• Nepal
• Bhutan
• Tibet
• Sikkim/Darjeeling
• India
NEPAL
Visa and documentation
A 60 days visa for Nepal can be obtained from all Nepalese
Embassies or consulates abroad or upon arrival in Kathmandu
airport, Visa fee is U.S.$30 or equivalent convertible
foreign currencies. Children under 10 years need not pay
any visa fees. Visa fee is waived for the tourist visiting
Nepal for a period of 3 days. Indian nationals do not
need visa to travel Nepal except valid passport or citizenship
card or Identity with photograph. There is provision of
free visa for tourists of SAARC countries and People's
Republic of China. Chinese citizen are requested to apply
in Embassy or mission abroad as there is no provision
of on arrival visa for them.
Accessories
While, going to trekking you need a good pair of trekking
boots, warm and comfortable clothing and a sleeping bag.
It is possible to hire a sleeping bag and down Jacket
in Kathmandu at reasonable prices. When visiting the lower
parts of Nepal, you need loose and light clothing; the
day temperatures from spring to autumn would be very high.
Light colored clothing is recommended when visiting wild
life reserves. Going on a raft you need a pair of sandals,
T-shirt, pair of shirts, swimming costume (optional) and
some warm cloths for evening.
Climatic conditions
• March to may (spring season) – The Rhododendron
blooms, nice and warm days
• June to August (summer season) – Hot weather
and rainy days trekking is limited due to heavy rainfalls.
• September to November (Autumn season) –
The sky clears up again offering stunning mountain views.
• December to February (winter season) – Days
are cold and nights are freezing. Trekking at high areas
is limited due to snowfall.
Health, medicine and Altitude problems:
Any Journey will be more enjoyable with sound physical
condition. Cycling, Jogging, long walks involving up and
down hill in the beginning is adviced to prepare yourself
to go to trekking. Trekking is possible even for old people
and young children.
Travelers are advised to bring medicine prescribed by
their doctors at home. Common medicine is available in
Kathmandu. Medicine is usually not available in remote
trekking areas. So, it is advised to carry necessary medicine
with you on the treks. Immunization against typhoid, meningitis
and hepatitis is also advised.
Altitude problem is often known as acute mountain sickness,
which is particularly a matter of important medical consideration
while trekking in the Himalayas. Altitude sickness means
the effect of altitude on those who ascend too rapidly
to elevations above 3000 meters. Symptoms like headache,
nausea shortness of breath; fatigue etc can be encountered
as initials the sickness. Himalayan Rescue association
is the major source of information for prevention and
treatment of the sickness. All of our guides will follow
the training conducted by Himalayan rescue association.
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BHUTAN
All Tourists must book package tours through
a local travel agent To travel in Bhutan. Entire tariff
are fixed by Tourism Authority of Bhutan, which covers
travelers all meals, accommodations, transport, guides.
This is done in order to keep the number of tourists on
the level, which does not effects the natural environment
or the life style of the Nation.
Visa:
Visa is required for traveling to Bhutan and it is processed
in Thimphu through our local tour operator. No foreign
Mission/Embassies abroad grants tourist visa.
All passport details should be forwarded to the agent
at least 3 weeks prior to date of travel for visa processing.
Visa fee:
Which currently cost US$ 20.00 for two weeks tourist visa
and is issued upon arrival at Paro Airport. All applications
need to reach Bhutan well in advance mentioning your intended
arrival dates, tourists are not allowed to board inbound
to Bhutan unless visa clearance has been obtained from
Thumbu. Our agent can take care of all such formalities
there.
Climate:
In the central valleys where most tourist activities take
place, the winter is dry with temperature up to 18 degree
centigrade at daytime. But early morning and evening be
very cold. In spring, when the forests are vibrant with
red, pink, and white rhododendrons are a beautiful time
to visit. From mid March to early June, the weather gradually
warms up prior to arrival of the monsoon. The end of September
when the rain finished, marks the beginning of autumn
clear sky and bright sunshine with temperature falling
towards freezing at night. This also, is a magnificent
season in which to visit Bhutan. It is worth remembering
that the views of High Himalayans are only normally possible
from late September to March. Best Season: March, April,
May, September, October & November Monsoon: June,
July & August. Winter: December, January, & February.
NOTE: April & October are high season because they
are full of colorful festivals with excellent weather.
PHOTOGRAPHY: 16mm film cameras are prohibited
in BHUTAN. Also photography in some of the monasteries
& Djongs are not allowed.
