The classic overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu Lhasa's fabled Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Drepung Monastery Kathmandu sighsteeing including Bodhnath, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath Rongbuk Monastery and views of Everest's stunning north face Gyantse, Shigar and the exciting new road route back to Nepal via Kyrirong HOLIDAY CODE EFT Nepal, Tibet, Discovery, 16 Days 2 nights guesthouse, 9 nights hotel, 4 nights hotel with swimming pool, 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 15 dinners, max group size: 12, 15 days touring and sightseeing, max altitude - 5200 metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE
PAGE 2 Introduction Providing a range of rich experiences and an insight into two of the world's most fascinating countries, this unbeatable Tibetan discovery holiday will excite even the most seasoned traveller. Combining Kathmandu, Lhasa, several other important Tibetan monastery towns, as well as an excursion up to the north side of Mount Everest at Rongbuk, this is real adventure travel. Tibetan visa arrangements now require that our groups spend 3 days in Kathmandu, which means we have time to cherry-pick the most memorable of the city's highlights, such as the Buddhist stupa at Bodhnath. During this time, you'll also visit the medieval city of Bhaktapur and spend a night at Nagarkot on the Kathmandu Valley rim. Then, flying directly over Mount Everest to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, we'll have 2 full days to acclimatise and to see the best of the the city's landmarks, including the astonishing Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and and many other important Buddhist monasteries and buildings. Setting off to travel back to Nepal overland in comfortable vehicles, we'll experience the best of the high and wild Tibetan Plateau. There will be stops at roadside villages and viewpoints and short walks to points of interest with the chance to meet the Tibetan people, most of whom are nomadic herdsmen living in yak-hair tents. There's an overnight at Samye Monastery and at the magical monastery towns of Gyantse and Shigatse. We've also included a visit to the Rongbuk Valley beneath the singularly spectacular north side of Mount Everest. Finally, the last 2 days of this epic journey will take you north of Shishapangma, Tibet's 8000 metre peak, to the new Tibet-Nepal border crossing at Kyirong. Revised and improved, this is still, unquestionably, one of the world's great adventure travel holiday. FREE equipment hire on all Nepal holidays! Already booked on this holiday? Or booking one of our Nepal holidays in the future? ALL travellers will benefit from free hire of a sleeping bag and down jacket worth 90 - when reserved up to 4 weeks before your departure date. Book NOW, save money and help support a country we love. View offer details Is this holiday for you? This classic touring holiday from Lhasa to Kathmandu traverses some very remote country. During the tour the group will travel in a comfortable private vehicle (or vehicles) and the majority of the roads used on this holiday are now smooth tarmac. However, some sections of the route, particularly the roads to and from the Rongbuk Valley (Everest) and the first part of the drive from the Tibetan border back into Nepal, are more rugged and can be dusty. Although this is a discovery tour, there are several days when the group will explore on foot to make the most of the sightseeing. The walking element of the holiday is not sustained or strenuous (except on account of the altitude) and we will be following good paths at all times. These elements of walking are also, largely, optional. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. Meet at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to explore the immediate vicinity of the hotel and get acclimatised to this bustling city. Alternatively, you may prefer to recover from your journey by relaxing beside the hotel pool. KE Land Only package services begin with the evening meal. Your guide will take dinner with you and will provide an informal briefing about the days ahead.
