Sikkim Splendor

1) Where is Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• Sikkim & Darjeeling is located in the northeastern part of India and is popularly known as Chicken Neck of India, which links the rest of India to the northeastern state of Assam & beyond. It is very strategically located with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China, lying within a driving distance of 1 to 5 hours. It is truly, the only dry port in India. 

2) What is Sikkim Darjeeling famous for?

• The area is famous for 3 Ts, (Tea, Timber and Tourism). The place Darjeeling is synonymous with Tea, as it produces the world's best quality Tea, also known as the "Champagne of the East." 
• Tourism is a major source of livelihood for the people of the area. The government has focused on improving local tourism infrastructure. This is also evident from the fact that this area, is home to tourist attractions such as Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, one of the largest high altitude zoo in India, and only places where conservation breeding of Red Panda, Snow leopard & Tibetan Wolf happens. The area also houses the only skywalk in India, which is located in Pelling, Sikkim. There are many more Tourist places, one comes across while traveling to this area.

3) How does one reach Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• Bagdogra Airport – Direct flight from CCU, DEL, GAU, HYD, BLR, MAA, BOM, AMD & BKK.
• Pakyong Airport (Sikkim) – Presently only spice jet flight are operating from CCU & DEL (Flight are very erratic and can be cancelled anytime).
• Nepal (Bhadrapur Airport which is 60 kms from Siliguri)
• Nepal (Birathnagar Airport which is 140 kms from Siliguri). 

• New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP) is the main station for the area, and has good train connectivity with rest of India. All trains starting from Trivandrum, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Jammu, Jaipur, New Delhi etc bound for Guwahati will have to pass through NJP Railway Station.

• Bhutan - Jaigaon (Indian side) / Phuentsholing (Bhutan side).
• Nepal – Panitanki (Indian side) / Kakarvitta – Jhapa (Nepal side). 
• Bangladesh - Chengrabanda (Indian side) / Burimari (Bangladesh side). 
• Well connected with all cities & towns of India. The Asian Highway Number AH2 passes through Siliguri which houses the Bagdogra Airport & New Jalpaiguri Railway Station for  Sikkim & Darjeeling. 

4) When is the best time to travel?

• The area can be visited throughout the year. However, during monsoon the roads connecting, Pelling, Lachung, Lachen & Namchi, get even more rough & challenging. We recommend, other than experiential tourist, to avoid visiting, these area during the months of July, August & till mid September.

5) What will be the weather conditions in Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• The below chart provides a fair idea about the area’s average maximum / minimum temperature,  rainfall and the probability of seeing a clear skies through the year:

Note : -

• Please note Higher the altitude, lower the temperature and rainfall. For current forecast on weather you may visit the link : Weather
• The figure mentioned above in the temperature column is in Celsius.
• The figure mentioned above in the average rainfall column is in millimeter (mm).
• The maximum chances of having clear skies will be in the month of Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov & Dec.
• It is advisable that one should be prepared with layer clothing also in summers and carry heavy woolen in winters.

6) What is the ideal holiday duration for Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• Itineraries for the area can be scheduled for a minimum of 04 Nights and maximum of 14 Nights. The ideal duration is around 10 Nights (Gangtok – 03Nights, Lachung – 01Nights, Lachen – 02Nights, Pelling – 02Nights & Darjeeling – 02Nights).

7) What are the various activities & options available for Tourist travelling to Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• Cultural – For cultural tourists, the area offers nature, landscapes, monasteries, flower nurseries, etc. 
• Adventure – The area offers activities like hiking, trekking, cycling, rafting and paragliding, etc.
• Special Interest Group-For such groups, the area offers Tea Tasting session, Interaction with Monks, Culinary classes on local cuisine, experience mountain livelihood etc.
• Other Activities - Special community services such as charity, support to orphanages etc.

8) How is the mobile connectivity in Sikkim & Darjeeling? Which telecom operator has good network?

• Communication plays a very important role in staying connected, wherever one goes. Telecom operators like BSNL, Airtel & Vodafone-Idea have good connectivity in our area. 

9) How safe is Sikkim & Darjeeling for Tourist, especially for Female traveler?

• Sikkim & Darjeeling is completely safe when it comes to travel, especially when females are concerned. Women of the area are very active and play a major role in family’s decision-making & big contributor to livelihood to the family.

