Booking Terms and Conditions
1. BOOKING & DEPOSIT
A booking request is made by submitting a completed booking form.
Bookings are not confirmed until Bhutan Dragon Riders confirms availability, which is subject to tour places and flight availability.
Once availability has been confirmed, a non-refundable deposit of USD $500 per rider is required to secure a place on the tour.
The balance payment is due 60 days before departure. Bookings made within 60 days of departure must be paid in full at the time of confirmation.
2. PAYMENTS
Payments may be made by bank transfer in US Dollars (USD) as outlined in the booking confirmation. Any bank transfer or currency conversion fees are the responsibility of the sender.
In accordance with Bhutan tourism regulations, all payments relating to travel within Bhutan are processed through our licensed Bhutanese operational partner, Yangphel Adventure Travel.
Yangphel Adventure Travel is a licensed Bhutanese tour operator established in 1988 and is responsible for processing government fees, permits, visas, and local travel arrangements.
Payment instructions will be provided once a booking has been confirmed.
All Bhutan government fees, including the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), are paid through the licensed Bhutanese operator as required by the Royal Government of Bhutan.
To comply with Bhutan tourism regulations, tour payments must normally be completed before visa approval and final travel confirmation can be issued.
3. BHUTAN GOVERNMENT FEES
Travel in Bhutan includes government charges such as the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and visa processing fees.
These fees are set by the Royal Government of Bhutan and may change without notice. If government fees increase after booking, Bhutan Dragon Riders reserves the right to adjust the tour price accordingly.
4. CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS
If you cancel your booking, the following charges may apply:
More than 60 days before departure – deposit retained
30–60 days before departure – 50% of tour price
Less than 30 days before departure – 100% of tour price
Certain costs such as flights, permits, accommodation bookings and government fees may already be committed and may not be refundable.
5. CHANGES TO BOOKINGS
If you need to change your booking, we will do our best to accommodate the request. Changes may be subject to availability and additional costs.
In some cases it may be possible to transfer your booking to another departure date.
6. MINIMUM GROUP SIZE
Our tours are normally designed for a minimum number of riders.
Once your booking has been confirmed, the trip is guaranteed to run. However, if the final group size is smaller than the normal operating group, Bhutan Dragon Riders reserves the right to apply a small-group operating surcharge.
Any potential surcharge will be clearly highlighted at the time of booking.
Because international and regional flights are often booked in advance to secure availability, confirmed departures will not normally be cancelled due to smaller group sizes.
7. CHANGES TO ITINERARY
Motorcycle journeys in Bhutan travel through remote mountain regions where weather, road conditions, government regulations, and flight schedules can change.
Bhutan Dragon Riders reserves the right to modify itineraries, routes, accommodation or schedules if necessary for safety or operational reasons.
8. TRAVEL INSURANCE
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for all participants.
Insurance should cover:
– medical treatment
– emergency evacuation
– trip cancellation
– motorcycle riding activities
9. PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visitors to Bhutan must hold a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
Bhutan visas are arranged in advance through our licensed Bhutanese partner once travel details and payments have been confirmed.
10. MOTORCYCLE LICENCE & RIDING REQUIREMENTS
Participants must hold a valid motorcycle licence for riding large-capacity motorcycles.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.
Riders should be confident riding on mountain roads and in varying weather conditions.
11. HEALTH & FITNESS
Our journeys involve long riding days and travel at altitude. Riders should be in good physical condition and comfortable with multi-day motorcycle travel.
Any relevant medical conditions should be disclosed before travel.
12. ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is provided in carefully selected hotels and lodges throughout the journey.
Single occupancy may be available subject to availability and an additional supplement.
13. FLIGHTS
International flights are normally not included unless stated.
Regional flights used during the itinerary (for example Kathmandu–Paro) are subject to airline schedules and weather conditions.
14. MOTORCYCLE RESPONSIBILITY
Motorcycles are provided in good mechanical condition and maintained throughout the journey.
Each rider must pay a refundable US$300 damage deposit at the start of the tour to cover minor damage, scratches, or incidental repairs to the motorcycles. The deposit is refundable at the end of the trip subject to inspection.
In the event of major damage caused by negligence, misuse, or reckless riding, riders may be responsible for repair costs not covered by the motorcycle insurance.
Bhutan Dragon Riders reserves the right to remove a rider from the tour without refund if their riding behaviour is considered unsafe.
15. RESPONSIBILITY & FORCE MAJEURE
Bhutan Dragon Riders and its operational partner Yangphel Adventure Travel act only as agents for services provided by airlines, hotels, transport operators and other suppliers involved in the tour.
We cannot be held responsible for changes, delays or cancellations caused by circumstances beyond our control including weather, flight cancellations, road closures, landslides, government regulations, natural disasters or other unforeseen events.
In such cases itineraries may need to be modified. Any additional costs resulting from these changes may be the responsibility of the participant.