Tour Type
International Tours
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
March 25, 2026 – 21 Days
Vancouver Island
March 25, 2026 – 21 Days
BC Interior
March 25, 2026 – 21 Days
Activity Level 4
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Mystical Bhutan: Kingdom of Happiness
Bhutan is a country like no other. It is one of the safest places on earth to visit. It is the 8th happiest nation on the globe and it has also given the unique concept of GNH (Gross National Happiness) to the world. Bhutan is now among one of the highest per capita nations in the world – not in terms of monetary standing, but in the sense of individual ‘happiness quotient’. Bhutan has a rich and unique cultural heritage that has largely remained intact due to its isolation from the rest of the world until the 1960s. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country’s culture and traditions being deeply rooted in its Buddhist heritage. This is Wells Gray Tours’ 3rd trip to Bhutan. You will be expertly guided and will experience this remarkable country as the Bhutanese people know it.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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49 meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides, Gratuities, & Fees
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Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director
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Tour Highlights (Included)
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TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Fares per Person |
|---|---|
$15,455$16,875 |
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$15,555$16,975 |
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$15,505$16,925 |
- Please add 0.1% GST.
Early Booking Bonus!
$300 on first 6 seats; $150 on next 4.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
Rigorous Activity: You want adventure and are ready to try anything. You lead an active life at home, walking, biking, hiking or skiing and 10,000 steps or more a day is normal for you. You can handle traversing uneven terrain, steep slopes, standing for prolonged periods of time, and you can carry your own luggage. You don’t mind a mix of full days, early morning starts, and some late nights. You can handle altitudes of up to 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) with no health issues. Bhutan is a country where many of the attractions are accessed by foot. Therefore, you should be able to walk at least 5 km with elevation changes of up to 500 metres. Tagtshang Monastery is a 7 km hike return, but a horse can be rented for part of the way. Seeing everything mentioned in this itinerary requires participation at Activity Level 4.
This tour is not appropriate for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or other mobility assistance devices. Walking poles are recommended. Additionally, this tour is not appropriate for those who have cognitive impairments such as memory loss or confusion, difficulty expressing thoughts, repeating questions, or getting lost. The tour director, local guides, and drivers have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travelers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance, the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance will probably not cover you.
Please note: Prior to accepting your booking, you will be required to sign a declaration that you are capable of travelling on an Activity Level 4 tour.
Tour Size
This tour is limited to 18 participants, making it a more intimate travel experience.
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Documentation: A passport is required and must be valid for over 6 months when you enter India and Bhutan. A Tourist Visa for India is required for Canadians, and details about applying will be provided at final payment. You may have to send your passport away with a Visa application, so plan other trips that require a passport with this in mind. The cost of the India Visa is your responsibility. Bhutan Mindful Travels is arranging the Bhutan visit and will assist with your Visa for Bhutan about a month prior and the fee is included in your tour fare.
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Currency & Expenses: The currency in India is the rupee and, as of May 2025, a Canadian dollar is worth about 61 rupees. You should order rupees from your bank 1-2 weeks before departure, or plan to use ATMs which are common. Canadian credit cards are generally accepted in major hotels, restaurants, and stores in popular tourist locations. In rural areas and smaller businesses, they may be less commonly accepted. The Bhutanese ngultrum (BTN) is the national currency for the Kingdom of Bhutan and a Canadian dollar is worth about 51 BTN. The Indian rupee is widely accepted in Bhutan and the two currencies are pegged at par. You cannot buy BTN outside of Bhutan. ATMs are seldom found and credit cards may be accepted in major hotels. Use cash for souvenirs, otherwise all your expenses for meals are included. Gratuities are included for all group meals and for Indian and Bhutanese guides and drivers.
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Please book early!: Bhutan is slowly opening to tourists and a visit is much sought after by people looking for a unique destination. Tourist visits are strictly controlled by the Kingdom and rooms that are unsold may be taken back and sold to a different tour operator. If this happens, we have to consider the tour full, even though seats are available on the coach. Therefore, waiting too long to book usually means “Sorry, wait until 2028, our next tour.”
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. This tour goes to very remote places where restaurants probably cannot satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
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Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes. The airline will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option with a fare reduction (amount available in June 2025) and book your own flight which allows seat selection. This applies to the flights between Vancouver and Delhi.
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Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flights from Vancouver to Delhi and return. Premium economy and business class may be available.
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Walking: In Bhutan, many of the attractions, dzongs, temples, and palaces that we visit are accessible only by walking. Although you may opt out of the longer hikes, your experience of the destination is very often on foot, so you should be comfortable with walking at least 5 km with elevation change.
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Elevation: Most of Bhutan is at high elevations, starting in Paro at 2,200 metres. Some places we visit are 3,000 to 4,000 metres altitude. Many people are affected by such high altitudes. Acclimatization is important for the first couple of days, so your body can adjust. Please consult your doctor before final payment about whether you can handle high altitudes.
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Vaccinations: Please ensure that you visit a travel health clinic at least 3 months prior to departure to find out if there are any inoculations recommended for northern India or Bhutan. There may be charges for this service.
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Sustainable Development Fee: Because of the restricted nature of tourist activity in Bhutan, travel is higher priced than many other areas of the world. The Bhutan government charges a Sustainable Development Fee of $100 USD per person per day for this tour (included in your fare).
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Tour Director & Guides: The tour will be accompanied from British Columbia by a Wells Gray tour director. Experienced, knowledgeable, and multilingual guides travel with us throughout the tour in Bhutan and India. Local guides conduct sightseeing tours in several places. You will be expertly guided and well looked after!
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Payments: A deposit of $1,000 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due December 9, 2025. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level 4 and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (1.5% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard ($5,000 limit per person on credit cards).
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Early Booking Bonus: Receive a $300 discount on the first 6 seats and $150 on the next 4 seats for booking early with deposit. The discount is not offered after December 9, 2025.
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Cancellation Policy: Up to November 7, 2025, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From November 8 to December 9, the cancellation charge is $300 per person. From December 10, 2025 to January 9, 2026, the cancellation charge is 40% of the tour fare. From January 10 to February 9, the cancellation charge is 80% of the tour fare. After February 9, there is no refund.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: Our many suppliers may notify us about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. The flights between Vancouver and Delhi have been estimated based on current costs, but cannot be confirmed until June 2025. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes, currency exchange rates, or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure.
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Flight delays or cancellations: Flights can be delayed or cancelled at the last minute, sometimes causing a missed connection. The airline usually wants to talk with the individual passenger. There may be an extra payment required if the issue is weather which sometimes delays flights in and out of Paro. Wells Gray Tours cannot interfere with this process. Check that your travel insurance policy has a flight delay benefit because that is usually your best recourse for recouping additional flight costs.
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Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage. Please do not travel to India and Bhutan without medical insurance as a minimum.
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Photo Credits: Adobe Stock (Punaka Dzong Fortress, Tiger’s Nest, National Museum, Dochula Pass, Paro Tsechu Festival) and Pexels (Taj Mahal).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 311 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn e-points that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until December 9, 2025.
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Consumer Protection BC Licenses: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842