Heavenly Bhutan

1)Where is Bhutan?

Bhutan is a small, landlocked nation located in the eastern Himalayas between India and China. Its landscape ranges from subtropical plains and forests in the South to subalpine forests and snowy mountains in the North. Bhutan is a predominantly Buddhist country and is known as the last stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism.

2) What is Bhutan famous for?

Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the High Himalayas, peaks such as Mt. Jomolhari (7,326m) are popular trekking destinations. Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley. Bhutan is the most sought out destination & is the only carbon negative country in the World. Moreover, it has a unique principal system for measuring country prosperity, which is not based on GDP (Gross Domestic Product) & it is based on GNH (Gross National Happiness), which is authentic & exclusive to Bhutan. Happiness & value are used as prosperity indicator rather than wealth. It is also known as last Shangri-La – “The Land of Peace & longevity”.

3) How is the Tourism Infrastructure of Bhutan?

Being a small country, where people happiness & value are given, prime importance. It is quite evident from the fact that the Government of Bhutan provides its people the required infrastructure, in form of  Good Road, Free Education & Healthcare system. With the ever increase awareness on Bhutan & Tourist inflow, good numbers of Hotels & Internationals Hotel chains have come up in the main towns of Bhutan (Thimphu, Paro & Punakha, etc.). However, into the remotes (Central & Eastern Bhutan) the hotel infrastructures is still equivalent to 2* to 3*

4) How does one reach Bhutan?

There are a number of ways, where one can fly or take surface drive into Bhutan.

a) By Air - Presently, there are only two airlines that operate flight to / in Bhutan namely:

• Druk Air (KB) which is a National carrier & presently operate flight from Delhi (DEL), Kolkata (CCU), Bagdogra (IXB), Guwahati (GAU), Bangkok (BKK) & Kathmandu (KTM).
• Bhutan Airlines (B3) that is country’s only private airlines operates flight from Delhi (DEL), Kolkata (CCU), Kathmandu (KTM) & Singapore (SIN).

b) By Road - one can drive into Bhutan via India through:

• Phuentsholing (Bhutan side) / Jaigaon (Indian side)
• Samdrup Jongkar (Bhutan Side) / Darangamela, Assam (Indian side)

c) By Rail – Presently Bhutan does not have any rail route but it is well connected with almost all part of Indian subcontinent vide Indian railway networks, which are in close proximity to Bhutan:

• First Preference          -NJP (New Jalpaiguri) Railway Station
• Second Preference - HSA (Hasimara) Railway Station.
• Third Preference         - NOQ (New Alipuarduar) Railway Station.
• Fourth Preference - APDJ (Alipuarduar) Railway Station
• Fifth Preference         - NCB (New Cooch Behar) Railway Station.

5) When is the best time to travel to Bhutan?

One can visit Bhutan throughout the year, where January & February is winter, will be very cold. If one is not very keen on festival then it would be wise to avoid Bhutan Tshechu (Festival) dates due to excessive rush and high price.

6) What will be the weather conditions in Bhutan?

The below chart provides a fair idea about the area’s average maximum / minimum temperature,  rainfall and the probability of seeing a clear skies through the year:

Note:

a) Please note Higher the altitude, lower the temperature and rainfall. 

b) The figure mentioned above in the temperature column is in Celsius.

c) The figure mentioned above in the average rainfall column is in millimeter (mm).

d) The maximum chances of having clear skies will be in the month of Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov & Dec.

e) It is advisable that one should be prepared with layer clothing also in summers and carry heavy woolen in winters.

7) What is the ideal holiday duration for Bhutan?

The Duration of stay can vary, based on the tourist interest, ideally for guest, who are opting for:

a) Fly-in Fly-out  - from Paro

A minimum of 07 Night / 08 days stay is required with 02 Nights in Thimphu + 02 Nights in Punakha / Wangdi & balance 03 Nights in Paro.

b) Drive-in Drive-out  - from Bagdogra (West Bengal and driving by road to Phuentsholing )

A minimum of 09 night / 10 days stay with 01 Night in Phuentsholing + 02 Nights in Thimphu + 02 Nights in Punakha / Wangdi + 03 in Paro and last 01 Night either in Siliguri / Phuentsholing depending on your departure / connecting schedule.

