About Tour Payment
Payment for your trip is made in US$ via bank transfer to Bhutan to the Tourism Council of Bhutan’s bank account at the Bhutan National Bank, Tashi Bank, BOB Bank also with your tour operator shown as the ultimate beneficiary of the funds.
We will provide you with all the information needed to make the transfer once your choice of trip is confirmed. Please note that it is not possible to make payment by credit card as the payment has to be routed through the government account in order for your visa to be authorised and is not paid directly to Bhutan Dendrobium Tour & Trek. We ask for payment 90 days in advance of the tour to give us plenty of time to finalist the arrangements for your booking. We don’t require payment of a deposit, but if you are visiting in peak season we may need to issue your flight tickets as much as 6 months or more beforehand (if the flight has filled up) and in that case we will ask you to send payment for the flight tickets only at an earlier stage.
Payments sent in US$ are routed through Standard Chartered Bank in New York as an intermediary bank and from there the funds are transferred on to the Bhutan National Bank, or Tashi Bank PLD, BOB Bank also. Although we have to quote for our tours in US$, if you are sending funds from the UK or Europe it is possible to send the payment in sterling (via Standard Chartered Bank in London) or in Euros (via Standard Chartered Bank in Frankfurt) and we will give you the necessary details to make payment via these routings. Once we receive notification from the bank that your payment has arrived we will send you a formal trip confirmation and receipt.
Payment Shortfalls
If your payment is sent in sterling (or any currency other than US$ it is not uncommon for there to be a small shortfall on receipt of the funds. The reason for this may be that intermediary banks deduct charges en route, but also because your bank will work out the sterling or other currency equivalent of the dollar amount on sending, but the money is converted on arrival in Bhutan at the prevailing dollar rate, which may be different. We charge a US$ 30 administration fee to process your payment which helps us to cover these costs. If there is a shortfall of more than this we will confirm to you the exact amount received (and if requested send you a copy of the receipt from our bank showing the dollar amount received) and will ask you to make up the shortfall in US$ cash on arrival.
Security
your funds are held in the government account and will not be released to Bhutan Dendrobium Tour & Trek until after your tour has taken place. This provides you with the security of knowing that your money is safe until your holiday takes place. If for any reason the trip doesn’t go ahead then the government will not give your money to Bhutan Dendrobium Tour & Trek but will return it to you (subject to any cancellation charges which apply if you have cancelled the trip). So in the unlikely event that we do not run your trip for you, you would not be out of pocket.
Please note that if you decide to book with Bhutan Dendrobium Tour & Trek you will be booking with us as a local Bhutanese tour operator, licensed and registered in Bhutan, subject to regulation by the Bhutan Ministry of Trade and Industry (the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators). Any disputes regarding your booking are to be resolved by arbitration under the laws of Bhutan. Our office in Nepal acts purely as facilitator in corresponding with you regarding your booking on behalf of Bhutan Dendrobium Tour & Trek in Bhutan. About tour program contact us on. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.