PAGE 3 WITH SWIMMING POOL MEALS D Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu including Bodhnath and Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath. After breakfast at our hotel, we will be picked up and taken on a guided sightseeing tour amongst the most important of Kathmandu's sites. We start out with the exciting drive across town to the 35 metre-high whitepainted Buddhist stupa of Bodhnath, one of the largest in the world. A gilded spire with 13 tiers (representing the stages man has to go through to attain nirvana) sits on top of the white dome and features the all-seeing eyes of Buddha facing each of the 4 cardinal directions. Ropes of prayer flags hang down from near the top of the stupa which is located on an ancient trade route from Tibet. There are many Tibetan people, refugees from their home country, who live in this part of Kathmandu and devout pilgrims circle the stupa continually. It is a powerful place. Not too far away is, just a kilometre or so, is Pashupatinath, the great Hindu sanctuary beside the Bagmati River. There are hundreds of temples on this site which is also a place of cremation for Hindus. The ritual burning of bodies takes place on raised platforms alongside the river. It is fascinating to spend an hour at the site, exploring amongst the temples, perusing the souvenir stalls and photographing the super-colourful sadhus (Hindu holy men) who hang out here (and make a good living by posing for photographs). We will have lunch in the city and then drive out to visit the 'Monkey Temple' at Swayambhunath. The approach to the site is by way of a staircase of 365 steps. We ll take our time, looking out for the mischievous macaques which inhabit this area. There are some colourful statues of Buddha low down and lots of prayer flags festooning the trees that line the walkway. As well as the impressive central stupa, there are lots of shrines and temples here and it s always busy with worshippers. This is also one of the best places from which to get an overview of the city. Returning to our hotel, we will get together again in the evening and go out for a meal at one of the restaurants in Thamel. WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 3: Drive up to Nagarkot (2000m) and spend a night at a hotel on the valley rim. There s plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast this morning, before boarding our transport and driving up onto the valley rim at Nagarkot (2000m). It takes a couple of hours to get there including the narrow and winding 25 kilometre tarmac road that leads up to the string of lodges and hotels which line the ridge. This village is renowned for its Himalayan views and on a clear day (especially at sunset and at sunrise) it is possible to see 8 separate ranges, from the Annapurnas in the west to distant Mount Everest. We will have some free time in the afternoon and then, accompanied by our guide, we will take a stroll along the ridge to a viewpoint where we can watch the light fade and try to pick out some of the famous Nepali peaks. Dinner and overnight at our Nagarkot hotel. Day 4: Drive back to Kathmandu with a sightseeing tour of Bhaktapur on the way. If it is clear, we will be up early to see if the sunrise views are any better than those at sunset. Then, after breakfast, we'll drive out (15 minutes) to Telkot and from there walk easily (2 hours), through villages, open country and forest, to the small temple of Chengu Narayan which is one of the oldest in the valley, dating from the fourth century. We can expect some great views during this walk. Then, reunited with our transport, we will drive down to medieval Bhaktapur, the ancient capital of the Malla kings for a sightseeing tour with our guide. Several of Bhaktapur's important temples were destroyed during the 2015 earthquake and these are undergoing restoration. However, there still a lot to see here, including some of the finest religious architecture in Nepal. We'll also get the
PAGE 4 chance to do some exploring (and souvenir buying) amongst the many colourful artisan's workshops and stalls. After the tour, we'll return to the hotel and have some free time, before going out to dinner in Thamel. WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 5: Transfer to Kathmandu Airport and take the 90-minute flight to Lhasa. After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and check in for the 90 minute flight to Lhasa. The flight passes over the Khumbu area and if it's clear there are great views of Mount Everest and Makalu and of Kangchenjunga to the east. After landing at Lhasa Airport it's an hour's drive to the Tibetan capital, where we check in to our hotel. The altitude at Lhasa (3660m) will dictate that we take easy for the next couple of days. Day 6: Sightseeing in Lhasa including the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the Barkor. On this first day in Lhasa we will visit the Potala Palace with a local guide and an interpreter. The