2023 Pilgrimage of India and Nepal: In the Footsteps of the Buddha w/ Khentrul Rinpoche

Accommodations

As we travel around India and Nepal, we will be staying in a mix of modern hotels and guest houses. In the cities, we may have rooms with western toilets and hot water. Rooms are either a twin share or a dorm-style.

If you are traveling with a friend and would like to stay with them, please write in and request. We will do what we can to keep you together.

Price

The price for this journey is $4000 AUD per person (shared occupancy). A non-refundable $1500 deposit holds your space. We will email you an invoice (via PayPal) at least a week before each due date. The tour is non-refundable. If you have special circumstances then we can discuss and refund it based on unexpected circumstances. We can not refund you for a change of mind.

Payment Schedule

Methods of Payment

You can make payments for this tour via any of the following methods:

• Credit Card or Paypal: Check out on the form below
• Direct Debit: Tibetan Buddhist rime Institute Inc. Bank: ANZ. BSB: 013-479 Account: 4944-47223 (Please include your surname as a reference)
• Wire Transfer: Acc: Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute. Bank: ANZ. Branch: Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria Australia. Swift Code: ANZBAU3M. BSB:013 457. Account No: 4944 47223

Registration Process:

1. Book a ticket on this website, for the non-refundable AUD$1000 using one of the methods described above.
2. Once we have confirmed the payment, we will contact you via email to confirm your registration.

Price Includes:

• 3 Meals per day
• Transportation to sites within India and Nepal
• All accommodations
• All site entrance fees
• All tips at hotels and restaurants
• Cultural performance

Price does not include:

• International airfare
• Mongolian visa fee if needed
• Travel and health insurance
• Photography fees at sites
• Tip to local guide and driver
• Dana to Rinpoche
• Beverages in addition to water

International Flights

You are responsible to book your own international flights. Please arrange your own transportation to and from the start and finish location. If you need to have extra accommodation before or after your trip please reach out to us and we will help you if we are able to.

Passport/Visa

First and foremost, your passport MUST be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of the trip, and you’ll need two empty pages in the Visas section of your passport (make sure they are in the Visa section, not the Amendment or Endorsement section). Most countries require a visa for India and Nepal. Please check with your local embassy for details. Please do not rely on visas that can be gotten at border crossings.

Medical

You can read the American CDC’s recommendations here. We advise you to check with your local doctor to decide what is best for you. It is useful to bring a small first aid pack which includes: Nausea and diarrhea medicine, travel sickness tablets, glucose powder, paracetamol tablets, saline eyewash, cold and flu tablets, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and any other supplies you feel you may need or have been advised to bring. We will not be at high altitudes but we will be traveling up and down through various altitudes that can generate sickness in some people.

Travel Insurance

We suggest medical insurance which includes evacuation and trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, we only suggest it highly. We will be in remote areas that may not have modern medical facilities. Please plan accordingly.

Miscellaneous items

When attending the teachings, you will require something to sit on, so bring a meditation cushion with you and a plastic sheet in case it rains. You will most definitely need insect repellent. Other items which will come in handy are an umbrella, sunscreen, towel, hat, sunglasses, toilet paper/tissues, batteries, headlamp, camera, SD card for extra storage, torch, chargers, adaptors, pen, paper/writing book, favorite snack food, access to $500 for extra food and miscellaneous expenses.

Drinking-Water

We recommend drinking only bottled water, and you will want to rinse your toothbrush off in bottled water. Bottled and boiled water will be available throughout the trip.

Money

You can either exchange cash in Mongolia or use local ATMs. It’s best to bring some with you as we won’t have time to exchange money in many places. All of your meals and transportation are covered, so you just need personal spending money.

WIFI

For most of the trip, there will not be wifi available.

Suggested Reading

There is no required preparation. If you want to familiarize your mind with any of the material related to the trip we have selected a few of the texts. Unveiling Your Sacred Truth 1, 3 or 3 by Khentrul Rinpoche The Kalachakra Path offers a profound method for actualizing your greatest potential and contributing to greater peace and harmony within this world. For the first time ever, this extraordinary path is revealed in a step-by-step manner, allowing students to gradually approach this uniquely comprehensive system in a structured and methodical way.

General rules

• The rooms are for at least 2 people.
• All meals are included in the tour costs and are pre-ordered. If you have any special requests please contact your tour guide representative the day before.
• Please be punctual and attend all sessions where possible. It is your responsibility to be at the bus when it leaves.
• It is recommended that any personal items be kept in a locked bag. The Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute cannot be held responsible for any items left around the property that is stolen or damaged.

Food Or Medical Issues

If you have a serious food allergy or medical condition we should know about please inform us by email to discuss it as soon as possible. This is not a strenuous trip. We will be driving for several multi-hour stretches times on this trip, so guests should be able to sit in a vehicle for up to 5 hours at a time (although we can stop for bathroom breaks and leg-stretching along the way). At times, during the practice or teaching sessions, we will be sitting on the ground for hours at a time. Please bring a cushion or folding chair if you need one.

Offerings

Traditionally, an offering is made to the teacher at the conclusion of the Tour (please note that this is entirely optional) as a gesture of appreciation. You can offer whatever you think is appropriate. However, here are a few suggestions – a card, flowers, money, food, or other items. A Tibetan offering scarf (khata) is given to the teacher as a blessing as part of the ceremony and can be borrowed or purchased from retreat volunteers or you may like to bring your own.