• > 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?

This region offers several challenges which may be too demanding for some travelers including  high altitudes, lots of walking on steep inclines, stairs, and rocky paths.

Group adventures (with our Dutch groups) tend to be longer programs and are often more challenging than our private journeys in several ways. Participants, of all ages, take hearty hikes and will rent bikes to explore. The Dutch have spent their entire lives on bikes so even older travelers are good endurance. Be sure to ask the guide the nature of any hike and opt out if you feel it will be too much.  (This is also a great argument to lobby for bike paths in the States!). The infrastructures in many of the countries we visit can be very undeveloped compared to the States. Long road trips on bumpy roads can be uncomfortable for some travelers. On several of these trips, we spend a day or two in remote areas that may require a willingness to “rough it”. Roosters will crow, lights may dim, and a cold shower may be expected on these days. On some of our group adventures, we stay for a night or two in indigenous lodgings which can be basic or very primitive. Some have no formal bath facilities. Be sure to check the weather conditions for the dates you are considering at worldweather.org, and pack appropriate shoes and clothing for these trips. At most hotels there is no porter service and you must be able to carry your own luggage.

Our semi-private and private trips are less challenging. While these trips are also quite active, there are fewer physical challenges. Also some hotels and modes of transport are upgraded for the private/semi-private trips, and there is a little more one-on-one assistance from the guide.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

 Please consider the descriptions below before booking a trip with an international group.
On these trips, you will travel with groups of 8 to 20 travelers, of all ages, mostly from Holland and Belgium. These trips are great for our more active, independent minded travelers who welcome the added element, and occasional challenges of cultural immersion. This adds another element to your international experience. There are usually only one to four North Americans on any trip. We found that an even split of Dutch and North Americans sometimes created a cultural divide, and our intention is to blend travelers and to maintain the European feeling of these trips. True to the European style of travel is a diversity of ages represented in our groups. These active  travelers blend well and participants of all ages take hearty hikes, bike rides and welcome independent explorations.
The Dutch are typically very social and have a great command of English. It is inevitable that the participants will lapse into Dutch from time to time at meals and on the bus, until they get to know you. The guide will help to integrate you, but you will enjoy this trip more if you are the type of person who is also comfortable initiating conversations, from time to time. If you have a travel partner, it will be easier to find your way into the conversations or at least to have a buffer during times when the group is chatting in Dutch. After a day or two, you will normally get your rhythm.  You can probably expect lively conversations about world politics, especially in today’s climate.  Depending on your personal politics, this can be lots of fun, or not. The Dutch tend to be fairly liberal minded.
If this description sounds daunting or unappealing, then these trips are probably not for you and you may wish to consider our private and semi-private journeys, instead. They  offer plenty of excitement without some of the challenges. Please call us with questions.  Over half of our travelers prefer to travel the “Dutch way” booking these programs again and again.

Guide
The Dutch guide (a logistics coordinator, not a lecturer) will address the group in both Dutch and English. You will hear more Dutch than English, but you will get the important information. Guides will organize and accompany some activities and meals, but not all. They will offer suggestions for you so that you can also explore and dine safely on your own. These groups welcome these opportunities.
Our guides go through a period of training at our headquarters office in the Netherlands. In each country, they are in close contact with our land agents. Most of our land agents have worked with Djoser for 10 or more years. Their staff is there to help and are on call in the event of an emergency.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 10 or more. Please inquire about discounts for larger groups.

Local Transportation

We use our own locally hired buses. In the Himalayas, the roads wind through the mountains. Keep in mind that the trips can take longer than expected. In general, all the recorded travel times are rough estimates. Often we will stop in little villages and interesting places that we drive through, for example a visit to a small local market. For local transportation, you can make use of taxis or rickshaws. In several places it is possible to rent a bike. During the trip from Nepal to Tibet we start in Kathmandu and travel overland to Lhasa. On a few occasions we do this route with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. This happens particularly in the rainy season when the roads are more difficult for the bus. Keep in mind that for the rainy season, the route can be adjusted because certain routes are impassable due to the heavy rainfall. In an extreme situation it is possible that we must forfeit the early driving portion of the trip and are forced to take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. From Lhasa we can follow the program with small adjustments. This would necessitate an extra cost, which would be passed on to the travelers. Also changes in the route are generally last minute decisions, made by the tour leader and local agent based on current conditions. Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use: http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

In Tibet tourism is still a relatively new phenomenon, therefore the supply of hotels and pensions is very limited. In Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and Tsetang we spend the night in good hotels. In the rural villages Nyalam and Tingri there are very few hotels to choose from and we spend the night in a primitive but typical Tibetan accommodation. Here hotel rooms don’t have their own shower and toilet. In these little towns, you must even go outside to visit the toilet and quite often, you only have warm water for a couple of hours. The hotels do offer warm blankets and comforters to protect you from the nightly cold.
It is recommended to bring a flashlight. It some places there is no electricity and power outages are not uncommon. Be sure to pack a towel, as sometimes, they are not provided.  Use the following link to view some of our lodgings:
http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

If you are traveling alone you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex. Please note the cost of a single room listed in the cost descriptions. If you request a roommate, but we are unable to match you, there will be no penalty charge for the single room.

