ACCOMMODATIONS
(Click hotel name to read description)

Shanghai:  JC Mandarin Hotel  (1 night)

Lijiang:  Hotel Treasure Harbour International  (2 nights)

Chengdu:  Hotel Sofitel Wanda  (2 nights)

Tsetang:  Hotel Tsetang  (1 night)

Shigatse:  Hotel Shigatse  (2 nights)

Lhasa:  Hotel Tibet  (3 nights)

Lhasa to Xining:  Qinghai-Tibet Railway  (1 night in soft bed sleeper compartments, four sleepers per compartment)

Beijing:  Capital Hotel  (1 night, with options to extend)

TOUR PREPARATION

Entry Requirements—For citizens of the United States, both a passport (valid for 6 months past tour dates) and a China Visa are required. Visas may be obtained through a Chinese consulate here in the U.S. prior to departure. Consulates are located in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Houston, TX. The China Embassy is located in Washington, DC. If you live in any of these cities it will be relatively easy for you to obtain your visa. Please follow the instructions at the China Embassy Website. If you do not live in any of these cities, you will need to use a visa processing service. Here is a link to one in Washington, DC, that specializes in obtaining visas for entry to China: http://china.visahq.com/   Many previous tour participants have used this service and were very satisfied. The process can take some time, so please don’t wait until the last minute to get started. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not mention that you are going into Tibet when applying for your China visa. This could add complications. We will send participants detailed instructions about how to fill out the visa application when it is time to apply.
     It is also necessary for us to obtain a Tibetan Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit to enter Tibet. This process will be handled by our suppliers in China. You will need to send us a copy of your passport detail page and your China Visa to facilitate obtaining this permit. We will provide more details about this procedure prior to departure.

Immunizations—No immunizations are required, but it is wise to have your inoculations up to date. Please check with a travel clinic or your own personal physician, and follow recommended protections. Is your tetanus booster current? You must have your own health insurance and not have any physical problems or conditions that would be adversely affected by being at a high altitude in Lijiang (7,800 feet) and Tibet (12,000 feet in Lhasa). You must be in very good physical condition to participate in this trip.

Exit Requirements—As of this writing, no taxes or fees are being collected at the domestic or international airports. These regulations are subject to change, however, so it is good to always have some ready cash available during airport check-in.

SUGGESTED VIEWING

• Kundun (1997). Martin Scorsese’s bio-pic about the Dalai Lama.
• Seven Years in Tibet (1997). Scenes filmed in Lhasa
• Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2002). Documentary about Tibet.

WHAT TO BRING

During this extensive two-week tour we will be traveling to many far-flung destinations. In order to avoid having to lug around several huge pieces of heavy luggage, try to pack clothing which can be worn repeatedly or put together in mix-’n’-match fashion. Laundry service is available at all our hotels.
     Gay culture is still mostly underground in China’s largest cities and non-existent in Tibet. Please be conservative in your choice of attire. Shanghai temperatures will be between 69 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As we climb in altitude, the weather will be cooler. In Lijiang, temperatures will range from 55 – 68 degrees. Once in Tibet, we can expect a range from 30 to 60 degrees, but be prepared for colder. Our final stop, Beijing, will see temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees. Extreme variations are always a possibility, so please pack accordingly!

Suggested Packing List:

