Take an amazing overland journey across the roof of the world. From the frenzied streets of Beijing travel the high-altitude railway to charming Lhasa and overland to Kathmandu via the great monastic centers of Central Tibet and Everest Base Camp. Take part in temple rituals and haggle for a bargain in the markets. Tibet Adventure Classic 2009 GPA 6 14 Min 4, Max 14 Asia China, Nepal, Tibet Beijing Kathmandu China Nepal Culture/History, Wildlife/Nature 15 4 Standard http://www.gapadventures.com/images/banners/tibet/tibet_prayerwheels.jpg Arrive in Beijing at any time. The vast expanses of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall of China beckon. Beijing is a city of incredible sights, shopping, food and entertainment – as an introduction to China it cannot be surpassed. Traverse the Tibetan Plateau on the famous high-altitude Beijing-Qinghai-Tibet railway and enjoy the amazing scenery. Explore the Jokhang, Barkhor, Potala, the Sera Monastary and other important Tibetan Buddhist sites in this historic city situated at over 3700m above sea level. Built at the centre of the trade routes from Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, Gyantse is overlooked by an impressive fort. Its monastery is one of the finest in central Tibet. Shigatse is Tibet’s second most important city with one of its most richly spectacular and extensive monastic complexes. Once the political center of Tibet, the walls of Sakya's great fortified monastery are painted the dark grey typical to buildings in the area. Explore the monastery and the ruins of north Sakya across the river. The view of Qomolangma from the world's highest monastery is incredible and from Everest Base Camp at 5200m, even more stunning. Get a bird’s eye view of the Himalayas. Cross one of the most spectacular mountain passes, topped with prayer flags and wind-driven prayer wheels. You will truly feel like you are on top of the world. The historic cities of the Kathmandu Valley reveal a vibrant world of colour and life. The markets, bazaars and narrow streets are home to holy men, sacred cows, bicycles, street sellers. As group members will arrive at different times there are no arranged activities on Day 1 until our group meeting in the early evening followed by dinner. Please see the notice board in the hotel foyer for details of this meeting.

Travel to the north of the city to visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu. An incredible piece of engineering stretching 6000km westwards along the mountain ridges north of Beijing, it was originally constructed to protect the Chinese empires from the Mongolian 'barbarians' of the north.

Spend the morning of day 3 exploring the vast expanses of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City while still leaving free time to shop in the various markets scattered throughout the city, take a tour of the ancient alleyways (hutongs) in Beijing's Old city or visit the Tibetan Monastery.

Transfer to the station for our train to Lhasa in the evening. (This train journey is approx. 48 hours)
The train trip is a long yet rewarding journey through the heart of northern China then south across the Tibetan Plateau.

Comfortable sleeper compartments contain 6 berths, all bedding provided, and the dining car serves a variety of meals and drinks. Boiling water for tea and coffee is available. Due to popular demand we try to get the best sleeping berths in the cabin but during the summer season we can not guarantee which beds will be available. But this is a once in lifetime train journey so the experience is worth it. Arrive in Lhasa in the evening of Day 5 and transfer to the hotel. This historic city is situated in a small valley, 3700m above sea level. Lhasa rose to take an important role in the administration of the country over 1300 years ago. At this time, the grand temples of Ramoche and Jokhang were built to house the Buddha images and religious artifacts brought into Tibet as dowries from China and Nepal.

Although little of the 7th-Century Lhasa survives, the 1600s saw a second stage of renovation and development, which included the building of the Potala Palace. Perched on Red Hill overlooking the town, this massive structure dominates the landscape with grace and dignity - a true architectural wonder. The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet and also the most active. Prostrating pilgrims circle the temple endlessly, day and night, some of them traversing the extremes of the Tibetan landscape by foot to celebrate and express their faith. Nearby are the huge monastic universities of Drepung and Sera are still active institutions.

Begin with a tour of the Jokhang and make a kora (circumambulation) of the Barkhor, the holiest devotional circuit, which surrounds the Jokhang and houses a market bazaar where people bargain for Buddha images, yak skulls with ruby eyes, woodcarvings, carpets, prayer wheels and the odd goat's head.

