Faqs

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Hot showers and mobile charging can cost you extra and the price increases as you go higher up.

In tea house trek you stay at village mountain lodges and have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most tea houses require you to have meals at their tea houses if you want accommodation. The tea houses do have hot showers, continental and Nepali food and comfortable private rooms (twin sharing). Hot showers and mobile charging can cost you extra and the price increases as you go higher up.

Western, Continental and Nepali dishes are available along the trekking trails. Standard meals are offered as well as vegetarian options. Kindly let us know beforehand for vegetarian option when you book your trip. The meals will be according to the staple diet of the local area. There will be other food items like bakery, fast food items on major trekking stops and villages. Also, do inform us prior to your trekking of any food allergies you may have.

Stuff that you do not need don’t have to be carried for trekking. Your valuables can be left at your hotel in Kathmandu and any non essential stuff can be left at our office. The hotels will provide you with a safety deposit where you can store all your valuables.

Proper restaurants are available only at trekking stops such as view points, base camps, and major villages.

The accommodation options in trekking routes range from guest houses, homestays, hotels and tea houses. In Kathmandu and other major towns, you will find some good quality hotels and lodges. But as you go further upwards, tea houses and homestays are the mode of accommodation. Most tea houses and homestays require you to have meals there. As you go higher up, charging your phones and hot water will cost you extra money.

Nowadays, with many trekking routes being discovered, tea houses are becoming popular and has become an excellent way of supporting the local economy.

Travelling in Nepal is a relatively very safe affair. We treat our guests with the utmost respect. Regardless, there can be some things that women find difficult to share with men guides.

Female guides are available at your request. However, female guides are only provided if you are a solitary female traveller, Female family or female groups. Plus, a female guide will offer you a different perspective on your journey than men guides can.

You can hire extra porters for your group or family trekking. Just note that the tipping charges also increases as your porters increase.

Although most of Asian countries don’t have much of a tipping culture, many of the guides and porters in Nepal depend on tips from trekking tourists to help make ends meet. Regardless, you should only add a tip when you feel the staff did an excellent job.

A good rule of thumb when solo trekking is to tip the equivalent of $5 per day for your guides and $2 to $4 per day for porters.

In many good or large restaurants in Nepal, A service charge of 10% is already added on you bill. Cheap, local eateries or tea houses may not add a service charge. If you don’t see it on your bill, consider leaving some small change on the table.

The cost of the porter’s work is USD $15-25 (Rs. 1,500 – 2,500) per day, whereas the guides normally charge USD $30-40 (Rs. 3,000 – 4,000) a day. When hiring a porter or a guide through an agency, make sure the cost of food are included in the price.

Many hikes in Nepal require the use of guides and porters such as Upper Dolpo, Kanchenjunga and Upper Mustang due to the areas being restricted. However, places such as the Annapurna Conservation Area and Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camps do not require guides.

It is best to organize your Nepal trekking tour before you get to Nepal to save time and avoid the confusion of finding a trekking company while you are in Nepal.

It’s important to keep in mind that no matter what trek you do, you are going to have to get a Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) permit.

Most of the tour guides operating in Nepal treks are qualified. However, do check for government Tour Guide License so that you know you are in good hands.

The guides and porters only carry basic first aid kid. However, there are a considerable number of first aid posts, health camps and clinics to take care of you.

Trekking guides are trained for basic first aid. Health services for travelers is a well equipped and streamlined operation in Nepal. Along your trail, you will find several health posts and small hospitals. In addition to patient care, Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) is also capable of coordinating search and rescue operations in addition to evacuations. And once in Kathmandu and Pokhara, there are highly efficient hospitals.

No, you cannot continue your trek if you got sick. Giving your body time to heal is of paramount importance.

• Above 2,500 meters limit your daily ascent to 500 meters between night stops.
• Have a rest day every 3 days or 1,000 meters ascent, whichever comes first.
• Drink 4 liters of fluid every day.
• Preventive use of acetazolamide (Diamox) must be considered in addition to the aforementioned points. [Refer with your medicine provider for intake guide]
• In the case of allergic reaction to acetazolamide, dexamethasone can be used.
• If prior history of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema is present, nifedipine must be used preventively.
• Make sure you are warmly clothed at all times. Carry a fleece in your day pack and make use of your Windstopper.
• Avoid alcohol at all costs.
• Do not take sleeping pills.

Important immunizations to get before you start you trek in Nepal are:

• Hepatitis A.
• Typhoid Fever.
• Chickenpox.
• Measles
• Influenza
• Tetanus
• Rabies

The safety measures you need to take before and during your trek are:

• Get proper immunizations.
• Proper trekking insurance.
• Carry bottled water with you at all time. You also need to constantly have water purifying tablets. These tablets will be available at a local pharmacy.
• Avoid Altitude Mountain Sickness by climbing gradually and allowing enough time for acclimatization.
• Carry proper layers of clothing.
• Have appropriate trekking gear.

During the monsoon months from late May to mid September,the mountainous regions are usually enveloped in clouds, and the lower routes are generally muddy with large numbers of leeches.