Potala is the most spectacular of the sights of Lhasa, built on a small outcrop known as the Red Hill and dominating the city. The present palace was constructed in the 17th century during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama. It is a vast building, containing the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and many important chapels. Today, we will also visit the 7th century Jokhang Temple, one of the most sacred shrines in Tibet. The temple has lots of small chambers and chapels, each with its own significance and there's always a queue of devout Tibetans forming an orderly procession through the complex. Surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkhor, a maze of narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses which is the central market of Lhasa. The name Barkhor actually refers to the pilgrims' circuit around the Jokhang, which winds its way through the market streets. During the course of their clockwise circumambulation of the Jokhang, the pilgrims regularly stop to scrutinise the merchandise on the stalls which line both sides of their route. Sitting at a café in the Barkhor, watching the world go by, is a great way to spend the afternoon. Day 7: Sightseeing around Lhasa including the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery. In the morning we will drive a short distance from the city to the Sera Monastery, which is a fascinating complex of whitewashed walls and golden roofs, housing one of the best preserved monasteries in Tibet. From the monastery there are splendid views across the plains back to Lhasa. Then, in the afternoon, we will visit the Drepung Monastery which was the seat of power in Tibet prior to the construction of the Potala. At over 20,000 square metres, this is the largest monastery in Tibet. We return to the city and in the evening go out to sample the fare of one of the city's typical Tibetan restaurants. Day 8: Drive to the Brahmaputra River and visit Samye Monastery. Setting off on out overland journey back to Kathmandu, we drive past the airport and after a further half an hour arrive at a ferry landing beside the great Brahmaputra River which here is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo. We cross the river on a flat-bottomed wooden barge powered by a tractor engine and, having to negotiate several sandbanks, this crossing can take an hour and a half. On the other side we take a half-hour bus ride to Samye
PAGE 5 Monastery. Established in the 8th century, this 3-storey building was the first formally established monastery in Tibet. Its architecture reflects the several influences prevalent at that time in this part of Tibet and displays Han, Tibetan and Indian styles. We check in at a simple guesthouse adjacent to the monastery. This is basic accommodation designed principally for visiting pilgrims. There are no en-suite rooms but it is clean and tidy and has a kettle and basin in each room. The whole experience today is very much away from the normal tourist attractions and a chance to experience the real Tibet. GUESTHOUSE Day 9: Take the 'Friendship Highway' across the Khamba La and Karo La (5045m) to Gyantse. We rise early to witness a morning pujah at the monastery and then return to the ferry for the crossing back to our waiting bus. Back on the 'Friendship Highway' we continue our epic journey along this famous high altitude road to Kathmandu. We cross the Khamba La (4794m), the first of the 6 major passes of our route, on a switchback road which winds to the summit. From the top of the pass there are dazzling views out across the turquoise waters of the lake of Yamdrok Tsho to the snow summit of Nazin Kang Sa (7252m). During the period of maximum snowmelt in the spring, several rivers flow into this lake, but they dry up for most of the year. Similarly, the lake has no permanent outflow. Beyond the lake we pass through the small town of Nagartse and begin the climb up to the Karo La (5045m) with distant views of the Bhutan Himalaya on our left-hand side. At the pass there is the amazing sight of a huge glacier which tumbles down to within a few hundred metres of the road. Descending, we drive through the village of Ralung and then continue through a wonderful valley, with a series of colourful Tibetan villages. We will take the opportunity to stop a couple of times to take photographs and to meet the welcoming local people. We reach our hotel in Gyantse in the late afternoon. Day 10: Visit the Kumbum, then drive to Shigatse and visit the Tashilunpo temple complex. Gyantse is an important town, one of the largest in Tibet and is overlooked by an impressive 15th century fort, once the stronghold of a powerful war-lord. Younghusband and his troops occupied the fort for a month during his expedition to Tibet in 1904. This morning, after a reasonably early start, we will go to see the most important of Gyantse's religious sites; the spectacularly large and ornate stupa known as the Kumbum. This