Visit the Potala Palace and Sera Monastery leaving plenty of time for your own explorations of this wonderful city.
The drive to Gyantse is a spectacular one, crossing three passes over 5000 meters and skirting the shores of the beautiful turquoise lake, Yamdrok Tso. Once of major importance as a wool trading centre on the routes between India, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and China, Gyantse retain the feel of old Tibet. The imposing hill fortress, Gyantse Dzong, dominates views of the town and is a great place for sunset views over the town.

Visit Pelkor Chode Monastery, founded in 1418, and the unique Gyantse Kumbum (meaning 100,000 images) which forms a 3-dimensional mandala containing a seemingly endless series of tiny chapels full of Buddhist images – Buddhas, demons, protectors and saints.
Take a short drive to Shigatse (approx 2 hours), Tibet's second-largest town, and the seat of the Panchen Lama who ranks second in importance to the Dalai Lama.

The huge complex of Tashilhunpo is visited daily by hundreds of devotees, armed with yak butter to feed the lamps, who prostrate themselves around the stupas or walk up to the chapel that houses the 26m-high, gold-plated statue of the future Buddha. Tour the monastery in the morning of Day 11.

Shigatse bazaar also buzzes with life. Stalls, selling everything from slabs of yak butter to yak wool, prayer wheels and rosaries, line the streets and Tibetans vie with each other to win a sale. Be tempted by the antiques, jewelry and fur hats with elaborate gold brocade designs or perhaps visit the carpet factory where hand-woven carpets are made to traditional designs. Then perhaps join the pilgrims on their evening kora (circumambulation) around the perimeter of the monastery
It is a 4-5 hour trip to Sakya, the base of the once politically powerful Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its huge fortified walls are testament to the turbulent past of the region. There is time in the late afternoon or early morning to explore the monastery and the ruins of north Sakya across the river Take an exhilarating drive to Rombuk - 5000m and a mere 7km below Everest Base Camp. The view from here is utterly spectacular!

Rombuk is certainly the highest monastery in the world and its guesthouse offers very basic accommodation, but the views that surround us more than compensate - lie in bed and watch the moonlight illuminate the mountain. The monastery here was first built in 1902 by the Nyingma Lama and originally housed more than 500 monks. Today, only about 50 monks and nuns remain, sharing the same prayer hall but with separate residences. The nuns here are great fun and will be delighted to have you join their evening prayers.
The energetic can make the 7km hike to Base Camp for a closer view of this magnificent mountain, for the rest – pony carts are the go.
The road down to the highway (approx 4 hours) is a rough one – but spectacular views adequately compensate – both Qomolangma (Mt Everest) and Cho Oyo are visible for much of the way. Another 3 hours to Nyalam crosses one of the most spectacular of passes – topped with prayer flags and wind-driven prayer wheels you truly feel on top of the world.

The Guest house in Nyalam is comfortable and Tibetan in style and there are public showers available.
Begin the day with a dramatic descent to Zhangmu, clinging precariously to the cliff face 10km above the bridge across the river which marks the physical China-Nepal border. The small town has become the major trading post between the two countries and is always packed with trucks transshipping their goods.

After completing Chinese immigration, drive down to the bridge where we say goodbye to our Tibetan guide and drivers. Completing Nepal immigration it is only 132kms to Kathmandu, but it can be a slow trip – the first section of the road is narrow and winding as it continues down the ravine and occasionally blocked by landslides. Arrive, hopefully, in Kathmandu in the early afternoon with time for shopping and sightseeing before a final dinner together.

