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Contact Us
Sikkim Holidays
PO Box Bojoghari, Behind SBI, Penengla, Gangtok, Sikkim - 737101, India.
Tel:+91 3592 645469
Cell: 0091-9434144220
Fax: +91-3592-645469
info@abcsikkim.com

Pre-Trip Information on TIBET

Tibet Visa

All tourists visiting Tibet requires valid China visa & a special Alien Travel Permit, which they can obtain only by joining tours organized by recognized travel agencies.

Those who arrive in Kathmandu with a Chinese visa issued by Chinese Consulates outside of Kathmandu will find it useless for entry into Tibet.

There is no minimum group size requirement for traveling into Tibet. As long as one is traveling in an organized tour visa will be issued for even individuals.

Please note Tibet visa regulations often change & hence given information may not be true at the time when you travel.

Diplomatic passport holders must get clearance from Beijing for travel into Tibet, which often takes long time. It is advisable to travel on non-diplomatic passports, if you have one.

We require at least 7 days notice to process your Tibet visa via Lhasa & at least 4 days in Kathmandu for the Chinese Embassy to handle your passport.

Consular section of the Chinese Embassy is open for business between 10-12 am on Monday, Wednesday & Friday only. Visa can also be issued in less than 3 days upon payment of visa rush fees. Normal group visa fee is USD 28 & visa rush fee is another USD 17. For USA nationals the group visa fee is USD 42.

Those entering via Mainland China must pay a handling charge of USD 25 to our China agent for handling Tibet permits, booking & issuing flight tickets.

 
Nepal Visa

60 days Nepal visa is readily available at the Tribhuvan International Airport or any other land entry points on payment of USD 30 visa fee.

However, tourists transiting through Kathmandu & spending less than 3 days are now issued with gratis visas. Also nationals of SAARC countries & Peoples Republic of China are no longer required to pay visa fees.
 

Access to Tibet

By Flight:

CHINA AIR (CA) is the only airline currently operating flights between Kathmandu & Lhasa sector. M/S China Air operates regular flights between Kathmandu & Lhasa sector - 2 flights from April — June & 3 flights from July — October. During the winter months from November thru March the flight is temporarily suspended.

April 1 – June 30: Tuesdays & Saturdays
July 1 – October 30: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

Flights schedule

SECTOR

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

DAYS

KTM – LXA CA 408 1025 1345 TUE, SAT (APR–JUN)
LXA – KTM CA 407 1015 0925 TUE, THU, SAT(JUL–OCT)

For detailed information regarding flights to Tibet, from all sectors in China, please click “domestic flight schedule 2008”
 
Surface transportation

Because of the harsh landscape and uneven roads (most roads outside Lhasa are not even gravelled), we use four-wheel drive Land Cruisers for our groups in Tibet.

We also provide a supporting truck for trekking and expedition groups, to carry all the necessary supplies. It is only possible to use a car or van in Lhasa, where there are some tarmac roads.
 

Tibet railways

On October 15, 2005, the final rail was put in place along the bank of Lhasa River, marking the end of a history of transport without railways for Tibet, which covers one-eighth of China’s landmass.

The railway which runs across the “the roof of the world” has been linked up. It is 1,956 km from Xining to Lhasa. The first section, 814 km between Xining and Golmud, was laid in 1979 and opened to operation in 1984. The more recently-constructed railway starts from Golmud in Qinghai, passing through Nachitai, Wudaoliang, Tuotuo river, Yanshiping and the Tonglha Mountains. It then enters Tibet, going through Amdo, Nakqu, Damxung, Yangpajin, and Nazi to Lhasa.

This is considered to be the longest and highest highland railway in the world.

For detailed information regarding trains to Tibet, from all sectors in China, please click “domestic train schedule 2008”

 
Tibet Accommodation

Tibet does not have any international standard deluxe hotels except for the Lhasa Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn Hotel).

However, in the last 3-5 years many tourist class hotels have sprung up in bigger cities such as Lhasa, Gyangtse & Shigatse that offer quality accommodations.

