Home  Asia Bhutan Overview
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Money matters
Different sorts of money
Ngultrun: at the time of writing 1 Euro = 50 Nu and 1 US$ = 46 Nu
The Ngultrun is the official currency of Bhutan. It has exactly the same value as the Indian Rupee, and in fact Indian Rupees are accepted everywhere. For an idea of the exchange rate, go to Oanda's currency converter. Be sure to have enough small notes with you, because often, especially in smaller places, people do not have enough change.
Cash
It’s really useless to first change your Euros. at home into dollars, and then converting them here into Rupees. The rate for the Euro follows the official market.
You can change cash in the bank. There’s a bank in the arrival hall at the airport.
ATM
This is of course a very handy system, which is spreading fast around the world. Most bankcards belong to the Maestro/Cirrus system nowadays, which allows you to withdraw money directly from your bank account. Exchange rates are usually good, but you have to pay a certain amount of money, which depends on your bank for each transaction. This is in the order of 2 or 3 Euros. Sometimes the local bank announces they also add some costs.
This system is now slowly spreading in Bhutan. I didn't see ATM's myself, but I saw advertisement by the Bhutanese bank saying they had ATM in Puentsholing and Paro. But as I said, you will need so little money since everything has been paid for in advance that this will not be a problem.
Credit cards
I didn't use this.
Where to change
Banks are the safest place to go, but it'll take more time. The bank at the airport gives reasonable exchange rates
Transportation
By plane
For the moment, Bhutan has only 1 airport in Paro, although their next 5-year plan includes a new airport somewhere east of Wangdue Fording. However, there is a helicopter service, but for the moment I don't have info. This is of course expensive, but if flying from Tashigang to Paro can save you 2 days, it also saves you 400$, so it may become worthwhile. Ask your travel agent.
By private car
As your 200 $ a day fee includes a private car with driver, it's no use talking here about buses and so on. Your driver will take you anywhere.
Guidebooks Tibet/Bhutan Footprint Handbook
- Price 21.95 $
- Published 1999
- The footprint guide on Bhutan is actually a very small part of their book on Tibet, so unless you want to go to Tibet as well, I'd opt for the LP.
Order the Footprint Tibet/Bhutan now for only 15.37 US$
Bhutan: a travel survival kit Lonely Planet
- Published in June 2002
- Price 21.00$
- This is of course the classical book of every Bhutan traveler, and you can also buy it in Bhutan (although it'll often be a previous edition). Their maps are especially good. A good point is that they have a map with highlights, so you immediately see which places you should visit, and in about 1 day you can design your holiday. The book is written by Stan Armington. He is based in Kathmandu, and regularly goes to Bhutan (in fact he was on our plane). He knows the people of Yu-Druk very well, and he's also involved in the American Himalaya club. This has a disadvantage as well: if he wants to retain his good contacts in Bhutan, he'd better not write too negative about the country (see also chapter on political situation).
- Don't forget to go to their fantastic website where they have the "Thorn Tree". You can add your posting with practical questions about your trip: http://www.lonelyplanet.com
- They also publish an update of this book on their site at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/upgrades/index.html, you need Acrobat Reader for this.
Order the Lonely Planet Bhutan now for only 15.39 US$
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