Bhutan – The Land that Inflation Forgot
Visit Bhutan – The Land that Inflation Forgot – with Blue Poppy Tours & Treks
Perhaps its position nestled high in the Himalayas has protected Bhutan from some of the pitfalls of modern life. Whilst Britain has seen the average house price rise more than £150,000 and the price of petrol more than double since 1991; the cost of a trip to Bhutan has remained the same for the past 16 years.
Bhutan is often seen as an aspirational or unaffordable destination due to its ‘tourist tax’ – a daily charge of US$200-$240 per person (depending on the group size) levied by the government for all foreign tourists. But in fact, this tariff has not changed since it was first introduced in 1991. And with the current strength of the pound against the US dollar, the cost of a trip to Bhutan is not as prohibitive as people might think.
Choki Dorji, the Bhutanese founder of specialist tour operator Blue Poppy Tours & Treks, comments “It is a common misconception amongst British travellers that they cannot afford to visit my country. In fact, the price for those travelling in a small group is around £100 - £130 per day. This covers most of your daily costs, including a personal guide and driver throughout your stay, accommodation, food, trekking guides and other staff, activities and sightseeing tours. People will happily spend £100 per day on a ski trip, or on a luxury beach holiday, but in Bhutan, you can have a truly special experience in an undiscovered corner of the world for around the same price. Who knows? You might even spot a Yeti!”
Whilst the cost of a stay in Bhutan has remained constant, here is how other British prices have changed since 1991:
Item 1991 2007 % change
Daily tourist tariff in Bhutan
(based on US$200 daily charge) £98.54 £98.54 none
Average UK house price £70,987 £230,474 +224.67%
Litre of unleaded petrol £0.45 £1.03 +128.89%
A packet of 20 cigarettes £1.86 £5.23 +181.18%
Pint of draught lager £1.37 £2.50 +82.48%
Blue Poppy Tours & Treks designs tailor-made trips of Bhutan based on the requests of each individual. Specialising in trekking itineraries and trips to cultural festivals, the company also designs bird-watching itineraries and even held the first ever Chele La Bhutan Marathon, which took place in November 2007 and is expected to become an annual event. In September/October 2008, Blue Poppy Tours & Treks is introducing The Snowman Trek, regarded as one of the toughest treks in the Himalayas.
Blue Poppy Tours & Treks launched in the UK in December 2005. It is the only specialist tour operator to be run by a Bhutanese living in the UK, giving its clients unrivalled access to extensive local knowledge. The company is run by Choki Dorji in the UK and Karma Wangdi, who operates out of Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital.
Bhutan’s ‘tourist tariff’ does not cover flight costs. The most convenient way to reach Paro International Airport in Bhutan is with Druk Air, from Delhi, Kathmandu, Calcutta or Bangkok.
For further details: www.bluepoppybhutan.com
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