The weather and temperature depends on the months you make the trip.

Spring is the ideal season to trek in Nepal. Spring season falls between early March to early May. As winter fades away and spring pushes in, temperatures in regions with elevations over 4000m have moderate temperatures, making way for sunny, clear and warm trekking conditions.

The best time to trek in Nepal is considered to be in Autumn. The autumn season in Nepal falls between mid September to mid November.

Summer typically brings the monsoon rains from late May to mid September in Nepal. Mountainous regions are usually enveloped in clouds, and the lower routes are generally muddy with large numbers of leeches. Hence, Summer trekking is not recommended.

Trekking in winter is only reserved for the most physically fit. The downside during winter, however, is that most of the high passes are covered in snow and are inaccessible. Colder temperatures require more planning and preparation, but the rewards are worthwhile.

The mobile network coverage is quite good in the trekking regions where the infrastructure for tourism and transport is well developed. If you want to stay in touch while trekking in the mountains, it’s better to use CDMA phones and sim cards because the coverage area is much larger.

Internet is available on lodges and tea houses, but it can be a hit and miss affair. Your best bet might be to get a Nepali SIM card with a data plan.

The roads to and from the major district headquarters and towns are fairly well-maintained. Incase of flight cancellation, private jeep will be arranged for you. Needless to say, road transport will take more time but on the upside, this means you get to save money. The road takes you through terraced fields, sub-tropical forest and gradually changes to coniferous forest to tall grasslands, depending on where you are travelling to. Simply put, the roadside view is unbeatable.

Flight is fast and easy for families. For groups of 4 and upwards, private jeep can be a unique experience and is the preferred mode of travel. You can choose to use public transport. This will save you money. However, the standard level of public transport is poor and the safety risks are also great.

You can book the flights and transportation yourself. However, with so many trekking options to choose from, we recommend that you contact us and get a travel itinerary tailored to your convenience. This will save you time and money.

Grade 1 trekking routes are suitable for all ages from 6 to 55+ even. While Grade 2 may not be suitable for older people. Grade 3 and 4 are only for people of age 55 and under and require a person to be on their peak physical condition.

Trekking difficulty in Nepal are based on Grade levels from Grade 1 to 4.

Grade 1 [Easy]: These treks do not require you to have prior trekking experience. These treks are also very convenient for old and young making these treks a hit with the family and beginners.

Ghorepani Poon Hill, Everest short trek, Around Kathmandu valley trekking are good examples.

Grade 2 [Moderate]: These treks can be done by beginners but do require you to be at least moderately fit with some regular exercises. The average altitude of these treks will be 3900 meters to 4800 meters and does cover some steep passes occasionally.

Annapurna base camp, Langtang valley trek & Gokyo lake Everest trek are some examples of moderate level trekking.

Grade 3 [Strenuous]: These trekking routes do require you to be physically fit, good stamina and a person with regular exercise habit. You will walk for about 6 hours daily on average and generally the altitude will be above 4800 meters to 5600 meters. Accommodation too will not be good enough in comparison to other regular trekking trails.

Everest base camp, Annapurna circuit, Upper Mustang trek, Guerrilla Trail are some good examples of strenuous trekking in Nepal.

Grade 4 [Challenging/Alpine trekking]: This trek constantly challenges you with many trek across high passes, snow glaciers and icy path. Previous trekking experiences are of utmost importance if you want to get through with this trek.

Make sure to check with your Tour agency and website on the level of difficulty of your trekking destination.

The challenging treks in Nepal are:
Three Passes Trek: This very challenging trek crosses three passes of over 5,000 metres – Kongma La (5,535 metres), Cho La (5,420 metres) and Renjo La (5,340 metres).

Dhaulagiri Circuit: This challenging trek is a camping trek meaning no lodges are used for accommodation.And this trek covers requires you to spend three days in a row trekking above 5,000 metres.

Upper Dolpo Trek: This is one of the most remote and hard-to-reach places in the country. The infrastructure for trekkers is practically non-existent, so you’ll need to carry in all of your food and equipment, including tents.

Kanchenjunga Trek: This trek requires you to walk on an average of 5 days for 27 days, making it one of the longest and demanding treks you will encounter in Nepal.

Your physical condition needs to be stable as you will be trekking in thin air. With a good physical condition, you will be able to metabolize better. With your body in a fit condition, you can cut effects such as Mountain Sickness, Respiratory problems, digestion problems and other problems you will face.

To improve your cardiovascular fitness, high-intensity training works best. High intensity training involves short bursts of high-intensity effort, followed by a recovery period. It is the best way to increase your stamina and prepare you for trekking at different altitudes.

Most of the trekking routes, except for the more challenging ones like Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp and Kanchenjunga Trek, are graded fairly easy to moderately easy. This means that anyone who is moderately fit can undertake the routes.

The mobile network coverage is quite good in the trekking regions where the infrastructure for tourism and transport is well developed. If you want to stay in touch while trekking in the mountains, it’s better to use CDMA phones and sim cards because the coverage area is much larger.

