Booking Terms and Condition

Here are the booking terms conditions and policy of i-Tibet travel and tours services

If you are flying to Lhasa, you will need an original Tibet travel permit in hand when you board the flight.

I-Tibet Travel can either send the permit to your hotel in any city in China or help arrange a delivery person to deliver the Permit to the airport in Chengdu. If you want the permit to be delivered to you at the airport, we can only deliver it to Chengdu airport. There is an additional 120 USD for the delivery fees. For sending the Permit to your hotel, clients are responsible for providing the hotel address, Check-in dates, and hotel telephone number and informing hotels about the parcel from Tibet upon their arrival.

We will do our best to correspond your permit with your hotel. We require our clients to be a part of it. After the permit is arrived at the given hotel address. Clients are 100 Percent responsible for Tibet permit until arrival in Tibet.

Deposits

All the tours with i-Tibet travel services require clients to make an initial deposit. Your places in our journey and your tours are not guaranteed until the deposit is received. Every traveller is required to send the deposit within 15 Days after signing our tour contact.

Deposit amounts are as followed.

Private tour: $ 100 deposit per person and 100% of any domestic Airfares or Train tickets.

Group tour: $200 Deposit per person and 100% of any Domestic Airfares or Train Tickets.

Clients are responsible for all transfer fees when sending us deposits. For PayPal, please add 8% to cover the transaction fees and withdrawal fees.

Balance Payment

For all the tours, clients must pay the balance within the first two days of arrival in Lhasa. Payment in cash is the most preferable to us. Clients can also send the money via wire transfer before arrival or during their stay in Lhasa. The client is responsible for covering any fees for sending the payment to i-Tibet travel.

All prices for our journeys are in US dollars. If you choose to pay with another significant currency, we will adjust the price to that currency based on up-to-date exchange rates at the time of transaction or payment. All the Rates can be found on the Bank of China’s mobile app. ( It is suggested that you download it.)

Forms of Payments

i-Tibet travel accepts deposit payments through Paypal or wire transfer. Balance payment on arrival can be made with cash in hand or wire transfer. All transfers must be made within two days of arrival in Lhasa. After receiving deposits and tour balance payments, i-Tibet travel will issue a receipt in Lhasa.

I-Tibet Travel can ask clients to send the tour money to a specified bank account, which will be provided with an official letterhead and stamped.

Tour cancellation by the client

Clients can cancel their tour booking with i-Tibet travel at any time, though we must receive this cancellation in writing. The cancellation charges are as follows for each client:

For Private tours:

• Cancellation 60 or more days before departure: The client forfeits 50% of the tour deposit
• Cancellation 30 to 59 days before departure: Client forfeits 75% of tour deposit
• Cancellation within 30 days before departure: The client forfeits 100% of the total tour cost
• No show on tour departure day: Client forfeits 100% of total tour cost
• Cancellation or withdrawing during a journey: The client forfeits 100% of the total tour cost

For Group Tours and Professionally Guided Tours:

• Cancellation 60 or more days before departure: The client forfeits 50% of the tour deposit
• Cancellation 30 to 59 days before departure: Client forfeits 75% of tour deposit
• Cancellation within 30 days before departure: The client forfeits 100% of the total tour cost
• No show on tour departure day: Client forfeits 100% of total tour cost
• Cancellation or withdrawing during a journey: The client forfeits 100% of the total tour cost

Voluntarily & Involuntarily Leaving in the Middle of a Private Tour.

If a client voluntarily withdraws during a Private or Custom journey, no refund for the trip will be given. For involuntary withdrawal during a Private or Custom journey due to sickness or family emergency, the client is responsible for all costs of returning to Lhasa outside the scheduled itinerary. Partial refunds will be at the sole discretion of i-Tibet travel and must be submitted to i-Tibet travel in writing within 30 days of the end of your tour.

Voluntarily & Involuntarily Leaving in the Middle of a Group Tour.

Suppose a client becomes sick or wishes to leave during a Group Tour. In that case, the client is responsible for all costs of returning to Lhasa outside the scheduled itinerary.

If the client becomes sick during a journey, i-Tibet travel will assist the client by getting them immediately to the nearest clinic or hospital. Still, all medical costs are the client’s responsibility.

If the client needs to or wishes to return to Lhasa before the scheduled end of the Group Tour, i-Tibet travel will arrange an additional vehicle and tour guide to transport the client at the client’s cost. For this reason, we recommend a travel insurance policy that would cover unexpected illness and trip interruption.

