“NOTES FOR KAILASH YATRA”

SPECIAL NOTES:

1. Delays are expected on account of roadblock & weather conditions. Our effort will be to continue with the trip as per the schedule & make you as comfortable as possible. But in such situations we may have to compromise on the campsite / hotels & adjust to these situations then & there.
2. The itinerary should be viewed as ideal & we may have to make some spot changes due various reasons.
3. The distance & altitude mentioned in the itinerary are to the best of our knowledge & information; marginal variance in the actual distances & altitudes is possible.

 ENERAL INFORMATION:

(Our effort is to give a clear idea about the various aspects of the trip to avoid any misunderstandings during the trip, so we request you to please read all the information given herewith carefully.)

FITNESS:

This trip involves traveling in 4WD comfortable Land Cruisers & 3 days of trekking at high altitude. The trek is strenuous & involves walking 6~8 hrs daily (more, on few days). Previous walking experience on high altitude is helpful. The highest altitude that we attain on this trip is 5630 m / 18,470 ft. We do not recommend this trip to people with chronic problems like epilepsy and those related to blood pressure or heart. 

Minimum age is 16 years.

Basic exercise as brisk walk or light jogging a few months before the trip is recommended.

We request you to submit a fitness certificate from the doctor while signing up for this trip after undergoing the following medical tests, a) Blood Pressure; b) Sugar; c) Stress Test (ECG); d) Chest X-Ray.

GROUP SIZE:

Minimum group size of 15~20 paying persons will make it easier and more fun of traveling together yet enable us to maintain ‘personal touch’.

TRAVEL:

Cost excludes International flights. ‘Himalayan Holidays’ can make these travel arrangements at actual cost plus a nominal service charge. All the travel in Nepal will be by bus & in Tibet by land cruisers. We have only 4 passengers per vehicle, making the journey more comfortable.

Please note that the breakdown of jeeps is expected due to bad road conditions. The jeep drivers are good mechanics & generally fix up the problem within few minutes. There may be delays due to such situation.

STAY:

a)      In Kathmandu: 3 nights stay in a 4~5-stars hotel on twin sharing basis (All food included). We may organise for some local food on group request. Re included in the stay.

b)      Accommodation at guesthouses in Tibet will be in 4-bedded or 6-bedded rooms (depending upon the availability). In these dormitories linen is fairly clean; the toilets are basic & unhygienic. Because of these reasons we prefer to camp at most of the places.

c)      Accommodation during camp is in tents on twin sharing basis, in small camping tents. We have dry toilet tents. Separate kitchen & dinning tents.

FOOD

Food served during our journey in Tibet is from our camp kitchen. The food is good, simple, sumptuous vegetarian food. We can include eggs in our menu on request. Our Staff is trained more for continental food & North Indian food. But it is difficult to provide typical Maharashtran / Gujarati / South Indian food.  

ON THE TREK

The luggage will go on yaks whereas you can hire porters at extra cost to carry your personal backpacks on the trek. Please do not carry any hand baggage on the trek. Ensure that your rucksack has sturdy straps. One can also hire rider yak or horse at extra cost. The approximate rates per day are as follows:

Personal Porter: 80 Yuan / 14 USD

Rider Yak: 180 Yuan / 32 USD

Rider Horse: 200 Yuan / 32 USD

Please Note: The Horse or the Yak should be used only as a backup arrangement & riding is not advisable. The yak men would often request you to alight during difficult sections of the trail for your safety & also during descend from Dolma La pass. The yak & horsemen are nomads; it is very difficult to “communicate” with them. At times it is extremely difficult to manage them, so we do arrange for the extra yaks & horses for our guest but do not take responsibility on their behalf.  

EQUIPMENT

Sleeping bags, feather jackets, mattresses, small backpack & duffel bag will be provided. The personal luggage should be packed in duffel bags or Kit bags.

 LUGGAGE & PORTERS

We request you to travel light & not to carry more than one duffel bag that is provided. Please note that any additional load more than 15 kg may be charged extra.

It is important to note that the personal porters accompanying you will not carry more than 10 kg and would prefer carrying the load in backpacks & so avoid any hand luggage. 

TEMPERATURES

Daytime temperatures expected during May to September are approximately 15° Celsius and average night temperatures are between 5° to 8° Celsius. The temperatures can go sub zero at higher altitudes.

 NOTE:
During this trip there are many uncertainties that we may have to deal with such as weather conditions, overall fitness of the group, breakdowns, non-availability of guesthouse etc. This may cause few changes in the itinerary. In such cases the group escort’s / manager’s decision will be final.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE:

This trip takes us through remote regions where professional medical help may not be available. We carry with us a comprehensive medical first-aid kit advised by doctor and our leaders, though not qualified medically, are all competent to give first-aid if and when required. It would be advisable to speak to your group escort in case of any health problems that you may face on the trek.

We carry with us a Gammow Bag (High altitude portable chamber) to assist the client in case of emergency. We will also have an oxygen cylinder with a regulator and also provided in Tibet will be Oxygen canisters which are easy to carry and easy to use.

§  Any medical & evacuation expenses incurred for the group member will have to be borne by that member.

