• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

Djoser participants enjoy an active style of travel. On a Djoser tour, we do lots of walking. There are hearty nature walks and more strenuous hikes for the more energetic travelers. You can also forgo these activities for a more leisurely activity. Our hotels are often located so that you can walk to the nearby sites. Once in a city, we will only take transport to sites that are far away.  You must be capable and willing to carry your own luggage from the bus to the hotel, as usually, there is no porter.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Guides 

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

The time difference with China from the East Coast is 13 hours later and 10 hours on the West Coast. During the trip we use several modes of transportation. Because of the long distances, we use some internal flights times throughout the trip. We also travel on sleeper trains, a typical Chinese way of traveling. On our trips designed for North American travelers, we only book the soft sleepers. These compartments accommodate four people. They are comfortable and more comfortable than the hard sleepers as you are shielded from cigarette smoke and the noise.  

Also, for private trips only, you may upgrade to a flight from Beijing to Xian instead of a night train. The rest of our travel is with our own locally hired van or bus. The travel days can sometimes be long; distances are great and roads are not always good.You will be amazed by the amount of bikes you see in the cities as well as in the rural areaa. To explore some areas, the bike is by far the best form of transportation. There are also taxis, mini-buses, and rickshaws that can take you almost everywhere very inexpensively.  

On the 17-day China, Tibet, Yangtze trip, you will board the cruise boat Jiangshan and stay in comfortable first-class cabins, with 2 beds, private bath facilities and air-conditioning. The boat was built in 1990 and renovated in 2001-2003. The boat is 265 ft. long, 43 ft. wide, and holds around 500 people. Facilities include restaurants (Chinese style), air-conditioning, satellite communication, TV, a health clinic, shops, a dance halls, a viewing hall, a hair salon and a recreation center

Accommodations

In China, we spend the night in good, tourist class hotels. Especially in the large cities, the quality of the hotels is better then what you initially expect. Of course, all of the rooms have private bathrooms. In every room, a thermos with hot water is always available so you can make yourself a nice fresh cup of tea or coffee. We do recommend you take your own coffee since it is not widely available in China. In most Chinese cities, you can change money at hotels. Western-style breakfasts are quite often available but not included in the price of the trip.  In addition, all hotels offer the possibility to have your laundry done. Use the following link to view some of our lodgings: http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

The cost for a single room is listed on the price pages for this trip, on our website. Because the small numbers on these trips, it is sometimes difficult to match a single with  a roommate. 

Our group trips with Dutch & Belgium travelers usually have 15 to 20 participants so there is a good chance of matching you with a roommate. On the group trips, if you request a roommate but  we cannot match you , there will be no additional charge for the single room.

Meals

With the exception of breakfasts, meals are not included on this trip. The guide will make safe suggestions for nice, reasonable restaurants. Be sure to ask for recommendations for places with a unique ambiance, perhaps with entertainment, for special evenings. Even though the Chinese prepare delicious lunches, snacks and dinner, many tourists are not very enthusiastic about the Chinese breakfast of rice, pork, fried peanuts and pickled vegetables accompanied by a glass of beer. In quite a few of our hotels, there is also a western breakfast served or there are lighter alternatives available. In restaurants outside of the hotels you often find pancakes or yogurt on the menu. For food lovers a trip through China is one big culinary adventure. Every region has their own specialties, which becomes evident in the food preparation and use of spices. In Beijing one would eat the famous Peking Duck. The cuisine of the Szeuhuan province is famous because of its distinct use of spices. The Cantonese are known to use all sorts of animals on their dishes such as dogs, cats, monkeys and muskrats. Of course you also find familiar dishes on the menu. A favorite lunch for the average westerner is noodle soup, rich Mie soup with various vegetables and/or meat. At night you can choose from a great variety of dishes that arrive at the table “family style”. Everyone eats from these platters (with chopsticks). Another fun dish is a hotpot that is similar to fondue. You can cook your own vegetables, meat and fish in a small pot with boiling bouillon stock on the table. It can be very practical to learn a couple of key words or to take along a small phrase book or dictionary so you can select the food you are in the mood for. Tea is the national drink and will be served automatically in many places. In addition, mineral water, soft drinks and beer are available almost everywhere. In Tibet you will not forget the special taste of the Tibetan yak butter tea!

Climate

Because of the huge size of the country, you come across very diversified weather conditions. The summers in a large part of China are warm with an average temperature above 85 degrees farenheit, with the exception of the areas with high latitudes. Rain occurs during the entire year. You can expect a few rain showers, especially in the south. In the highlands of Tibet you experience bitter cold such as in Dali and Lijing, located at a higher altitudes. In the winter time in Beijing  the temperatures can drop far below zero. From the middle of November until the end of February, we don’t organize trips to China because of the cold weather. The Tibet trips take place in the period from April until October because in the winter months, the passes are closed due to snow. In Tibet, the sun is fiierce but on the passes, the altitude and the wind create a biting cold throughout the entire season. In the rainy season (July-August,) you need to be aware that roadas may be slippery in the mountains and that delays are very possible. Rain often falls at the end of the day and during the night.  The rain showers are usually short and intense and cloud cover is usually heavy during those periods.