8) What are the various activities & options available for Tourist, when they are in Bhutan?

a) Cultural – Bhutan offers religious sites, monasteries, unique tradition & festivals. 

b) Adventure – There are options of Hiking, Trekking, Cycling, Rafting, Golf, Angling, Archery & many more.

c) Special Interest Group- Activities like local Wine Testing session, Lecture session with GNH (Gross National Happiness) speaker, special community service like donation, distribution of all kinds to orphan school, hoisting of prayers flag, wellness & others can be organized.

d) Nature lover - Bhutan offers Mountain, Rivers, Landscape, Flora & Fauna and it is the only carbon negative country in the world.

e) Shopping enthusiast - Bhutan have some very good handicraft & Textiles items, Lemon grass spray, handmade paper & soap plus organic product i,e Bumthang Honey, which has lots of medicinal value. 

f) Nightlife - Other than capital city of Thimphu, which has some nightclub, disc etc, Bhutan does not have much to offer as of now.

9) How is the mobile roaming & connectivity facilities in Bhutan? Which local mobile operator has good network?

Mobile SIM Card for Indians nationals travelling is easily available at Paro Airport. However, in case the passengers have missed to collect it at the airport we could organize a SIM from a counter of local telecom provider. The personal presence of guest is mandatory along with the Passport / Voter Id Card & Bhutan Entry Permit in original. The SIM Card provided gets activated within 02-04 hours. There are mainly two local operators namely Tashi Cell & B Mobile who offer good network for voice call as well as Data plan. However, Indian operator like BSNL, Airtel & Vodafone-Idea have good international roaming network in Bhutan. 

10) What is the time difference between, India & Bhutan?
Bhutan is 30 minutes ahead of Indian Standard time (IST).

11) How safe is Bhutan for Tourist, especially for Female traveler? 
Bhutan is one of the safest countries to travel. The crime rate is Bhutan is negligible in Global index with family quarrel & petty theft accounting maximum count. It is completely safe for female travelers. 

11) What is the currency used in Bhutan & what other currencies are valid in Bhutan?
Bhutan’s currency is Ngultrum (Nu.), is backed by Indian Rupee which makes it at par with the Indian Rupee (INR). The Indian currency is well accepted & circulated in Bhutan. For Indians, the set ceiling limit for tourism purpose in INR 25000 per person in denominations of 100 & below. Indian Currency of 500, 2000 are officially not accepted in Bhutan. Here we would also like to inform you that, though Bhutan is a separate country but Indian national cannot buy dollar under BTQ (Basic Travel Quota) for travelling to Bhutan. For Foreigners there is no set ceiling limit for USD to be carried into Bhutan. The most carried currency for foreigners is the US dollar. The local banks / foreign exchange offer exchange service on the following foreign currency:

• US Dollar
• Pound
• Euro
• Indian Rupee
• Canadian Dollar
• Singapore Dollar

12) In which currency do an Indian & Foreigner make the payment for tour to Bhutan?

Indian Passport holder can make the payment in INR itself in form of normal bank transfer / cheque which will be subjected to relevant GST. Whereas for foreign passport holder, the full payment has to come in the form of USD, into our USD Account through Telex transfer. The details for fund transfer will be shared at the time of final confirmation. As of now GST is exempted on payments received in USD. As per Bhutan Tourism policy, we are not in a position to accept INR payment for foreign passport holder. Only upon receipt of full payment by TCB (Tourism Council of Bhutan) in USD, the Visa clearance letter is issued. The guest needs to show the Visa clearance letter at the entry point, for getting the passport stamped.

13) Are Credit Cards accepted in Bhutan?

Master & Visa Credit cards are presently accepted in Bhutan at limited Hotels & Stores. Guest needs to check with their bank about the acceptance of their Credit Card in Bhutan. In many cards it is clearly mentioned (at the back of the Card) whether it is valid for transaction in Bhutan or not.

14) If you can help with some common used Bhutanese words, which could be handy while we are on tour?