gold-topped pyramid has been little-damaged over the centuries, and is one of the finest buildings in Tibet. The paintings which adorn its many chapels (there are 112 chapels in all) are especially fine. We will spend a couple of hours here, before driving 90 kilometres on a very good road to Shigatse. On arrival, we will check in at our hotel and have lunch, before heading out to see Tashilunpo monastic complex. The red and gold buildings which comprise this monastery are surrounded by a high wall, and around this wall there is an important pilgrim's circuit which includes small shrines, significant rock inscriptions and many prayer wheels. The circuit takes less than an hour, but much longer if you stop regularly to watch the goings on of the Tibetan pilgrims. A ruined fortress follows a rugged ridge above the city, which is the second largest in Tibet and capital of the province of Tsang. Day 11: Continue along the 'Friendship Highway' to Shegar. Continuing our drive along the Friendship Highway, we climb to a pass which offers a first distant view of the main (Nepalese) Himalayan range which we must eventually cross. Descending from the pass we reach the small town of Lhatse, which has the feeling of a frontier town in the Wild West. Apart from its hot springs, Lhatse's claim to fame is that the long road to western Tibet begins a short distance west of the town. Beyond Lhatse, we climb up
PAGE 6 to cross the highest pass on the Friendship Highway, the Gyamtso La (5220m). Then, rounding a bend on the descent from the pass, we are confronted by our first views of Everest, Lhotse and Cho Oyu. We encounter wild Tibetan settlements, lonely monasteries and the encampments of nomadic herders on the next 50 kilometre stretch of road to Shegar. We overnight at one of the best hotels in Shegar which offers basic but comfortable accommodation. It is from here that we will set off on our detour to the Rongbuk Valley and the north side of Everest. Day 12: Drive southwards across the Pang La (5150m) to Rongbuk and Mount Everest. We leave the Friendship Highway and head south towards the great chain of the Himalaya on a road which was constructed by the Chinese for an Everest expedition in 1960 and which has recently been graded and improved. Climbing up to cross the Pang La (5150m) we will stop off to take in the superb views of the arrayed peaks of the Himalaya; one of the finest panoramas from any road pass in the world. We then drop down to Phadhruchi and from there the road follows the river, ascending very gradually. Everest is lost from sight to begin with, but as we turn into the Rongbuk Valley it reappears, more impressive than ever. The Chinese authorities do not permit private buses on the road to the monastery at Rongbuk (5200m) and we will make a short transfer in official cars. Our support vehicle is allowed to bring our equipment and supplies. Rongbuk is one of the highest monasteries on Earth and we will overnight nearby in a basic guesthouse. If we are blessed with good weather, as the sun sets, the north face of Everest is typically illuminated by pink and orange light - a truly memorable sight. Altitude at camp is 5200 metres. GUESTHOUSE Day 13: Exploration around Rongbuk and Everest Basecamp and then drive out to Old Tingri. We will spend the morning at this remarkable place. The site of the modern-day basecamp for the north side of Everest is situated close to the snout of the Rongbuk Glacier just a few kilometres beyond the monastery and at the end of a rough road. If, at the time of our visit, the Chinese authorities are allowing tourists to go as far as basecamp, then we will drive up there. The view of Everest from anywhere in the valley is spectacular in any case. After lunch, we will board our transport for the drive out of this remote place. We take the old road directly to Old Tingri (on the Friendship Highway) from the lower Rongbuk Valley. This is a pretty rough road, crossing another 5000 metre pass which, yet again, provides excellent views of Everest and Cho Oyu. Overnight in another basic Tibetan hotel. Day 14: Drive across the north side of Shishapangma to the town of Kyirong. Following the main road towards the west, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu on our left hand side, we turn off before the Lalung La and continue in a westerly direction across a remote part of the Tibetan Plateau. We pass the 27 kilometre-long lake of Paiku Tso (4500m) and will have a stop to look out for some of the rare bird species that live here, including black-necked crane and bar-headed goose. In this area we also have the best chance to see the Tibetan wild ass known as a kiang. Leaving the lake we have 2 more 5000 metre passes to cross and this time on our left hand side we can see Shishapangma. The only Tibetan 8000 metre peak. Dropping down into the Kyirong Valley and turning southwards into an increasingly green and pleasant part of Tibet, we overnight at a hotel in Kyirong (3000m).
