TOUR PROSPECTUS
This prospectus sets out the contents of the tour and together with the
Booking Conditions and Booking Form is the basis of our contract with you.
Bhutan End-to-End
11 - 29 October 2013
Tour 1369
Tour
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Hidden in the eastern Himalayas between India and Tibet, Bhutan is as big as Switzerland, with
a population
of
only 700,000. It is the last surviving Himalayan kingdom and with magnificent mountains, dense forests, charming
people, and a Buddhist culture and religion, Bhutan is an exciting, safe and beautiful country for cycle touring.
The unavoidable high cost of visiting Bhutan restricts the number of visitors. This helps to preserve the natural
environment and lifestyle of the people without upsetting their socio-economic balance. The daily cost is very
expensive but a large proportion of this is spent on free health care and education.
Cycling the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” from end-to-end will be a unique and memorable journey. The tour has
been planned to include a visit to the Jambay Lhakhang Festival.
Itinerary
Fri 11 Oct
Fly from London Heathrow on Virgin Airways flight VS300 to Delhi, departing 2200.
Sat 12 Oct
Arrive Delhi at 1100. Vehicle transfer from airport to hotel. Stay 1 night.
Sun 13 Oct
Fly from Delhi to Paro where we will be met by our Bhutanese hosts and transfer to the hotel.
Short vehicle transfer to hotel in Paro. Unpack and assemble bikes. Time permitting, cycle
20kms to Drukgyal Dzong. In the evening, there will be an “introduction to Bhutan”
presentation by our host and guide. Stay 2 nights (hotel).
Mon 14 Oct
Day at leisure to explore Paro, including visit to the famous Taktshang Monastery.
Tues 15 Oct
Cycle to Thimphu, 64kms. Time permitting, we may visit the National Museum, the Bhutan
Memorial Chorten and the Folk Heritage Museum. Stay 1 night (hotel)
Wed 16 Oct
Cycle from Thimphu over Dochu La (3,104m) to Punakha, 74kms. Stay 1 night (hotel)
Thurs 17 Oct
Morning visit to Panakha Dzong. Afternoon, short ride from Punakha to Wangduephodrang,
21kms. Stay 1 night (hotel)
Fri 18 Oct
Cycle from Wangduephodrang over Yele La (3,322m) to Gangtey, 48kms, with option of a
further out and back ride to the Black Crane observation area at Phobjika. Stay 1 night (hotel)
Sat 19 Oct
Cycle from Gangtey over Pele La (3,407m) to Trongsa, 75kms. Stay 1 night (lodge)
Sun 20 Oct
Cycle from Trongsa over Yotong La (3,419m) to Bumthang (Jakar), 64kms. Stay 2 nights
(hotel)
Mon 21 Oct
Day at Leisure to visit Jambay Lhakhang Festival and explore this beautiful valley.
Tues 22 Oct
Cycle from Bumthang over Kiki La (2,848m) and Ura La (3,569) to Ura, 38kms. Stay 1 night
(camp)
Wed 23 Oct
Cycle from Ura over Trumshing La (3,740m) to Limithang, 90kms. Stay 1 night (camp)
Thurs 24 Oct
Cycle from Limithang to Mongar, 27kms. Stay 1 night (hotel)
Fri 25 Oct
Cycle from Mongar over Kori La (2,383m) to Gom Kora (Trashigang), 80kms. Stay 1 night
(hotel).
Sat 26 Oct
Cycle from Gom Kora over Khardung La (2,384m) to Wamrong, 85kms. Stay 1 night (camp).
Sun 27 Oct
Cycle from Wamrong to Sandrup Jongkhar on the Bhutan/India border, 93kms. Stay 1 night
(hotel)
Mon 28 Oct
Vehicle transfer to Guwahati airport. Fly to Delhi. Stay 1 night (hotel)
Tues 29 Oct
Fly from Delhi on Virgin Airways flight VS301 to London Heathrow, departing 1315 and arriving
London Heathrow 1755.