You may depart at any time on Day 15.
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0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Local Payment 250 USD 2199 2119 1319 1079 2839 1999 1489 2249 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Local Payment 250 USD 2199 2119 1319 1079 2839 1999 1489 2249 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Local Payment 250 USD 2199 2119 1319 1079 2839 1999 1489 2249 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Local Payment 250 USD Accommodation Hotels/guesthouses (12 nts), Sleeper train (2 nts). Brief Highlights Beijing, Great Wall, Trans-Tibetan Railway, Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Sakya, Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu Departure Departs Sundays, March to October DepEnd Sun-Sun Group Leader Tour Leader, local guides. Group Size Min 4, Max 14 Included Highlights Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City guided tour, Entrance to Great Wall, Entrance to the Potala Palace, Entrance to the Jokhang Temple, Entrance to Pelkor Chode & Gyantse Kunbum, Entrance to Tashilhunpo Monastery, Entrance to Sakya Monastery, Entrance to Everest National Park, Trans-Tibetan Railway,
Max Pax 14 Meal Budget Allow USD225 for meals not included. For additional expenses, see trip details. Meals Included No meals are included. Min Pax 6 Recommendation Want to also explore Nepal? Why not add Nepal Independent Highlights to the end of this tour? Check out trip code TANNHC StartFinish Beijing to Kathmandu Testimonial "This was a great tour, lots of fun sites and activities! Would really recommend it. Tibet is beautiful." - Pamela Bentley travelled on Tibet Adventure Transport Train, aircon bus, 4WD vehicle A Couple of Rules Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for G.A.P Adventures Adventure travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes.
Arrival Complications We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, as soon as possible please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader (if you are not on a group tour please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier). If you are unable to get in touch with your leader, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Associated Planeterra Project Planeterra supports Seva Canada Society's work in Tibet:

Seva Canada Society is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the elimination of preventable and treatable blindness. Seva has worked in Nepal and India for 25 years and more recently in Tibet and Tanzania. Today, nearly 40 million people are blind, with ninety percent of the world's blind living in developing countries. Another 135 million have debilitating low vision. Most of this blindness can, however, be prevented or cured. Half of the world's blindness is caused by cataracts that can be reversed with a 15-minute operation, costing $20 - $50 in most developing countries.

Seva in Tibet
Tibet has one of the highest rates of blindness in the world, caused mostly by cataract. Many people affected by blindness live in remote areas far away from eye care services. They are often unaware of available treatments, or simply unable to reach a hospital because of poverty and lack of transportation.

Seva supports 20 microsurgical eye camps in the Yushu region of Tibet every year. In Tibet, because the population is scattered and the distances are great, surgical eye camps are the most efficient way to treat the high rate of cataract. Every year, 3500 sight restoring surgeries are conducted in Seva-sponsored eye camps, but this volume needs to be tripled to eliminate preventable blindness in Tibet. Nepali and local Tibetan surgeons, paramedical eye workers and Seva Tibet staff organize, manage and conduct the eye camps which are held from July through November each year. Local Tibetans in Yushu call the eye surgeons the "eye openers".

How you can help
Through fundraising events and donations to Planeterra our goal is to support eye camps throughout Tibet. The total cost of an eye camp (1 - 2 weeks long) is approximately $8000 US and each camp performs 150-200 sight restoring surgeries, as well as the screening of thousands of patients for refractive error and other conditions. Beneficiaries of the sight restoring surgery may range from very young children with congenital cataracts to the very elderly with age-related cataracts.

For more information about these projects and/or to make a donation please visit our website at www.planeterra.org or contact us at info@planeterra.org
Brochure Intro Take an amazing overland journey across the roof of the world. From the frenzied streets of Beijing, ride the high-altitude railway to charming Lhasa and overland to Kathmandu via the great monastic centres of Central Tibet and Everest Base Camp. Take part in temple rituals and haggle for a bargain in the Shigatse Bazaar during your travels. Checklist Passport (with photocopies)
Photos for Nepal Visa at border
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets (with photocopies)
USD cash and travellers cheques
Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
G.A.P Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and dossier
Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Day pack for daily personal items
Wet wipes / Moist towelettes
Hand sanitizing lotion
Alarm clock
Flashlight
Sun hat, Sun block, Sunglasses
Moisturizer, Lip balm
Insect Repellent
Water bottle, Plastic mug, Cutlery
Tampons
Sleep sheet
Ear plugs for light sleepers
Small towel and swim wear (optional)
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals
Money belt
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Long trousers
Hiking pants/track pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Warm clothes for Nov-April. Fleece, Jacket, hat and gloves
Umbrella or waterproof jacket.
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Camera and film
Reading/writing material, cassettes or other entertainment for long travel days.
Binoculars
Pocketknife
First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Presents from home like photos, toothbrushes, stickers, postcards, children’s books, souvenir pins.
Protein bars, chocolate, dried fruits, candies and snack foods.
Departure Tax For China departure Tax is included in all International and Domestic tickets. For Nepal the International Departure tax is 1695 Nepalese Rupees or 1300NPR if travelling to SAARC Countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) Dossier Disclaimer The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and G.A.P Adventures. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Dossier Intro Take an amazing overland journey across the roof of the world. From the frenzied streets of Beijing, ride the high-altitude railway to charming Lhasa and overland to Kathmandu via the great monastic centres of Central Tibet and Everest Base Camp. Take part in temple rituals and haggle for a bargain in the Shigatse Bazaar during your travels. Emergency Contact Should you need to contact G.A.P Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our local office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

