Bushtracks Expeditions

Physical Requirements: All travelers must be in good health and prepared for travel in places without medical facilities. Participants must be able to climb into and out of private aircraft un-aided. They should be capable of walking moderate distances at an easy pace for up to 3 hours over rough terrain including stairs without handrails, high thresholds and cobbled paths.

Travelers must be able to withstand hard riding vehicles that travel over dirt roads and sometimes rough, bumpy ground. We also have a number of rigorous travel days with early departures. Drive times may range from one to four hours or more on winding mountain roads. While this expedition is scheduled during the Northern Hemisphere winter, please note that due to the altitude of some locations, weather may be very cold with a little rain. At other locations temperatures may be hot with high humidity and rain. During this expedition, average temperatures range between 14 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are susceptible to altitude sickness, please note that Lhasa is 12,000 feet above sea level. However, our itinerary does make a gradual ascent to 12,000 feet, but some may feel the effects. In summary, this is a true expedition, and you will most enjoy the opportunities this Himalayan journey has to offer if you are willing to dispense with a few Western amenities and travel with flexibility and a spirit of adventure.

Luggage Requirements: In accordance with the private aircraft specifications and safety measures, each passenger is allowed one standard checked bag with a maximum weight limit of 40 pounds, and one carry on bag with a maximum weight limit of 15 pounds.

Private Air Schedule: Each private flight can sometimes include unscheduled stops due to factors such as weather or fuel availability beyond the crew's control. Our flight schedule can also change at any time should security or other issues arise. We urge travelers to remain flexible in the face of such possibilities. While the type, model, and registration of the aircraft can also change, our goal is always passenger safety, security and comfort aloft.

Cost Includes: All accommodations, meals, sightseeing activities, guide fees, park fees, tours, and transfers as indicated in the itinerary; business class commercial flight Delhi - Paro; private air Paro - Bagan - Putao - Lijiang; commercial air Lhasa - Beijing; services of expedition staff and local guides; all group activities and excursions; welcome and farewell dinner functions in Delhi and Lhasa, including pre-dinner drinks and wine with dinner; drinking water (bottled water not always available), coffee, and tea throughout the journey; local brand alcoholic beverages at group meals and functions, and where permitted by local law. All laundry, where available, at two night stays or more; hot air balloon excursion in Bagan; all airport departure taxes; all gratuities and porterage of one soft-sided checked bag; medical evacuation insurance ($60,000) and Medical/Sickness ($20,000 per incident) for covered reasons.

Cost does not Include: Air transportation to Delhi and from Beijing and any other commercial air flights that are not part of the program; excess baggage fees; travel and personal insurance; porterage of carry-on luggage; items of a personal nature such as curios, room service expenses, minibar charges, and express laundry services; premium brand drinks; faxes, phone calls, and e-mails; costs of obtaining passports, visas, or other travel documents; inoculation fees; laundry charges in Delhi and where we have a stay of only one night; extra beverages when not with the group; extra tours and activities.

Deposit and Final Payment: A deposit check of $5,000 per person, payable to Bushtracks Expeditions Trust Account, a completed Reservation Form and a signed Release of Liability Form is required to confirm your registration. Final payment is due December 14, 2007 (14 weeks before departure), upon receipt of invoice and is payable by check only. For your protection, funds will be placed in a trust account until the day of departure.

Insurance: Purchase of travel insurance is highly recommended and information will be sent to registrants. Exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions may be waived with the prompt purchase of travel insurance. You may visit our website at www.bushtracks.com for more information regarding travel insurance.

Cancellations and Refunds: Cancellations must be received in writing at Bushtracks Expeditions. At the time we receive your written cancellation, by mail or by fax to 707-433-0258, the following per-person penalties will apply:

• On or before September 21, 2007: Forfeit $300 (6 months out)
• September 21 - December 14, 2007: Forfeit $5,000 deposit (14 weeks out)
• December 15 - December 28, 2007: Forfeit 30% of tour cost (14-12 weeks out)
• December 29 - January 25, 2008: Forfeit 50% of tour cost (12-8 weeks out)
• January 26 - February 22, 2008: Forfeit 75% of tour cost ( 8-4 weeks out)
• On or after February 23, 2008: Forfeit 100% of tour cost (4 weeks-departure)

Cancellations could cost you as much as 100% of the tour price. Bushtracks will not cancel a tour, holiday or other travel arrangements after the client has paid in full unless it becomes necessary to do so as a result of hostilities, war or threat of war, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist unrest, active or threatened, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions or for reasons of group comfort or safety or if a group tour does not have enough participants to make it economically viable or because of any other adverse happening beyond the control of Bushtracks, (which decision shall be in the absolute discretion of Bushtracks).

Bushtracks reserves the right to alter a tour itinerary if it or the local ground handler or safari operator believes such is necessary or advisable for reasons of convenience, comfort or safety.

Bushtracks also reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour or to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at any time, if such action is determined by the appropriate staff member to be in the best interest of the health, safety and overall welfare of the tour group or of the individual participant.

Baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk throughout the tour.

Dates, schedules, program details and costs, given in good faith, and based on information available and in force in May 2007, are subject to change and revision.