Trip Includes:
- Thirteen nights first class (3*) hotel accommodation, based on double occupancy basis.
- Meals: Bhutan, full board; one welcome dinner in Kathmandu, and rest of the days daily breakfast only.
- A vehicle for transfers and sightseeing as on itinerary.
- English-speaking local guides.
- Bhutan visa
- Tibet entry permit
- Sightseeing admission fees.
- Service of in-tour airfare reservation. (Estimated airfare indicated separately we will give you an actual quote once we book the ticket for you.)
Trip Does Not Include:
- Nepal Visa ( Can be obtained upon arrival)
- China visa ( You need to get it on your own and provide us the scan no later than 45-days prior the trip date.
- Lunch and dinner while in Nepal and Tibet.
- Drinks, tipping, laundry, phone, internet usage, and other personal expenses.
- Extra expenses or loss due to nature and unforeseen events beyond the control of our management.
- Travel Insurance.
- Airfares. ( Estimated in-tour airfare$1200 or 1300 for Chengdu-Lhasa-Kathmandu-Paro-Bangkok).
- Hotel and services in Bangkok.
Note on Itinerary:
We do our best to adhere to the itinerary but it should be taken as a general guideline in terms of what you expect to do or see during the tour and may differ in the ground from exact sequence or order of the sights to the overnight places depending on the local conditions. As we continuously work to improve the tour, the final tour itinerary may be different which will be sent to you about two months before the trip date.
Trip Activity Level.
This trip is motor vehicle-based sightseeing with some short hikes and village visits; it is suitable for all travelers in general good health. Hiking to Takstang Monastery in Paro can be strenuous, but you can rent ponies. Some sights are high on the hillock and require climbing stairs.
The longest drive on this trip will be four hours, from Punakha to Paro. Otherwise, drive times are short. We will undoubtedly have occasional stops for photography and refreshments. Roads in the Himalaya are narrow, and some portions may be rough and damaged. While in Tibet, we stay in an elevation of 3,500 m (11,480 ft.). On the first day in Lhasa, it is normal to experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness that include dizziness, a light headache, disorientation, and breathlessness. Most people feel better within a couple of days. The itinerary allows time for acclimatization. It is nonetheless advisable to keep physically fit and start mild exercises like jogging, swimming, cycling or practice some aerobics in the months before the trip. It’s your responsibility to determine your fitness for this trip. If you have any health conditions, please consult your physician before you sign up for this trip.
Guides
Our Tour Guides are local people with college degrees, government certifications, and experience with and knowledge of the destinations and their history, culture, and religion. Our guides are just as importantly, easy-going, detailed oriented, patient, and committed to a high level of customer service. They will uncover the wonders of the destinations that you would never find on your own, and make sure your tour is without a hitch. Your guide will also deal with the bureaucracy and passport or permit control, carry all necessary documents and vouchers, and stay alert to road and weather conditions. Note: Guides will change in each country, due to local licensing requirements.
Vehicle
We use clean, reliable, comfortable cars or vans for all transfers and tours, often the Toyota Hiace micro bus (capacity 8-9 persons) and Toyota Coaster Bus (capacity up to 20 persons); depending on group size, we might also use Japanese-made sedans or SUVs. We provide separate drivers and guides. Our drivers might speak little or no English, but they know the roads and are in a pinch, mechanically skillful.
Altitude sickness and Health Concerns
There are no mandatory vaccinations required for traveling in Tibet. However, you may consider vaccination against rabies and Hep A. We recommend that travelers with cardiac-pulmonary issues or any other medical conditions consult their physician before departure. The primary health consideration in Tibet is altitude related illness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). You might initially experience some mild symptoms, such as headaches, lethargy, nausea, and sleeplessness; most people feel better within a few days. Doctors are also available on call.
You’ll be glad if you start some physical exercises in the months before leaving; jogging, swimming, cycling, hiking, and aerobics are all helpful. Fitness makes for a better trip experience and helps you accommodate the altitude. You should have a good sleep the night before you fly into Lhasa and take complete rest on the first day. It's also advisable to drink three or four liters of water daily and consume liquid food. Hydrate!
International and Internal Flights
The trip starts in Chengdu, Tibet and concludes in Paro, Bhutan. You need to arrive in Chengdu, China on your own. After Bhutan, you can fly out to Kathmandu or Delhi or Bangkok and connect with your international flight back home. So, you need to book your international airfare to Chengdu (China) and return from Kathmandu or Bangkok or Delhi.
We will book all in-tour flights for you and quote the fare separately.
Visa and Permits
Your passport must be valid for at least six more months beyond your return date.
You need to get your Chinese visa minimum two months before your trip date. Once you have your Chinese visa, please, provide us a copy of this, and then we can apply for a Tibet entry permit for you. Our Lhasa office will ship the original hard copies of entry permit to your hotel in Chengdu or Beijing that you can pick up when you check in hotel. You need to present the document when you check in flight for Lhasa.
Chinese embassy does not accept visa applications by mail. You need to go in person or entrust someone to submit documents on your behalf. Visa application needs to be supported by air and hotel reservations in China.
You can get Nepal visa from any Nepali embassy or consulate in your country, or you can wait until you arrive at Kathmandu airport. In either case, you will need to complete a visa application and attach a picture. Currently, a 15-day multiple entries visa costs US$ 25.
We will obtain Bhutan visa for you, and it's part of the tour. We will email you a copy of eVisa three or four weeks before the trip date.
Booking and payment schedule
When you are sure you are traveling, please don't delay in booking so that we can confirm you in preferred hotels and flights. We request an initial deposit of US$300 along with a completed booking form and passport scan. The second payment will be for the internal airfares that we will advise you once we book the reservations for you.
The final payment is due 90 days before your departure. Reservation booked within 90 days prior departure requires making full payment at the time of booking. We request the balance payment by check or bank transfer. Final payment on credit card attracts 3.5% additional fee to cover the merchant's commission.
Cancellation and refund
Sometimes, things don't go as planned, and you may have to withdraw from the trip. Do not delay in sending us the cancellation notice in writing (email or fax) soon you know you won't be able to go.
- Ninety days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 150 per person.
- 60-89 day's before departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Forty-five days to 59 days before departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Thirty days to 44 days before departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than 30 days:100%.
- Visa fee is non-refundable.
Cancellation and refund of air tickets will be as per the airline's policy, and consolidator charges $25 in refund processing fee. For details, please view booking and cancellation terms and conditions