1) What are the document requirements for Indian nationals (Indian Passport holder) travelling to Sikkim & Darjeeling? 

• The documents required for availing the services of Tshangu Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula  & North Sikkim (Lachung, Yumthang Excursion, Yumesomdong (Zero Point), Katau, Lachen, Chopta Valley & Gurudongmar Excursion) are:
• 06 passport size photographs of each member travelling whether Adult or Child with their name, age & gender written behind each photograph.  
• Original along with photocopy of the photo ID of each member travelling, whether adult or child.
• Valid Passport, Election ID card, Driving License or any documents issued by Central or State Government having Photo, Name and the address will be considered as valid ID Proof only. Aadhar Card & Pan Card are not accepted as valid ID Proof for issuance of Sikkim Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
• Upon your arrival, our office representative will hand over a blank envelope, in which you will have to put all the above documents and leave it at the hotel reception in Gangtok, at the time of check in. 
• For Children below 18 Years and does not have Passport, in such case they will have to carry their School / College ID. In such a case, it is also advisable to carry photo copy along with the original Birth Certificate (in English / not regional language). 
• There has been cases of tourist, who have landed in entry points with their Passport but did not bring the original OCI / PIO cards (OCI / PIO cards, are not considered as Indian proof & is considered as an invalid document, without the Passport in original). Such tourists were not eligible to enter & entry was denied.

2) What are the MUST KNOW points for travelers availing tour to Tshangu Lake, Baba Mandir & Nathula Pass excursion? 

• The above sightseeing falls into Restricted Area. To visit these places a special permit is required, which is issued on the same day of travel by Sikkim Tourism. At times issuance of permit can be delayed due to rush or any uncalculated situations. We will request you to kindly bear with the same. FHEs (File Handling Executive) will guide you on such services. Person with a knee, heart & blood pressure issue and child under 05 years of age should avoid going to Tshangu Lake, Baba Mandir & Nathula as it may be of high risk due to altitude and poor medical facilities. 

Tshangu Lake & Baba Mandir

• In case of closure of Tshangu Lake & Baba Mandir due to landslides or any unforeseen reason, then an alternative sightseeing will be offered to you. The FHE (File Handling Executive) will guide you on the same.

Nathula Pass

• Nathula Pass being a border and restricted area, which at times gets closed, due to security reason without prior notice. In such a case, your tour will only be until Tshangu Lake and there will be no refund for unused services.
• You can opt for Nathula Excursion by paying an additional cost that varies from month to month. It is not possible to hold a permit at the last moment, and a clear window of 72 hrs with proper documents is required to process the permit. Nathula permit shall be confirmed the day before OR on the day of travel, which will be subjected to the permit availability. Nathula is closed to visitors on Monday & Tuesday. No refund is granted if the permit is confirmed by Sikkim tourism and you are unable to make it, for whatever reason (land slide, heavy rainfall, VIP movement, health problem, etc.).
• Nathula Excursion can be guaranteed if you have contacts with the Army. Please use your sources, so that the permit could be procured. The modus operandi is that one requires vehicle’s number and copy of the driver's license a day before the date of travel. Even after taking the required details in advance, and God forbid, for whatever reason, if driver or vehicle failed to report or there is a change in driver or vehicle, then the above exercise in obtaining the permit will be futile. While coordinating this with the army or some other source, please ask the source to take both the army and tourism permission, which saves a lot of time. In worst case, if all the above goes in vain, please don't get disheartened as you will only miss a 4 km drive as a visit to Baba Mandir takes you to the area where Nathula is located.

3) What are the MUST KNOW points for travelers availing tour to North Sikkim (Lachung & Lachen)?

