- Govt. of India Approved
- IATO Member
- Trusted Since 1999
PRIME VALUE TOURS PVT. LTD.
Culture | Heritage | Wisdom
Ministry of Tourism Approved | IATO Member | Established 1999
Varanasi, India | www.primevaluetours.com | +91-9794122849
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything Thai pilgrims and international travelers ask before booking with us
Booking an India tour from another country brings many questions, and that is completely natural. Below are the answers to the questions our Thai pilgrim groups, Southeast Asian travelers, and other international guests ask us most often. If your question is not listed, please write to us at info@primevaluetours.com or send a WhatsApp message to +91-9794122849. We reply on the same day.
Prime Value Tours Pvt. Ltd. is an inbound tour operator based in Varanasi, India, established in 1999. We are approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and are a proud member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). Over the last 25+ years, we have organized Buddhist pilgrimage tours; Golden Triangle tours; Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim-Darjeeling, and Ajanta-Ellora trips for thousands of guests, with a special focus on Thai and Southeast Asian groups.
Yes. We are a government of India-recognized inbound tour operator, approved by the Ministry of Tourism, and a full member of IATO (the official body of inbound tour operators in India). Our registration documents and approval certificates can be shared on request before you make any booking.
Our company was founded in 1999, so we have over 25 years of operational experience. Our Managing Director, Mr. Bhuvanendra Vikram Singh, has personally led and supervised Buddhist circuit groups across India and Nepal for the same period and is the Chairman of the IATO Uttar Pradesh Chapter.
Yes. Because most Buddhist pilgrimage circuits cross into Nepal for Lumbini, we operate our own ground office in Lumbini, Nepal. This allows us to handle the India-Nepal border crossing, hotel coordination in Lumbini, and local transport directly, instead of depending on third-party agents. It is one of the main reasons Thai groups choose us.
We cover all four primary Buddhist sites and many secondary sites. Primary sites: Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath in Varanasi (first sermon), and Kushinagar (final passing). Secondary sites covered on extended circuits: Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Patna, Shravasti (Sravasti), Sankisa, Kapilavastu, and Kesaria Stupa. We also offer extensions to Ajanta-Ellora, Sanchi, and Dharamsala for groups interested in deeper Buddhist heritage.
We run 5-day, 8-day and 12-day Buddhist tours. The 5-day tour starts from Bangkok. The 8-day and 12-day tours cover both India and Nepal. Send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp or LINE, and we will suggest the best fit.
For first-time Thai groups, we usually recommend starting from Varanasi and finishing at Bodh Gaya, with a minimum 2-night stay in Bodh Gaya at the end. The standard route is Varanasi to Shravasti to Lumbini to Kushinagar to Vaishali to Patna to Nalanda to Rajgir to Bodh Gaya. Ending the trip at the place of the Buddha’s enlightenment gives the journey a meaningful, spiritually complete feeling that Thai pilgrims appreciate deeply.
Both options are available. For Thai groups we arrange Thai-speaking local escorts and senior monks where requested, and at each major Buddhist site we coordinate Thai-friendly arrangements. Our office communication with you is in English, and our drivers and local site assistants speak basic English. Many Thai groups also travel with their own monk or tour leader who handles in-group Thai narration, and we support that setup fully.
Booking is simple. Send your tour requirements to info@primevaluetours.com or WhatsApp +91-9794122849 with your group size, travel dates, and preferred route. We will send a detailed itinerary and quotation within 24 hours. Once you confirm, we will send a formal pro forma invoice and booking confirmation. After advance payment is received, your hotels, transport, and guides are blocked. We then keep you updated until your arrival in India.
For confirmed group bookings we normally request a 25 percent advance to block hotels and transport, with the balance payable 15 to 21 days before arrival. For peak season bookings (October to March) and large groups (25+ pax), advance terms may be slightly higher to secure hotel allocations. We accept payment by bank wire transfer to our company account in India. Full bank details are shared on your proforma invoice.
Our standard cancellation terms are as follows: cancellation 30+ days before arrival refunds the full advance minus a small administrative fee; 15 to 29 days before arrival incurs a 25 percent retention; 7 to 14 days before arrival incurs 50 percent; and cancellation within 7 days of arrival is non-refundable. Exact terms depend on the hotels and services booked, so the full policy is always written on your booking confirmation. We are also flexible on date changes when notified in advance.