Internet is available on lodges and tea houses, but it can be a hit and miss affair. Your best bet might be to get a Nepali SIM card with a data plan.

Please budget all your fooding and accomodation expenses before hand and bring cash accordingly. There are some rare ATMs on trekking routes, like Jomsom and Namche Bazaar for example. But these cannot be relied upon to have cash. Some places may take dollars but this is likely to be more expensive than changing in advance. Your best option is to carry all your cash in advance.

You can carry your baggage. It is recommended that any valuables and non-essentials be left in a locker room of your hotel. While during your journey, porters are available to carry your load. This is another great way to help build the local economy.

There are plenty of places in the capital or other trekking stopoves such as Pokhara or Jomsom or Namche Bazaar to buy trekking gears from. These places also give you the option to rent the gear instead of buying.

The base layer needs to be fit and comfortable as it is the layer that is closest to your body. The base layer is extremely important when you reach the highest points along the trek.
The second layer is also known as the insulation layer. Fleece is the material that is mostly used for the construction of clothes that make up the second layer.
The third and the outermost layer becomes the most important of all the layers because it is often the thickest and helps keep snow and extreme cold temperatures at bay.
A waterproof jacket can be extremely useful in times of rain.

General Gear:

Along with the above mentioned clothing layer, you will also need:

• A pair of hiking trousers and hiking shorts.
• Lightweight nylon or polyester trekking shirts.
• Waterproof shell jacket and trousers will come in handy in case of rain.
• Pairs of Sports underwear for women as well as men.

Headwear:

Headwear will protect your from the sunlight, or cold that you will encounter during your ascent.

• A trekking hat with a brim will be sufficient to keep harsh sunlight away.
• A woolen hat for keeping your head warm during the cold.
• A balaclava will be perfect to protect your neck region. If you are looking for something that is lightweight, you can try out a scarf or a face cover.

Gloves:

• Wearing inner gloves will come in handy when the temperature is mild.
• Your outer gloves will go a long way to protect your fingers from the harsh cold.

Footwear:

• Hiking Boots
• Trekking Shoes
• Hiking socks will keep the moisture away and keep you comfortable in lower altitudes.
• Thermal socks will be important in very high altitudes with low temperatures such as base camp or high passes.

Other gears:

• Duffel Bag
• Backpack
• Rain cover
• Sleeping gear

A guaranteed departure means that the tour will definitely operate on the day it is scheduled and will not be cancelled. All departures will run except in the event of a natural disaster or other similarly disruptive events that are beyond our control.

Almost all of our tour departures are guaranteed to run. Some tours are guaranteed more than 1 year ahead of time. Others may not be guaranteed until 2 months ahead of time. Every week we receive more bookings and this allows for more guaranteed departures.

Our itineraries are based on historical and current weather patterns, schedules and popular periods. Our itineraries are flexible so that the more people who book tours which are not ‘guaranteed departures’, the more tours we can name as guaranteed departures.

Yes, you may customize the itinerary on our website according to your choosing. We highly recommend that you email us or call us so that we know more about your personal preferences.

Before you trek to Nepal, a TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management Systems) card is very important. You can’t do without one. There are various trekking permits for special kinds of treks. They are:

• Special Trekking Permit for restricted/controlled areas
• Trekkers’ Information Management System/TIMS Card
• Conservation Area entrance fee
• National Park entrance fee
• Trekking peak climbing and mountaineering permit
• Filming and documentary shooting permit

The most convenient place to apply for a TIMS card is at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu. You can also apply for other area permits here, such as for the Upper Mustang Trek or Annapurna Circuit permits (ACAP permit).

Trekking in Nepal is a very risky business. If you don’t have a travel insurance then it will end up costing your bank account or even your life. There are various problems you can face during your travels. Sprained ankles, Altitude sickness, food poisoning, skin infections and respiratory infections. A helicopter evacuation in Nepal costs you upwards $5,000, not including the bed charge, service charges and medical charges. Without the right travel insurance, your medical bills can be very high!

Many travel insurance companies do not cover people over 4,000 meters or adventure activities. So make sure the fine print in you policies cover these two factors. Please check with your insurance company for trekking in Nepal.

The documents you need for your Tourist Visa are:

• A completed Arrival Card.
• A completed Online Visa Form.

The Online Visa Form can be filled prior to your arrival by visiting the Department of Immigration official website [link]. Or you can fill it up using Kiosk machines upon your arrival at the airport. If you will it from the website, you will get a submission confirmation and a receipt with barcode. You are required to print the receipt and bring it along on your trip.

Most tourists can get a visa on arrival at the airport. The process takes 20 minutes to an hour depending on the rush. You are responsible to verify all visa requirements. Your passport needs to have at least 6 month validity from the date of your arrival on Nepal.

Our representative will be there to pick you up at the airport. Make sure to look out for the ‘Nepal Tour Guide Team’ signboard. Your transport to your hotel is already booked by us.