FAQ: Trip Booking
1.Who are you?
2.What kind of tours do you offer?
3.How big are your tour groups?
4.Can I join a group?
5.Can I travel independently in Tibet?
6.What are the steps of booking a private tour?
7.Cost and pricing?
8.What do your trekking trip grade mean?
9.What methods of payment do you accept?
10.What is your cancellation policy?
Our Answers:
1. Who are
you?
Access Tibet is based in the United States and partners with Tibet Manasarovar
International Travel Service Co. Ltd. to provide premium private tours throughout Tibet. Our travel advisors are well-versed in Tibetan culture and Tibetan tourism knowledge,
have traveled extensively in Tibet and of course, are fluent in English. Our local operator are Tibetans based in Lhasa. They know
Tibet inside and out. We bridge the geographic, language and cultural differences
between Tibet and the rest of the world to introduce all the great wonders of
Tibet to you.
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2. What kind
of tours do you offer?
We offer
private Tibet culture tours and trekking tours. Private tours means each group
of 2-4 people have their tailor-made itinerary, a private vehicle, a driver and
a guide. The sample tour itineraries featured on our website are just a sneak
peek of what we offer. We can combine or cut short itineraries to fit your
needs. Furthermore, you can map out where you want to go and email us and we
will design a tour for you! Some areas of Tibet are not normally open for
trekking but if you let us know well ahead of time, we can apply for permit from
relevant organizations and open it just for you! We can also combine tours in
Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Kunming and other major mainland China cities and
Kathmandu.
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3. How big
are your tour groups?
A private tour normally consists of 2-4 people. Traveling to more remote areas
in Tibet such as Mount Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
requires 4WD SUVs which sit up to 5 people. Therefore a group of 2-3 with a
driver and a tour guide will be most comfortable. When the driver is also the
tour guide, a Landcruiser can accommodate a group of 4. But that doesn’t mean we
cannot take a group of more than 4. Other types of vehicles are also available
such as minivans and vans. Or if you prefer, a caravan of Landcruisers can be at
your service.
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4. Can I
join a group?
Right now we
only operate private tours in Tibet. If you are a single traveler looking for
travel partners, the best bet is to post a message on online travel forums and
find your partners before you join Access Tibet. However, if you let us know
well ahead of time and are flexible as far as travel date and destination, we
will try our best to team you up with other singles.
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5. Can I
travel independently in Tibet?
Independent
travel is currently not allowed for foreigners. Only groups fully booked with
licensed tour agencies are allowed. However, because of private tours, your
travel will be as independent as it can be, even better. There’s no bus to
catch, no schedule to meet. And you travel at your own leisure without having to
worry about the map, the driving, the road condition, things that independent
travelers have to deal with.
Outside Lhasa, a guide is required for foreign travelers. In Lhasa, you may choose to explore on your own.
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6. What are
the steps of booking a private tour?
1) Browse our
website (www.accesstibet.com)
for sample tours. Again this is not an exhaustive list.
2) Do some
research; find out what interest you the most; make a list of wishes.
3) Email us
your temporary itinerary, your travel date, length of travel time, number of
travelers, your transportation preference, hotel preference, occupation (we only
need this information because we have to determine whether we can serve you due
to Tibet Travel Permit regulation, for details please see Visa and Permit), your
rough wishes and concerns, etc. The more details you provide us up front, the
quicker we can design a tour for you.
4) We design
the tour for you with as much details listed in the itinerary as possible and
email it to you. While we work on the quote, we can email back and forth to
finalize it.
5) You accept
the proposed itinerary.
6) We respond
you with a quote, deposit amount and payment method.
7) You accept
quote; pay the deposit and email us necessary documents for permits; we
acknowledge the receipt and start applying for permits and planning your trip.
8) We mail you
the permits to your confirmed address or couriered to your hotel before entering
Tibet.
9) You embark
on your journey!
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7. Cost and
pricing.
Pricing is
general not shown in this website except for very specific trips. This is
because prices vary according to the exact itinerary, travel date, level of
services you request and group size. PLEASE EMAIL US FOR A QUOTE.
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8. What do
your trekking trip grade mean?
Tibet cultural
tours are all moderate unless specified otherwise, meaning anyone with a
reasonable level of fitness can join. Tibet trekking tours will be marked with
one of the following grades: moderate, adventurous, challenging and advanced.
Trip difficulty ratings indicate the effort and challenge level based on the
length of time walking each day, the difficulty of terrain covered and the
altitude reached.
•MODERATE: All
cultural tours and many trekking tours fall into this category. Your tour will
not involve strenuous physical activity. Short walks and stairs will be involved
but these tours are suitable for anyone in reasonable level of fitness although
high altitude acclimatization needs to be taken.
•ADVENTUROUS: A
Reasonably good level of fitness is required. Accommodation may include camping.
The comforts of hotels and restaurants may not be available for extended
periods.
•CHALLENGING: A
high level of fitness is required and some pre-trip training should be
undertaken. Trekking days may be long on difficult paths at high altitude. Trips
often include camping for a few days.
•ADVANCED: A
high level of physical and psychological stamina is required and prior
experience must be discussed with the trip leader.
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9. What
methods of payment do you accept?
We are working
on offering other methods of payments for your convenience but for the time
being we accept the following payment methods:
1). Wire
transfer (we will send you our company bank account info via email)
2). Cash when you arrive in Lhasa.
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10. What is
your cancellation policy?
Please refer to
Our Policies
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FAQ Category:
- Trip Booking
- Travel Document
- Transportation, Lodging & Meals
- Everything Else
For further enquiry please feel free to
mail us:
enquiry@AccessTibet.com