PAGE 7 Day 15: Cross the border into Nepal and drive through the Langtang region to Kathmandu. On this final day of our journey, we drive to the border with Nepal which is marked by a 'Friendship Bridge'. We have to complete the border-crossing formalities again at the Nepalese post at Rasuwa Ghadi. At this point the road enters a narrow gorge with many waterfalls, forest and small houses. We reach Syabrubensi in the Langtang and climb via a switch-back section to Dhunche before dropping down gradually to Trisuli Bazaar. The road is better again as we reach the Arnikho Highway and make the final crossing of the Kathmandu valley rim to reach our hotel. Time to freshen up before going out into Thamel for a celebratory meal. WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 16: After breakfast transfer to Kathmandu Airport for the flight home. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. To extend your holiday in Nepal, why not pre-book a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, or a multi-day excursion to the wildlife reserve at Chitwan. Contact our office for details. MEALS B Extend Your Holiday Extensions When booking your holiday, you will be able to 'add an extension option'. Once we have received your booking we will contact you to discuss additional services required for the extension and to take any additional deposit. Chitwan Jungle Extension The jungles of southern Nepal are an interesting counterpoint to trekking in the foothills or the high Himalaya. Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge provides a relaxing and comfortable base for a wildlife safari and cultural village experience. During two days of wildlife viewing in the Chitwan National Park 'buffer zone' - the interface area between visitors and the animals that live at Chitwan you will be accompanied by expert guides on safaris by jeep by boat and on foot.
PAGE 8 Chitwan Jungle Extension 3 days From 1015 per person Kathmandu Tour - Nagarkot And Bhaktapur The Kathmandu Valley contains the cities of Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu itself, all of which were once independent kingdoms. An exploration of the valley s historic and cultural sights is an excellent way to begin or end your adventure in Nepal. Highlights of this tour includes a very early drive up to Nagarkot on the Kathmandu Valley rim, the perfect place to watch a Himalayan sunrise. This is followed by a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur, renowned for its temples and traditional buildings. Kathmandu Tour - Nagarkot and Bhaktapur 1 day From 120 per person Highlights Of Nepal And Bhutan Breath-taking views of the Annapurnas from Sarangkot above Pokhara Stroll amongst the temples and Hindu holy-men at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu Hike up to the amazing cliff-side Taktsang Monastery in Bhutan s Paro Valley Experience the magic of the Thimphu Drupchen Festival (NBH.1 2019 departure) FREE down jacket hire is available for this holiday Highlights of Nepal and Bhutan 14 days From 3120 per person
PAGE 9 Holiday Information What's Included Professional English-speaking Nepali and Tibetan tour guides Kathmandu and Lhasa airport transfers Flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa All land transport involved in the itinerary All accommodation as described in the trip dossier All meals throughout the holiday Guided sightseeing programme in Kathmandu and Lhasa What's Not Included Travel insurance Nepalese and Tibetan visas Tips for porters and other trek staff Miscellaneous expenses - souvenirs and drinks etc Joining Arrangements & Transfers Airport transfers are provided for all clients arriving on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary and departing on the last day of the Land Only itinerary. You will be met on arrival at Kathmandu Airport by a KE representative and taken to your hotel. If you are arriving earlier or departing later we can provide private transfers at an additional cost. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Meal Plan All meals are included in the holiday price from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 16. Food & Water During this holiday we will have a wide variety of eating experiences, ranging from sophisticated international cuisine when in Kathmandu, to excellent Tibetan dishes in Lhasa and more basic, but still wholesome, Tibetan and Chinese meals on the road. Accommodation During this holiday the group will spend 5 nights in Kathmandu at the centrally-located Hotel Shanker or similar. There will also be a single night at a tourist-class hotel at Nagarkot on the Kathmandu Valley rim. In Tibet, we will use a reasonable standard of hotel accommodation in the larger towns, whilst in one or two of the places we stay we will be obliged to use guesthouses or simple hotels which are unavoidably basic. All accommodation is allocated on a twin sharing basis. The rooms at Samye Monastery do not have en-suite facilities. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Depending on availability, single room occupancy can be pre-booked at supplementary cost. Extra hotel nights in Kathmandu can also be pre-booked.
