How should I interact with people in Bhutan?
What to Bring?
What will the weather be like when I travel?
What are the trekking seasons in Bhutan?
Is there a problem with altitude sickness in Bhutan?

How should I interact with people in Bhutan?
 
The people of Bhutan are like other people! Ask before you take their picture. Ask your guide before taking pictures in museums or public buildings. There are some places that are off limits to visitors for religious and safety reasons. Ask your guide so you can always be sure. 

And please never hand out candy or small trinkets to children. Bhutanese people are very proud of the fact that there are no beggars in Bhutan and wish not to encourage this behavior of expecting anything from our guests. Small gifts to people you stay with and a tip for your guide are fine.

What should I and what can I bring with me?

1. Good walking shoes
2. Sunglasses
3. Sunscreen (highest possible)
4. Headgear for sunny days
5. Bug repellent
6. Cotton clothing for summer days, light woolen clothes for evenings. Heavy woolens for winter.
7. Shorts for hiking and walking around town are fine. Out of respect, please don't wear shorts in public buildings or monasteries. Have a pair of long pants or longer skirt for these locations. 
8. Plugs/converters for electrical equipment (Standard Indian round pin socket suitable for Voltage and cycles 230v, 50cycles AC.
9. Ear plugs (many barking dogs!)

For trekkers, be sure to bring the following:

1. Sturdy and "broken-in" trekking/hiking boots
2. Sunglasses
3. Sunscreen (highest possible)
4. Headgear
5. Raincoat
6. Medium to heavy sleeping bag (or can be rented - bag and mat for $5 per night)
7. Torch (Flashlight)
8. Insect repellent
9. Day pack and water bottle
10. An extra duffel bag with lock

 Maximum recommended load for trekking is 25Kgs (55lbs.), or 1/5th of body weight.

Cellular or mobile phones: GSM phones or satellite phones work in Bhutan

No ATM machines anywhere in the Kingdom so make sure to bring enough spending money- either cash (USD, Euros, Pounds etc.,) or Traveller's Checks. Money is easily changed in Bhutan - your guide will help you. 

Some of the bigger handicraft stores take American Express, Visa and Mastercard. However, the small shops do not.

What will the weather be like in Bhutan?

Climate: Days are normally warm. Nights can be quite chilly. In winter, the temperature is below freezing point. Monsoon showers in summer with heavy rains in July and August.

For up to date conditions, check our weather link.

Average Temperatures In Celsius Degree  (High/Low)
	Paro	Thimphu	Punakha	Wangdue	Trongsa	Bumthang	Mongar	Trashigang
Jan	9.4/-5.8	12.3/-2.6	16.1/4.2	17.0/4.3	13.0/-0.2	10.8/-5.1	15.5/8.2	20.4/10.5
Feb	13.4/1.5	14.4/0.6	19.6/5.3	19.0/7.8	13.9/0.4	10.0/-1.4	15.9/8.3	21.7/11.5
March	14.5/0.6	16.4/3.9	21.2/9.2	22.8/10.4	16.7/4.4	16.2/3.5	20.0/11.6	24.8/14.4
April	17.6/4.6	20.0/7.1	24.4/11.9	26.2/12.9	20.1/6.6	18.7/3.9	22.8/14.0	28.3/17.0
May	23.5/10.6	22.5/13.1	27.2/14.8	29.1/17.7	21.0/11.6	21.3/9.5	25.1/17.4	30.0/20.6
June	25.4/13.1	24.4/15.2	31.2/19.5	29.2/20.1	22.2/13.6	22.5/13.5	26.1/19.5	30.7/22.6
July	26.8/14.9	18.9/13.4	32.0/21.6	18.4/16.2	25.3/15.3	14.1/10.9	16.1/15.8	31.5/23.1
Aug	25.3/14.7	25.0/15.8	31.4/19.8	29.1/20.0	23.8/15.0	23.0/13.7	25.4/19.6	30.2/22.7
Sept	23.4/11.7	23.1/15.0	29.9/20.0	27.5/19.1	22.6/14.2	21.6/12.1	24.7/19.4	30.0/23.9
Oct	18.7/7.4	21.9/10.4	27.8/18.9	26.1/14.7	21.8/11.7	19.5/5.9	22.7/15.8	29.1/17.7
Nov	13.9/1.4	17.9/5.0	22.3/13.0	22.6/9.6	19.8/6.4	16.1/-0.5	19.9/11.2	26.1/13.6
Dec	11.2/-1.7	14.5/-1.1	15.0/7.9	19.1/6.3	18.2/2.5	12.3/-2.3	15.7/9.5	23.0/11.6

  

Preventing Acute Altitude Sickness

• Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills or narcotics. They may decrease ventilation, intensify hypoxemia and make symptoms worse.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Avoid heavy exercise; mild exercise is okay.
• Diamox® (acetazolamide) 125 mg. tablets taken twice a day is F.D.A. approved for prevention and treatment of A.M.S. Although it originally was released as a diuretic (water pill), it also helps you breath deeper and faster. This allows you to get more oxygen. Diamox is especially helpful with the sleeping prob-lems and other symp-toms of A.M.S.
• Home oxygen will relieve symptoms. Home oxygen is safe, cheap and easy to use. It can be used at night when symptoms are worse and off and on during the day as symptoms dictate.
• If nothing else works, you can return to lower altitude. Going down to Denver will always relieve the symptoms of A.M.S.

Acute mountain sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen when traveling to higher elevations. This usually occurs in individuals exposed to an altitude over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) who have not had a chance to acclimate to the altitude before engaging in physical activities. (rare below 12,000 feet) Mountain climbers, trekkers, skiers, and travelers to the Andes or Himalayas are at greatest risk. While individual tolerance varies, symptoms usually appear in several hours, with those in poor physical condition being most susceptible. Headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and poor appetite occur initially. Inability to sleep is also frequently reported. In more severe cases thinking and judgment may become impaired. An uncommon but potentially fatal complication called high altitude pulmonary edema, caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, can also occur.

The symptoms of acute mountain sickness can be prevented or minimized by gradually ascending (less than 500 meters/day) over several days to give your body a chance to acclimate to the higher altitude. Taking the prescription medication Diamox (acetazolamide) 250 mg three times a day has been shown to speed up the acclimatization process and can be taken shortly before and during the ascent. Do not take this medication if you are allergic to sulfa drugs. This medication is a mild diuretic and may work by changing the body's acid-base balance and stimulating breathing. Dexamethasone 8 mg once a day has also been shown to be effective. However, this steroid medication may have more adverse effects. Once symptoms occur, they usually improve over several days without treatment. However, if they become severe, they can be relieved with the administration of oxygen or descent to a lower altitude.

Gary P. Barnas, MD
Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine
4 June 1997

More links on altitude sickness
http://www.utah.edu/umed/students/clubs/international/presentations/high.html
http://onlinesports.com/pages/I,ICS-2-72-6.html

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