If you are not feeling well at Everest Base Camp and wish to go to a lower elevation for the night, we can transport you to the village of Basum, which is over 800 meters/2600 feet lower than Everest Base Camp. However, the client will be responsible for covering the additional costs of this unscheduled change. The cost of this extra service is $100 USD for one person or USD 150 total for two or more people.

If you are not feeling well at the start of the Kailash trek and do not wish to do the trek, you can stay at Darchen. However, the client will be responsible for the additional costs associated with staying in Darchen.

If you are not feeling well during the Kailash trek and decide to return to Darchen, clients will be responsible for the additional cost of an evacuation car, staying in Darchen, and any other expenditure associated with medicine, hospital, and other unspecified costs.

Tour Cancelation by i-Tibet travel

However rare, i-Tibet Travel reserves the right to cancel a tour for any reason related to forces outside of our control, such as natural disasters, political instability, or other Force majeure reasons. If this happens, i-Tibet Travel will notify you in writing immediately. For any tours we cancel, we will offer you a comparable alternative journey or refund the remaining tour cost minus $100, to process your refund.

Group Tour Cancellation or Cost Changes due to Low Booking

i-Tibet travel reserves the right to cancel or change the costs for a Group Tour or Professionally Guided Tour due to low booking numbers.

For our group tours, the minimum number of participants needed to make the tour viable is 4. If we receive less than the required number of clients to make the tour viable, i-Tibet travel will either cancel the tour, offer the client a different date to begin their tour, or continue the scheduled tour at a revised cost per person. I-Tibet travel will inform clients at least 30 days in advance if a Group Tour must be canceled. If the tour is canceled, i-Tibet Travel will refund you the entire tour cost minus $50 to process your refund. If i-Tibet travel offers to move you to a different departure date, no compensation will be given. If i-Tibet travel has to adjust the tour price due to low bookings, the client can continue the tour by paying the revised price or canceling their journey. If a client cancels their journey rather than paying the adjusted price, i-Tibet travel will offer them a full refund, minus $50 for processing your refund.

Group Tour Prices and Tour Size

The Group Tour prices on our website are based on a group size of a maximum of 12 people. Our Group Tours operate with a minimum of 4 clients and a maximum of 10 clients.

Single Room Supplements on Group Tours

All prices for our Group Tours are based on hotel double occupancy. This means that you will be sharing a room with another traveler. We will do everything we can to ensure that the person you share a room with is of the same gender, but that is not always possible. We offer a single room supplement for all of our Group Tours at a slightly additional charge for those wishing to have their private room during their journey. The prices for the single-room supplements are specified on the relative group tour packages.

NOTE: Single rooms may not be available in remote areas, such as Mt. Everest Base Camp and the trek around Mt. Kailash.

Changes to tour plans

We are 100 percent flexible regarding changes in tour plans within the first two days of arrival in Tibet. We can also add any destinations that do not require additional permits besides those associated with the original tour plans. Clients should pay extra costs with the new tour plan.

The changes can only be made after you arrive in Lhasa.

Changes to Hotels

Though uncommon, i-Tibet travel reserves the right to change the hotel(s) that is/are listed in the original travel itinerary. If we have to do this, it will only be done for your comfort and safety. When this does happen, it is usually due to the original hotel being renovated, the hotel being unsafe due to reasons outside our control (natural disasters or political protests), or because we have found a better hotel in the same price range as the original hotel that was booked. If you have requested a specific hotel for us to book during your journey, we will stay at that booking unless there is a genuine concern for comfort and safety that would require us to move you to a more suitable hotel.

Flights and Train Tickets

i-Tibet travel does not offer air ticket or train ticket sales except when they are part of one of our Package or Group Tours. Otherwise, all international and domestic flights are the client’s responsibility. I-Tibet travel will not be held responsible for any losses or costs incurred due to delays or cancellations of flights and trains.

For the train Ticket, i-Tibet travel requires clients to book the tour and send 100% + 400 RMB ( Service fee by broker) of the train ticket cost 2 months before the departure date. Otherwise, we can ensure the availability of the Ticket.

For the flight Ticket, I-Tibet travel requires clients to send us 100% of the ticket cost before we purchase their flight ticket.

Travel Insurance

All clients of i-Tibet travel MUST take out a travel insurance policy that should provide coverage before, during, and after your journey for any medical expenses coming from personal illness or accident, as well as cover emergency evacuation and repatriation. In addition, we strongly recommend a policy that includes coverage in case of lost luggage, canceled and changed flights and trains, or unexpected trip cancelation. It will be the client’s responsibility to take out this insurance policy. At I-Tibet travel, we highly recommend both World Nomads and Travel Guard. When taking out a travel insurance policy, be sure to inquire if the Himalayan regions of Tibet and China are covered. If you plan to go, trek and climb on your journey with us, ensure your policy covers these activities.