PAGE 10 Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be led throughout by an experienced English-speaking Nepalese tour guide. When in Tibet there will also be a local guide, as well as one or more drivers appointed by our Tibetan agent. Altitude This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you should consult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies. Spending Money Approximately 250 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc.) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including local staff tips. It is not necessary to obtain local currency prior to departure. Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are equally acceptable for exchange in Kathmandu and in Lhasa. However, outside of these cities, cash US dollars are more easily exchanged and in emergencies small US dollar bills can sometimes be used to make purchases. We recommend that you change approximately 100 into Nepal rupees on arrival in Kathmandu and 100 into Chinese renmibi in Lhasa. If you prefer not to carry all of your spending money in cash, it is possible to withdraw money from ATM's in Kathmandu (Nepalese rupees only). Guidance On Tipping Tipping is the accepted way of saying thank you for good service. Tips do not form part of the wages of your local staff but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. Normally the bulk of the tips are given at the end of the trip and this is best done as a group. Most groups will give the tips with a bit of ceremony (or sometimes a party) on the last evening, to mark the end of the trip. On this holiday you may have two or more tipping ceremonies, as you use the services of local staff from two different countries. The level of tipping is entirely up to you but we realise that some guidance is needed and we suggest that each group member contributes a total of 75-100 (in equivalent local currency) to a tipping pool. Depending on the make up of your support crew you will need approximately one third of this in Nepalese rupees. Free KE Gift We would like to give you a free gift as a way to say thank you when you book your holiday. Choose from exclusive KE branded t-shirts, caps, neckwarmers, trek bags* and more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your MyKE account after booking. You will need to select your free gift at least 6 weeks before you depart and all items will be posted out at 5 weeks prior to departure. For all late bookings, we will endeavour to send your FREE gift to you before you travel, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Please visit our Free KE Gifts page for more details of all our KE Branded goodies on offer. Baggage Allowance
PAGE 11 The baggage allowance on the flight to Lhasa is 20kg. It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Tibet (China) From Nepal It is important that you do not make your own arrangements for a Chinese visa. The group must enter Tibet on a group visa and we will make these arrangements and add the cost to your final invoice. Currently (Oct 2018) the visa fee is $115 for most nationalities including UK citizens and $215 for US citizens. In order for our agents to process the group visa (which now takes 3 days) we require the following information: Your: Name; marital status; current occupation; employers name, address and phone number. Your emergency contact with the following details: Their name; nationality; occupation; relationship to you and telephone number. A copy of the information page(s) of your passport and a recently taken passport sized photo (colour scans of these documents will suffice). You should send all the above information to us as soon as possible and no later than 6 weeks prior to departure. Visa Nepal All nationalities require a visa and this can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu Airport.The visa process is automated and this includes having your photograph taken. The visa fee is $25 for 15 days, $40 for 30 days, $100 for 90 days. The visa is FREE for children under 10 years. The visa allows multiple re-entry. Payment must be made in cash and USD, GBP or Euros are accepted. Whilst these are not now needed for the visa process, we recommend that you travel with at least 2 spare passport photographs.