Luggage carrying
One or more support vehicles will accompany the group to transfer luggage and accompany the group on all
moving on days, with space for passengers and bikes should the need arise.
Accommodation and meals
On 14 nights the accommodation will be in comfortable hotels/lodge with en suite facilities, full board (except in
Delhi – breakfast only), based on two sharing. There will be 3 nights camping with meals and equipment provided,
based on two sharing per tent.
Price - £4100
The price is based on a minimum number of 16 participants taking part in the tour and is calculated at a rate of
$1.53 to £1 sterling (based on exchange rates published in the national press on 10 October 2012; please note
Booking Conditions, clause 4). If there are insufficient bookings by the closing date of 15 June 2013, we will contact
you and return all monies paid, though in certain circumstances the tour may still run at below minimum numbers
but at the same price.
Price includes:
- Return flight from London Heathrow to Delhi
- Flights from Delhi to Paro and from Guwahati to Delhi
- Coach transfers in Delhi, Paro and Samdrup Jongkhar between
airport and hotels
- Support vehicles to transfer luggage
- 12 night’s hotel accommodation, full board, sharing rooms
- 2 night’s hotel accommodation, breakfast only, sharing rooms
- 3 nights fully serviced camping, breakfast, lunch and dinner, 2 people
per tent
- The services of an English-speaking guide throughout the tour
- Route information
- CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours costs
Price does not include:
- Travel to and from London Heathrow
- Meals in transit
- Drinks with lunches and evening meals
- Lunches on 2 days
- Transit visa for India and tourist visa for Bhutan
- Gratuities for support crew – budget £30
- Any other personal expenses
- Travel Insurance
Payment schedule
A deposit of £300 per person must accompany the Booking Form and an
interim payment of £1000 per person is due by 31 March 2013. The final
balance of £2800 per person is to be paid ten weeks prior to departure, by
2 August 2013. Cheques should be made payable to CTC Tours or
complete the credit/debit card slip in the booking pack.
Cancellations
Should you be forced to cancel your booking for any reason you must
notify us in writing. Cancellation charges are as follows:
Written notice received:
Cancellation charge:
Before 31 March 2013
Deposit
(£ 300)
31 March 2013 to 2 August 2013
32%
(£1,300)
3 August 2013 through to departure
100%
(£4,100)
To make a booking
Complete, sign and return the Booking Form together with your deposit
and the relevant part of the Travel Insurance Declaration Form directly to
the leader (address on Booking Form).
Passports, Visas and Health
EU citizens must hold a
passport that is still valid for at
least six months at the end of
the tour. A visa is required for
EU passport holders. Holders of
non-EU passports are advised
to check whether they require a
visa.
There are no compulsory
vaccinations for EU residents
although it is strongly
recommended that you are
vaccinated against: Typhoid;
Hepatitis A and B. Tetanus and
polio vaccinations should also
be up to date at the time of
travel. You should contact your
doctor at least 3 months prior to
travel to obtain these
vaccinations and the latest
advice to travellers.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking that
you are adequately insured for
this tour.
Whether you already hold a
policy or will be taking out a
new one, the cover it offers
must be comparable to that
stated in clause 8 of the
Booking Conditions, and you
must complete the enclosed
Insurance Declaration Form
and return it with your Booking
Form.
CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours
Ltd can accept no responsibility
for any costs you may incur due
to insufficient insurance cover.
CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours Ltd, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX
LEADER’S INFORMATION SHEET
The information below is given by the tour leader to
help enquirers decide if the tour is suitable for them.
Bhutan End-to-End
11 - 29 October 2013
Tour 1369
Why go to Bhutan.
This extraordinary country of little more than 600,000 people is land-locked between India and China, but
refuses to be dragged into the mayhem of the 21st century by these rapidly developing super-powers. A
statement from the Bhutanese Minister for Cultural Affairs gives some insight into the national psyche.
“When we look at the developed World, we wonder whether there is in fact advancement in terms of
civilization or whether there has been a de-civilization. Civilization has to do with the development of the
human individual, the mind, the finer aspects of humanity and I think these are lost.”