• Guest travelling to North Sikkim must take a note on the following points :
• A) Usage of plastic in Lachung & Lachen is banned. Single used plastic water bottles are strictly prohibited. However the guest must carry reusable water bottles or flask.  
• B) Lachung & Lachen operates on package only. Tours starts & ends at Gangtok. These tours are on Half board (includes Breakfast & Dinner at the hotel only). 1st Day tour of North Sikkim, Meal starts with Dinner at the booked hotel & ends with Breakfast at the booked hotel on the last day. All the Lunches during Lachung & Lachen tour, will have to be borne directly by the guest, except for guest staying in Yarlam Resort (Lachung) & Apple Orchard (Lachen), which serves lunches to the guest during their stay & provide packet Lunch on the day of departure on request as a goodwill gesture.  
• C) North Sikkim is blessed with Natural Beauty. The best season for travelling to North Sikkim is Mid March to Mid June & Mid September to Mid December. These areas are cold throughout the year. The guests travelling have to be equipped with proper woolen / warm clothes. The accommodation provided at Lachung / Lachen will be more like a Tourist Lodge / Guest House / 3*hotel having basis facilities like:
• The food prepared will be fresh, by the local trained Sherpa’s & not by Hotel chef.
• There are telephone lines but due to cable fault and weak signal, it is often out of order. Vodafone-Idea, Airtel & BSNL operates better in this area.
• Power failure is a common & regular happening in the area. 
• Geysers are available but do not work most of the times due to low voltage / power failure. In such cases, warm water are provided in buckets, by the hotels.
• The rooms are having Heaters but due to electricity problem many of times hotel provide Hot water pad in the bed.
• For all Grade of hotels at Lachung & Lachen, room heaters are available, on request, at an extra payment, except Yarlam Resort (Lachung) & Apple Orchard (Lachen), this hotel do not charge extra for heaters. Due to frequent power failure and ruling given by the Local Authority (Zumsa), most of the time, these heaters cannot be used. As an alternative the hotels provides hot water bags, on request.

4) Are there any custom, administrative restrictions in Sikkim & Darjeeling? 

A) Custom restrictions

There are few items, which are strictly forbidden by Sikkim, namely;

• Arms, ammunition and explosives.
• All narcotics and drugs except medically prescribed drugs.
• Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species.
• Antiques.

Please Note : Visitors are advised to be careful when purchasing old and used items, especially of religious or cultural significance, as such items may not be exported without a clearance certificate.

B) Dress code for visiting monasteries

• It is advisable to dress up in smart casual covering the full body (sleeveless & shorts to be avoided) while visiting Monasteries. Always walk in clockwise direction while visiting religious places and do not step on any clothes, books, heap or materials left open at religious sites.

C) Prohibitions on the use of tobacco & smoking in Sikkim & Darjeeling

• Smoking & chewing tobacco in public areas is banned. However, if one is caught smoking / spitting, then under the law, the offender can be booked for heavy penalty.
• As far as drinking is concerned, it is permissible in Sikkim & Darjeeling, with only Thursday being a dry day. 

5) What are OTHER MUST KNOW points for Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• Sikkim & Darjeeling is one of the safest places to travel however; one should still exercise caution while travelling. Please ensure that your belongings especially your passports, cameras, wallets and purses are properly secured. Please refrain from leaving such items in locked vehicles while sightseeing, moreover its ones responsibility to take care of one’s belonging while travelling or staying in hotels self cautions are must for all travelers.
• Avoid drinking tap water, which has not been boiled, or ice cubes in drinks at all times, as most water sources in Sikkim & Darjeeling are untreated. One can easily get treated / boiled water at hotels. While on travel, advisable to use bottled drinking water, over water from open source.
• In the past, it has been observed that many visitors have arrived at the destination with a photocopy of the valid identification proof (election ID card or passport) rather than carrying the original. In case the guests are unable to produce original at entry when asked, then it could lead to negligence and the authority could fine the guest accordingly.
• Weather in the hills is unpredictable. We have kept the nature related sightseeing, like Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, flexible. This is done, so that the chance of good view of Sunrise becomes more likely. When the FHE (File Handling Executive) calls for such change, we will request you to take it sportingly & without any apprehension. The decision for Tiger hill visit  has to be done before 5 P.M. No changes will be allowed after the decision is made. In case of any changes, it will be treated as cancellation without any refund. Changes after 5 P.M. cannot be accommodated as the allotted drivers leave the operation premises by 5 P.M. & are not contactable. By Default the vehicle will report at 4 A.M. in the morning, whether the guest go for the sightseeing or not for any reason or eventuality (which could be because of the guest wanting to change after 5 P.M. or bad weather or heavy downpour). As per the local syndicate rule, the bills will be raised by the transport provider to us. For further clarification, please contact the FHE (File Handling Executive).
• With ever-increasing vehicle numbers & limitation of parking space, Darjeeling Traffic Police is come up with new traffic rules effective from 01st September 2019.

