EMAILS FROM GREEN HILL TOURS & TREKS (P) LTD
(refer www.alphalink.com.au/~dawa/traveltb.htm)
A. Email 27 March 2003
Thank you for your e-mail
dated 27th. March '03. The answers to all your queries has been accordingly
furnished below for your consideration.
1. Can you get me a
China visa in Kathmandu? If so: What duration can you get (30
days? 90 days?). What will the visa cost? How long will it
take to get?
Yes we can get you
a Chinese Visa which will be valid for maximum 30 days and will cost you
US $ 56 per person. It will take atleast 5 days for us to get the Visa obtained
from the Chinese Embassy here at Kathmandu.
2. Can you sell me an economy
air ticket one-way Kathmandu to Lhasa? What is the price?
We cannot just
provide you only the oneway airticket KATHMANDU - LHASA because you will also
require the necessary TTB permit and if you don't buy any Tibet tour package
with us the Tibet tourism Bureau will not grant a Permit. So we can get you the
oneway airticket KATHMANDU - LHASA, TTB permit and transfer you from Gongar
airport to Lhasa city which will cost you US $ 385 per person. This is the
cheapest package we offer.
3. Are the
"authorities" still preventing holders of valid visas from entering
Tibet without a Tibet Tourism Bureau "permit"? If they are, how
can I get a permit, how long will it take to get, and what will it cost?
Yes even holder of
valid Chinese Visa are not permitter to enter Tibet without the necessary TTB
permit. Please go through our TTB permit / Chinese Visa procedure mentioned
below.
CHINESE EMBASSY AT
KATHMANDU GRANTS VISAS ONLY ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS.
NOTE : Present Chinese Visa rules : We
have to inform you that since the beginning of February 2003 the Chinese
Authorities have changed the Tibet Visa rules. In other words, Individual
Chinese Visas brought by clients from their respective Home Countries will not
be valid to travel overland KATHMANDU to LHASA anymore, and that all
clients will have to be put on a Group Chinese Visa which we can arrange here
in Kathmandu and will cost you US $ 48 per person (on top of the tour cost )
provided you send us all the necessary documents and details through fax. On
the other hand the Individual Chinese Visa which you bring from your Home
Country will be valid only if you are flying from KATHMANDU to LHASA. For
your information until now the Chinese Authorities have been granting Group
Chinese Visa just for a Single person also. With that same Group Chinese Visa
you may travel / fly further into mainland China and then upon arrival at any
major Chinese Airport you can extend that Group Visa. All major Chinese
airports avail this facility of this Visa extension. However, if this present
rule changes in the near future then we will keep you informed.
GROUP CHINESE VISA & TIBET ( TTB ) PERMIT PROCEDURE IN
KATHMANDU :
We need your complete Passport details such as : Name, Surname, Sex, Date
of Birth, Nationality, Occupation, Passport Number, Passport Issued Date &
Passport Expiry Date through e-mail and a photocopy of your
Passport ( that page which bears your picture ) through fax in
order to process the necessary Group Chinese Visa / TTB Permit at least 3 weeks
or even earlier prior to your departure date to Tibet. Our fax no is 00 977 - 1
- 4419985.
4. What is the cheapest package tour flying to Lhasa? What is the
price, and what does the price include?
The cheapese of our
tours is the oneway 3/4 days Fly in package of which the itinerary and it's
cost is mentioned below:
3/4 DAYS - THE CORE OF TIBET ( FLY IN ) :
DAY 01 : KATHMANDU - LHASA (3650 m).
Take off from Kathmandu Airport at 10: 00 hrs. (Nepal
Standard Time). Fly over the panoramic Himalayan range to Lhasa. Flight
duration Kathmandu / Lhasa lasts for 1hour & 10 minutes. Take picturesque
photograph of the icy peaks of the Himalayas from air while flying to Lhasa.
During the flight (weather permitting) you will see the following:
YARLUNG TSANGPO RIVER, LAKE YAMDROK TSO, MT KANCHENJUNGA (8586m), MT
MAKALU (8463m) and MT EVEREST (8848m). Upon touch down at the
Gonggar Airpor in Lhasa, transfer to the Hotel . Complete rest for
acclimatization. Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 2 & 3 : LHASA.
Two days of exciting sightseeing tours and excursions of the Potala
Palace, Jokhang temple, surrounding Barkhor market area, Drepung monsatery and
Sera monastery. Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 04 : LHASA. From this day onwards you will be free on your
own without any services provided from our side.
COST : US $ 515 per person.
SERVICES INCLUDED:
Oneway airfare KATHMANDU - LHASA on economic class, Twin sharing accommodation
in Hotel on BB ( Bed and Breakfast ) basis for 3 nights in Lhasa, All
sightseeing tour as per the program with an English speaking Tibetan Guide and
surface transportation, TTB permit and Monastery entrance fees.