PAGE 12 Transit Via India If you are travelling via India (Delhi or Calcutta) to your destination you may also require a visa for India. This may apply even if you are not leaving the airport unless your baggage has been checked all the way through to your destination. Generally, if you use the same carrier for both legs of your journey, you will not need an India Visa. Please download the detailed information document: Visa PDF India. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Currency The unit of currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee. Politically part of China, the unit of currency in Tibet is the Chinese Yuan Renminbi. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on an active holiday getting some additional exercise. This is principally a touring holiday and there is no element of trekking but there are opportunities for exploration on foot around the places we visit and the fitter you are the more enjoyable your holiday will be. We suggest you adopt a regime which includes regular walking, cycling or similar. Climate At the time of each of our Everest from Tibet departures, we will encounter daytime maximum temperatures of between 25 C and 30 C in and around Kathmandu and temeratures of between 5 C and 20 C in Lhasa. At night on the Tibetan Plateau the temperatures will fall to close to freezing point (and at our highest point in the Rongbuk Valley possibly as low as minus 10 C). Tibet is sheltered by the Greater Himalaya from the full effects of the monsoon and receives very little precipitation at any time of the year. The weather in Tibet should be excellent at the time of any of our departures The with blue skies and brilliantly clear visibility the norm. However, weather in mountainous areas is notoriously difficult to predict, and short-lived storms can occur at any time of the year. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single,
PAGE 13 authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Single Use Plastic KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use. We have pledged to AITO s Project Protect that 70% of our agents stop using single use plastic bottles. Books Tibet. Bradt Guide Tibet. Lonely Planet Handbook. Victor Chan The Tibet Guide. Stephen Batchelor Abode of Snow. Kenneth Mason Seven Years in Tibet. Heinrich Harrer Maps Tibet - Reise Know-How. 1:500,000. Available www.stanfords.co.uk Lhasa to Kathmandu - Himalayan Maphouse. 1: 700,000. Available Kathmandu Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London to Kathmandu. Outbound flights will usually depart from the UK in the evening, arriving mid-afternoon on the following day (Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights will depart Kathmandu usually in the morning of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later the same day. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request. To avoid paying more for your flight, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak
PAGE 14 times as there are only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. We are also able to quote for premium, business and first class seats. Please be aware that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Remember if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary, joining in Kathmandu. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Kathmandu Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to Joining Arrangements & Transfers in the Holiday Information for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure status is shown as either Guaranteed or Limited Availability. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. Group Tour Leaders All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. Sustainable Tourism Since we ran our first trip in 1984, we have been committed keeping the world's most beautiful places pristine by minimising our environmental impact. Recognising the fragility of the world's wilderness environments, we keep our groups small and operate according to a Mountain Code, which is provided to all groups, trek leaders, agents and staff. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment of the places we visit and take every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. Our philosophy of 'leaving nothing but footprints' has been integral to KE's approach right from the start over 30 years ago. In recognition of our efforts we are proud to have achieved the highest award of 5 Stars for Sustainable Tourism by AITO.
PAGE 15 We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KE's Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Booking Your Holiday The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
PAGE 16 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your luggage to a minimum as this makes for the most comfortable travel experience. You Must Bring The Following Items: Comfortable walking boots or shoes Sandals / Training shoes Lightweight trousers Warm baselayer tops, long and short-sleeved Casual shirts and T-shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper *Warm (down) jacket Waterproof jacket Sunhat Warm hat Gloves Sunglasses Small daypack Headtorch and spare batteries (there can be power cuts) Sun protection (including bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottle Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial handwash Sheet sleeping bag Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multivitamin tablets. The Following Items Are Optional: Swimwear (for hotel pools) Travel clothes Camera Local Customs And Etiquette During the course of this holiday we will visit several sites that are considered sacred to people of Buddhist and Hindu faiths. Please be respectful of local norms and customs in these places and pay attention to the advice given by your trip leader on how to dress and act. The Nepalese and Tibetan people are amongst the most polite in the world and are unlikely to let us know if anything we do offends but this does not mean they are not offended. We recommend that you always have a long sleeved shirt and trousers or full length skirt handy to put on when appropriate. In some places it will be necessary to remove your shoes or sandals and you should also consider bringing a pair of socks that can be quickly slipped on and off.
PAGE 17 Notes *FREE down jacket hire is included in your KE holiday booking upon request. Please make all requests at least 6 weeks prior to the trip departure date. Note all hire / rental equipment is issues in Nepal. Please remember to allow room in your luggage for these items. Please note: This document was downloaded on 26 Oct 2018, and the trip is subject to change.