1) What are the hotel options & the services provided by hotels of Sikkim & Darjeeling? 

• Please note that, this is a 3 Star serviced area. The services of this area cannot be compared with that of a developed destination, which offers Luxury & 5* services. Even after paying 5* rates the customer gets maximum of a 3* Deluxe service which is much lower in comparison to other developed destinations. 
• We have selected, combined & graded the hotels in a fashion, so that the Guest gets similar kind of service & facilities at every destination / place of retirement.  For the easy understanding, we have termed: 
• In Grade C Category – The Hotel used are ‘the area’s third best hotels’ which can be compared with two star hotels of other destinations. The services provided by these Grade C hotels will be similar to one & half star.
• In Grade B Category – The Hotel used are ‘the area’s second best hotels’ which can be compared with Three Star hotels of other destinations. The services provided by these Grade B hotels will be similar to two star+.
• In Grade A Category – The Hotel used are ‘the area’s first best hotels’ which can be compared with four star+ hotels of other destinations. The services provided by these Grade B hotels will be similar to three star & three star deluxe.

Hotels that are located in the remote areas like Lachen, Lachung, Yuksom, Mirik etc (where they don’t have higher categories hotel) we use the areas best property whose services will be between 3* to 1*.

2) Are the hotel option given, in city or away from the city?

• Most hotels are located in the city, while new and higher-level hotels are located a short distance from the city centre. Since the area is backward, it is obvious that the constructions of most of the hotel located in City Centre (Down Town) area are in cluster. Such hotels are built in area where they have no view, or view of the building in front, beside or behind them. Services of many hotels located in City Centre are not up to the marks (as their main source of business is of walking tourist). The City Centre hotels have been selected (used in the packages) on the basis of SERVICE & their reliability.

3) Do all the hotels have lifts?

• Most of the hotels, in the area do not have lift. One has to climb stairs to reach the lobby or the allotted rooms. In case of problems related to blood pressure, breathing, knee & heart  or even if the guest cannot climb higher floors, then we request them to let us know, at the time of briefing call. Ideally this should have been communicated at the time of quotation so that the correct hotel could have been selected and costing could have been done accordingly. If the problem is highlighted at the time of briefing call, the FHE gets time to handle in advance and the hotels assigns room, which will be convenient than the ones quoted/reserved for the guest (subjected to availability). In case of any difference in price arising due to this displacement, this will have to be settled directly by the guest, at the time of check-in.

4) Do hotel charge extra for room heaters?

• Hotels have their in-house policy of providing heater on complimentary / chargeable basis. For hotels used in Grade C & B (certain) hotels provide room heater on extra payment. This amount needs to be settled, directly by the guest, with the hotels, before check-out. The charge varies from INR 300.00 to INR 500.00 per heater, per room per night. For hotels used in Grade A & above category, room heaters are provided on complimentary basis.

5) What is the Child policy for hotels?

• Majority of the hotels follows the child policy mentioned below: 
• Children above 10+ years will be considered as an adult and will be charged as per EPSR rate.
• Children of 5+ to 10 sharing room with bed / rollaway or mattress will be charged as per CWB rate.
• Children of 5+ to 10 sharing room without bed / rollaway or mattress will be charged as per CNB rate.
• Children below 5 years will be complimentary without bed (sharing the parent’s room).

Note : Hotels are very strict with the child policy. Please carry the age proof document, so that it can be provided when asked for.

6) Do the hotel provide proper Extra bed?

• Majority of the hotels provides, Mattress & Roll Over / Fixed day-bed / Dewan as a supplement to Extra Bed for Adult / Child, sharing the room. This is irrespective of being mentioned as, Adult with Extra Bed / Child with Extra Bed.

7) What are the Standard check in & Checkout time?

• Check in time at Hotel: 1400 Hrs / Check out time: 1100 Hrs. All the bookings are non-transferable & all in-house hotel rules will be applicable during the stay. As per Government norms valid photo ID for all members staying at the hotel is mandatory. All requests for early check in / late checkout / extending of stay will be subjected to, hotels approval & availability.

