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What are the accommodations?
Bhutan’s government has rolled out a Star Classification System to accredit hotels and accommodation providers for visitors. However, it is important to note that the Star Classification is NOT at par with the international Star Accreditation System. Therefore, please do not expect a three-star or a four-star or five-star hotel in Bhutan to be the same as in a developed city in the world. Hotels and guest houses in Bhutan have comfortable rooms with basic amenities and a traditional ambience. Generally, hotels in western Bhutan are better appointed, while accommodation establishments in the central and eastern part of the country are more modest, with fewer amenities. The majority of hotels in Bhutan are three-star properties. Four and five-star luxury properties are available now in certain places. Accommodation in all resorts, hotels, lodges or inns, are standard double occupancy rooms. If you have special requests, we can notify the hotel — however, we cannot guarantee that it will be accommodated.

Throughout your journey, you’ll enjoy a combination of premium accommodations that offer both  comfort and authenticity: 

• 3-star Bhutanese-style hotels that provide a cozy stay 
• Farmhouse accommodations to connect with the rural Bhutanese way of life ∙ 5-star Zhiwa Ling Heritage: For the final two nights, stay at the luxurious Zhiwa Ling Heritage,  an award-winning property recognized by National Geographic as one of the Unique Lodges of  the World.

Single Rooms are available at an additional cost of $2000.

We recommend staying in the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel if you need accommodations before and after the retreat.

What will the food by like?

Food staples for the Bhutanese include rice. We will also eat beef, pork, poultry, goat, yak, and fish. Yak cheese is part of the diet of upland nomad. Meat soups, rice or corn, and spiced chilies comprise daily food.

Beverages include buttered tea and beer distilled from cereal grains.

Menus of restaurants in Bhutan are a fantasy concocted of the ingredients a restaurant would like to have and what is actually on their shelves.

As this is an all-inclusive Women’s Quest adventure, expect to eat most meals at our hotel (Buffet fans are in for a treat — and where not appreciated, al a carte meals may be provided.) The dishes of buffet usually are a soup, rice, noodles, seasonal vegetables, potato, dal (lentils), and some protein (Chicken/Pork/Beef).

This is followed by a sweet dish which is usually fresh fruits, fruit cocktail etc. Tea and coffee is served. These foods are tampered to western taste and therefore are not spicy hot as locals would eat. Your guide can arrange dinner at local restaurants but beware: traditional Bhutanese food always features chilies and the most popular dish is ema datse made with large, green hot chilies in a cheese sauce.

Though there is plenty of white rice, Bhutanese prefer a local, slightly nutty, red variety. At high altitudes, wheat is the staple. Several Tibetan-style dishes are common, including momos (dumplings) and thukpa (noodles).

While touring, we will likely eat breakfasts and dinners in our hotel. In the countryside and on long drives, we will often have picnic lunches. In some cases, we will stop at roadside restaurants.

*Please be informed that Bhutanese culinary is limited in diversity owing mainly to the age-old isolation and lack of western ingredients and expertise BUT over the last few years, the food has greatly improved. Guests who are very sensitive about food are advised to notify us in advance so that we can try to cater to your needs wherever possible. Please make sure you tell us of your dietary restrictions.

Drinking Water
Avoid drinking un-boiled water or ice cubes at all times. Most water sources are untreated. However, many Bhutanese people drink it straight from the tap. All water sources are from mountain spring waters.

Mineral water will be provided but we do have a policy to reduce the use of plastic bottles on our trekking tours in order to be environmentally friendly. Unless explicitly asked by guests, we provide boiled drinking water on treks. Please bring your own water bottle.

What about the yoga?
We will wake in the morning to a gentle Yoga and meditation practice. Please bring your yoga mats.

What about the hiking?
We will be doing some extensive hiking throughout the trip. Some of this hiking will be at altitude. We suggest starting an aerobic conditioning routine as soon as possible.

What weather can I expect?
October to December is the ideal time to visit Bhutan. Expect it to be mid 70’s to low 80’s in the sun, but there will be cooler temperatures in the evenings and at higher altitudes.

What is the average age on this retreat?
We have a wide range of women who attend our retreats, from 15-75 years young.

What if I am coming alone?
The majority of the women who attend our retreats come by themselves. Bhutan is a safe and easy country to travel as a single female. English is spoken in most tourist areas and we are here to answer any questions about travel that you may have. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends!

Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
No! All activities and outings are optional. This is YOUR retreat. We encourage you to do what feels most nurturing and right for you. You will be fully supported in doing as much or as little as you choose. All of our activities will be guided by expert staff, and instruction and support will be offered for every activity according to your experience level.

Am I in good enough shape to do this retreat?
This is a retreat that everyone can do but you will love it even more if you are in good shape – please start your training program now.

How do I tip?
Below are the recommended tips. 11 days

–  $10/person/day for Toby and Dawa – each 
–  $10/person/day for Jax
–  $5/person/day for driver

Total tips for excellent service are approximately $385

Payment Policy

To secure your spot on a retreat, a non-refundable deposit is required:

 

• • $500 for domestic retreats

• • $1,000 for international retreats

Single room reservations may require an additional $200 deposit. Reservations cannot be held without a deposit.

Full payment is due 90 days prior to the retreat. If payment is not received by this deadline, you may lose your reservation. For bookings made within 90 days of the retreat, payment in full is required at the time of registration.

Payment Options:

 

• • Avoid fees by paying via check or Zelle.  

• • Payments via PayPal or Stripe incur a 4% processing fee.  

Cancellation Policy

 

• • 91+ days before the retreat: Refund of payments (minus your deposit).

• • 90 or fewer days before the retreat: Payments are non-refundable.

Women’s Quest reserves the right to cancel retreats with insufficient participant interest. In such cases, all payments will be refunded; however, Women’s Quest is not responsible for personal expenses, such as airline tickets, due to schedule changes or cancellations.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in case unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending or completing the retreat.

Travel insurance is particularly important in the event you:

 

• • Need to cancel due to illness or injury (including testing positive for COVID-19).

• • Require medical care during the retreat.

• • Face trip interruptions, delays, or unexpected quarantine requirements.

We suggest a policy that covers:

 

• • Trip cancellation and interruption

• • Medical expenses

• • Quarantine costs

For maximum flexibility, consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy, which provides additional peace of mind. While this type of coverage is more expensive, it offers the most protection for unforeseen changes.

To compare and purchase travel insurance, we recommend using Squaremouth, a trusted platform to find the best policy for your needs.https://www.squaremouth.com/22393

Before purchasing any policy, consult a travel insurance agent to ensure it meets your coverage expectations.