G.A.P Adventures Local Office – Beijing, China
Beijing Office Tel: +86-10-8779-6501

China Manager Emergency Mobile: +86-1343 958 8732 - Blair (China)

Asia Operations Manager Mobile: +66-879 118 802 - Gabe (Thailand)

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, we have a toll-free line for North America, which will connect you directly with our Toronto office. In the event that you cannot get through, you can reach a member of our Operations department at the mobile number below.

Toll-free, North America only: 1 800 465 5600.
Calls from the UK: 0870 999 0144.
Outside North America and the UK: +1 416 260 0999.
Mobile: + 1 647 504 6467 – Andrew
Emergency Fund Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster) necessitate a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Feedback After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that you'll receive a special discount code for free online prints and we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G.A.P Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Please visit http://www.gapadventures.com/evaluations
Finishing Point Hotel Kathmandu - Fuji Hotel
G.P.O. Box 6209, Jyatha, Thamel
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-1-4250435, 4250436
Fax: +977-1-4229234

Free Online Trip Journals An online Trip Journal is a great way to record stories and photos as you travel, not to mention sharing your experiences with friends. Encourage your family and friends to follow in your footsteps as you explore the world! With templates for over 300 G.A.P Adventures trips already online all you have to do to get started is log in, choose your trip and your departure date, it's quick and easy! Head to http://www.gapadventures.com/trip_journal. Group Leader Description All G.A.P Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds. Health You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In Asia pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. For travellers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is required. G.A.P Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group. Itinerary Disclaimer While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit travel with G.A.P Adventures can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances. Joining Hotel Dong Jiao Min Xiang Hotel - 东交民巷饭店
23A Dong Jiao Min Xiang,
Dong Cheng District,
北京市正义路东交民巷甲23号
Beijing China
Phone: +86-10 6524-3311 Joining Instructions When arriving at Beijing Intl Airport you have a choice of metered taxi or airprt bus. Please follow the signs for taxis or bus which is clearly marked once you exit from the baggage hall. DO NOT GO WITH ANYONE WHO APPROACHES YOU WHO SAYS THEY HAVE A METERED TAXI IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF!!!! The taxis are all lined up out from of the airport and have traffic guards directing people into a waiting taxi. The ride from the airport to our starting hotel will take between 35-45 minutes depending on traffic and should cost approx. 95-120 Yuan (plus 10 yuan for the airport tollway). There are about 6 different airport buses that drop you off at different places around the city. The staff at the airport bus counter can tell you which bus will be closes to your hotel. The cost is 16 yuan. If you have paid for an arrival transfer when you booked your trip our driver will be waiting for you with a G.A.P Adventures Sign with your name on it. Please check carefully once you exit the baggage hall as there seem to be hundreds of people waiting outside in the arrival area. Keeping in Touch If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travellers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our Emergency Contact. We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change, and our hotel receptions often don't have English speaking staff.
Laundry Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap. Local Dress In Asia the dress standard is more conservative than it is back home. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of Asian summers. In predominately Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim countries we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy sites. In Pakistan we recommend a head scarf for women while walking around. Local Flights All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure. Local payment description Most of our adventure tours involve a local payment. This is the final payment of your tour price, paid locally. Paying locally facilitates the flow of funds into countries that we travel through and also helps to reduce the overall price of the tour. This helps G.A.P Adventures keep our prices competitive and in-turn, pass our cost savings onto you. Payment is to be made to your leader or G.A.P Adventures representative upon arrival in cash in the requested currency. Please see our website, brochure or your trip documents and invoice for Local Payment.
Meals Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G.A.P Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Included breakfasts will usually be asian style consisting of noodles or congee (rice porridge) or bread and eggs. Vegetarians will be able to find a range of different foods, although in some areas the choice maybe limited. While trekking in remote regions food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets. Medical Form Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility' is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Please refer to the physical ratings in this Trip Details document for more information.
Please note that all passengers traveling to Antarctica are required to fill out this questionnaire.