Below are few words, which could help while travelling into Bhutan:

• Hello – Kuzungpo la
• Thank you – Kadrin Cheyla
• Welcome – Tashi Delek
• Food – Shay Go
• Where? – Ga tey?
• Which? – Gadee?
• How are you? – Ga day bay ye?

1)For NRI & Foreign Passport holder: 

a) All NRI, OCI & PIO holder are considered as Foreign Nationals & will have to pay USD RATE as fixed by the TCB (Tourism Council of Bhutan).

b) Foreign Passport Holder must obtain a VISA (Visitors Intentional Stay Admission) clearance prior to arrival into Bhutan. Foreign passport holder is required to send the clear readable and viewable photo-page of their passport (minimum six months valid from the date of departure from Bhutan) for applying their VISA at the time of booking.

c) For your kind information, once the full payment for the holiday has been wire transferred to TCB (Tourism Council of Bhutan), upon receipt of payment, TCB will process the VISA & issue a VISA clearance letter. The guest needs to show the Visa clearance letter at the entry point, for getting the passport stamped.

2)For Indian Nationals (Indian Passport holder): 

a) Only person possessing a Passport / Election ID Card (the original needs to be carried on travel) will be eligible to travel to Bhutan. No other document is considered valid for travelling into Bhutan. In case the guest is travelling with an improper / tampered documents this is considered a crime and is liable to be detained from boarding (for such case the airlines charge full cancellation with zero refund) / imprisonment / cash fine or both. 

b) In case the guest is using a passport for travelling, it must be minimum six months valid from the date of departure from Bhutan.

c) Indian National below 18 years who do not have a passport must produce a birth certificate in hard copy (original) for procuring the entry permit. For the case where the traveler is using the printed version of online birth certificate, it must be Notarized / Certified as being a true copy of the original.

d) Birth certificates issued in local language should be translated in English and must be support by Affidavit issued by a Notary.

e) For Guest who are travelling with valid passport, we have the option of procuring advance entry permit. In order to apply the permit we require the scan copy of the valid Passport at least 07-10 working days in advance. The scan copy of the passport has to be in color, clear & readable. 

f) The entry permits are given based on guest flight ticket or the duration of stay in Bhutan. There is a provision to extend the stay in Bhutan after arrival which has to be processed from Thimphu on a working day (other than Saturday, Sunday & Government Holidays) with proper reason & documents. This extension of permit for Tourism is for maximum 30 days from the date of entry in Bhutan.

3) What are the custom, administrative restrictions in Bhutan?

a) Custom restrictions

There are certain items that are strictly prohibited by Bhutan customs namely: 

• Arms, ammunition and explosives.
• All narcotics and drugs except medically prescribed drugs.
• Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species.
• Antiques.
• Import of plants, soils etc, are subject to quarantine regulations

Notes: Visitors are advised to be cautious in purchasing old and used items, especially of religious or cultural significance, as such items may not be exported without a clearance certificate.

b) Dress code for visiting monasteries

The Bhutanese Constitution of 2008 provides freedom of religion & worship in Bhutan. As Bhutan is predominantly a Buddhist country, there are certain dress codes for visiting religious monuments. Short, mini & Sleeve less are not permitted; it is also wise to take off hats while entering a Dzong, temple or monastery. It is safer to dress up in smart casual. Always walk in clockwise direction while visiting religious places or do not walk over any clothes, books, heap or materials left open in religious sites.

c) Restrictions on carrying Tobacco & Smoking in Bhutan

It is the only country in the world that completely bans the sale, production of tobacco. Smoking is banned in public places and the offender can be booked for penalty, imprisonment, or both. 

As per the latest amendment made to the Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan in 2014, the following tobacco products are permitted to be carried for personal consumption:

• 800 sticks of cigarettes
• 150 pieces of cigars
• 750 grams of other tobacco products

A person shall be allowed to import only one tobacco or tobacco product at a time as stated above. A proof or receipt of tax Payment shall be valid only for one month from the date of payment of Tax on import of cigarettes and other tobacco products depend on the place of import.