INSURANCE:

Any kind of insurance on luggage, accident, life or other allied matters is not provided by HIMALAYAN HOLIDAYS TREKKING PVT. LTD. Members coming on our trips will have to make their own arrangements for the same. We advice you to take insurance for international travel, also ensure if your insurance would cover any evacuation needed for medical reasons, such as Acute Mountain Sickness.

BOOKING:

·    The tour booking will be confirmed only upon receipt of: Non Refundable amount of 20% of tour cost, in addition to the charges such as transportation, flights if any along with completed personal information form. 

·    50% of the balance tour cost to be paid 45 days before date of departure 

·    Remaining Balance amount of the tour cost to be paid 15 days prior to the departure.

(The trip will be considered confirmed only if there is no default in the above payment procedure.)

CANCELLATION:

In the event of any cancellation by you, the initial deposit amount paid, shall stand forfeited and further cancellation shall be levied as per the following terms:

·         46 days before date of departure: 20% of tour cost

·         45 to 31 days before date of departure: 50% of tour cost

·         30 to 15 days before date of departure: 80% of tour cost

·         15 to 0 days before date of departure: 100% of tour cost (Will be considered as no show)

TERMS OF PAYMENT:

Payment to be made either in cash or by cheque / SWIFT or Wire Transfer in favour of “HIMALAYAN HOLIDAYS TREKKING PVT. LTD” payable in Kathmandu.

Payment can also be made directly to our NEPAL INVESTMENT BANK on following account:

Himalayan Holidays Trekking P. Ltd.

NEPAL INVESTMENT BANK LTD.

Account No: 2108800

Durbar Margh, Kathmandu

NEPAL 

Banking Code:  001

SWIFT Code:    NIBLNPKT
 

The Nepal Investment Bank is represented by CITI Bank and American Express Banks of New York. Please kindly advise us the wire transfer details as soon as the amount is sent. The name of your bank and remittance no. will enable us to follow up with our bank out here

KIT LIST (Recommended)

• Duffel bag (Complimentary from Himalayan Holidays)
• Small backpack with sturdy straps (Complimentary from Himalayan Holidays)
• Proper trekking shoes with spare laces – please ensure that the shoes are broken-in before the trek.
• Slippers / floaters (Sport sandals)
• Sun cap (Complimentary from Himalayan Holidays)
• 3 pairs nylon socks, 3 pairs cotton/thicker socks, 3 pairs woolen socks
• For trek- 3 pairs of trousers, 3 T-shirts, 3 full shirts
• Full sleeved thick sweater or fleece wear
• Feather jacket (provided by Himalayan Holidays only for use)
• Cotton or nylon thermal inner wear
• Wind shirt (wind breaker)
• Monkey cap
• Woolen hand gloves
• Goggles (good quality, 100%-uv-protection sunglasses, not blue shade)
• Cold cream and sun screen lotion
• Torch with 2 sets of cells (no pencil cells torch)
• Light towel
• 1 liter Water bottle  (it might be worthwhile to carry an additional bottle)
• Adequate underclothing
• Personal toilet kit, toilet paper
• Pen knife
• Water proofs (poncho or pant & jacket)/ collapsible umbrella
• Air Pillow / small cotton pillow (optional)
• Personal medicines (with written instructions), assorted Band-Aids.
• Easy Breathers or Camphor
• Mask to protect yourself from dust.
• Camera & film rolls (optional)
• Plastic bags to contain all above, plus a few spare ones.   
• (Please note the Kit List mentioned is a standard one for all our trips; hence one can make a few changes).

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR TIBET:

Tibet still remains one of the most remote & unknown regions of the world. It is not featured on the world tourism map because of the inadequate information & lack of proper tourism infrastructure such as hotels / motels, restaurants, roads etc. Journey to Tibet can be best enjoyed if viewed as adventure and not as, well-organized sight seeing tour. Tourists may have to deal with a lot of uncertainties on various occasions.  We hope the following information would be useful for your travel in Tibet.  

TIME:        

China has only one time zone; the local time everywhere is the same as Beijing time. Beijing local time is GMT + 08:00 hrs or Indian standard time + 02:30 hrs. We need to adjust our watch as per Beijing time as soon as we enter China to avoid any confusion.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS:  

We would be traveling at an average altitude of 4500 m, highest altitude attained is 5630 m / 18470 ft at Dolma La, during our Parikrama. Minor altitude symptoms are experienced such as, mild headache, nausea, loss of appetite etc. One needs to take precaution to avoid acute mountain sickness. For further details please read note on high altitude attached herewith.   

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All the tourism activities are strictly regulated & monitored by the Chinese Government authorities. The authorities may alter itineraries as they see fit & substitute hotels other than those mentioned in the itinerary. The Chinese guide is more of a liaison officer & he is the only communication links between the tourist, staff from Nepal, drivers, porters, yak men, other locals & government officials.

Most of the aspects are beyond our control & we cannot be held responsible for any delays, change in the itinerary etc. Any additional expenses on such account should be borne by tour members.   

