Buddha Air | www.buddhaair.com

BUDDHA HOLIDAYS

Upon Arrival:

Will I be received at the international/domestic airport?
We do not provide pick up or drop off service, however, if you have sent us an email asking for the service then we can provide it for an additional charge.

Where will I be received upon arrival at the international/domestic airport?
The incoming passengers are received outside the arrival lounge of the international airport as government regulations do not allow hosts to enter the airport.

How do I identify your representative?
Our representative can be easily identified as they will be holding placard displaying your name or that of the group.

What do I do if I am unable to locate your representative? Is there an alternate method to contact your representative?
Buddha Holidays staff will be present before your flight lands in the airport and will be waiting for you but in case you are unable to locate them, you should ask any authority or a local person for the Buddha Holidays staff and they will bring you to our welcoming team. You should keep the contact number of your email correspondent as well, in case of anything.

After meeting your representative, will I be taken to the vehicle immediately or do I have to wait for other travelers who have also booked a transfer?
We provide separate transfer by separate private vehicles to our different clients coming at the same time. Passengers have to wait for a few minutes till our vehicle waiting for them arrives at the spot from the parking spot. You will only be traveling with your family or group.

Do I carry my luggage myself?
As the guests can meet our representative only outside the arrival lounge, they have to carry their luggage in the trolleys through the customs up to the exit point on their own. However, porters are available out side, should you need any assistance.

On arrival at the hotel, does your representative escort them to the front desk and assist them in check-in formalities?
The guests will be escorted to the hotel's front office and our representative will assist them in the check-in formalities.

During Transfer:

What vehicles are used for transfers? Are they air-conditioned?
Our fleet consists of a/c as well as non a/c cars, mini vans and coaches. The type of vehicle provided for a particular transfer depends upon the request and contract made between the two parties (Buddha Holidays & clients/agent on behalf of the clients) and the size and strength of the arriving group.

During Stay:

Whom should I contact during my stay?
You will have to stay in touch with your email correspondent for any further requirement or queries. The contact details can be found in any email that you have received from our special online correspondent.

If I book sightseeing tours, are they provided with vouchers/pick-up information?
As we have only organized tours for our clients, they do not need vouchers for their sightseeing.

If I book a departure transfer, do you reconfirm the onward flight?
The onward flight of all our clients are duly reconfirmed by our staff in time and the status is informed to them. Even if the departure transfer is not booked, we do reconfirm their onward flight as a matter of courtesy.

During Departure:

How many hours prior to the departure flight will I be picked -up from their hotel?
The clients are picked from their hotel 2.5 hours before the time of their international departure flight and 1.5 hrs before their domestic departure.

Will I need to be inoculated?
Consult your local doctor who should have an updated list. However, most important are Gamma Globulin (for Hepatitis) and Tetanus. It is always worth getting the opinion of at least two doctors and then using your own judgment.

What are the seasons in Nepal?
Mid October/November:
Very clear skies, flowers in bloom, hot during the day and cold evenings. Temperatures steadily decrease during these months. October high and low temperatures range from 80-55° F or 26-13° C. November highs and lows are about 66-37° F or 19-3° C. In the southern plains of the Tarai, October high and low temperatures are 88-72° F, 31-22°C; November high and low temperatures are about 83-72° F, 28-22° C.

December/January/February:
Clear skies, frosty mornings, warm days but cold at night. Day time highs in the mid 60° F or 18° C and lows dip into the mid 30° F or 2° C throughout the country, except for the Tarai plains, where average daily high and low temperatures are about 10° F, 5° C. March/April: Some times hazy skies, flowers in bloom, hot during the day, warm at night, Daytime temperature reach lows to mid 80° F or 28° C and lows range from about 50-60° F or 10-15° C. The Tarai plain is very hot at this time, with daytime temperatures consistently around 90°s F or 32°C. and the low in the mid 70°s F or 23° C.