Note: While in Bhutan, visitors must retain the tax receipt to present to, if you encounter any checking by Tobacco control Inspectors.

d) Restrictions on consumption of alcohol in Bhutan

Consumption of Alcohol is allowed in Bhutan. However, Tuesday is a dry day. Good brands of alcohol are easily available at duty free shop at the airport. Tourists are allowed to carry back 2 liters of alcohol per head in & out of Bhutan under duty free allowance.

4) OTHER MUST KNOW points for Bhutan?

a) Although Bhutan is the youngest democracy in the world but still the Royal family & the King is considered as the supreme head of the country. One should always pay the due respect to the Royal family.

b) Bhutan is one of the safest countries in the world however; you should still exercise caution when visiting. Please ensure that your belongings especially your passports, cameras, wallets and purses are properly secured. Please refrain from leaving such items within sight in locked vehicles while sightseeing. Moreover, its ones responsibility to take care of one’s belonging while travelling or staying in hotels self cautions are must for all travelers.

c) Avoid drinking tap water, which has not been boiled, or ice cubes in drinks at all times, as most water sources in Bhutan are untreated. One can easily get treated / boiled water at hotels. While on travel, advisable to use bottled drinking water, over water from open source.

d)

There has been cases of Indian tourist, who have landed in entry points with photocopy of the Election ID Cards or Passport (rather than carrying the original). Such tourists were not eligible to enter & entry was denied.   

e) There has been cases of Indian tourist, who have landed in entry points with Tampered & unclear Hologram on the Election / Voter’s ID. Such tourists were not eligible to enter & entry was denied.   

f) There has been cases of Indian tourist, who have landed in entry points with their Passport but did not bring the original OCI / PIO cards (OCI / PIO cards, are not considered as Indian proof & is considered as an invalid document, without the Passport in original). Such tourists were not eligible to enter & entry was denied.

1) What kind of hotel options, available in Bhutan?

Bhutan Tourism Policy is based on High value, low volume impact. The hotel rates are comparatively higher to what we get in India. This is also evident from the fact that Bhutan being a small country, its main towns (Thimphu, Paro & Punakha) still houses maximum International brands like Dusit-D2, Lemeridien, Uma, Aman & Six Senses group. The average per night room rate, for these properties ranges from USD 250 to 2500 & above. However, into the remotes (Central & Eastern Bhutan) the hotel infrastructures is still equivalent to 2* to 3*. For these properties, the average per night rate ranges from USD 150 to 300.

2) What are hotel options & the service provided by hotels of Bhutan?

We have used hotels, which are not to be compared with the Hotels of other developed destinations. We have selected, combined & graded the hotels in a fashion, so that the guest gets similar kind of standard in services & facilities at every destination / place of retirement.  For the easy understanding we have termed:

• Services rendered by Hotel used under GRADE B will be equivalent to 2*properties. 
• Services rendered by Hotel used under GRADE B-1, B-2 will be equivalent to 2* TO 3* properties. 
• Services rendered by Hotel used under GRADE B-3 & B-4 will be equivalent to 3* TO 4* Properties. 
• Services rendered by Hotel used under GRADE A will be equivalent to 4* properties
• Services rendered by Hotel used under GRADE A-1 & A-2 will be equivalent to 4* to 5* Properties. 
• Services rendered by Hotel used under GRADE A-3, A-4 & A-5 will be equivalent to 5* Properties.

Hotels that are located in the remote areas (Haa Valley, Central & Eastern Bhutan), where they don’t have higher category hotels we use the areas best property whose services will be between 3* to 1*. These destinations are meant for experiential tourists. Please do not expect luxury facilities while travelling to these areas. In case you are unable to cope up or compromise on comfort, we will insist you drop the idea of traveling to these areas.

3) Are the hotel option given, in city or away from the city?

Other than Thimphu – Capital City, all other places in Bhutan are small town where good hotels are located slightly away from the market place. In Thimphu, most hotels are located in the city, while new and higher-level hotels are located a short distance from the city centre. It is obvious that the constructions of most of the hotel located in City Centre (Down Town) area are in cluster. Such hotels are built in area where they have no view, or view of the building in front, beside or behind them. Services of many hotels located in City Centre are not up to the marks (as their main source of business is of walking tourist). The City Centre hotels have been selected (used in the packages) on the basis of SERVICE & their reliability.

