The Best of the Mountain Kingdoms: Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

For US citizens, a China Tourist Visa is required in advance for this program. A China transit visa is NOT allowed for this program. You MUST begin the China Visa process three months prior to your program start date. Road Scholar will email detailed instructions to all participants three months prior to your program start date, along with the deadline to secure the China visa. Once you receive this email, you may then begin the process to apply for your China Visa. The China Visa must be in your possession no later than 5 weeks prior to the start of your program start date. The visa must be obtained by this deadline in order to be included on the Group Permit going to Tibet. IMPORTANT: If you do not have the China Visa by the deadline you will be unable to go on the Mountain Kingdoms Program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

Bhutan

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• This visa is included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: The Bhutan Visa is a group visa. Each participant must provide a color copy of their passport photo ID page and a recent passport-sized photo at least six weeks before departure. Ensure that there are two blank pages in your passport available for the Bhutan visa and entry/exit stamps. You will receive a copy of the group visa while in Nepal, and the actual visa will be stamped in your passport upon arrival in Bhutan. Please send a single email with two attachments: one containing the color copy of your passport photo ID page (making sure all text and numbers are visible and free of glare), and the other being a color passport-sized photo (portrait style, with a white background, no border, and taken within the last six months). Email these documents to rsasiaprograms@roadscholar.org at least six weeks prior to your departure. Be sure to include your program number and departure date in the email.

Thailand

• Your passport must have 1 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: No Tourist Visa required for stays under 30 days. Note: A Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is required to enter Thailand. You can complete the online form for the TDAC up to 3 days (72 hours) before your arrival at https://tdac.immigration.go.th. View the program notes section of your mailing for information needed for the form.

China

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• Due to specific visa regulations, it is mandatory that you use the services of our designated visa service provider Passport Visas Express. You can access the details and review costs by visiting the website for Road Scholar participants at Passport Visa Express.

Please note: A visa is required to enter China. Road Scholar will email detailed instructions to all participants 3 months prior to program start date. Due to the complexities of traveling to China and Tibet, U.S. residents are required to use Road Scholar’s preferred provider, Passport Visas Express (PVE): https://www.passportvisasexpress.com/roadscholar or calling 1-888-596-6028. You will need two blank passport pages, NOT Amendment pages. One page for the China visa and one for entry/exit stamps. Once your application has been approved, you will need to mail your passport to PVE for your visa to be stamped, and it will be mailed back to you.

Nepal

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it may be obtained upon arrival.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: Participants should complete an online "On-arrival Visa Application" at https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/on-arrival/IO01. Submit your application no earlier than 14 days prior to your arrival in Nepal. The hotel information needed for the online visa application is located in the program notes section of the participant mailings. After submitting the form, print the confirmation receipt that includes your Submission ID Number and keep it with your travel documents. You will need to present this receipt at the Kathmandu Airport along with your payment. The Nepal visa is a multiple-entry visa. The cost is USD $30 for a 15-day visa or USD $50 for a 30-day visa. Bring clean USD notes in exact change to pay for your visa upon arrival. Once you arrive, proceed to the visa payment counter with your payment and your Submission ID Number receipt. We also recommend bringing an extra passport photo with you in case there is an issue with the photo kiosks when you arrive.

There are no vaccinations required to enter these countries unless visitors are coming from a contaminated area. However, it is always a good idea to check with your personal physician before going abroad. Routine vaccines, such as those for Covid-19, influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, MMR, and DPT, should be up to date. Malaria pills are a consideration. Please check with your physician or travel clinic for other considerations. When traveling to altitudes ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 feet, such as in Tibet and Bhutan, it is advisable to consult your personal physician well in advance of travel for health advice. In preparation, begin exercising as far in advance of travel as possible. Cooler, drier air at high altitude contains less oxygen than at sea level. A regular routine of walking, swimming and climbing stairs or other aerobic exercise will help build stamina. As well as being in good physical condition, practice increasing your respiratory rate, which will help you to acclimate to the reduced oxygen at high altitude. The better cardiovascular shape you are in prior to your trip, the better you will be able to withstand exertion at elevation. Practice drinking plenty of water as hydration is important. If you require a wheelchair to get through an airport, you are not fit enough to participate in this program.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on April 2, 2027

Meet the group at Qianmen Jianguo Hotel in Beijing

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in available; 6:00 p.m. orientation followed by welcome dinner.

Getting to the site: Only participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare and who are arriving on the in-country commencement date will be provided with an arrival transfer from Beijing airport to the first program hotel. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are arriving early, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and for covering the costs involved. The easiest way to get from either of Beijing's airports to the first hotel is via taxi. At the end of this information packet you will find a document with instructions including the name of the hotel shown in Chinese characters. Hotel check-in is available from 2:00 p.m. on Day 3. If you arrive earlier in the day, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until check-in time. If you are arriving to the program on an earlier date or arriving on the program date and would like to check in earlier, we suggest booking a pre-program night with the hotel directly or a third-party website, and request a standard room rate.

Your trip ends on: Tuesday, April 20, 2027 in Bangkok at Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport

End of Trip: 8:00 a.m. breakfast followed by transfers to the airport for flights home; 12:00 noon hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare and who are departing on the final day of the program will be provided with a departure transfer from the last program hotel to the airport. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are staying on longer, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and the costs involved. The airport hotel in Bangkok has an airport shuttle that has to be pre-arranged when you check in, or you can take an airport taxi. The Group Leader can assist you with making arrangements when you check in to the final program hotel. Hotel check-out is 12:00 noon. If you depart later that day, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until you leave. If you wish to check out much later or if you depart after the official program end date, we suggest booking post-program nights with the hotel directly or via a third party website.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.