SERVICES EXCLUDED:
Lunch, Dinner, Alcoholic beverages, Mineral water, Laundry, Telephone calls
& all expenses of personal nature, Nepal Re-entry Visa fee US $ 30
per person, Airport Departure tax, Air ticket reconfirmation fee, Travelling
& Health Insurance, Emergency evacuation, Tibet / China Visa fee
US $ 56 per person, Urgent Visa fee , Photography fee and Gratitude tips.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE:
A trip to Tibet takes an ascending
order and can be rather exhausting at the initial point. Hence travelers are
advised to consult a Doctor before deciding to make a move and we always advice
our clients to get a fitness certificate from a Doctor prior to taking part in
this journey. The medical certificate is of utmost importance especially for
people with heart, lungs and blood diseases.
BOOKING PROCEDURE:
25 % payment of the total tour cost should be wired into our bank account
through Bank Telex Transfer at least 3 weeks prior or even earlier to the
departure date to Tibet. We prefer American Express Bank. We will also require
a copy of the bank telex transfer through fax as it provides
to be a proof through which it becomes easy for us to claim with our Bank the
25% payment that you will have wired. The 25 % booking deposit is not
acceptable through Credit Cards. However, upon your arrival in Kathmandu the
remaining balance payment can be made either in Cash, Traveller's Cheque or on
a Visa Card or Master Card. While making the balance payment on a Credit Card a
commission of 4% EXTRA will be charged by our Bank.
CANCELLATION POLICY :
After paying the booking deposit, incase you cancel the tour 30 days
prior to the departure date then you will receive a 100% refund. And if you
cancel the tour within less than 30 days prior to your departure date then you
will loose US $ 100 per person. Whereas, after you enter Tibet either by
overland or flight and then due to your personal problems such as
sickness, injuries, accidents, altitude sickness and other reasons which is
beyond our control, the tour has to be cancelled, then there will be no refund
at all.
CANCELLATION CHARGE
FOR AIR TICKET :
A cancellation fee of 33% on the
airfare Kathmandu - Lhasa or Lhasa - Kathmandu will be charged by the airlines
if cancelled after issuing / purchasing of the confirmed air tickets.
MONTH WISE ( AIR CHINA
) FLIGHT OPERATING DAYS BETWEEN KATHMANDU & LHASA :
APRIL TO
OCTOBER = Tuesdays & Saturdays only.
NOVEMBER
= Saturdays only.
PRECAUTIONS & HEALTH CARE FOR HIGH ALTITUDE SICKNESS :
Because of the high altitude, thin air, cold and arid atmosphere of Tibet,
travelers occasionally might suffer from high altitude sickness of
different degrees, such as headaches, insomnia, depression and nervousness. To
prevent these altitude sickness, we would remind you to have enough rest, drink
lots of water at least 3 liters per day, not to strain or exhaust yourself,
move slowly and breathe deeply. For the light sick ones, medicine is not
necessary but rest is a prime necessity. While for the seriously sick, tours
must be stopped immediately. The patient should lie down in bed and if possible
inhale oxygen (hotels can always provide oxygen bags and cylinders). Inhaling
oxygen is a convenient and effective way of curing altitude sickness.
RECOMMENDED CLOTHINGS :
Because of its high altitude and climate, Tibet is somewhat cold and the
difference in temperatures between day time and night time is vast.
But as for its long sunshine, winter is not too bad. Its annual rainfall is not
much with the monsoon occurring scarcely between July and September. In spring,
autumn and winter the weather is a little bit dry.
SPRING ( Mar - May ) :
Cold, dry and windy. A down jacket and woolen sweater are necessary.
SUMMER ( Jun - Aug ) : Cold but
not hot at noon. Shirts, pants or skirts are fine.
AUTUMN ( Sept - Nov ) : Cold, dry. Jackets
and sweaters are necessary.
WINTER ( Dec - Feb )
: Frigid and very dry. Warm pullover, down jacket, woolen sweaters,
scarves and gloves are necessary.
Incase you have any more queries or require any further assistance /
information regarding the tour then please feel free to write to us. Look
forward to hearing from you again.
NOTE: Please note that from now onwards you will have to add
one more digit "4" in the beginning of all our previous Telephone
& Fax numbers. Therefore now our new phone / fax numbers are as
follows:
Phone # : 00 - 977 -
1 - 4414803, 4424968, 4428326.
Fax # : 00 - 977 - 1 - 4419985.
Warm regards,
Indra K Yonzon.
Managing Director.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Green Hill Tours & Treks (P) Ltd.
P.O.Box 5072., Kathmandu, Nepal.
Phone # 00 977 1 414803, 424968
Fax # 00 977 1 419985.
Web : www.greenhilltours.com
B. Email 28 March 2003
This is in response to both
your e-mails dated 28th March '03. And all the answers to your queries have
been accordingly furnished below:
Yes you may certainly
place the info. that we have provided to you regarding the new Chinese Visa
rules but please remember to place a NOTE saying that : the new rules are
subject to change any day, because most travellers might be aware of the fact
that the Chinese Embassy keeps on changing it's travel rules for tourists very
frequently.
