Jakar Village Holidays
Founder
Dasho Gasey Lhendup is a well-known retired civil servant. He was conferred the prestigious Red Scarf and the title “Dasho” by the fourth King of Bhutan. With over 30 years experience serving the Royal Government in various capacities, he is best suited to describe the transition of Bhutan from an isolated and hermit kingdom in the 1960’s to a modern developing state of the 21st century. After his retirement he set up a lodge and runs his personalised travel agent.
About Jakar Village Holidays
Dasho founded Jakar Village Holidays in the year 2007 after requests from some of his guests to travel with them as a guide. He arranges personalised and tailormade itineraries as per the wishes of the guests. He and his dedicated team strive for excellence by offering the best value and service to our esteemed guests.
Quoting a guest.
“For us the best part of any trip is the interesting people we meet and the owner. Dasho (a title bestowed by the King) was the highlight of our trip. With 5 minutes notice he could and did give us organized, detailed lectures on every aspect of Bhutanese culture, history, religion and politics. The icing on the cake is that he is also a gifted photographer and he himself drove us to outstanding photographic points throughout the region.”
The best time to visit Bhutan is during the spring time i.e from March to May when the weather is pleasant and the valleys become lush green with flowers blooming all over. This is the best time to visit Bhutan for sightseeing and other outdoor activities. October to November is also an ideal time to plan a visit to Bhutan as the days are sunny and you can even find snow at higher elevations. Hence, the best seasons to visit Bhutan is autumn and spring when the temperature is balanced, and the skies are clear.
Here are the details of weather conditions and the best time to visit in Bhutan.
March-May(3°C to 25°C):
The quarter of March to May are the months of the spring season. The weather is usually dry and humid, offering ample scope to explore the surroundings and indulge in trekking. It is also the best time to visit Bhutan in order to attend the Paro Tsechu festival and meet the king of Bhutan. As thousands of tourists flock here during this period, it is advised to book a travel package in advance.
June – August (24°C to 25°C):
With the month of June, comes the summer season, offering an enticing view of the Himalayan mountains replete with lush green paddy fields. The region remains mostly dry during these months. However, one can experience mild afternoon showers for two or three days. As the place witnesses low influx of visitors on this duration, one can have a more relaxed holiday while enjoying the view of splendid landscapes.
September – November (10°C to 23°C):
Here comes the fall season with the month of September and it extends up to November. And, the weather becomes quite majestic, mildly sunny and chilly, making it one of the best seasons to have a visit here. One can make a visit to Bhutan during this period to attend festivals, like the Black-Necked Crane Festival and enjoy the view of beautiful landscape turning gold.
December – February (10°C to -5°C):
The period between December and February experiences the winter season. Most of the region remains dry during this period, while the later weeks of January experience mild snowfall. It is advised to avoid making a visit to Bhutan during this period as heavy snowfall disrupts roads and transportation.
Famous Festivals Celebrated in Bhutan
Thimphu Tshechu Festival: Thimphu Tshechu Festival is the most popular festival that is celebrated in Bhutan every year from 7th Oct to 9th Oct. During this festival al the local people dressed in colorful attires take part in the festivities. A lot of cultural events are held during this time along with masked dance performance.
Jambay Lhakhang Drup: This is another iconic festival celebrated in Bhutan where cultural dances are performed along with famous fire dance for celebrating the foundation of Jambay Lhakhang Monastery. Dance of Treasure is the highlight of this festival which is said to bless a woman who is not able to give birth to a child.
Punakha Drubchen: This one is one of the most iconic Bhutan festivals which is celebrated in the month of either February or March. It is a 3 to 4 days festivity in which the scenes and moments from the battle of the Tibetan Army which was held in the 17th century are recreated. The festival celebrates the victory of the villagers over the Tibetan army.
Bhutan has limited entry points for international travelers. The main entry points into Bhutan are as follows:
Paro International Airport: Paro International Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan. It is located in Paro, a scenic valley town. Most international visitors arrive in Bhutan by flying into Paro Airport. Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan, and Bhutan Airlines operates flights to Paro from cities such as Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, and Singapore.