Travel Documents

A valid passport and visa are required to enter China. The Chinese embassy no longer allows mailed applications so you are required to appear in person or use a professional passport/visa service. If you are going on one of the combination China/Tibet trips, we require that visas are processed through a professional passport/visa service. The cost is more but we find this avoids some of the pitfalls and delays associated with getting paperwork to enter Tibet.  Our land agent in China arranges for the necessary entry documentation for Tibet once you are in China.  Passport information for the Tibet visa must be supplied to us no later than  two to three weeks prior to departure for this documentation.

Please use, It’s Easy, located in New York, applying for a regular China visa. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com  for passport requirements and to download the current forms and rates and processing fees. Or you can call them to fax you forms if you do not have access to the Internet. Please indicate you were referred by Djoser, Inc to get a 10% discount on the processing fee. It’s Easy can also process passports. They provide rush service for an additional fee. A single entry visa plus the processing charge should cost around $105.
It’s Easy  (Passport & Visa Service)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone  (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212) 490-3224
Website       http://www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail         mail@itseasypassport.com

If you are not a citizen of the U.S. or Canada, you must check with the appropriate consulate for your entry requirements. If you are in a rush, an expeditor can process your travel documents very quickly, for a fee. Below we have listed the consulates and the states and areas they service. You can download the proper forms from their websites.

Flights

We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

Sample of a Northwest Flight

    Usual times – Subject to Change

Airline Tickets

You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date.
In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:

•    A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail).
•    A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).

The first document listed is needed to check in at the Automated kiosks. If you check in at the
E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).

Money

The currency in China is the renminbi (Rmb) that is divided into yuan, fen and jiao. Chinese money cannot be imported. We advise you to bring travelers checks. You can cash them almost anywhere plus they are insured against loss or theft. In China there are plenty of opportunities to exchange money however not so in Tibet. Be sure to have plenty of currency in smaller denominations. It will be more difficult in Tibet to use credit cards or to exchange money. A small amount of cash dollars will always come in handy. In some of the larger cities you can get cash with your credit card or ATM card. Lodging, transportation, tour escort and several excursions are included in the price. For meals, entry fees and other additional expenses, you should count on a minimum of $275 per week. Be advised costs are higher in larger cities than in the rest of China. We suggest that you bring extra money for unforeseen expenses.

Tipping
It is appropriate to tip in certain situations. In Tibet, tip ten percent in larger restaurants and only small change anywhere else.  In order to avoid constant tipping, at the beginning of the trip, the tour leader will collect money for a tip pot (around $25) and will take care of your bus driver and lots of the miscellaneous tips along the way. It is also appreciated if you tip your tour leader at the end of the trip.

Health

You can read about travel issues on the Center for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Further questions may be directed to the CDC at , 1-800-311-3435. There is a CDC traveler’s information call line at Travelers Health 1-877-394-8747 if you need information faxed to you. Internet is the best mode of communication. Here are the current CDC recommendations.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG),
Hepatitis B if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical treatment. This vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years that did not receive the series as infants.
Rabies if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
Typhoid particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles.
 
All travelers should see your doctors at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect. They can give you their opinion about the CDC recommendations. Keep in mind; especially if you’re participating in the Tibet portion of the trip, travel here can be quite exhausting. Therefore, make sure that you eat well during the trip, especially at high altitudes. Drink lots of water and rest as much as possible. Don’t underestimate traveling at heights of twelve to fifteen thousand feet. It is recommended that you consult your local doctor or travel doctor. He or she will give you tips in the event you need medication for the altitude. The lower oxygen levels in the air can sometimes cause headaches, nausea, insomnia, dizziness and shortness of breath. It is certainly recommended to be in good condition and rested before you start the trip and drink lots of water on the way. Your body will have to adjust gradually to get used to the heights. You should avoid lots of physical activity until you are acclimated. It is recommended that travelers with heart and lung conditions and people over the age of sixty, discuss travel plans with your local physician before signing up for the trip. Altitude sickness pills are available; usually only available by prescription and there is no guarantee the medication will work. The tour leader and local guide are knowledgeable on how to properly handle an emergency situation if medical help is necessary.

Luggage & Clothing

We advise you to travel with a soft bag or a frameless bag pack. Because of the loading and unloading of the busses, it is by far the most convenient. Try to limit your luggage to a total of thirty pounds. This is related to the transport storage capacity but also for you, the more pleasant way to travel as you will probably carry your own luggage in most places. Because Lijiang and Dali are located at an altitude between six thousand and seventy-five hundred feet, the nights in spring and autumn and summer months can cool off substantially. A fleece will come in very handy on the 22, 24 and 29-day trip. In Tibet, you travel over passes of over fifteen thousand feet and we highly recommend you bring a winter jacket for the spring and autumn months. In the summer months it can be very pleasant but a windbreaker is necessary. In addition, make sure to bring sturdy, easy walking shoes that you have warn in prior to the trip. Also, bring a travel alarm clock and a small backpack to take along for day trips. In the night train, there are no towels available and hotel sometimes do not change their towels on a daily basis. You should bring along your own towel. You don’t need a sleeping bag but a light bag lining can come in very handy during the several train trips that we take. Electricity is 220 volts so make sure you bring a converter.

Resources

Communication

In China, you are well reachable by phone. You can call home from almost anywhere throughout the country. In Tibet, this becomes a bit harder. In all  places you find Internet cafes. Check with your cell phone provider for access in China.