4) Do all the hotels have lifts?

Most of the hotels, in the area do not have lift. One has to climb stairs to reach the lobby or the allotted rooms. In case of problems related to blood pressure, breathing, knee & heart or even if the guest cannot climb higher floors, then we request them to let us know at the time of query level. If this problem is highlighted, the Service Support Team gets time to handle in advance and change the hotel with the convenient one. In case of any difference in price arising due to this displacement, the quoted amount will be changed.

5) Do hotel charge extra for room heaters in Bhutan?

In Bhutan, hotels have their in-house policy of providing heater on complimentary basis.

6) What is the Child policy for hotels?

• Majority of the hotels follows the child policy mentioned below:
• Children above 10+ years will be considered as an adult and will be charged as per EPSR rate.
• Children of 5+ to 10 sharing room with bed / Mattress & Roll Over / Fixed day-bed / Dewan will be charged as per CWB rate.
• Children of 5+ to 10 sharing room without bed / rollaway or mattress will be charged as per CNB rate.
• Children below 5 years will be complimentary without bed (sharing the parent’s room).

Notes :

1.Hotels are very strict with the child policy. Please carry the age proof so that it can be produced when asked for.

2 Some of the 4 star & 5 star hotels have the policy of charging for all children above 3 years as per CWB & CNB. Child below 03 years is treated as complimentary.

7) Does the hotel provide proper Extra bed?

Majority of the hotels provides, Mattress & Roll Over / Fixed day-bed / Dewan as a supplement to Extra Bed for Adult / Child, sharing the room. This is irrespective of being mentioned as, Adult with Extra Bed / Child with Extra Bed.

8) What are the Standard check in & Checkout time?

Check in time at Hotel: 1400 Hrs / Check out time: 1100 Hrs. All the bookings are non-transferable & all in-house hotel rules will be applicable during the stay. As per Government norms valid photo ID for all members staying at the hotel is mandatory. All requests for early check in / late checkout / extending of stay will be subjected to, hotels approval & availability.

9) Are Pure Vegetarian & Jain Food available in Bhutan?

Indian food is available in Bhutan but no regional specific cuisines are served. The people of this area are mostly Non Vegetarian. Most of the hotels, serves both Vegetarian & Non-Vegetarian food. The Jain food served by these hotels will be basic & cannot be compared, to the ones available, at the hometown of the traveler. For the understanding, the food provided will be pure vegetarian meals, which will not include onion, potato, garlic etc, and items, which are grown underground. With changes in food habit globally, few hotels in Bhutan, are exclusively serving vegetable food to its entire guest.

10) Is 24 hours water supply & power failure, an issue in Bhutan?

In hilly area, scarcity of water & electricity is a natural phenomenon. Although Bhutan produces surplus power, which is sold to India but still there is issue with power transmission due to hilly terrain. In case of Load shedding, kindly bear with such situation. We strongly regret the inconvenience. Most of the high-end hotels do have power back-up system. All hotels runs on 220/240 volts with round hole two-pin and three-pin power outlets what we generally use in India. It is highly recommended that you bring flat-to-round pin converters for your electronic devices if necessary; however, some hotels offer multi plug sockets.

1) What kind of vehicles are used for servicing Tourist in Bhutan?

As far as vehicle is concerned, below vehicle are used for different group size :

• For 02 pax –  Hyundai Santafe / Nissan Terrano / Hyundai Creta / Tuscan / Toyota Innova / Land Cruiser & Prado.
• For 3 & 4 pax – We use Hyundai H1.
• For 5 to 6 pax – We use Toyota Jumbo Haice (High Roof)
• For 7 & above – We use Toyota Coaster buses which has a capacity of 15-17 (+04 back seats) pax in 01 vehicle.

2) Does the vehicle change city wise or remains the same throughout?

Under normal circumstances (other than break downs & unseen calamities) in Bhutan both the vehicle & guides remain same from your arrival until departure from Bhutan. No one else shares the vehicle. It is exclusively used for the bona-fide guest.

