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| PRIVATELY GUIDED' TOUR |
| Featuring Darjeeling, Gangtok (Sikkim) and Kalimpong |
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INDIA - Darjeeling & Sikkim
Practical Information
Sikkim was a monarchy and an Indian protectorate till it emerged as the 22nd Indian State in 1975. A large number of mountains having altitudes of about 22000ft stands here with - Kanchenjunga (28,200ft), the third highest peak in the world. Wrapped in mists and clouds, Sikkim, a garden state has an incredible variety of rhododendrons & a host of other flowers. You visit Sikkim to see the people...Lepchas, Bhutis, Nepalis...gracious, friendly and fun loving. There are monasteries- around 200, which are oases of serenity and repositories of centuries-old wisdom and scriptures, and then there are the mountains, glaciers and passes with mighty Kanchenjunga towering over. There are the flora and fauna including 4,000 species of plants, 600 varieties of orchids, 30 species of Sun rhododendrons, 500 species of birds, 600 species of butterflies in addition to musk deer, yak and the Red Panda
PASSPORT & VISAS
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required. Visas are required for India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. |
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Assistance is provided in obtaining necessary visas for tours anywhere in the world. You will require a multiple entry visa for India before arrival in India. Over the years we have found Zierer Visa Service to be very reliable and efficient. They arrange visas on behalf of most big tour operators in the country. Immediately after sign-up, a visa kit with requisite forms from Zierer Visa Service for the India visa will be sent to you. Visa fee is not included in your tour price and the payment should be mailed with the completed application to the visa service.
For more information or to download a Zierer Visa application please visit www.zvs.com. To speak directly with ZVS Customer Service, call toll-free (866)788 1100, Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm EST, Saturday 10am-2pm ET. Should you decide to get your own visas, you can apply through the Indian Consulate closest to you. With effect from October 1, 2007, visa processing and delivery process has been outsourced by the Indian Consulate to
Travisa Outsourcing.
You will have to complete an online form:
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/requirements/gather?apply=bymail to get a unique barcode on your application. (Please follow the step by step process on their website) and send them the completed, printed application with your passports, photos and visa fee, etc. via a track able method such as FedEx, UPS or registered mail.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
India, Bhutan or Nepal governments do not require any inoculations, except proof of a yellow fever shot if you have traveled in a yellow fever effected area within the past six months. As a minimum, most tourists take protection against Hepatitis A and get booster shots. CDC and your local health department maintain a list of recommended shots for travel to your destination. Your personal physician may recommend some shots for your special needs. For more information you may contact your local health department or the CDC at
(800) 232 4636 or visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/regions/south-asia.aspx.
Precautions
Minor stomach ailments are the most common affliction of visitors to India. To minimize the chances of your getting sick, we strongly recommend that you drink only bottled water during your travel through India. Bottled drinking water is available for purchase throughout. In restaurants, insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Avoid having ice in drinks unless you know it has been made with bottled water. It may be advisable to brush your teeth with bottled water. It is also a good idea to always wash your hands before and after eating. Try and avoid unpeeled fruits or raw salads or make sure fresh fruit or vegetables have been washed in bottled water. Your tour might be traveling through remote areas where medical facilities may not be in easy reach. Our local staff are available to assist you in anyway possible.
CLIMATE
The best time to visit Darjeeling & Sikkim is from February/June & September/November.
CLOTHING
No formal clothes are required on your tour and casual to smart casual would be a good general guideline to follow. On tours, shorts are also okay. Bring your protection against sun, (i.e., sun screen, sun glasses, hat, etc.). Cotton clothes are sufficient from May until September but warm clothes are necessary from October to the end of April. However, visitors are advised to carry clothes consisting of layers (preferably a woolen sweater and jacket) throughout the season, as weather may change at anytime. Although we do not expect rain during the suggested months of travel but in the mountains quick showers can develop anytime. Please carry a light rain coat or an umbrella and a wind jacket. Remember comfortable walking shoes and a few pairs of dark "temple sox" that can be discarded after the tour.
Recommended items to pack include: good walking shoes, protection against sun, (i.e., sun screen, sun glasses, hats, umbrellas, lip balm etc.), a woolen sweater and jacket, rain gear, extra pair of sox (temple sox), mosquito repellent (Deet or such), diarrhea/altitude sickness/de-hydration medication, soap leaves, wet wipes (single use type packets), hand sanitizer, binoculars, flashlight, alarm clock or a travelers watch, ear plugs, calculator, camera with extra memory sticks/film and batteries.
FOOD & DINING
Our tours to Himalayas are full board with most meals included as there is not enough choices of good & safe city restaurants... its best to eat at the hotels. A good combination of traditional local fare and continental favorites is available in most hotels. Buffet breakfast is included daily with juice, fruit, breads, eggs and local items. Lunches and dinners are mostly buffets or a choice of four-course western or traditional style meals. It's recommended to drink only bottled water which is readily available throughout.
BAGGAGE
Baggage handling of only one piece of checked luggage per person is included on all tours. Within India the domestic airlines allow each passenger only one checked bag not to exceed 50 pounds. Please check with us regarding restrictions on baggage to your destinations.
ELECTRIC CURRENT IN INDIA
The voltage in India is 220 volts AC 50 cycles. Wall plugs are the round, two-pronged European type. It is best to carry a travel adapter to fit your particular appliance. Most hotels will provide hair dryers.
TIME ZONE IN INDIA
India has only one time zone; the entire country is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), and 9.5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. During daylight savings time, the time difference is 10.5 hours. For current time in India visit: www.worldtimeserver.com
CURRENCY
Your hotels, sightseeing tours, mentioned meals and on some escorted tours gratuities are prepaid. However, customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to your tour escort is not included. It is easy to change money at your hotel cashier's desk. There is no major advantage in changing money at a bank. It is better to take money by traveler's checks. You may want to take some cash in twenties, tens, fives and ones for small purchases. You should try not to change too much money as it is often difficult to reconvert local money back to US dollars. When you change your money you get receipts (called "encashment certificates") should be retained, as these will enable you to reconvert the balance into dollars, at the time of departure from the country, if the last receipt is no more than 30 days old. All major establishments, hotels, restaurants and shops accept major credit cards. ATMs are very few in major cities only, so please do not plan on using them.
CANCELLATION:
Our cancellation policy is as follows; If canceled in writing;
90 days or more before departure.Minimum penalty $350.00
89 - 60 days before departure.Minimum penalty 50%
59 - 45 days before departure.Minimum penalty 75%
44 days prior till date of departure.100% of the tour price
NO shows . no refunds and no refunds after the tour begin.
All penalties above are per person.
Terms & Conditions |
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