Trip Difficulty Level, Road and Transport.

Bhutan Sikkim and Nepal-Three Himalayan Queens is basically a motor vehicle based sightseeing with some optional hikes, suitable for travelers of all ages with regular health condition. The highest altitude that we attain in this trip is 3810 m( 12, 497 ft.) at Chele La Pass, on the way to Haa Valley from Paro, where we have a brief stop and rest of the places are in lower elevation and so we don’t have any risk of altitude sickness in this trip. Visiting some monasteries or temples in Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal may  involve some short hiking which may be through stepped stone staircases or through the terraced fields and forest trails. The trip also involves some long day driving, particularly from Thimphu to Phuntsoling which will be 5-6 hours and Phuntsoling to Gangtok that can be more than 6 hours. Of course, we will have occasional stop for photography and refreshment. Roads are often cut into hills and follow rivers and some parts may be under-paved or damaged. During the summer months, there can be mudslides on the road that can temporarily block the road. Please, do not compare the South Asian roads with the ones in developed countries.

We provide good conditioned vehicles which are mid size sedan car or SUVs or vans, depending on the group size. Chances of flat tires or mechanical breakdowns cannot be declined due to weather and road conditions but our drivers are capable of taking the situation under control. We just need your cooperation and flexibility, when something unexpected happens during the tour.

Accommodations.

In Bhutan, unless we have chosen other alternatives, we will be staying in 3 star hotels (by local standard) which are small properties with room numbers ranging 15-20. No rooms may be similar to another and so there may be disparity in the rooms between the fellow travelers. We do not expect our hotel to have a gift shop for "sundry" items. Thimphu and Paro cities do have a couple of international chain resorts with remarkably high price but our trips do not feature them and if anybody wants these hotels, we can certainly book them on additional cost. The hotels listed in the itinerary are suggestions only and final list of hotels can be obtained only after reservation is processed. Hotel conditions in Darjeeling, Gangtok and Kathmandu are better and we have choices of accommodation available and we will be using first class to deluxe standard hotels with all modern amenities. Accommodation in Pelling, Sikkim is inferior, compared to those in Gangtok and Darjeeling.

Meals.

The trip features 3 meals a day while in Bhutan and Sikkim and breakfast only while in Nepal. We expect to eat most dinner at our hotel when its included. Picnic style packed lunches are served during the sightseeing or it may be arranged in local restaurants. We try to select the best restaurant but they may not still meet the western standard. In Bhutan, meals are usually served in buffet that includes rice, vegetables, noodles, breads etc. Beware: traditional Bhutanese food always features chilies and the most popular dish is ema datse made with large, green hot chilies in a cheese sauce. In Sikkim and Nepal, there are more verities to choose from local delicacies to Chinese, Indian or even western.

Guides

Our guides in Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal are college educated locals, proficient in English and trained and licensed by local tourism authorities. Most importantly they are friendly and committed to deliver the best services. Guides in Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal will be different person.

International and internal airfares:

You will book your international airfare on your own and provide us your flight information. We can also help you find good fares through our air ticket consolidator on your request. We will take care of internal airfares-flight from Bangkok into Paro or on the return from Kathmandu back to Bangkok. If your trip starts from Delhi or Kathmandu, we can book your internal airfare accordingly. All internal airfares are booked locally. Local airport taxes may or may not included in the fare.

Passport and Visa

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of travel and there should be enough blank pages for entry and exit seals. Bhutan visa is preprocessed by us and we will get clearance for you before your flight into Bhutan. Your passport gets actual visa seal upon arrival at Paro airport. You can obtain Nepal visa upon arrival at Kathmandu airport or you can obtain it from nearest Nepali embassy abroad. As Sikkim is now a part of India, you will need a valid Indian visa for travel to Sikkim. India does not grant visa on arrival and so you will have to obtain it beforehand. We will take care of all other permits necessary for this trip.

Nepal visa can be obtained upon arrival at the port of entry. Please bring one passport size photo and $25 cash to pay in visa fee. We can email you Nepal visa application form in advance which you can complete in advance to save time at the border.

Best time for this trip:

Bhutan Sikkim and Nepal trip can be undertaken throughout the year but definitely October and November are the best months when temperatures are mild, skies are clear and we have clear visibility. The second best season is from March through early May. Temperatures are still mild and we have rhododendrons and other wild flowers in bloom during this season.

Note on Itinerary

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed; it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Booking/Deposit.

When you are sure you are going to Bhutan, it will be wise to put your reservation in line as early as possible as Bhutan Air reservation is quite a tricky matter. Druk Air is the only airline flying into and out of Bhutan and operates with 2 A 319 craft with capacity less than 100 passengers and gets filled up quickly. Paro-the only airport of Bhutan is connected with Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkatta and Kathmandu and have limited operations. For flight schedules and more information, please visit Druk Air Website. A deposit of US$ 200 on land plus the cost of internal airfares is requested along with booking application and passport photocopies.

The balance and final payment is 60 days prior departure. The payment schedule may vary with customized and private trips on case to case basis. Payment within 60 days prior departure may be subject to late fee and has to be made through wire transfer or by cashier's check.

Cancellation and refund

Notice of cancellation and refund request must be received in written form. Cancellation fee structure has been listed below.

• 90 days prior departure: US$ 50 (Administrative Fee)
• 60-89 day's prior departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 45 days to 59 days prior departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 30 days to 44 days prior departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• Less than 30 days: 100%

Highland Asia Travel

We are an active adventure travel company, based in Minneapolis, USA with destination management offices in Kathmandu, Thimphu and Lhasa. We are BBB accredited business and an active member of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and Nepal Association of Travel andTours Agents (NATTA). We have set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Our managers and guides have more than 15 years of experience in organizing and leading adventure trips in the highlands of Asia. For us travel is not just a business, but a way of life.

Travel Protection Plan

While we plan do our best to make your trip smooth and seemless, there may be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, and flight cancellation or missed connection or loss of baggage etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation or medical transportation when you get ill or involve in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. Highland Asia’s Tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses and so we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.

We recommend Travel Guard for the protection of your travel investment. Click here to get an instant quote and purchase the policy online or ask us for help.