8) Are Pure Vegetarian & Jain Food available in Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• Indian food is available in Sikkim & Darjeeling but no regional specific cuisines are served. The people of this area are mostly Non Vegetarian. Most of the hotels, serves both Vegetarian & Non-Vegetarian food. The Jain food served by these hotels will be basic & cannot be compared, to the ones available, at the hometown of the traveler. For the understanding, the food provided will be pure vegetarian meals, which will not include onion, potato, garlic etc, and items, which are grown underground. With changes in food habit globally, few hotels in Sikkim & Darjeeling, are exclusively serving vegetable food to its entire guest.

9) Is 24 hours water supply & power failure, an issue in Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• In hilly area, scarcity of water & electricity is a natural phenomenon. Everybody buys water for their day-to-day needs & have learnt to live even without electricity. Sikkim produces surplus power through its Hydro project, which is used by the state & rest of India.  Due to the hilly terrain, there is an issue with power transmission. In case of Load Shedding, we would request you to bear with such situations. Most of the high-end hotels do have power back system.

1) What kinds of vehicle are used for servicing Tourist in Sikkim & Darjeeling? 

• Luxury vehicles (Xylo / Innova / Crysta) are mainly used as Tourist services vehicles in Sikkim & Darjeeling. The ideal sitting capacity would be 04 people in one Luxury Vehicle (no bucket seats, only bench seating vehicles available). If so be the case, then the front seat beside the driver plus the middle seat will accommodate 04 pax & the back seat could be folded giving the space for the luggage to be accommodated. It is also an inconvenience for all sharing the vehicle to handle the entry & exit for those passengers using the back seat. 

2) What is the maximum capacity of vehicle along with luggage? 

• Legally in Sikkim, a Luxury vehicle is given a permit to carry only 06 heads plus one driver. In case the vehicle is operating on full capacity, it is mandatory to ensure that all 06 pax travelling are of 70 Kg each or below, with one luggage of 15 Kgs or below per head. We will request you to check, on the body & luggage weight. Overlooking this fact has created a big dismay upon arrival. No drivers and vehicle owners are ready to operate for such guests who have exceeded the mentioned limit. To make it operational, we have to search for a vehicle at the arrival point where the client land up paying 3 to 4 times more than the normal rate, apart from waiting for hours.  

3) Does the vehicle change city wise or remains the same throughout?

• As a practice, the syndicate rule does not allow the use of one vehicle throughout Sikkim & Darjeeling. Yes, the vehicles will change area-wise which will not be at disposal and will be exclusively used for the group as per the itinerary only (on point-to-point basis).

4) Why we use Tourist Number Plate vehicle only?

• As a matter of policy & honest practices, we do not use private numbers vehicle for Sikkim & Darjeeling operation. God forbid, in case of any mishap all your insurance policies will stand void and the insurance company will not honor any claim.

5) Can we take the allocated vehicle for shopping and evening dinner to local restaurant & hotels?

• The allocated vehicle is exclusively for you, which will not be at disposal & will operate strictly as per the itinerary. For extra vehicle usage, additional cost will be applicable. In case the you wants the vehicle after scheduled duty, then there will be additional charge of INR 2000 per vehicle for minimum 02 Hrs & INR 4000.00 per vehicle for maximum 04 Hrs)

6) Do we have the option of upgrading or changing the vehicle?

• Since the Vehicles are limited in number, the demand does not meet the supply. It is wise and works out cheaper to get the vehicle upgraded at the time of booking itself. 

7) Do we have the option of upgrading or changing the vehicle while on tour?

• Should this be the case, vehicle up-gradation while on tour will be subjected to availability and upon paying the full cancellation for the vehicle in use plus the charges for the upgraded vehicle. 

8) Right to change the allocated vehicle while on / before tour?

• The right to change the vehicle will always remain with us, without assigning any reasons. Usually it happens in case of mechanical failure, driver falling sick, unforeseen circumstances etc. 

9) Does the vehicle provided to tourist in Sikkim & Darjeeling have Air-conditioning?  

• Yes, the vehicle provided have Air-conditioning, which will be switched off while going up-hill. AC will be switched on in the plains, when the vehicle is on move only. In case the vehicle is stuck-up in a jam, the AC will be switched off along with the engine.

10) Does the vehicle provided to tourist in Sikkim & Darjeeling have roof top carrier? 

• Not all vehicles plying in Sikkim & Darjeeling comes with roof top carrier. In case you have a specific requirement, then will have to put the request for the same in advance.

11) Does the vehicle provided to tourist in Sikkim & Darjeeling have music system?