Passport, Visas and Travel Permits

Each client should ensure their passport has a minimum of 6 months validity from when their journey with us is finished. For our journeys the client’s responsibility to obtain these visas. Visas for China must be obtained in advance, while visas for Nepal can be obtained on arrival for a fee. I-Tibet travel will assist each customer with obtaining the required Tibet travel permits and other permits. We will also help each client get a Group Chinese Visa from Nepal to Tibet (note: for standard journeys to Tibet starting in Mainland China, customers can obtain the required Chinese visa on their own through a Chinese Embassy or Visa Service Center). If you require the Visa invitation from us in Lhasa, We will send it to you. We understand that it will only be available after you have made your Tibet travel permit. All passport and visa costs are the client’s responsibility. These permit costs are included in the tour price unless expressly stated.

High Altitude Sickness and Other Health Issues.

By signing the tour contract with i-Tibet Travel, you (Client) fully understand that i-Tibet Travel and Tours are not responsible for any health-related issue you may face during the Journey. We will assist you with the best local health facilities. All the extra costs of the Medical fees, Medicine, and alteration of the tour are solely the Client’s responsibility.

Arrival in Tibet

All our journey doesn’t include any transportation to/from Lhasa/to Kathmandu and other parts of China, either the flights to Tibet or the trains to Tibet. Any changes made at the last minute are not acceptable. Suppose the clients don’t arrive in Lhasa on the set date, particularly on a train or flight. We will deem the tour canceled. You must update us on all the changes within 24 hours before your arrival. Changes from train to flight must be updated at least two weeks before arrival.

Travel Vaccinations

Each client will be responsible for knowing the specific travel vaccinations required/ recommended for the region(s) they are traveling to. It is also the client’s responsibility to cover the costs of all travel vaccinations needed. For a list of required and recommend travel vaccines, we recommend the following website: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

I-Tibet travel welcomes B2B relations between travel agencies abroad to organize inbound trips to Tibet with us.

Tour Pricing

I-Tibet travel will provide a b2b tour price for all the tours at the beginning of the year. Partners are responsible for checking our latest prices when communicating with their clients. Though rare, the price for vehicles and tour guides could change per market demand. We will try our best to observe the fluctuation in prices.

Deposit

I-Tibet Travel does not require a deposit from long-term partners. However, we may ask new partners for the tour deposit when they confirm the tour with us.

Balance Payment

Transaction of the balance payment must arrive at the given bank account or Cash payment before the completion of the tour. Otherwise, i-Tibet travel reserves the right to ask the client to make payment before departure. No tours can be completed without the complete transaction of the tour money. I-Tibet Travel can ask partners to send the tour money to a specific bank account, which will be provided with an official letterhead and stamped.

Besides payment and tour price. Other terms and conditions for B2B Client are the same as for B2C Clients mentioned above and below.

All our staffs travel crew members are Native Tibetan. Our Cultural policies are not meant to be restrictive or controlling but are in place to help you adjust and fit into a culture that is most likely much different than your own. By joining any of the I-Tibet travel tours, the client agrees to the following cultural policies. :

Be respectful of the culture you are visiting

Most of the Tibetans are followers of Buddhism. All clients should be respectful when entering temples and monasteries by removing shoes when required, speaking in a low voice, not smoking near temples/monasteries, not touching painting or tapestries, not touching monks or nuns (unless your guide says it’s permissible) and not photographing inside temples and monasteries (unless your guide says it’s permissible).

Dress Appropriately

Most Tibetan people dress very modestly and can feel uncomfortable when foreign travelers have not dressed appropriately for Buddhist and Hindu culture. This is especially true in temples and monasteries. When entering temples and monasteries, hats should always be removed. In addition, it is best to wear long pants and avoid sleeveless shirts in temples and monasteries and to overall dress modestly.

No Political Activity

Tibet is politically sensitive. Clients are required to abstain from any type of political protests, political discussions, and from distributing any type of political material of any kind. This includes distributing pictures of Lamas or any other sensitive political figures. Any client disregarding this policy will be required to withdraw from the journey immediately without any compensation or right to recover a refund.

Displays of Affection

It is rare for people of the Tibetan to show public displays of affection. In accordance with local culture, we kindly ask for our clients to also limit public displays of affection.

Alcohol and High Elevation

For some of the high elevation treks and tours that We arrange. we will recommend clients to either abstain from alcohol. This is to help our clients acclimatize better to high elevation to reduce the risks of altitude-related sickness.