Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Section 1: About Prime Value Tours

Q1. Who is Prime Value Tours Pvt. Ltd.?

1999. 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.

Q2. Is Prime Value Tours a registered and approved company?

1. 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.

Q3. How many years of experience does the team have?

1. 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 previously served as a regional IATO representative for Varanasi.

Q4. Do you have a ground office in Nepal?

1. 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.

Section 2: Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit Tours

Q5. Which Buddhist sites do you cover in your pilgrimage tours?

1. 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, Sravasti, Sankisa, Kapilavastu, and Kesaria Stupa. We also offer extensions to Ajanta-Ellora, Sanchi, and Dharamsala for groups interested in deeper Buddhist heritage.

Q6. How many days do I need for a complete Buddhist pilgrimage?

1. The most popular full circuit takes 8 to 10 days and covers all four primary sites plus Rajgir, Nalanda, and Vaishali. A shorter 6-day version covering Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Kushinagar, and Lumbini is also available for groups with limited time. Extended 12- to 14-day circuits add Sravasti, Lucknow, or Kathmandu. We help you select the right route based on your group size, age profile, and flight schedule.

Q7. Which route do you recommend for first-time Thai pilgrim groups?

1. 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 Sravasti 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.

Q8. Do you arrange Thai-speaking guides or only English-speaking guides?

1. 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.

Section 3: Booking and Payment

Q9. How do I book a tour with Prime Value Tours?

1. 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.

Q10. What is your payment policy, and how much advance is required?

1. 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.

Q11. What is your cancellation and refund policy?

1. 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.

Q12. Do you offer customized or private group tours?

1. 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.

Section 4: Visa, Documents, and Border Crossing

Q13. Do Thai citizens need a visa to visit India?

1. 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. Always apply at least 7 days before departure. Avoid third-party visa websites that charge inflated fees.

Q14. Do I need a separate visa for Nepal during the Buddhist circuit?

1. 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.

Q15. Should I bring my passport everywhere during the tour?

1. 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.

Section 5: Food, Accommodation, and Daily Comfort

Q16. Is vegetarian and Thai-friendly food available throughout the tour?

1. 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.

Q17. What category of hotels do you provide?

1. 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, Sravasti, 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.

Q18. What kind of vehicles do you use for groups?

1. 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.

Section 6: Group Pricing and Tour Leader Policy

Q19. Do you offer FOC (free of cost) places for tour leaders on group bookings?

1. 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.

Q20. How safe is India for Thai pilgrims and senior citizens?

1. 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.

Need a question answered that is not listed here?

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.

Walk with confidence. Travel With Experience. Trust Prime Value Tours.