3) Can we take the allocated vehicle for shopping and evening dinner to local restaurant & hotels?

The allocated vehicle is exclusively for you, which will not be at disposal & will operate strictly as per the itinerary. In case the guest want to go for shopping, it is advisable to inform the Trip leader in advance helping them to plan the day accordingly. However, in case of late intimation or extra vehicle usage after scheduled duty, then there will be additional charge of USD 100 per vehicle for minimum 02 Hrs & USD 150 per vehicle for maximum 04 Hrs)

4) Do we have the option of upgrading or changing the vehicle?

Since the Vehicles are limited in number, the demand does not meet the supply. It is wise and works out cheaper to get the vehicle upgraded at the time of booking itself. 

6) Do we have the option of upgrading or changing the vehicle while on tour?

Should this be the case, vehicle up-gradation while on tour will be subjected to availability and upon paying the full cancellation for the vehicle in use plus the charges for the upgraded vehicle. 

7) Right to change the allocated vehicle while on / before tour?

The right to change the vehicle will always remain with us, without assigning any reasons. Usually it happens in case of mechanical failure, driver falling sick, unforeseen circumstances etc. 

8) Does the vehicle provided to tourist in Bhutan have Air-conditioning? 

Generally in Bhutan, most of the vehicle we write NAC (Non AC) as because of its location & Altitude, AC are not required. In case guest is insisting on AC, Supplement cost as per vehicle selection could be taken. The AC will be on when the Vehicle is on move only. While travelling in the plains the clients would need AC, which will be switch on. When the car is travelling uphill AC will be switch off. All AC Vehicle request should come way in advance helping us to place the vehicle accordingly, on tours AC vehicle request will be difficult to entertain & will not be in a position to honor the same.

9) Does the vehicle provided to tourist in Bhutan have roof top carrier?

Other then Coaster buses roof top carrier are not a usual practice in Bhutan as most of the smaller & Mid segment vehicle do have good boot / Back space for guest luggage. In case you have a specific requirement, then will have to put the request for the same in advance.

10) Does the vehicle provided to tourist in Bhutan have music system?

Yes, usually majority vehicles have a music system but we do not guarantee the compatibility with your electronic tools. In the past, it was observed that the guest brought in their gadgets and these gadgets were not compatible with the music system fitted in the car.

11) Does my tour have an exclusive Guide or he/she will be a Driver cum Guide? 

All our Bhutan tours are inclusive of Bhutan approved Trip leader (Guide), which is a mandatory norm, set by Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB). We do not have a concept of using Driver cum Guide. In our packages, Driver is separate person and Guide (Trip Leader) is a separate person. This Trip leader speaks comfortable English and majority of them do understand & speak manageable Hindi. Here we would also like to inform you that these drivers are mainly concern with driving the vehicle with safety & comfort of the guest. They come from remote places and are not educated in tourism etiquette and some of them do not know how to speak & behave. You are requested to be soft & gentle with your drivers. Your point of contact is your Trip leader (Guide) & the FHE (File handling Executive), who is pre-assigned for your file.

1) What is the right meal to opt for, while booking a tour to Bhutan?

We strongly recommend that the guest should opt for MAPAI (Breakfast & Dinner), where they will have option of having lunch in local restaurant during sightseeing. The accompanied Trip Leader can very easily organize this on direct payment.

2) Is it mandatory to book through a Tour Operator & what are the advantages?

As per the norms set by TCB (Tourism council of Bhutan) it is mandatory to book all tours through bona-fide local tour operator of Bhutan. The following points are to be noted:

a) All our Bhutan tours are inclusive of Bhutan approved Trip leader (Guide), which is a mandatory norm, set by TCB.

b) Being a volume producer for the area, we enjoy a very special rate from the hotels.

c) 24*7 helpline executive support exclusive for all guests on tour. 

d) We do not work with all hotels, our hotels are handpicked where service delivery can be vouched. 

e) All your entry & internal permits are well taken care, there is nothing that is hidden where you need to worry.

f) We are an operation based company and not sale centric.

g) The company philosophy of “Satisfied Client for a Better Future” 

3) What is SDF (Sustainable Development Fee)? Is this included in the tour cost?

