Amankora
Hotel - Paro - Occupying the high mountain valley between China to the
north and India to the south, Bhutan has long been a mystery to the West. The
Kingdom has maintained its traditional Mahayana Buddhist way of life for
centuries and the rugged, unspoiled, mountainous terrain has nurtured numerous
ethnic groups within its remote, protective folds.
Amankora Hotel - Thimphu - Sited in a pine forest in the upper reaches of
the Motithang area of the Thimphu Valley, Amankora Thimphu opened December
2005 is a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Kingdoms booming
capital.
Uma Hotel -
Paro - COMO Hotels and Resorts Uma Paro offers luxury in the heart of the
rugged wilderness of Bhutan. Situated on the cusp of the Paro valley amid
richly forested mountain roads, enjoy the sweeping views of the pristine
hinterland whilst enveloped in the cosseting comfort of Uma Paro.
Visas: Despite popular mythology, you don't
need special 'pull' to get a visa, neither is there a limit on the number of tourists
allowed to visit. However, to minimize the perceived threat to Bhutan's unique culture,
the government has established a stringent set of rules, which means you must travel on a
pre-arranged itinerary and pay US$200 a night for the privilege, all costs included. Apart
from that, the process is relatively straightforward. All visa applications must be
channeled through the Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB) from a selected tour operator.
With notification of approval and receipt of full payment, visas are issued when you
arrive in the country. It's actually an extremely efficient system and you can set up a
trip with as little as 10 days planning. Health risks: Altitude sickness, diarrhea, hepatitis A, malaria (lowland areas
only