• Yes, usually the Luxury vehicles have a music system but we do not guarantee the compatibility with your electronic tools. In the past, it was observed that the guest brought in their gadgets and these gadgets were not compatible with the music system fitted in the car.

12) What are the MUST KNOW & points to be careful about the vehicle services in Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• As the area is backward & due to unwritten syndicate rules, the vehicle & drivers will change for every transfer & sightseeing. You are required to be gentle in dealing with the drivers as due to lack of their exposure to the tourism industry & practices, these drivers at times, get annoyed and may misbehave.
• As the vehicles & drivers change always, we will request you to be very careful with personal belongings. Once left in the vehicle, there is almost nil or little chance, of getting it back.
• Often in past, the guests have complained about being misguided by their drivers. We would request you to put your request to the FHE (File Handling Executive) & not to communicate with their driver. 
• Due to shortage in space for parking, please be informed that you will have to be ready on time & wait in the lobby. Due to uncalculated situations, the vehicle reporting may get delayed. We will request you to bear with us and as soon as vehicle arrives, you will have to get in, within few seconds, before the traffic police officer blow his whistle. 

13) Does my tour have an exclusive Guide or he/she will be a Driver cum Trip Leader (Guide)?

• We do not have a concept of using Driver cum Guide. In our packages, Driver is separate person and Guide (Trip Leader) is a separate person. For Domestic Tourist, Trip leader(Guide) is not compulsory, but in case of big family where 02 or more vehicle are used , it is wise to take the services of Trip leader (Guide) to enhance, travel experience & smooth operational flow of activities. This Trip leader speaks comfortable English and majority of them do understand & speak Hindi. Here we would also like to inform you that the drivers are mainly concern with driving the vehicle with safety & comfort of the guest. They come from remote places and are not educated in tourism etiquette and some of them do not know how to speak & behave. You are requested to be soft & gentle with the drivers. Your point of contact is your Trip leader (Guide) or the FHE (File handling Executive), who is pre-assigned for your file. Although there is dearth of professional guides in North East, the TripLeader accompanying the guest acts as a guide, who has good knowledge of the area.

1) What is the right meal to opt for, while booking a tour to Sikkim & Darjeeling?

• We strongly recommend that the guest should opt for MAPAI (Breakfast & Dinner), where they will have option of having lunch in local restaurant during sightseeing. 

2) Can we pay you advance now and balance upon arrival?

• We do not have any credit policy hence payment option on arrival is not applicable. The very reason for upfront payment is that we also pay upfront payment to hotels & vendors thus commanding better price & services authenticity, which are duly passed to the end consumer. With us, the situation like room bouncing / services disparity is not applicable as we pay way in advance and demand the promised services.

3) What is the Amendment Fee on booking after confirmation?

• After confirmation, any changes, will be treated as cancellation of the booked tour & will attract an amendment fee of INR 5000.00 + GST or 5% of the package cost (whichever is higher), along with the charges attracted due to change.
• In view of local strikes / landslide / any unforeseen happening, which are beyond our control, all schedule and itineraries will be subjected to availability and operational condition. Every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, at the time of actual travelling. The right to change the itinerary without any intimation and explanation will remain with our company.

1) Who is a FHE (File Handling Executive) and what is a Pre-briefing call? 

• The area does not have a concept of using 01 vehicle throughout the itinerary. Many of times, conflict had aroused due to communication between the change in drivers and the guest. To do away with such a problem, we have devised a system as per which all communication has to pass through the (File Handling Executive). This FHE (File Handling Executive) calls the guest 02 to 03 days prior to the journey date and helps the guest in informing about the dos & don’ts of the area, what to except on tour and take necessary preparation. 

2) Where do we meet our Trip leader (Guide) /arrival officer? 

• The guest will be meeting the Trip Leader (Guide) / Arrival Officer at:
• NJP (New Jalpaiguri) Railway Station – If the guest are arriving at NJP Railway station, which has 03 entry & exit gates. You will be meeting our Trip Leader (Guide) / Arrival Officer at the new exit gate, beside the escalator holding a placard in the name of the guest / or as advised.
• bIXB (Bagdogra) Airport - Please note that our Trip Leader (Guide) / Arrival Officer will hold a placard just outside the only exit gate of Bagdogra Airport.
• cBhadrapur / Biratnagar Airport (Nepal) - Please note that our Trip Leader (Guide) / Driver will hold a placard just outside the only exit gate of the Airport.
• dPhuentsholing (Indo-Bhutan Border) - Please note that our Trip Leader (Guide) / Driver will meet you at Phuentsholing hotel.

