Bhutan
 

Hello
Are here members of Horizons Unlimited who live in Bhutan or have the experience of traveling in Bhutan. We want to visit Bhutan with our car, until now we heard that it is impossible, but we want to try.
Ronald

sorry I cant help. But the only person I have heard speak of Buthan is Mike Ferris of Ferris tours. his website would be worth a look as it posts his tour of Buthans itinery I always thought if I could get in there, Id TRY and follow his route solo or as close as i could

Myself and a friend did an organized motorcycle tour of Bhutan in 2011 and it was great. My understanding is that travel in Bhutan is very restricted to preserve local culture. To be issued a visa you have to have a guide and a driver and be part of an organized tour. 1 leg of your trip either into the country or out has to be on their national airline Drukair. From memory there is also a set minimum tour cost of around 200 USD per day.


I don't believe independent travel is allowed and based on what we saw the local people seem to be totally unaffected by the usual temptations of scoring a quick tourist buck.


We travelled with Bhutan and beyond on Royal Enfields.


Bhutan and Beyond – Specialists in Amazing Bhutan

We rode our motorcycle in Bhutan for a week last year. We entered & exited 2 different land borders with India and made a nice loop. It was a last minute decision to go and we used Kinley Tshering:

Himalayan Adventures/ Dharma Adventures Bhutan, Thimphu, Kingdom of Bhutan /Tel. +975 2 328829 Fax 328830 cell +975 17111573 / kinleyt@gmail.com / adventure@druknet.bt / Himalayan Adventures, Bhutan - Bhutan Travel, Bhutan Tours, Bhutan Trekking, Bhutan Biking, Cultural Tour to Bhutan, Tour Operators for Bhutan, Travel Agents in Bhutan / DHARMA ADVENTRES : TRAVEL, TOUR AND TREKKING OPERATOR AND AGENCY IN NEPAL, TIBET, BHUTAN AND INDIA

Kinley was great, we arranged everything in only 2 days. Our guide was Karma who is the king's motorcycle mechanic (& KTM rider). We had a great time, Bhutan is such an interesting country. The government has a set price for visiting, it's $250/day or 220 if it's double occupancy. This includes everything lodging, food, guide, driver (or escort vehicle). All except gas for your own vehicle. Karma was great, he frequently hung back so we could go off on our own. If you go, know the food has chilis in everything! Really good.

I was on an organised motorbike tour in Bhutan in 2012 with a company based in India. It was a stunning experience! The scenery and the roads are just amazing and the people were generally extremely friendly.

As Niello8 mentioned you need a guide and it seems like Niello8 has a good suggestion for a guide. If you dont have a guide to arrange things for you you wont be let in in the country. And the amount of money that you have to spend is the amount Niello8 mentioned

When it comes to itineraries its not many choices, theres only two bordercrossings to India namely Phuentsholing at the southwestern end of Bhutan and Samdrip Jongkhar at the southeastern end of the country. And there is only one main road between those two bordercrossings. In addition there is two minor loops inside the country thats possible to drive. And of course a few minor roads with dead ends. Bhutan doesnt have any bordercrossings to other countries.
If you enter from Phuentsholing and exit through Samdrup Jongkhar you must check if you need some kind of special permit to drive in the indian state of Assam which borders Samdrup Jongkhar. I think I have heard that is neccesary.

bhutan
 

We contacted him and already got a reply. thanks for the address. it looks like we can make it!