Money:
Bhutan unit of currency is called Ngultrum (Nu) with 100
chetrum=1 Ngultrum is at par with Indian rupee. Traveler's
cheques (preferably American Express) is accepted but
you must bring some money in US$ cash for incidental expenses
on departure and return. So far only American Express
credit cards are accepted and that too in limited number
of establishment.
Approximately US$ 1.00= Nu. 43.00
Flight ticket:
As above package tours do not include airfare, you have
choices to start from Kathmandu and end at Bangkok, Delhi,
Calcutta, Dhaka or vice versa. Please inquire for the
airfares for different sector.
Flight Fare:
Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu US$ 380.00 round
trip per person.
Kathmandu-Paro US$ 190.00 one-way per
person.
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TIBET
Transport by motorcoach coach/landrover/automobile as
required, and accommodation with daily breakfast using
Holiday Inn/Tibet Hotel while at Lhasa. Tibet for the
rest of we uses the best available hotels and guesthouses,
but these offer more basic accommodation and fewer amenities.
Sightseeing Tours, Services of English speaking Local
Tibetan /Chinese Guides, entrance fees to monasteries
and other points of interest, Tibet permits, Kathmandu-Lhasa
airfare as per itinerary and visa charges are also included.
Not included in the land cost
Insurance, airport departure taxes, Nepalese Visa, Passport
fees, immunizations, hard and soft drinks, Photographic
charges in various monasteries, gratuities and items of
any personal nature that have not been specifically included
above.
Surcharge
A surcharge of US$ 50.00 on Tibet visas is applicable
for British, Canadian, Belgian, Cameroon, Brazilian, Irish,
French and Dutch nationals.
Visas and documentation
You must be in possession of a valid passport. We obtain
your visa for Tibet, and will require the following information
when making your reservation: full name, date of expiry,
place of issue, nationality, date of birth, sex and occupation.
Two passport size photographs are also required. Additionally
you must allow three full working days in Kathmandu for
the visa to be fiscally stamped in your passport. A 30
day's visa for Nepal can be obtained from all Nepalese
Embassies abroad or upon
your arrival in Kathmandu airport in US$ 25.00.
Accessories
We recommend you to bring the following items to make
your journey more comfortable : Personal first aid kid,
water purification tablets, toilet kit with toilet paper,
flashlight with extra batteries, sunglasses, water bottle,
note book, pens, pencils, camera and film and extra batteries
for electronic Cameras, binoculars, Duffel bag, rain gear,
strong footwear, pocket knife, sewing kits, compass, altimeter,
drinking cup, towel, plastic bags, dust mask, strong suncream,
chapstic, and money belt.
From Oct - March warm clothes are required to flight the
frosty cold. From April - September light clothes to shun
the scorching heat. However a jacket and a sweater are
advised throughout the year as the weather nay unexpectedly
changes at any time. The recommended item are: A domestic
first aid kit, toilet and tissue papers flashlight, sleeping
bag, comfortable walking shoes, dust masks, utility knife,
sun, hat, sun glasses, suntan lotion, and a limited number
of clothes.
Insurance
We recommend you to insure yourself against sickness,
emergency rescue, accident, Hospitalization, cancellation
etc., as we accept no responsibility or expenses which
may arise from mishaps to persons or their belongings
during these tours.
Note: We will be happy to provide package programs including
Nepal with any of these Tibet packages on request.
Himalayan Asia Treks & Expedition
Tibet remains one of the most interesting, remote and
undeveloped part of the world, situated at an average
average elevation of 5000 (16,000ft) above sea level.
Its facilities for tourists are only now approaching a
reasonable standard.
A trip to Tibet is not for the faint hearted; the traveling
can be hard, adventurous and often unpredictable. Due
to Tibet's high altitude travelers with a history of heart,
lung or anemia problems should consult a doctor before
even thinking about a visit.
Visitors should also understand before taking this trip
that Tibet was only opened to tourism 19 years ago. The
infrastructure of the tourist industry is still very basic
in this remote country. Please do not expect the standards
you are accustomed to in the West. However, every efforts
will be made under the circumstance to ensure a smooth
and pleasant trip.
CUSTOM:
There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape
recorders as long as they're registered with a custom
official, printed matters considered unsuitable by the
Chinese government are prohibited. Customs regulations
forbid the export of art objects created prior to 1959
or souvenirs in amounts demed to be excessive.