3) Who will be the one point of contact for the tour?

• FHE (File Handling Executive) will be the one point of contact for all matters in case one is not opting for the services of Trip leader (Guide).

4) Are sightseeing / monument entrance fee included in the tour cost? 

• Monument entry fee is not included and has to be purchased directly on the spot. The guest have to stand in a queue to purchase the tickets. The allocated driver will be with the vehicle in the parking area. In case one is opting for the services of Trip leader (Guide) then the cost of the entry fee can be included at the time of booking who will also assist in procuring the tickets.

5) What is a MUST KNOW point for guest travelling during peak season?

• We understand very well, the size of India & its population. We also understand well that most of the holidays for families in India falls during spring & summer, which also happens to be under the heat wave. There are not many places, where one can go for relief at this given time. Now even if 0.1% of the population turns up, towards such destinations, the area runs out of capacity.  Everything becomes chaotic. Delivering the promised service, itself, becomes an issue. Patience & understanding becomes an important part in getting the tour organized & making the holiday into a memorable one. We will request all the guests to keep this in mind & cooperate while on tour. 

6) What is the arrangement for the vehicle in case of arriving very early in the morning at NJP Railway station?

• In case of early arrival, the guest will have to wait at the Waiting / Retiring Room of the station. Our Arrival Officer will be meeting you at 0600 hrs in the morning for the meet & greet and arrival transfer. This has been planned keeping your security factors in mind.

7) As the guests are arriving early, what happens to their meal?

• In case the guest is booked on MAPAI (Half Board) the 1st Day meal starts with dinner & ends with breakfast at the booked hotel, on the last day. 
• For the guest booked on APAI (Full Board) bookings 1st Day tour meal starts with dinner & ends with packet lunch from the booked hotel on the last day.

8) What will be the arrangement in case the train / flight are cancelled / missed by the guests, who in turn are not able to start the tour as planned?

• In case of any Flight / Train Cancellation or missed connection, which affects the operation of the tour, the Company will not be responsible for the same and the cancellation as per the policy will be applicable. We will try our best to help the guest wherever possible to minimize the damages. 

9) Who pays extra charges incurred in situation arising due to landslide or any other unseen, forced measures, leading to diversion from the main tour?

• Landslide is a common occurrence in hilly areas. Expenses incurred for diversion or any other unseen, forced reasons will have to be borne by the guest / traveler directly as per actual. 

10) Are the tour planned rigid or some minor changes can be made?

• We try our best to assist the guest with minor changes wherever possible until & unless it does incur financial damages. The cost for any alteration will be collected directly from the guest as per the actual. 

11) Does the guest have the option of adding extra sightseeing & add-on tours / activities while on tour?

• Yes, the guest have the option of adding extra sightseeing or activities while on tour at additional cost which will be further subjected to availability & operational condition. This has to be consulted with the FHE (File Handling Executive). Since the people in mountain sleeps early, it is necessary to intimate timely so that the FHE (File Handling Executive) can  incorporate the changes.  

12) Just in case, if some sightseeing points are closed on a particular day, do the guest have the option of covering it on the next day?

• As per the rule laid by the syndicate, incomplete sightseeing cannot be carried forward / transferred on the next day. In case this has to be done, it will attract one full day transportation charges. We try & make all contingency plans so that the sightseeing points do not fall on a closing day (other than helpless situations). 

13) If the guest are unable to utilize some services of the tour, will there be any refund?

• There will be no refund for unutilized service in part or in full, what so ever may be the reason.

14) Once all the services are confirmed, is there any possibility of incorporating any changes?

• After confirmation, any changes, will be treated as cancellation of the booked tour & will attract an amendment fee of INR 5000.00 + GST or 5% of the package cost (whichever is higher), along with the charges attracted due to change.
• In view of local strikes / landslide / any unforeseen happening, which are beyond our control, all schedule and itineraries will be subjected to availability and operational condition. Every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, at the time of actual travelling. The right to change the itinerary without any intimation and explanation will remain with our company.