Meals

Meals are not included in the trip cost. The advantage of this is that you can have an independent meal or different type of food, when you are in mood. The tour leader can make suggestions. In Nepal it is always possible to order a “dahl baht”: lentil with rice combined with a spicy vegetable or meat curry and pickles. In the larger cities in Nepal the variations of Western and Eastern meals are inexhaustible. In addition to the Tibetan momo, a pizza, steak, moussaka, or lasagna, you will find French fries with a peanut sauce on the menu. In Tibet in addition to dried yak cheese, momos, and dried yak meat, you find many Chinese dishes, especially vegetable and noodle dishes. Even though means in Tibet are limited you find the typical Tibetan dishes such as momos (filled dumplings) and thukpa (noodle soup) quite satisfying. Tea is the national drink, which will be automatically served in many places. In addition mineral water, carbonated beverages and beer are available almost everywhere. Typical to the region is the yak butter tea with the salty taste; something you must try once during this trip.

Climate

The Tibet trips are only offered between May and October due to the severe weather conditions make the passes in Tibet impassable due to the snow and ice. At this high altitude the sun is fierce but on the passes the altitude and the wind will guaranty a biting cold throughout the year. The monsoons fall in the months of July and August. It is impossible to precisely predict. Tibet has much less precipitation than Nepal during these months. In the rainy period you must take the slippery roads and delays into consideration during travel days. Rain usually falls at the end of the day and at nighttime. The rain flurries are usually short and heavy bursts. It is often overcast during this period.

Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

You will need passport and visas for both Tibet and Nepal. You can obtain the Nepal visa at the airport in Kathmandu for about $55 U.S.  Our China land agent will arrange the visa for China/Tibet for you. As of 1/10/06 the Tibet visa cost  is $56 U.S. (subject to change).

You must provide passport information to us no later than 3 weeks prior to departure.

If you need a rush service to procure a passport, we recommend a service called It’s Easy, located in New York. 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 Internet. Please indicate you were referred by Djoser, Inc. Its Easy can also process passports. They provide rush service and will honor a 10% discount over the service portion of the fee for Djoser customers.

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

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 flight with Singapore:
 

Depart NY	Return NY
9:15 PM	10:45 AM
Depart LAX	Return LAX
11:25 PM	7:20 PM

Usual flight 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 Nepal is the rupee that is worth approximately 1.35 cents. For one dollar you receive around 74 rupees. The currency in China/Tibet is the yuan. One yuan is worth approximately 12.5 cents. For one dollar you receive around 8 yuan. But of course, the value of currency will change. It’s handy to take an updated currency chart, which you can find easily on the internet (www.exchangerate.com). It is not allowed to import or export this currency so it is impossible to change money in the U.S. or Canada. It is also helpful to bring cash in U.S. dollars in small denominations.  As of 1/1/0/06 the cost for the Nepal visa is $56 (U.S. dollars). In Kathmandu it is also possible to use your credit card and ATM card in some places. Upon departure in Kathmandu you must pay the local airport departure tax.

Tipping
At the beginning of your trip, your tour leader will collect a “tip pot” of approximately $2 per land day, per person. So that you will not be burdened with tipping those who assist you along the way, this sum will dispersed by the tour leader as tips for the driver, local guides and hotel staff. The tip pot does not include the tip for the tour leader. A typical guideline for an American tip would be $2-$3 per day but the amount is at your discretion and should be based on his/her efforts and your satisfaction level. Dutch tipping habits are different than North American guidelines. You may feel more comfortable tipping your guide privately to avoid the great cultural tipping debate. However, it’s up to you! We take pride in our Djoser guides who do their utmost to make your experience great. We do ask that you bear in mind their extra challenge of a dual language group.

Health

Even though vaccinations are not mandatory, the Center for Disease Control recommends that you take the following immunizations: DTP, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B You should check with the CDC for the latest recommendations at www.cdc.gov. 1-877-394-8747, Fax 1-888-232-3299. Check early with your doctor regarding the recommended timing for these inoculations. It is wise to bring something for your stomach, such as Imodium, and a salt solution for dehydration. The guide has a medical kit with sterile materials in case of an emergency.

Keep in mind that these trips are quite tiring. Make sure that you eat well and drink plenty of water and get enough rest. Because we travel at high altitudes in Tibet, it is important that you don’t underestimate traveling at altitudes from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. It is recommended that you notify your local doctor that you are traveling at these altitudes who can advise you about precautions and use of altitude sickness medications. Make sure you have made the proper preparations. The low oxygen content of the air can sometimes cause headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, dizziness or shortness of breath. It is recommended to be in good condition and rested before you start your trip and drink plenty of water on the way. Your body certainly has to get used to the high altitude and the best thing is to avoid extremely physical activity. If you have a heart or lung condition or you are older than 60, discuss your travel plans with your doctor. If you are aware that you suffer from altitude sickness, be sure to bring altitude sickness medication. For emergencies during the trip where medical assistance is necessary the tour leader has the means to expedite assistance.

Luggage & Clothing

Try to keep the weight of your luggage below 30 pounds. A duffle bag or soft bag is ideal for packing on the bus. Hard suitcases are difficult to load. You will generally carry your own luggage so be sure to bring what you can comfortably lift. Don’t over pack, as you will have the opportunity to have laundry done at several hotels along the way. Of course good walking shoes are essential. Sneakers can be slippery and you will need shoes with good traction. In Tibet it cools off substantially in the evenings. Make sure to bring jackets, sweaters and long pants. The passes are very cold and when the sun sets at nighttime, the temperature drops dramatically. In the accommodations in Tibet you will find enough blankets. You do not need to bring a sleeping bag. The voltage in Nepal and Tibet is 220 V. Make sure that you bring a converter.

Resources

Communication

With all of the modern telecom equipment these days, it is easy to reach you in the larger cities in Nepal and Tibet. In large towns you will find Internet cafes, where for a small fee, you can send and receive emails. In the mountains and small towns, these amenities are barely to be found. Access by cell phone is according to your phone instrument and carrier but is extremely limited in these regions.