATISATION

• Breakfast

• Acclimatisation hike/run: Tiger’s Nest (Paro Taktsang) 3120m return

• Lunch

• Visit Dumtse Lhakhang

• Hot Stone Bath

• Dinner

• Hotel in Paro

DAY 3 - LEISURE - ACCLIMATISATION

• Breakfast

• Acclimatization hike/run: Chele La Pass 3700m to the nun monastery

• Picinic Lunch

• Dinner

• Hotel in Paro

DAYS 4 - 12 TBC

THE LOGISTICS

DEPOSIT / PAYMENT POLICY / CANCELLATION TERMS

1)   We (Tour de Trails) must supply to in-country authorities a final group number on the tour at least 6-8 months ahead of departure to secure all services (OUR NOMINATED DEPOSIT DUE DATE: April 1).  We need to pay a 50% overall deposit to in country operators at this time. Thus we require each guests's deposit of 50% of the tour fee PLUS the full amount for your gateway-PARO-gateway return flight (note that this does not include your return flight from home nation to gateway airport, see above. You must arrange that privately by March 15th.  This deposit is refunded (90% - 10% will be withheld for administration costs) only if you cancel your booking prior to 12+ weeks before arrival i.e. prior 1 August. This is a firm policy. NO REFUND OF DEPOSIT WILL BE MADE AFTER THIS DATE AS COSTS WILL HAVE BEEN INCURRED. Refund of airfare component will be advised by Blue Poppy Tours.

2)   Regarding flights, Blue Poppy are unable to hold block bookings of seats on the >Bhutan flights and so require full names of pax travelling as on their passports to hold seats and issue flight tickets (this is for the gateway-Paro-gateway leg, booking on one of the Bhutan National Airlines).  Bookings are always subject to availability.  

3)   We must pay remaining amount for all services, accommodation etc 12 weeks before departure (1 August).  Payment is to be made in US$ by bank transfer. Bank details TBC via an invoice. The sum of US$50 will be included on the invoice to cover bank charges.  Receipt of on-payment to Bhutan suppliers / authorities is required before visas can be authorised, approximately one week after payment to TdT. 

4)   Cancellation policy for tours is as follows: 

a. Earlier than 60 days before the start of the tour: 20% of DEPOSIT FEE only will be withheld

b. Between60 and 45 days before the start: 50% of the full rates will be withheld

c. Between 44 and 16 days before the start: 75% of the full rates will be withheld

e. 15 days or less before the start: 100% of the rates

f. After arrival in Bhutan: 100% of the rates** (see below for what would happen in this instance)

5)   Note that the charges for Accommodation apply separately from the above – no refund is due if a room is cancelled less than 45 days before arrival.

6)   We need to pay for any gateway-Paro-gateway flights in advance in order to secure the bookings.  We reserve the right to invoice for full advance payment along with tour deposit (DUE April 15) to cover the flight tickets to assist with cash flow.  

7)   Cancellation policy for flights (in accordance with Druk Air regulations) is as follows – in each case a cancellation charge of US$25 applies:

a.    75% refund for tickets cancelled more than 30 days before the date of travel

b.    50% refund for tickets cancelled between 30 days and 10 days before the date of travel

c.     25% refund for tickets cancelled between 10 days and 3 days before the date of travel

d.    No refund for tickets cancelled less than 3 days before the date of travel

8)  In the circumstance of a client arriving in Bhutan and then having to cancel their on trail run component (be that prior to setting off or during), the client agrees to be liable for any extra costs incurred regarding accommodation and food and sightseeing while staying back at a nominated town/city, while the remainder of the group completes the run. Extraction from the run due to injury or altitude problems will be covered by your tour fee if it is on foot / by mule. HELICOPTER extraction (emergency only - helicopters come from India or Nepal) and the costs incurred (significant) is the responsibility and liability of the guest, hence WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND FINDING TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT COVERS THIS. We can assist finding an appropriate cover should you require. All in town inclusions in the tour are of course covered as per regular itinerary. Blue Poppy Tours will of course assist with emergency booking of accommodation and suggestions of how you may enjoy your time in Bhutan regardless of pulling from the run. They will be your in country 'hosts' while the team is on trail, noting any guiding services you engage them in are at your cost. 

BLUE POPPY TOURS
OUR PARTNER, YOUR HOSTS 

To make this very special expedition trip happen, we Tour de Trails had to find in-country partners who were willing to try something never before done in Bhutan. With our remit of entwining the highest possible quality experience, luxury and cultural engagements  with the logistical difficulties of moving a group of runners along a very remote, wild trail, it was a big ask and many operators would have put it in the too hard basket and stuck to trekking clientele. Not so  Blue Poppy Tours and Treks, in whom we have found not just a supplier, but a true partner in our quest to run this trail. We're just lucky that the can-do operator is also pretty much the best in Bhutan (and you can check that out via other referrers if you like!)

Blue Poppy has many years of experience revealing to clients the mysteries of Bhutan’s traditions and majestic landscapes. Whether you’re interested in visiting ancient Buddhist monasteries, experiencing a traditional Bhutanese festival, or trekking in stunning mountain scenery - or as we are, running through it! - their speciality is to tailor trips to needs and make it an unforgettable experience.

“We specialise in tailor made itineraries for independent travellers, we pride ourselves on our extensive local contacts and on going the extra mile to make each trip special,” says Choki from Blue Poppy.

"We pride ourselves on our extensive local contacts and on going the extra mile to make each trip special. We can arrange stays in traditional Bhutanese farmhouses, bird-watching, mountain biking, archery lessons, tours focusing on local textiles, photography, filming, Buddhist meditation and much more. Let us help you to see Bhutan through Bhutanese eyes."

Blue Poppy also proudly works with a local charitable foundation called the Loden Foundation. Its objectives are to promote education and learning in Bhutan, to foster an educational, literary and intellectual culture and to cultivate an enlightened ethos in Bhutanese society at large. In addition to its early learning centres, the first of their kind in Bhutan, Loden offers a successful entrepreneurship programme aimed at helping young Bhutanese become self-starters in business. If you would be interested to find out more about Loden’s work and to visit them during your time in Bhutan let us know and we would be pleased to facilitate this. Let us know when you contact us that you are interested in Loden’s work and if you would like to contribute in any way.

Tour de Trails is very proud to be partnering with Blue Poppy Tours, knowing in them and their team that we have partnered with the best to ensure our expedition is run to the highest possible standards, in safety and with unique cultural access and, as is the way in Bhutan, always with a smile. 

We'd like to thank Blue Poppy and urge our clients to recommend them to any friends or family who are considering visiting Bhutan for any reason (not just running!). 

www.bluepoppybhutan.com