PHOTOGRAPHY:

There are strict controls on taking photographs in the monasteries. Please check with your Tibetan guide before taking any photographs near a bridge or police / military check post. Also it is advice to take a prior permission of the locals before taking their individual photographs.

RESTRICTIONS:

Please do not carry any photographs, books of Dalai Lama or posters, T-shirts of free Tibet, or Tibetan flag, or any political magazine or book. Possessing such things may be considered as an offence by Tibetan / Chinese authorities.   

CURRENCY: Approximate exchange rate are 1 Yuan = 6 Indian Rupees & 1 USD = 8 Yuan.

One can exchange currency at the border town of Zhangmu or Lhasa or Shigatse in China. 

BUSINESS HOURS:

10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs is the normal office hours on all working days. On Saturdays the offices close in the afternoon  & on Sundays they are closed.

CUSTOMS:

Still cameras, Video cameras, tape recorders and radios are allowed, it needs to be registered with the customs on entry in China.  Customs regulation forbids the export of art objects prior to 1959 or souvenirs deemed to be excessive in numbers. Printed matters considered unsuitable by Government are prohibited.

VISA & DOCUMENTATION:

The passport should be valid for minimum 6 months after the completion of the trip. For issue of visa we need 3 Xerox copies of your passport, with 3-passport size photograph.  We request you to give all these details on confirmation of your booking. Indian Passport holders should have ECNR stamp.

Visa formalities are stringent for people having diplomatic passport  & for journalist, visa may be denied.   

NOTES ON ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS:

KEY TO ACCLIMATIZATION: Is adequate hydration, adequate nutrition & managing personal comfort through adequate layers lead to acclimatization. Following extracts are taken from “The Wilderness First Responder” by Buck Tilton, director of Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS, USA

DEHYDRATION

Without water there would be no life – at least no life, as you know it…

Water puddles inside every one of your cells, and flows through the microscopic spaces between cells. In water, oxygen and nutrients float to all parts of your body, and waste products are carried away. When your kidneys remove waste from your body those wastes have to be dissolved in water. Digestion and metabolism are water-based processes, and water is the primary lubricating element in your joints. You even need water to breathe, your lungs requiring moisture to expedite the transfer of oxygen into blood and carbon dioxide out of blood. Sweat, as mentioned, is mostly water. The water in your blood carries heat from warmer body parts to cooler areas of your anatomy when you are exposed to cold. In short, if aren’t well hydrated, you won’t be able to stay healthy, maximize your performance, or even maintain joy at being outdoors.

The water in your body, the fluid that keeps you alive and active, leaves you at an alarming rate. Estimates vary widely, but an average person at rest on a normal day loses between two and three liters of water. One to one-and-a-half liters rushes out as urine, and another one-tenth liter in defecation. Moisture is lost from act of breathing, more than half a liter per day, and that rate increases in dry winter air.

Then there’s sweat. The fluid lost in perspiration can climb to one to two liters per hour during periods of strenuous exercise. Compared to watching TV all day, one hour of exercise may demand approximately a 50 percent increase in the amount of water your body uses.

Your thirst mechanism that feeling of ”Gosh, I need a drink of water”, doesn’t kick in until you’re about one to one-and-a-half liters low. Down three to four liters can leave your endurance decreased to 50 percent and your oxygen uptake reduced close to 25 percent…

   ACCLIMATIZATION 

The medical problems collectively referred to, as “altitude illnesses” are the result of hypoxia, insufficient oxygen in the blood for normal tissue function, a result of the decreased barometric pressure at higher altitudes. When you go up, the barometric pressure goes down, the concentration of oxygen in the air decreases, and the chance of altitude illness climbs. Since there is a measurable increase in ventilation and decrease in aerobic exercise performance above 4,000 feet elevation, “high altitude” can be said to start at that point. Complications seldom occur, however, below 8,000 feet. In defining terms, consider 8,000 to 12,000 feet as high altitude, 12,000 to 18,000 as very high altitude, and 18,000 plus as extreme high altitude.

The human body will adjust to dramatic changes in barometric pressure, given enough time. Altitude illnesses - which range from mildly disturbing to completely fatal - are determined, primarily, by three factors:

   How high the patient goes.

1.            How fast the patient attains a specific altitude, and

2.            Predisposing factors such as genetics and previous upper respiratory illnesses.  

Critical to acclimatization is adequate hydration and nutrition.

PREVENTION:

As mentioned earlier, most people will adjust to altitude given enough time. Staged ascent is the key to acclimatization and, therefore, the key to preventing altitude illnesses.

Adequate hydration is critical to the prevention of altitude illnesses. You should drink enough water to keep your urine output clear and copious.

A high calorie diet is essential for the energy needed to ascend and acclimatize.

Avoid respiratory depressants, such as sleeping pills and alcohol.

…But physical fitness prior to ascent is a bonus in the game of safety and enjoyment. Fitness does not, however, protect against acute mountain sickness.

(Friends: this is just to inform you about these important factors that we would be dealing in on the mountain. I know that there would be a lot of questions in your mind – how does one acclimatize, what food is to be taken, what are the early signs and symptoms that would alert me to start taking extra efforts to stay hydrated/acclimatized, etc. etc.).