In the smaller towns, accommodation facilities are still quite basic. And during the peak holiday seasons in July & August there is often difficulty in getting rooms.

We categorize our tours into 2 types — deluxe & standard based on the available hotels.

Hotel categories

PLACE

DELUXE

STANDARD

LHASA

LHASA HOTEL

KYICHU / DHOOGU / SHAMBALA HOTEL

TSEDANG

TSEDANG HOTEL

TSEDANG HOTEL

GYANTSE

GYANTSE HOTEL

GYANTSE HOTEL

SHIGATSE

SHIGATSE HOTEL

MANASAROVAR HOTEL

XEGAR – TINGRI

CHOMOLONGMA HOTEL

CHOMOLONGMA HOTEL

ZHANGMU & NYALAM

ZHANGMU HOTEL

ZHANGMU HOTEL


Special accommodation offers
 We have special offers on most hotels in the areas of our operations; for more information on the hotels we use or prices, please click on the links provided below;

(a) Tibet
(b) Nepal
(c) Sikkim
 
Health, Fitness & Precautions

Those with chronic health problems should consult a doctor before making travel plans. Most people visiting Tibet rarely suffer more than mild discomfort before getting acclimatized.

Suggested remedial measures:
a. Take plenty of rest
b. Refrain from physically exhausting activities
c. Drink plenty of water
d. Do not expose yourself to direct strong winds particularly your head when atop a pass
e. Take diamox against altitude sickness

More information and resources are available here; Travel Center
 

Insurance

All travelers’ visiting Tibet are strongly recommended to provide for their own trip insurance at home that adequately covers for medical, emergency rescue expenses, trip cancellations, baggage loss or any other eventual mishaps. All of our staffs on field trips are adequately insured by the company that covers for medical assistance, accidents or deaths.

More information and resources are available here; Travel Center

 

Clothing & Accessories

Warm clothing is required throughout but more specifically from October to April. In general dressing in layers is recommended. Few change of clothes such as shirt, sweater, jacket & cotton inner linings with tops & bottoms, comfortable walking shoes, pair of pants should suffix. During the month of October to April more heavy woolens or down clothing & boots will be required.

Other recommended accessories: water bottle, water purification tabs, chap stick, suntan lotion, utility knife, flash light, battery operated shavers, dusk mask or bandana, medicine for common colds, headache, fever, stomach disorders & diamox for altitude sickness. A good guidebook & a route map are strongly recommended.

More information and resources are available here; Travel Center
 
Customs
There is no prohibition on still & video cameras, tape recorders or any other electronic equipment for personal use as long as they are declared in the customs declaration form at the point of entry. Export of art objects dating back prior to 1959 are prohibited & may be seized.
 

Cancellation Policy

We levy a handling fee of USD 100 if a trip is cancelled after confirmation of booking. However, this amount can be applied for a future trip booked through Sikkim Holidays. Notice of cancellation must be made in person by those booking locally & for those booking from overseas cancellation notice must be sent in writing & refunds will be made as follows:
Less than 15 days before trip date - 20% or USD 100 whichever is higher
No shows - No refunds
N.B: As per China Airlines regulation there is 25% cancellation charge if an air ticket is once issued & cancelled for whatsoever reason. Please note this regulation is strictly enforced & adhered to by all Indian airlines.

 
Booking & Payment

All clients are required to fill out our ‘Tour Booking Form’& must carefully read & sign the column ‘Assumption of Risk, Release & Guarantee’. We also require your passport copy & a trip deposit of USD 300 for confirmation of all bookings. Those booking directly with us from abroad may make this trip deposit with credit card by filling out, our ‘Credit Card Authorization Form’ which will be sent to you on request.

Please add 3.5% for all payment made with credit card. The balance payment must be paid in full before trip departure either in cash or travelers checks.
 
Payment may also be telex transferred into our account:
ACCOUNT NAME:
ACCOUNT NUMBER:
STATE BANK OF INDIA, MG MARG, GANGTOK, SIKKIM - 737101, INDIA.
SWIFT CODE:
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