Not a Tour Type of Guy

July 11, 2009 11:29 AM

Going to Bhutan in October. Want to find a tour company who will stay out of my way and essentially let me go where I want to, alone. Most sources tell me this impossible, but I don't believe it. Any MeFites been there?
posted by Xurando to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

All reports I've seen seem to say that it's extremely difficult to evade the Bhutan government's mandatory requirement for a tour group. You might have the best luck by planning to spend some time in India first, up to a couple of weeks. Go to Delhi and talk to travel agents to get hooked up with a tour group consisting of Indian nationals, you may get more freedom than the typical tour-for-rich-white-tourists. Bhutan is pretty much economically and politically dependent on India, so you may encounter some wiggle room in the process if you get your Bhutan visa in Delhi versus doing it ahead of time.
posted by thewalrus at 11:42 AM on July 11

The Lonely Planet front page for the country says

Visitors famously have to pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you don’t have to travel in a group and you can arrange your own itinerary.

So being on an itinerary could be an itinerary of one plus a guide, which would be really not like a group of 60 folks taking photos of the Eiffel Tower, then being herded onto a bus or something. I think that mass tourism in the sense you might be wanting to stay away from is still pretty rare there.

The LP practicalities page says that traveling by oneself is more expensive, though.
posted by mdonley at 11:54 AM on July 11

My mom went to Bhutan last year. She did this. It was a good compromise between trying to go on her own and getting stuck on a "tour group".
posted by dogmom at 1:47 PM on July 11

Let's just say I know people who go there who would prefer to go without a guide.

They always have to have one.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:31 PM on July 11

From a friend in Bhutan:

"Bhutanese law requires that anyone who comes into the country to come in with a tourist agency. The tour rates are expensive, but take into consideration that the $ 250 US per day VISA charges cover your hotel, meals, a guide and transportation to and where you want to go. Some tour agencies will work with you to create your own programs, while others also offer pre-package tour trips.

If you are interested in linking up with someone who would be willing to be flexible, I suggest Bhutan Expeditions

http://www.bhutan-expeditions.com.bt/"

Disclosure: my friend has family connections with Bhutan Expeditions.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 8:39 PM on July 11