The government of Bhutan has decided to implement SDF (Sustainable Development Fee), for which we are yet to get any written directive, hence if it is implemented then it will be an additional charge to the package cost (applicable only for Indian Passport holder).

4) Is Insurance necessary for travelers going to Bhutan?

Overseas insurance is not necessary for travelling to Bhutan. However it is strongly recommended that the traveler opts for insurance policy from their hometown / home country (please check its applicability in Bhutan).

5) What is the Amendment Fee on booking after confirmation?

a) After confirmation, any changes, will be treated as cancellation of the booked tour & will attract an amendment fee of USD 120.00  or 5% of the package cost (whichever is higher), along with the charges attracted due to change.

b) In view of local strikes / landslide / any unforeseen happening, which are beyond our control, all schedule and itineraries will be subjected to availability and operational condition. Every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, at the time of actual travelling. The right to change the itinerary without any intimation and explanation will remain with our company.

1) Are sightseeing / monument entrance fee included in our tour cost?

In most cases sightseeing / Monument entry fee is not included in the package cost other than the group, who have opted to travel with TripLeader..

2) What is a MUST KNOW point for guest travelling during peak season?

We understand very well, the size of India & its population. We also understand well that most of the holidays for families in India falls during spring & summer, which also happens to be under the heat wave. There are not many places, where one can go for relief at this given time. Now even if 0.1% of the population turns up, towards such destinations, the area runs out of capacity.  Everything becomes chaotic. Delivering the promised service, itself, becomes an issue. Patience & understanding becomes an important part in getting the tour organized & making the holiday into a memorable one. We will request all the guests to keep this in mind & cooperate while on tour.

3) As the guests are arriving early, what happens to their meal?

In case the guest is booked on MAPAI (Half Board) the 1st Day meal starts with dinner & ends with breakfast at the booked hotel, on the last day.
For the guest booked on APAI (Full Board) bookings 1st Day tour meal starts with dinner & ends with packet lunch from the booked hotel on the last day.

4) What will be the arrangement in case the train / flight are cancelled / missed by the guests, who in turn are not able to start the tour as planned?

In case of any Flight / Train Cancellation or missed connection, which affects the operation of the tour, the Company will not be responsible for the same and the cancellation as per the policy will be applicable. We will try our best to help the guest wherever possible to minimize the damages.

5) Who pays extra charges incurred in situation arising due to landslide or any other unseen, forced measures, leading to diversion from the main tour?

Landslide is a common occurrence in hilly areas. Expenses incurred for diversion or any other unseen, forced reasons will have to be borne by the guest / traveler directly as per actual.

6) Is the tour plan rigid or some minor changes can be made?

We try our best to assist the guest with minor changes wherever possible until & unless it does incur financial damages. The cost for any alteration will be collected directly from the guest as per the actual.

7) Does the guest have the option of adding extra sightseeing & add-on tours / activities while on tour?

Yes, the guest have the option of adding extra sightseeing or activities while on tour at additional cost which will be further subjected to availability & operational condition. This has to be consulted with the 7Trip Leader. Since the people in mountain sleeps early, it is necessary to intimate timely so that the  Trip Leader can incorporate the changes. 

8) Just in case, if some sightseeing are closed on a particular day, do the guest have the option of covering it on the next day?

We make all contingency plans so that the sightseeing points do not fall on a closing day. Incase due to inevitable situation if the sightseeing falls on a closing day, we will make all effort to cover it the next day if possible (subjected to availability of time & operational conditions). 

9) If the guests are unable to utilize some services of the tour, will there be any refund?

There will be no refund for unutilized service in part or in full, what so ever may be the reason.

10) Once all the services are confirmed, is there any possibility of incorporating any changes?

a) After confirmation, any changes, will be treated as cancellation of the booked tour & will attract an amendment fee of USD 100.00 or 5% of the package cost (whichever is higher), along with the charges attracted due to change.

b) In view of local strikes / landslide / any unforeseen happening, which are beyond our control, all schedule and itineraries will be subjected to availability and operational condition. Every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, at the time of actual travelling. The right to change the itinerary without any intimation and explanation will remain with our company.