Measured by our standards, this country ranks as 134th in global wealth. It is a clean, orderly country of
immensely hospitable people, living in a protected pristine environment. The life-style of the vast majority is
agrarian; subsistence farming and animal husbandry by traditional methods.
With huge potential for hydro power industrialization is a viable option but would inevitably result in a
migration from the land and the creation of crowded and polluted towns. They choose instead to export hydro
power to India and fund free health care and education with the income.
Until 1962, there were no roads and TV was not available until 1999. The entire population is happy to wear
the national costume during working hours, demonstrating a desire to cling to their cultural identity and
preserve traditions.
Rides and rest days.
This tour is best suited to experienced enthusiast cyclists with a sense of adventure. Cycling in the Himalayas
can be challenging. There are several very long climbs, and road surfaces maybe poor in places. There are
rest days for sightseeing in Paro and Bumthang.
Accommodation / Meals
Hotels are few and far between in the east but rather than take vehicle transfers and as we hope to cycle the
entire route, we will camp on 3 nights. We will use a mixture of 2-3 star hotels and fully serviced camping. All
camping equipment and 3 meals per day are provided. Tents are erected and dismantled by the support team
and food is varied and plentiful.
Visas
A transit visa is necessary for Delhi (obtainable in the UK) and a tourist visa is required for Bhutan, which will
be obtained via our agent. The cost of these is not included in the tour price.
Group information
The maximum group size will be 20 including the leaders.
Weather and Clothing
Temperatures and climate vary according to the altitude. The summer days are warm (max 25°C), but the
weather in mountainous areas can be very unpredictable. Come prepared for chilly evenings and a possibility
of rain. Cycling in mountains requires good quality weather gear.
Cycles / Equipment
A lightweight mountain bike or touring bike will be suitable if well maintained and fitted with good wheels and
fairly wide road tyres. We will be travelling through mountains with long climbs so low gears are essential.
You will not need to carry luggage, but a bar bag or rack-top pack will be useful for spare clothing, camera,
sun lotion, etc. It is advisable to fit a calibrated cycle computer, as this will aid navigation. Lights should not be
necessary. Each participant will be expected to carry sufficient spares and tools to deal with punctures and
minor repairs. Once we leave Delhi, cycle spares will not be available on route. Helmets are not mandatory
but if you do not intend to wear one, please check that your travel insurance will cover you in the event of a
claim.
Money
There will be very few opportunities to spend money other than in Delhi and Paro. The currency in Bhutan is
the Ngultrum. It is linked to the Indian rupee which is also legal tender throughout Bhutan. Sterling and US
Dollars can be exchanged for Indian Rupees at Delhi airport. Daily drinks and snacks should cost no more
than £10 per day; budget £30 for crew tips.
Maps
Himalaya 1:1,500,000, Nelles Verlag
Bhutan 1:500,000, Berndtson and Berndtson
There should be no difficulty with route finding as there is only one road. Route details and profile will be
provided.
Suggested guidebook:
Lonely Planet Bhutan Travel Guide - ISBN: 9781741049190
Travel Insurance and Advice
Make sure you have read Clause 8 in the Booking Conditions. Before booking you should check the Foreign
Office ‘Travel Advice by Country’ at www.fco.gov.uk or on 0845 850 2829.
About the leaders
We are both enthusiastic cyclists and have been CTC members for 21 years. We have led tours to many
worldwide destinations and have cycled in all Himalayan states. Each year we look forward to the reunion
with regular travelling companions but also get great satisfaction from introducing new members to the unique
camaraderie of CTC holidays. We do not have a set style of leadership but adapt to suit the needs of the
group. We encourage all prospective participants to
contact us to talk through the tour prior to booking.
John and Pat Ashwell
2 The Retreat, Off Camp Road
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 2EN
Tel: 01934 746638 - Mob: 07766 091627
comebiking@btinternet.com
www.comebiking.com