____ Proof of citizenship. Passport and Visa required.

____ Comfy walking shoes for day tours and walks in urban environments and good weather.

____ Waterproof hiking boots that are well broken in to use in inclement weather.

____ Polo shirts / T-shirts / Undershirts (8 - 10).

____ Shorts (1 or 2 pairs).

____ Long pants (3 - 4 pairs) plus belt.

____ Sleepwear (for the train).

____ Sunscreen / lip balm / sunglasses / sun hat.

____ Sweaters / polar fleece with good insulating capacity. Think layers!

____ Windbreaker or water proof jacket.

____ Down coat / gloves / scarf / winter hat.

____ Long underwear, top and bottom, in case of frigid temperatures.

____ Personal toiletries (Bring an anti-diarrheal remedy just in case!)

____ Swimsuit.

____ Camera & plenty of film or digital memory plus extra batteries.

____ Ziploc Bags (sandwich size for documents, gallon size for wet items or toiletries).

____ A good book for the long flights.

MONEY MATTERS

The currency unit in both China and Tibet is the Yuan (CNY). All notes and coins have Western numerals, so they are easy to identify. The largest note is 100 Yuan; other notes are Y50, Y20, Y10, Y5, Y2, Y1, Y.50, Y.20, and Y.10. Coins are called fen and there are 5f, 2f and 1f dominations. Major credit cards are accepted throughout China and may be used at most hotels, restaurants and major shops, but you will need cash at local markets. Your passport is always required for currency exchanges at banks. ATM's that accept foreign cards are available in Beijing and Shanghai, but might be hard to locate in other destinations during this tour. Do not rely on ATMs as your only way to obtain cash in China. American dollars are accepted in Lhasa, but as you venture into other Tibetan towns, they will prefer the Yuan. Travelers checks and credit cards are rarely accepted in Tibet. As of October 21, 2007, the interbank exchange rate was 7.5183 CNY to the U.S. $1.00.

Tipping—We need to do a lot of group tipping to drivers and guides in each city along the way. To make this easier for the group we will collect a suggested tip amount during the Welcome Dinner, which will be disbursed throughout the tour by the tour leader and an “auditor” selected from the group. Suggested tipping guidelines will be provided prior to departure so you can come prepared to participate.

RESERVATIONS

To reserve a place on this tour, click on the “Reservations” link above. Type in the information requested in each field, print the form, then sign and mail it to Toto Tours with your $500 deposit check. You also have the option to pay for your tour deposit with a Visa or MasterCard. The remaining balance is due 80 days prior to departure (by June 21, 2008). Tour registration is not complete until we have received both the signed reservation form and your deposit check or credit card authorization.
     Toto Tours does not accept credit cards as a form of payment except for the amount of the tour deposit ($500 maximum can be charged per tour). An installment plan is possible. Our mailing address is: Toto Tours, 1326 W. Albion Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60626-4753. Make checks payable to: Toto Tours, Ltd.

LIABILITIES & DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
     We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in China! We will provide the necessary forms upon receipt of your deposit, or you can apply online by following the link at the bottom of this page. You can also book your travel insurance with a phone call to Toto Tours.
     The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of ten participants.
     Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure.

THE TOTO SPIRIT

• fun-loving optimists who have a sense of humor and accentuate the positive;
• good natured realists who are willing to accept situations as they exist;
• undaunted by the unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
• willing to forego some of the amenities we normally take for granted;
• eager to try new things & test limits;
• punctual;
• not whiners!

Join us for this exciting adventure at the “Top of the World” in the Yunnan Province of China and in the Mystic Mountains of Tibet. If you have any questions, please call us toll-free at:  800-565-1241.

THE BOTTOM LINE
(tour prices per person)

Price:  $4,995 double occupancy (hotels only, quad-occupancy on train)

Private Room:  $1,000 extra (hotels only, quad-occupancy on train). We have booked only twin and double rooms for this tour, so paying single supplement will guaranteed you a Twin Room for Sole Use (TSU).
(Paying the single supplement is not required of men traveling on their own. Toto Tours will make every effort to match you with a roommate if you prefer to share a room.)

Deposit:  $500  (Due at time of registration for the tour. May be paid with a credit card.)

Remaining Balance:  $4,495 double / $5,495 single
(Assumes $500 deposit has already been made)

Remaining Balance Due:  June 21, 2008
(Full payment required with reservation form if enrolling after this date.)

Included:  All meals as indicated in the tour itinerary; twelve nights accommodations in specified hotels (or comparable properties); one night accommodation in a soft sleeper train compartment (quad-occupancy) from Lhasa to Xining; four flights within China (Shanghai-Lijiang, Lijiang-Chengdu, Chengdu-Lhasa, Xining-Beijing); all guided excursions described in the itinerary (except those listed as “optional”); touring in a private vehicle; one group transfer to the Beijing airport at the conclusion of the tour. This is a fully guided and escorted tour.

Not Included:  Round-trip air transportation to Shanghai and returning from Beijing; China tourist visa and TTB permit; airport taxes and fees; arrival transfer from PVG airport to hotel in Shanghai; items not specifically covered in the itinerary; insurance; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes; or any other expenses of a personal nature. Tips to drivers and guides are not included.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you purchase travel insurance with AIG Travel Guard to cover for unforseen events prior to and during your trip. Please follow the link below or call us for more information.