Yes, this is actually our main business. We do not run fixed departure dates with mixed groups. Every tour we organize is a private, customized arrangement for one group, which means your dates, hotel category, vehicle type, meal plan, and route are tailored exactly to your needs. This is especially important for Thai temple groups, where the dharma talk schedule, chanting times, and monk requirements must be respected.
Yes. Thai passport holders need a valid Indian visa before arrival. The most popular option is the Indian e-Visa (Tourist), which can be applied for online at the official Indian government portal (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa). For Buddhist pilgrimage groups, we provide a guidance letter and a confirmed itinerary that supports the e-Visa application. Apply at least 4 days before arrival (the official minimum); for groups we recommend 2–3 weeks ahead. Thai citizens get the 30-day double-entry e-Tourist Visa free of charge until 31 December 2027. Avoid third-party visa websites that charge inflated fees.
Yes, but it is very simple. Most Buddhist circuits enter Nepal at the Sonauli or Bhairahawa border to reach Lumbini. A Nepal visa on arrival is available at the border for most nationalities, including Thai citizens, and costs around 30 USD for 15 days. You only need a passport with 6 months of validity, one photo, and the fee in USD cash. Our team assists at the border crossing to make the process fast.
Yes. Hotels in India and Nepal require passport copies at check-in, monasteries sometimes ask for ID verification, and the border crossing between India and Nepal requires the original passport. We recommend keeping your passport on you in a secure waist pouch and giving a color photocopy to your tour leader for hotel registration. Never leave your passport in your hotel room.
Yes, absolutely. Pure vegetarian food is available at every stop on the Buddhist circuit, and we pre-arrange meal plans with hotels that understand Thai dietary preferences. In Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, and Varanasi, several restaurants and hotels prepare mild, less-spicy Thai-style vegetarian meals. For longer tours, we can arrange a Thai cook or pre-order Thai ingredients in advance. Jain food, no-onion-no-garlic food, and monk meal protocols are all handled on request.
We offer 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotel categories on every circuit, and the quotation will list exact hotel names for each city so there is no confusion. In some smaller Buddhist towns like Kushinagar, Shravasti, and Sankisa, the best available standard is comfortable 3-star or heritage-style accommodation, simply because there are no 5-star properties in those small pilgrimage towns. We always pick the cleanest, most reliable hotel in each location based on years of personal inspection.
Vehicle type depends on group size. For 2 to 6 people, we use an air-conditioned SUV or sedan. For 7 to 15 pax, we provide a Tempo Traveller with reclining seats. For 16 to 25 pax, we use a 27-seater mini coach, and for larger groups, we provide a 35- or 45-seater AC tourist coach. All vehicles are commercial tourist permit vehicles with experienced drivers, clean interiors, bottled water, and dustbin facilities. We never use non-permitted private vehicles.
Yes. As is standard in the inbound travel trade, we offer 1 FOC place for every 15 paying pax on most group bookings on a twin-sharing basis. For larger groups of 25+ pax, additional FOC arrangements can be discussed. The FOC place includes accommodation, meals, and tour services as per the group but excludes international flights. This makes our pricing very competitive for Thai agencies, temple groups, and travel club organizers.
Buddhist circuit destinations are among the safest tourist regions in India because they are well-organized pilgrimage zones with regular tourist police and a steady flow of international visitors. Our drivers are experienced on these routes, hotels are pre-inspected, and we maintain a 24/7 emergency support number throughout your tour. Many of our guests are senior monks and elderly pilgrims, and we plan the daily schedule to allow proper rest, a slow walking pace at heritage sites, and easy medical access if needed.
We are real people, not a chatbot. Send us your question by email or WhatsApp, and a senior team member will answer within a few hours. Many of our long-term Thai agency partners started with a single question and have now traveled with us for 10+ years.
Still Have Questions? Talk to Us Directly
We have been organizing pilgrimages and cultural tours across India and Nepal since 1999. Our team is happy to answer any question you have, in simple English, with no pressure to book.
Address: 3rd Floor, E-8, Central Jail Rd, Opposite Main Gate, Shanti Vihar, Gilat Bazar, Chotta Chuppepur, Varanasi 221003, India
Phone: +91-542-2500113 | Mobile / WhatsApp: +91-9794122849
Email: info@primevaluetours.com | Website: www.primevaluetours.com
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/919794122849 | LINE: https://line.me/ti/p/6QtZRvYpeP
Walk with confidence. Travel With Experience. Trust Prime Value Tours.