Phuentsholing: Phuentsholing is a border town in southwestern Bhutan, located on the border with India. It serves as a major entry point for travelers arriving by land from India. The nearest Indian city to Phuentsholing is Jaigaon in West Bengal. From Phuentsholing, you can travel to other parts of Bhutan by road.
Gelephu: Gelephu is another entry point located in southern Bhutan, near the border with India. It is primarily used for land travel between Bhutan and India. Gelephu has road connections to Indian cities like Guwahati and Samdrup Jongkhar. From Gelephu, you can continue your journey to other parts of Bhutan by road.
Samdrup Jongkhar: Samdrup Jongkhar is an entry point in southeastern Bhutan, also situated along the border with India. It is connected to the Indian state of Assam and serves as a gateway for travelers entering Bhutan from Guwahati and other parts of Assam. From Samdrup Jongkhar, you can proceed to other destinations in Bhutan by road.
Jakar Village Holidays can arrange your visit to Bhutan . We will handle the necessary permits, accommodations, and transportation for your trip.
The Department of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs in Bhutan, is the only authority that issues visas for travel to Bhutan. With the exception of Indian visitors who will need a permit, all other visitors must obtain a visa to enter Bhutan.Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives shall be eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry. Nationals of Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic and official passports shall be also eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry.
Although visitors from Bangladesh and Maldives can process visas on arrival, it is recommended that these be applied online to reduce wait time and for faster clearance at the port of entry. The visa fee is USD 40 per person and it is non-refundable. While the process to issue the visa is usually quick, the visa can take up to five working days to process.
Following documents are required to process the visa:
- A passport copy is required. The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from the Kingdom;
- Travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip and
- A recent passport size photograph.
The Sustainable Development Fee enables investment in transformative programmes that preserve our cultural traditions, protect our heritage and environment, upgrade infrastructure, create opportunities for our young people, and build resilience.
SDF amount is as follows:
- Guests from India are levied SDF of Nu. 1,200 or equivalent amount in INR per person per night, which will remain in effect for two years, following which time it may be reviewed and revised in keeping with the principle of the preferential rate after two years.
- Visitors from all other countries are levied SDF of USD 200 per person, per night. There will be a concessionary levy of 50% on the SDF for children between the ages of 6-12 years and exemptions of SDF for children aged 5 years and below.
- The SDF funds go to the national exchequer and are allocated to various projects that enhance facilities, services and infrastructure for nationals and guests who visit Bhutan, as well as funding free healthcare and education.
There are a few options available for making the SDF payment:
- When applying for the visa or permit, the SDF can be paid via wire transfer or credit card and further, the certified Travel Agents can assist you with the payment procedures.
- The SDF must be paid in USD, but Indians may also pay in INR.
- If eligible for a visa on arrival, guests must pay the applicable SDF in USD at the port of entry.
Our Tour Packages
Holiday in ” BHUTAN” with “JAKAR VILLAGE HOLIDAYS”, a registered travel agent with the Department of Tourism ,Royal Government of Bhutan. Initiated and owned by a well known retired civil servant. Dasho Gasey Lhendup was conferred the prestigious Red Scarf and the title Dasho by the forth King of Bhutan. With experience of over 30 years in the tourism industry, Dasho and his dedicated team strive for excellence by offering the best value and service to our valuable guests.
Jakar Village Holidays mainly specializes in custom tailored tours and programs. Every Tour programs and itinerary are carefully designed with suggestions, ideas, interest, comfort, etc from our guests.
Cultural Tour
East West Tour
10 nights |11 days
Eastern Bhutan is one of the least explored regions of the kingdom and offers one of most authentic experiences for adventure-oriented tourists.
Western Bhutan
7 nights | 8 days
Journey into the Dragon Kingdom on this leisurely tour combining visits to age-old temples, forts & exploration of some of Bhutan’s beautiful wilderness and countryside.
Western Bhutan
5 nights | 6 days
The attractions of Paro Valley including the Kyichu Temple, Drukgyel Dzong, and the “Tigers Nest” Monastery (Taktsang) perched on a rocky cliff.
Other Tours
- Festival tours
- Customized tours
- Textile tours