Himalayan travel specialist, World Expeditions, is advising would-be travellers to Bhutan to seize the day and travel this season, to avoid huge price hikes. The Bhutanese Government has announced it will introduce a new Sustainable Development Fee in 2023, tripling the daily rate payable by foreign visitors, who will pay US$200 per day, rather than the current US$65 per day per visitor charge.
According to World Expeditions CEO, Sue Badyari, the US$135 per person per day increase will have a huge impact on costs of travel to Bhutan. “One of our most challenging but popular treks in Bhutan is the 27 day Bhutan Snowman trek, and the Government imposed price rise means that the cost of this trip will increase by US$3,645 – or roughly AUS$5,500 per person.”
In addition to exploratory expedition-style treks, World Expeditions’ Bhutan range includes cultural itineraries, such as the Bhutan Explorer and the Bumthang’s Jambay Lakhang festival and the Bhutan Explorer & Paro Tshechu Festival, both crafted to co-incide with festivals that reveal Bhutan’s cultural richness, and the 11 day Bhutan Dragon Kingdom, which combines an exceptional trek along the Druk Trail between Thimpu and Paro, with an in-depth exploration of some of Bhutan’s cultural highlights.
World Expeditions, which has successfully operated tours in Bhutan for many years, is also appealing to the Bhutanese Government to reconsider the cost increase on behalf of clients already booked to travel in 2023. The company expects clarification from the Bhutanese Government in coming weeks.