First of all let us
once again go through the new Visa rules which are as follows:
NOTE : Present Chinese Visa rules : We
have to inform you that since the beginning of February 2003 the Chinese
Authorities have changed the Tibet Visa rules. In other words, Individual
Chinese Visas brought by clients from their respective Home Countries will not
be valid to travel overland KATHMANDU to LHASA anymore, and that all
clients will have to be put on a Group Chinese Visa which we can arrange here
in Kathmandu and will cost you US $ 48 per person (on top of the tour cost )
provided you send us all the necessary documents and details through fax. On
the other hand the Individual Chinese Visa which you bring from your Home
Country will be valid only if you are flying from KATHMANDU to LHASA. For
your information until now the Chinese Authorities have been granting Group
Chinese Visa just for a Single person also which will be valid for 15 - 20 days
altogether. With that same Group Chinese Visa you may travel / fly further into
mainland China and then upon arrival at any major Chinese Airport you can
extend that Group Visa. All major Chinese airports avail this facility of this
Visa extension. However, if this present rule changes in the near future then
we will keep you informed.
1. If a traveller takes
your 3/4-day package to go overland to Lhasa with TTB permit and group visa,
how long can he stay in the T.A.R.? Is he able to travel around the
T.A.R. (on F.I.T. tours arranged, say, in Lhasa - with the appropriate
Aliens' Travel Permit as required)? If he arranges to go on a long F.I.T.
tour (say to western Tibet), can he get an individual visa or visa extension in
Lhasa?
ANS: The shortest overland tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa take 5 days for
driving everyday. Yes with the TTB permit and the Group Vhinese Visa a
traveller can stay for maximum 15 - 20 days since the VIsa & Permit
will be valid for that many days. Yes he will be able to travel around the TAR
on FIT tours arranged in Lhasa and agter getting the necessary permits from the
FIT CENTRE in Lhasa.
2. What form does the
group visa take? (Separate document, stamp in passport, sticker in
passport?)
ANS: THe Group
Chinese VIsa is just a paper containing the traveller's passport details
and will also be bearing the Chinese EMbassy Stamp on it.
3. If a traveller goes on your package to Lhasa together with some other
travellers, should and can he have his own individual "group" visa so
he can travel on his own after the guided tour of Lhasa ends?
ANS: Yes until now the Chinese Embassy has been granting the Group Visa
to a single traveller also, and with that Group VIsa the single traveller can
split from the fixed group and then be on his own once he arrives in Lhasa. We
have been sending many of our clients in this way, especially those who do not
wish to return back to Kathmandu and wishes to travel further into mainland
China.
4.. If a traveller arrives in Kathmandu with a Chinese
visa issued in Australia, and joins your overland tour to Lhasa (and therefore
needs a "group" permit issued by the Kathmandu embassy), what will
happen to the ordinary visa? Must it be cancelled? Can it still be
retained, and used for staying in the T.A.R., or for travelling on further into
China?
ANS: If a traveller
wishes to travel overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa by joining our overland tour
he / she will have to obtain a Group Chinese VIsa through us from the Chinese
Embassy here in Kathmandu. His / her Individual Chinese Visa which was obtained
in Australia will be cancelled by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. But again
the same Individual Chinese Visa which was obtained in Australis / Home country
will be very much valid to enter Tibet if the traveller wishes to fly in to Lhasa
from Kathmandu. Which means that the Chinese Visa obtained in any of the
traveller's own Home Country prior to his / her arrival to Kathmandu will be
valid only if he/she wishes to fly into Lhasa but if he/ she wishes to travel
overland Kathmandu - Lhasa then the individual Visa will be cancelled and
the client will have to apply for a Group Visa through us.
b. If a traveller arrives in
Kathmandu without a Chinese visa and gets a 30-day Chinese visa from the
Kathmandu embassy, I conclude from what you
say that he can then fly to Lhasa (and beyond) relying on that visa (and TTB
permit).
ANS: If he/she
arrives in Kathmandu without a Chinese Visa then we will get the Chinese Visa
obtained for him/her which will be valid for 15 - 20 days maximum and yes
he/she can fly Kathmandu - Lhasa and get the same Visa extended in any of the
airports in mainland China provided he/she also has the necessary TTB permit.
c. If a traveller arrives in
Kathmandu without a Chinese visa and gets a 30-day Chinese visa from the
Kathmandu embassy, and joins your overland tour to Lhasa (and therefore needs a
"group" permit issued by the Kathmandu embassy), what will happen to
the 30-day visa? Must it be cancelled? Can it still be retained,
and used for staying in the T.A.R., or for travelling on further into China?
ANS: The client
cannot just go to the Chinese EMbassy here in Kathmandu and apply for a Group
Visa by himself. He/ she will be required to apply it through a Travel Agency
otherwise the Visa will not be granted to him if he just applies by himself.
:Upon booking a tour package with us we apply for the TTB permit first and then
when we get the TTB permit obtained ( which will bear all the clients passport
details ) we then apply for the Chinese Visa and accordingly submit the
original passports of all the clients to the Chinese Embassy which in turn
grants the Group Visa accordingly.
Hope the above mentioned
information will be of help to you whilst we look forward to hearing from you
again.
Regards,
Indra.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Green Hill Tours & Treks (P) Ltd.
P.O.Box 5072., Kathmandu, Nepal.
Phone # 00 977 1 4414803, 4424968
Fax # 00 977 1 4419985.
Web : www.greenhilltours.com