FOOD & DRINK:
Tibet has only a handful of towers and Tibetan cuisine
is not exactly the most varied in the world. It is handy
to carry, anything that can be brewed with hot, water
instant coffee, drinking chocolate, tea (bags) soup cubes,
powered milk, other food items worth considering are instant
noodles, vegemite, nuts and raisins, chocolate, dry foods
and biscuit.
BUSINESS HOURS:
Government offices are usually closed on SATURDAY and
SUNDAY.
CURRENCY:
RENMBI, the people's money used by millions of Chinese
everyday, circulates in notes of 1,2,5,10 and 50, 100
yuan, 1,2 and 5 jiao; There are also coins for 1,2 and
5 fen. With the Chinese currency Renminbi, one yuan is
divided into 10 jiao, into 10 fen (US$ 1= 8 yuan)
AIRPORT:
Lhasa Gonggar airport is approx 96kms away from Lhasa
AIRPORT TAX:
The airport departure tax at present is US$ 12.00 Per
Person
AIR TICKET RECONFIRMATION:
Your guide will reconfirm the air ticket upon payment
of RMB 30, which is reconfirmation fee charged by China
Southwest Airlines.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
A cancellation charge of 50% for reconfirmed booking up
to SEVEN DAYS before departure to TIBET will be charged
after which NO REFUND will be entertained. Further under
no circumstance will there be a refund on NO SHOW UPS
and DELAY in ARRIVALS.
HEALTH & ALTITUDE PROBLEMS:
The Tibetan Plateau lies over 12000 feet, most people
will experience some of the minor symptoms and discomfort
of altitude sickness, until their body adjust to the elevation.
This can take from a few hours to couple of days, depending
on the individual.
Traveling in Tibet involves high altitude and can be strenuous.
Clients with heart and lung problems or blood diseases
should consult their doctor before booking the trip. Very
rare cases of altitude sickness have been reported. Simple
headache, fever, loss of appetite and stomach disorders
can happen before the acclimatization. Advised, drink
approx. 3 litres of water per day, do not strain yourself,
move slowly, breathe deeply and take regular rests please
do not smoke & do not drink alcohol.
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Sikkim / Darjeeling
Entry Formality
Along with the Indian visa, foreigners are required to
obtain "Inner Line permits" for Sikkim, which
are valid for 15 days at a time and can be extended for
a further 15 days once in Sikkim. However no special permits
are required for traveling to Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
The permits are available at all Indian missions/consulates
abroad and Sikkim Tourism Offices at Delhi, Calcutta,
Siliguri and Gangtok. Recently Sikkim has introduced issuing
permits at its' border (in Rangpo) valid for 3 days. While
applying locally you must provide 2 passport size photographs
and photocopies of the passport pages with the copy of
valid Visa. We advise you to obtain this before departing
for India to avoid wasting valuable holiday time here.
To Get there
Air: Bagdora airport There are regular
flights to and from Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati etc.
There is also nearby airport of Bhadrapur and Biratnagar
in Nepal.
Rail: New Jalpaiguri (NJP) 4km away from
the main city of Siliguri (NJP station) has regular trains
from many parts of the country (Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi
etc.) Trains to Calcutta take about 8-10 hours, to Delhi
between 17- 26 hours depending on the train.
By Road: The road in the region is fairly
good, passing through very picturesque tea gardens, forests
and hamlets. With flowers lending added charm. Jeeps or
small coaches are provided on your tours.
Climate and Clothing
Whichever season you do come to Sikkim, carry some woolens,
an umbrella for sun or rain and some light and warm clothing
as the weather is very changeable at anytime of the day.
April to September : Light woolen clothes
October to March : Warm woolen clothes
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INDIA
Passport & Visa: Citizens of all
countries need to have a valid passport and an entry,
transit or tourist visa obtained from the Indian Mission
in their country. Tourist visa is normally valid for 120
days. Applying to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lok Nayak
Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi can get visa extensions.
The letter should then be handed over at the Foreigners
Regional Registration Office at Hans Bhavan, Tilak Bridge,
near ITO. Delhi. Those wishing to visit neighboring country
like Sri Lanka or Nepal, and then coming back to India,
should obtain a double/multiple entry visa.
Registration: All foreigners are required
to get them registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration
Office, which is situated in Hans Bhavan, Tilak Road Near
ITO Delhi.
Health Regulations: Yellow fever inoculation
certificate is compulsory for those who have traveled
across Africa, or Papua New Guinea in the last six days.
The certificate becomes valid 10 days after the inoculation.
No immunization against small pox or cholera is required.
Those without the yellow certificate are liable to be
quarantined for up to six days.
