Terms and Condition

Introduction

Terms and Condition will help us and our clients to ensure the best services. Tibet Universal International Travel Company Ltd. (TUIT Ltd.) is a tour company registered in Tibet (company registration no. 91540000710905234D). References to “you” and “your” in these terms of business means all persons on the booking confirmation (including anyone added or substituted at a later date). “We”, “us” and “our” means TUIT Ltd. The following terms and conditions apply to all tours and travels bookings you place with us.

Payment

Deposit:

You will be required to pay a deposit at the time of tour booking with us to hold place for you. The deposit amounts are: Private Tour: US$100/person + 100% of domestic airfare and train tickets; Group Tour: US$100/person + 100% of domestic airfare and train tickets. The deposit must be paid within 15 days after signing the contract. Payment of the deposit can be made through PayPal or Credit Card; please allow a 4% transaction fee.

Balance Payment:

We require the balance to be paid in full within the first two days of the commencement of the tour, while you are in Lhasa. You can make the payment in cash in full or arrange a Wire Transfer.

Mode of Payment:

We accept payments through bank transfer, including PayPal and major Credit Cards (processed through PayPal).

Acknowledgement:

Upon receiving the deposit and the balance payment, we will provide you with a receipt in acknowledgement.

Cancellation by you –

In the event of cancellation of tour/travel services, you will incur a cancellation charge, and we must be notified of the same in writing as soon as possible. We will charge a cancellation fee as follows:

• 60 or more days prior to arrival: you forfeit 50% of the deposit
• 30 – 59days prior to arrival: you forfeit 75% of the deposit
• 30 days or fewer days prior to arrival: you forfeit 100 % of the total tour cost
• No Show on the tour departure day: you forfeit 100% of the total tour cost
• Withdrawal in the middle of the tour, you forfeit 100% of the total tour cost

Cancellation by us –

We reserve the right to cancel a tour for reasons beyond our control (natural disasters, political instability. If this happens, we will notify you immediately, and offer a comparable alternative tour plan or provide a full refund, minus US$50 as fees for processing the refund.

Group tour cancellation or cost changes due to low booking –

We reserve the right to cancel or change the cost of a group tour or a guided tour due to the low level of booking. In such cases, we will offer you with options for you to opt a rescheduled tour plan or continue with the originally scheduled tour but at a revised cost per person. If we offer you to move to different departure date, no compensation will be given. If the tour has to be cancelled, at any rate, we will notify you in writing at least 30 days prior to the tour dates, and provide a full refund, minus US$50 as fees for processing the refund.

Force Majeure –

We shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by you as a consequence of us not being unable to perform our obligations due to the unusual or unforeseeable circumstances (a “force majeure event”).

Alterations made by you –

If you wish to amend any part of your tour booking, you must notify in writing as soon as possible. We will use reasonable efforts to make any required changes and additional costs will be included in the Fees and invoiced to you.

Group tour size –

Our Group Tour prices, published on our website, is based on a group size of 10 persons. If the group size is below eight persons, the tour price will be adjusted. Our Group Tours operate with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 10 persons.

Accommodation condition –

In key population centres, such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse, you will be staying in a comfortable and pleasant boutique or highly-rated 3-star Tibetan-owned hotels. Accommodation facilities elsewhere, especially in the west and central Tibet will become scarce and are very basic, and not always as hygienic.

Room occupancy regime –

Our price quotes for hotel accommodation are based on double occupancy (that is, two persons sharing the same room). We will do everything we can to make sure that the person you share a room with is a person of the same gender. Single room occupancy or supplement on Group Tours is possible at a slightly additional charge. This may not always be feasible in remote regions such as the Mt. Everest Base Camp or during the trek around Mt. Kailash. The rates for single room supplement for our Group Tours are as follows: –

1. 5 Day Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake Group Tour: US$115
2. 7 Day Lhasa to Central Tibet Group Tour: US$140
3. 8 Day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour: US$215
4. 16 Day Lhasa to Mt Everest and Mt Kailash: US$385

Travel Insurance –

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance before departing from your country of domicile. The policy should provide cover for the loss of or damage to personal belongings, cancellation and additional expenses, medical expenses and repatriation.

