Bhutan: Land Of The Thunder Dragon

Dal Bhat
Dal Bhat is the Nepali staple food. It consists of rice and lentils and a spicy vegetable or meat curry. Nepalis will eat this twice a day. A good lunchtime Dal Bhat is served at Nanglos restaurant 5 minutes walk from the Royal Singi Hotel, or try the Royal Dal Bhat at Kilroys.

Momos

This Nepalese version of dumplings/ wantons is a traditional delicacy and a must try local dish while you are in Nepal. Momo dumplings are either steamed or  fried with chicken/or buff (water buffalo) as well as stuffed with vegetables for vegetarians and have become the most famous fast food amongst Nepalese and can be found on the menus of most restaurants serving locals and tourists alike.   

Kwanti soup

This mixed bean soup is usually served during festivals and gatherings and now has made its way in many of restaurant menus. Goes well with Naan or roti bread. 

Choela

This is a typical Newari dish smoked meat (chicken; lamb or buffalo meat) tossed with spices and mustard oil. Easily available in most Nepalese and local restaurants in Kathmandu around Hotel Royal Singi and in sightseeing spots.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Head down to the Everest Steak House in southern Thamel for a mouth watering steak and chips, well earned if you’re just back from trek. Finish it off with a cocktail in the legendary Tom & Jerry bar up the road!

You can also head to Fire and Ice Pizzeria in Thamel, a great place with casual indoor and outdoor eating which is popular amongst travellers, and locals alike. This restaurant is a great place to meet for a morning cup of Italian espresso, or a hearty meal of delicious pizzas, pastas, ice cream and even a Grappa!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Yes. There are dozens of trekking shops in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Depending on how good your bartering skills are, you can usually pick up items for about one third of the price that you'll pay in the UK...and its more fun to bargain! However, please note we cannot guarantee the quaility of anything you may purchase so buyer beware.

David Richardson - Sales

You will need a visa for Bhutan, which we will organise for you. The cost is payable on entry to Bhutan and is currently US$20 in cash. You will need to send us a clear copy of your passport on booking so that we can organise the Bhutan visa. Please make sure that we have a copy no later than 4 weeks before departure. Please also take 2 passport photos with you as these will be used locally for your visa.

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

Should you be in Thimpu during the weekend, it is worth checking out the local weekend market at the end of the town (beside the National Stadium). This is where most of the town residents come to buy their week’s supply of fresh food and vegetables (everything from cheese to the chillies that the Bhutanese love!) from the farmers. This is a great place for people watching and also some souvenir shopping as there are stalls selling all kinds Bhutanese/ Tibetan products. Do try your bargaining skills as there is no fixed price of the products on sale!

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Plums Café on the second floor of a building near the Clock Tower in downtown Thimpu offers Continental/ Chinese and Bhutanese food doing mostly buffet at lunch time.  Cheese momos (dumplings) and Keewa datsi (a cheese and chilli dish) with red rice is a Bhutanese dish really worth trying. Should you fancy some pastries or muffin Swiss Bakery is the place to check out which is across the street from the restaurant!

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

The hotels are usually good tourist class hotels, have twin rooms with en suite facilities, reliable electricity and water supply, good service and some added amenities. Sometimes, depending on the location, the standard of hotels may be slightly lower, but we will always do our best to source the most suitable option.

Emma Garrick - Product Manager

Bhutan has a varied climate. Southern Bhutan has mild dry winters and hot wet summers; the monsoon starts a little earlier and continues a little longer than further west in the Himalayas. Paro, Thimpu, and the other
temperate areas of Bhutan have cold winters with sunny skies. Please note although these departures do not fall inside the normal monsoon season there is always a chance of rain in Bhutan and you should be prepared for this.
You will experience a range of temperatures during the trip depending on the altitude. During the day temperatures will be approx 10°C-20°C. At night it may reach single figures but the temperature will normally stay above 10°C.

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

Most of our clients choose to get their visas at Kathmadu airport. This may mean some time queuing, but the transfer bus won't leave for the hotel until all arriving passengers are through Immigration and have collected their bags. So if you have your visa in advance, you will avoid the visa queue but you wont get to the hotel any earlier. If you'd like to get your visa in advance, please contact Travcour or the Nepalese embassy direct.

It costs $25 for a 15 days visa and $40 for a 30 days visa. You will need a passport photograph if getting a visa on arrival. Please note if you are staying in Nepal longer than 15 days, you will need to ask for a 30 day visa.

Emma Garrick - Product Manager

If you are used to walking with poles then you can take them with you. They are not essential though and the walk is manageable without them. It is personal preference but do remember to pack them as part of your main luggage to be stowed in the hold.

Sharmil Goswami - Sales

For those wishing to get away from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu and do a bit of pre/ post trekking  and at the same time fancy seeing a religious site, Nagarkot is the best bet. It takes about 2 hours to reach in a pre-arranged car or taxi, and lies at 2100m giving spectacular mountain views to Kathmandu valley below on clear days. From Nagarkot you can then take a  leisurely 2 -3  hours walk downhill to the Hindu temple of Chagu Narayan walking through the countryside with terraced rice fields, villages to mountain views. The temple itself, famous for its carved stone statues, is listed in the UNESCO’s world heritage site and situated on top of a small hillock on middle of a lovely Newari village where you can observe everyday life. Arrange for the same car to pick up at Changu from where you can either drive back to Kathmandu or visit the historical city of Bhakatapur that falls half way between on the way back.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

You can find a comprehensive article covering this matter here: http://www.himalayanrescue.org/hra/article.php?sno=9

Alex Doaga - Exodus leader

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Bhutan where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Nepal where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

You can view the Grading System for our Walking & Trekking programme online.

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!