Trekking Notes

Trekking notes

Trekking Team Description
All our trekking trips are accompanied by one experienced local trekking guide and porters. We provide one porter for carrying luggage of two trekkers. Trekking guide will provide information on the places you are trekking through and offer suggestions for things to do and see. Actually he is the leader of your trekking.

Silver Price and Gold Price
We offer you two prices: Silver and Gold. The different between these two prices is only on one service. In Gold price during trekking we provide you all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). But in Silver price the trekkers should pay by themselves the expenses of their meals in trekking days. But other services which are included in Gold price are also included in Silver price. The reason of making two prices is some trekker they want to choose restaurants by themselves and want more budgeting flexibility although there are no many restaurants in trekking trail.

Visas
All foreign nationals (except Indians) require a visa to enter Nepal. Visas are obtainable from embassies abroad or on arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan airport. If getting the visa at the airport is prepared for standing in queue. You will also need to provide one passport photo and the following fees in US dollars cash only: single entry visa valid for 15 days – US $25: Single Entry Visa for 30 days – US $40 and multiple entry visa valid for 90 days – US $100.

Arrival Complications
We don’t expect any problems to traveler in the airport. Travelers are met just outside the arrival lounge of the Kathmandu International airport by our representative. Our representative can be identified easily. They are standing with the traveler’s play card displaying the name of the group (individual in case of one). After meeting you are taken to our private vehicle and then to the hotel. Our officer also helps you in the hotel check in formalities.

Fitness for Trekking
In fact, you don’t need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles to enjoy trekking. If you are reasonably fit, have a spirit of mountain journey, and like walking, you are always qualified for any trekking in Nepal. You do not need any previous experience. However, we suggest some physical fitness programs, such as running, swimming, and hiking, before you embark on your journey.

Health
Please consult with your travel doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit and hand sanitizers/antibacterial wipes, as well as any personal medical requirements. We advise you to carry sufficient drugs that you are taking daily for specific health problems.

Spending Money
Every traveler is different, and therefore, spending money requirements will vary. Some travelers may drink more than others, while other travelers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Money Exchange
A currency exchange rate fluctuates daily in Nepal. We suggest you visit our central bank website, www.nrb.org.np, for day-by-day exchange rates. As of December 28th, the exchange rate was 1 USD = 72 NPR (Nepalese Rupees). Many ATMs accept both Visa and MasterCard, but these are limited to major cities. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee.

Emergency Fund
We advise carrying at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an ’emergency’ fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex., a natural disaster, flight cancellation) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate in any of our trips. When selecting a travel insurance policy, we require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses, including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also cover personal liability, cancellation, curtailment, and loss of luggage and personal effects.

Walking hours
Up to a maximum of 5-6 hours a day with lunch breaks along the trail. The maximum altitude depends on which trek you are going. In Nepal, normally, the maximum altitude of most of the trekking falls between 3500 m and 5000 m.

Local Flights
All local flights are included in your package cost in both silver and gold if there is a domestic flight in the itinerary. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you before the flight departure.

Single Traveler
If you are a single traveler, you can do any trekking tour. We provide you a single room and offer one guide and porter. Since you occupy a single room and a single car, you have to pay a single supplement charge, but that charge will be reasonable. We do not quote a high price for a single traveler.

Emergency Contact
We assign one of our tour executives to look after you, who constantly stays in touch with you during your stay, and they keep informing/briefing you about your itinerary, including sightseeing and every other information. After you arrive in Kathmandu, we introduce you to him and also give you his mobile number. We also give you our office number. During a situation of dire need during trekking, you can contact our tour executive or our office. Then he will do proper initiation according to your situation.

Tipping
Tipping is expected—though not compulsory. It shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Recommendations for tipping guides would range from $5 to $10 USD per person per day, depending on the quality and length of the service. For porters during the trekking portion of your trip, the recommended amount is 300-500 Rs (4-7 USD) per day. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, the above amount is only a guideline for you.

Laundry
Laundry facilities are available in Kathmandu. On trekking trails, very few hotels/tea houses in certain places offer these facilities. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry, so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Feedback
After your travels, we want to hear from you. Your feedback information is so important to us that it will help us to evaluate and improve our services. At the end of any trip, we give you a feedback form. Please write your opinions in it and give it to us.

Travel Forum
On our official site, www.himalayastrek.com, you can find a travel blog. It is an open travel forum. There you can share your travel experience, stories, upload photos of Nepal travel, and also write your comments on others’ posts.

Typical Lodge Trek
A typical trekking day means hiking from morning to afternoon only. Each morning after packing bags and having a good breakfast, we set off on the day’s walk. We will recommend you carry a small daypack containing a water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, a raincoat, a camera, and a warm jumper just in case. The rest of your materials, the porters will carry. The walk will be 3-4 hours in the morning until lunch at midday. We stop for one hour for a simple lunch on the way to the destination in a teahouse at a small village. Here you can rest (read books, write your diary), or you can explore the village

After lunch, you will hike for 3 to 4 hours in the afternoon. You will usually reach the teahouse/lodge around three to four PM. Our guide will provide you best accommodation (tea house) in the village. On some days, we reach our destination by lunchtime, and the entire afternoon will be free. After tea and coffee, the remaining period can be spent exploring the village, doing a bit of washing, or simply relaxing with a good book.

The dinner will be served in the evening, around 6 to 7 P.M. The dining room (restaurant) is inside the teahouse. For dinner, the teahouse owner will request you to order dinner one hour before. After dinner, the evening will often be spent playing cards and reliving the day’s adventures or writing a diary if you're habitual of it before heading off to bed for well-earned sleep.