Travel vaccinations –

It is your responsibility to be aware of what necessary travel vaccinations you should take before coming to Tibet, and that you are responsible for covering all travel vaccinations needed. For a list of required and recommended travel vaccinations, we recommend the following website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Passport, Visa & Travel Permit –

You are fully responsible that your passport has sufficient validity – a minimum of six months. Visa for China must be obtained in advance (Please check out the Chinese Embassy or Consulate website in your country), while visa for Nepal can be obtained upon arrival at a fee. We will assist you in securing the necessary travel permit(s) for your tour to Tibet. We will assist you in obtaining a Group Visa if you are arriving in Tibet from Nepal.

Change of mode of transportation –

Should you change the mode of transportation, from flight to train or vice-versa, we should be notified of such happening at least 10 working days prior to your travel. We cannot be held responsible if we are unable to send the original Tibet Travel Permit. Permit policy for train journey and flight to Lhasa is different.

Change of hotels –

Despite very uncommon, we still reserve the right to change the hotel that are listed on the original itinerary. When this does happen, it is usually because of renovation work at the hotel that we became aware of, after the booking was done; or due to reasons beyond our control (like a natural disaster and political unrests); or because we have found a better hotel in the same price range. If you request to be booked in at a specific hotel of your choice, during your journey, we will try best to accord to your wishes and assess the level of comfort and safety and security that might require us to book at an alternative hotel of our recommendation. 

Flight and/or train tickets –

We do not offer air-ticket and train ticket sales, except when they are part of one of our Package or Group Tours. You are responsible for sorting out you’re own international and domestic flights. We cannot be held responsible for any losses or costs incurred due to delays or cancellation of flights and or trains. 

Data Protection –

In order to process your booking, we need to pass your details to the relevant authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region. We will take all reasonable precautions to ensure the security and protection of that information.

Photography/Video filming and Camera Use

We recommend you to be aware of and observe the following guidelines regarding taking pictures, filming and use of camera equipment. Your local guide will remind you of this at the start of your journey. By joining any tours that we offer at TUIT, by default you agree to these guidelines. 

• Taking photos of day-to-day life as well as of local Tibetan people you come across is not a problem. However, do get the permission of the person before taking a photo of them.
• Do not photograph and video-film inside Temples and Monasteries;it is strictly prohibited. Some temples allow inside photography for a fee.
• Do not photograph or video-film Police or Military personnel, not even simulating or pretending to. Doing so can cause you problems, as well as to our appointed local staff.
• Do not photograph or video-film sights of any Military Bases, large Radio Towers, Government Office Buildings that house military or police personnel or some bridges that have photography restrictions.
• Do not photograph any Scenes of Political Unrests, should you eyewitness one. Doing so will almost certainly cause you to be in serious trouble with local authorities.
• Having a Super Telephoto Lens, or even a lens that looks like it is super-telephoto can cause you to have problems with local authorities. Do let us know in advance for special instructions.

Cultural Etiquettes & Manners

Tibetan culture is one of the most hospitable cultures in the world. They treat their guests with the utmost respect. Please do your best when travelling around to follow the cultural norms.

Be respectful

When entering temples and monasteries:

• Remove shoes when required
• Speak in a low voice,
• No smoking near and in temples/monasteries
• Do not touch painting or tapestries
• Don’t touch monks or nuns
• No photography inside temples and monasteries (unless your guide says it’s permissible)

Dress Appropriately

When visiting temples and monasteries:

• Remove hats and sunglasses.
• Wear long pants
• Avoid sleeveless shirts

No Drug

• Do not do drugs, please.

No Political Activity

• 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 the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama or any other sensitive political figures.

Displays of Affection

• Please kindly limit public displays of affection. It is very rare in Tibetan society to show pubic display of affection.

Alcohol and High Elevation

• Abstain from alcohol or limit the amount of alcohol intake at high elevation. This is to help you – our clients – acclimatize better to high elevation to reduce the risks of altitude-related sickness.