The medical questionnaire can be found online at:

www.gapadventures.com/online_medical_form.
Money Exchange As currency exchange rates in Asia fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com As of Jul 2008 the exchange rate for NEPAL was 1 USD = 68 NPR (Nepalese Rupees) and CHINA was 1 USD = 6.8 CNY (Chinese Yuan).
There are some ATM machines that accept Visa but these are limited to major cities (Beijing, Lhasa, Kathmandu)and should not be relied on as a source of funds. We recommend the use of cash and travellers cheques in major currencies (USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, AUD, HKD). Major credit cards are accepted in a few shops but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. Newsletter Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G.A.P Adventures, subscribe at www.gapadventures.com/newsletter_signup
Optional Activities Day trip to Ganden Monastery CNY500-900 per group + CNY40 p/p entry
Tibetan Cultural Show, Lhasa CNY40p/p
Gyantse Dzong CNY35p/p
Our Commitment to Responsible Travel in Antarctica Planeterra-The G.A.P Adventures Foundation Through G.A.P Adventures’ commitment to responsible tourism we have developed Planeterra – the G.A.P Adventures Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities around the world through support of international charities, local organizations and community projects in the places that we visit on our tours. G.A.P Adventures matches all individual donations and pays all administration fees, which means that 100% of each donation is doubled and goes directly to support our projects. For more information about Planeterra and the projects we support, or to make a donation, please visit www.planeterra.org

Planeterra Dollar-A-Day Program
Our Dollar-A-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to help us give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar per day for the duration of their tour. 100% of these proceeds will go directly to support our Planeterra projects.

To participate in this program please indicate at the time of booking that you would like to participate in G.A.P Adventures’ Dollar-A-Day program, either by clicking the check box online, or by advising your GA.P Adventures specialist or travel agent. (Note: Donation will be charged in the currency of your booking) Responsible Travel Being a responsible tour operator is at the heart of what G.A.P Adventures is all about. From the start, G.A.P Adventures has been committed to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveller and host alike. While our sustainable tourism policies are constantly evolving, our commitment to socially conscious, grassroots style travel has never changed. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.

For more information about our commitment to responsible travel, please visit the Sustainable Tourism section of the G.A.P Adventures website: www.gapadventures.com
Safety and Security Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

Single Travellers We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Spending Money Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Tipping It is customary in Asia to tip service providers such as drivers and guides. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. You may do this individually, or your Tour Leader will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from 5-10USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your tour leader for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G.A.P Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $10-15 USD per person, per week can be used. Travel Forum - The Watering Hole Be sure to stop by The Watering Hole, our adventure travel forum. If you're interested in meeting others booked on your upcoming trip, check out the Departure Lounge section of our forum and introduce yourself. Otherwise, just drop in at anytime to share some travel tips, ask questions, meet other travellers and quench your thirst for travel. Our forum is located at wateringhole.gapadventures.com. Travel Insurance Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Trip Specific Safety We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Validity Valid for all trips departing January 1, 2009 - December 31st 2009. Visas Please note that visas for China and Nepal are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. For the most up to date information please check your governments foreign ministry website or with you travel agent as rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself. For most travellers there will probably have an embassy and consulate in the country that you live in.

CHINA: As Tibet is still a sensitive area for travel we suggest you refrain from listing Tibet as one of the places you are going to visit as your application for a visa will be denied. We suggest you list the areas of Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai when filling in your application. For entry to Tibet G.A.P Adventures will arrange for a Tibet Permit for the group as a whole.

NEPAL: For most nationalities visas are available at the Kodari border - USD25 in USD cash plus 1 passport photo. We Want Your Photos If you've got some great photos form your G.A.P Adventures travels, then post them online in our community! You can share photos - and videos - with our travellers from around the world. Simply go online to www.gapadventures.com/community to check out what other people have shared! We often have photo and video contests running too, so be sure to check our website often!
What to Take What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 mintues with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg/22-30lb. Suitcases are not recommended for G.A.P Adventures trips! Most travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones. If your trip involves overnights in homestays, villages or camping then you usually have the opportunity to rent sleeping bags if need be instead of bringing them with you. Your Fellow Travellers As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and are likely to be of a variety of ages too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.