June/July/August:
This is Nepal's rainy season which can be fascinating for those interested in the flora and fauna of the country. Daytime temperatures are consistently in the mid to upper 80° F or 30° C through out Nepal, with lows around 70° F or 21° C.

May/September/Early October:
These are the transition months between the wet and dry season. The rain is not as frequent as the summer months; however, it is unpredictable. The temperatures, flora and fauna are the same as the summer month.

Note: The southern plains of the Tarai is about 400 feet or 120 meters lower in altitude than Kathmandu and is consistently warmer than the rest of Nepal.

Should I bring my own medicine?
Please consult your doctor. If you are taking any particular medicines, it would be best to bring these with you.

Baggage:
We suggest that you bring a suitcase to Nepal in which you have a zip-down duffel bag and small duffel overnight bag. The suitcase can be left in Kathmandu with your town cloths. The duffel bags travel with you to your trek/rafting and jungle clothes. The small overnight bag is used for the rafting.

For rafting:
Flip-flops, sandals, or booties while rafting (barefoot is OK too), tennis shoes with socks for evening during Dec/Jan/Feb otherwise flip-flops or sandal are warm enough. T-shirt bathing suit, and light-weight shorts during the day (they will get wet so nylon shorts dry the fastest); track suit or trousers and a sweat-shirt for the evening (warm sweater or jacket during the winter months); an overnight bag to bring these clothes to the campsite, Note: all your belongings will be transferred from Pokhara/Kathmandu/Chitwan. What ever you don't need at the campsite will be kept in our vehicle which is guarded at all times.

For trekking:
A pair of comfortable water resistant hiking boots, shorts, t shirts, trousers, wind sheeter, warm jackets, trousers, flip flops, caps, sunglasses, sun screens, water bottles, personal medicine.

For Chitwan:
Your walking boots and evening shoes; light-weight long trousers and long-sleeved shirt for safaris; short sleeved shirt and shorts for daytime in between safaris; casual clothes for the evenings.

How much currency will I need?
Government authorized currency exchangers are available in most cities and towns. You will need very little during the activity phases of your holiday. Carrying small denominations is always a good idea. Use Nepali currency whenever possible. If you are shopping in Kathmandu most department stores accept credit or debit cards.

Electricity:
The current is 220V/50 cycles. Sockets have either three round pairs or two thick round pains. If you are traveling with electrical appliance, an international converter kit and a set of adapter plugs will be required. Alternatively, it is more practical to travel with battery-operated appliance, where possible as the country is going through a serious power crisis. While on trek, you can recharge your batteries in some lodges as they use generators. Electricity might not be available on all trekking routes.

Can I drink the water?
Do not drink tap water or stream water. All lodges/hotels can supply boiled and filtered drinking water. You can also buy bottled water in most places.

What alcoholic beverages are available in Nepal?
Nepal produces different types of bottled beer. Most restaurants and hotels in cities will have local and imported beer and alcohol.

Can I avail the facility of phone/fax/e-mail in Nepal?
A good standard communication system is readily available in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. Fax is not available while rafting or on trek. Local cell phone sim cards are also available and will work in most cities and towns. If the cell phones don’t work most villages already have phone lines.

Can I get a visa on arrival?
Yes, you can obtain your entry visa upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. If you are coming overland you can get a 30 day visa at the immigration office in the border. In either case, you need 2 passport size photographs and the visa fee. To date, the fee is USD 30 for up to 60 days. Check with your travel agents for an update.

Will my tickets be reconfirmed?
Your international flight confirmation can be done by our staff should you request so. You will have to pre inform us and leave your tickets with us to follow up before you leave Kathmandu for other domestic destinations.

What is the policy on excess baggage?
Even if your originating ticket states you are allowed 2 bags at any weight, the airports in Asia have their own regulations which are strictly enforced. For international flights, you are allowed 44 lb. (20 kilos) per person. Anything above that is charged extra. For domestic flights, 33 lb. (15 kilos) is the limit. Excess baggage is permissible but is charged.