FAQ

I have a valid passport (it still has more than a month left before it expires). Can I still book a trek?
Yes, you can book a trek however, we strongly suggest renewing your passport if there is less than 6 months before it expires).
For a booking confirmation we require a scanned copy of your old passport. After receiving your new passport we require a scanned copy of your new passport for air ticket reservation.

Where are we met after we arrive at Kathmandu airport?
A member of our team will meet all our guests just outside the arrival lounge of the Kathmandu International airport. They will be waiting with your name card well displayed. After meeting, you will be taken to our private vehicle then transferred to the hotel. They will also help you with the hotel check-in formalities.

Do we carry our own luggage?
According to airport rules, visitors can only meet our team member outside the arrival lounge. This being said, you will have to carry your luggage in the trolleys through the customs lobby up to the exit point on your own. After meeting our officer, he will take care of your luggage until your check in at the hotel.

Where can I store the bags that I do not need to take on trekking ?
You don’t need to carry all your belongings which are not required on the trek. These can be left at your hotel in Kathmandu. Nearly all hotels have a luggage deposit, and the hotel you will provide a locker where you can store your belongings. Once we arrive back in Kathmandu post trek, you can provide your ticket to the hotel and your stored luggage will be brought to you. If this is something you are doing, we strongly recommend that you bring a lock with you for the luggage you are storing.

We strongly recommend that all valuables be left at home. Our motto is (for ALL travel): if you are not prepared to lose it, don’t bring it. Adventures in Nepal does not assume responsibility for anything lost or stolen should it be stored at the hotel or brought on the trek.

Whom should I contact during our stay in Nepal pre and post trek?
We assign one of our team members to look after you. They will be available for you during your stay when you are not on the trek. We provide you with his mobile number, or, you may contact our office number directly.

How fit do I need to be? What preparations should I do?
While a certain amount of physical fitness is recommended, you don’t need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles to enjoy trekking. If you are reasonably fit and enjoy long distance walking, you are likely qualified for trekking in Nepal. You do not need any previous experience however, we suggest you begin some physical fitness programs such as strength training (moderate) and hiking before you embark on your trekking journey. We strongly recommend that you wear the hiking boots you will be wearing on the trek when you do training hikes and also the day pack with the weight you will be carrying.

What is tea house trekking? How is it organized?
On almost all popular trekking trails in Nepal (Everest, Annapurna, Langtang), local villagers have built tea-house lodges. On tea house treks, you stay at mountain lodges (tea/guest houses) and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in their restaurant. The tea houses are like motels with hot showers usually available, continental and Nepali food and comfortable private rooms (twin sharing). Staying in teahouses provides trekkers with the opportunity to interact with local owners and their family members and learn more about the Nepalese culture.

What are the washroom facilities like when trekking ?
Toilets are usually Asian squat style and will vary in their cleanliness. Normally toilets are outside the teahouse but more recently some lodges have attached them or provide indoor toilets. Bring toilet paper with you as it is usually not available in the toilets.

Are vegetarian meals available while mountain?
Standard meals as well as vegetarian meal options are available. Please let us know prior to the trip ie when you are booking, any special dietary requirements you might have. While in the more remote areas, vegetarian means are normally available, if you have specific food allergies, please tell about your trekking guide.

If I am travelling by myself, are single rooms available?
For solo trekkers, we can provide you with single room in the tea houses. During peak season (October, November, December, March, April) you may have to share a room with a member of the same gender, but we do our best to accommodate your preference.

 

What is Camping Trekking? How is it organized?
In a camping trek you will sleep in tents which are provided. The sleeping pads/mattresses are provided as well. All foods are prepared and served by our camping crew.

 

What equipment should I bring?
We will provide a detailed list for our guests once the deposit has been paid. What is recommended to bring will vary depending on the trek and the time of year.

 

Do I need to bring hiking boots?
Hiking boots which support the ankle are mandatory. This reduces the risk of injury especially in the high mountain areas where footing may be unstable. It is important that your boots are comfortable and broken in and not brand new. We insist on hiking boots to minimize risk of injury as if one person becomes injured, the whole group will have to adjust to accommodate the injured trekker. We do not recommend trekking in new boots or renting boots prior to the trek. We also strongly recommend that your hiking boots are worn on the plane in the event of luggage delay or loss.

 

What kind of food will be served while on trek ?
You will be served freshly cooked food during trekking. In all tea houses/ lodges along trekking trail Western, Continental and Nepali dishes are available.

 

How long do we trek per day and how high?
Usually up to a maximum of 5-6 hours a day with lunch breaks along the trail but this depends on the trek. If you can be upright and moving for 7 hours that will be a good indication that you can manage the distance. The maximum altitude depends upon which trek you are on. In Nepal normally the maximum altitude of most of the trekking falls between 3500m to 5400m.

 

What is the best season for trekking in Nepal? And can I go trekking in the months of January- February and June- August?
The best time for trekking in Nepal is from mid-September to early December and from March to April.

In January and February, the climate is much colder so there will be snow and ice to deal with. For this reason, we do not recommend high altitude trekking for these months. For January and February, we suggest trekking in the areas of Langtang, Ghorepani, Jomsom/Muktinath as would be better choices at this time of year.

Likewise, the June July August period is the rainy season in Nepal. During this time, heavy rain fall is a normal occurrence, and the mountain views are not always clear. For this period, we recommend Upper Mustang and Dolpo trekking. These are rain shadow areas where very little rain falls during this time of year.

 

What happens if I experience altitude sickness during the trek?
For some trekkers when they hike over 3000 m they may feel the effects of altitude sickness. Shortness of breath, headaches and possibly light headedness are common symptoms. Sometimes they may also get diarrhea as well as muscle aches. Altitude sickness can be dangerous but it can be avoidable. If you follow a few simple rules you will not suffer from altitude sickness: trek slowly with your guide, and drink at least two liters of water per day (not including beer or soft drinks) and stop and rest frequently.
If you feel shortness of breath, a slight headache or dizziness, tell your guide and rest immediately. Lie down and drink water. If you are still feeling unwell, you may consider going down a few hundred meters. Do not pretend you are okay, and do not go down alone. We are trained in managing these symptoms and are very proactive in preventing them in the first place.

I have asthma/ diabetes/another medical condition. Can I still do the trek?
We require full disclosure of any medical condition that could affect your ability to do a trek in the mountains at the time of booking. We do not recommend that anyone with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or if pregnant participate in these treks. Adventures in Nepal is not responsible for any complications from trekkers’ medical conditions, and we require that our guests have their doctor’s approval prior to going.

Is there a minimum or maximum age limit for Trekking in Nepal?
There is no government restriction on the age limit for the Nepal trekking. As a parent, you will know your child’s ability to physically do the trek and as well, do without the usual amenities from home. If you are over the age of 70, again you will know best if you are physically able to complete the trek and we strongly recommend you have your doctor provide you with confirmation of your health.

What happens in the event of an emergency?
As we are fully trained in high-altitude trekking, normally our trekkers rarely have any emergency cases such as high-altitude sickness. If there is an emergency incident, we arrange for a helicopter to be called immediately. You will then be flown with a team member to Kathmandu and taken to the hospital for treatment. As helicopter rescue is extremely expensive, we require that all trekkers have travel insurance covering evacuation rescue and medical treatment. You will be required to show proof of this and we will need a copy for our records prior to starting the trek.

What about Travel Insurance?
It is mandatory that all clients obtain travel insurance while travelling with Adventures in Nepal. The insurance must cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses and emergency evacuation. It is strongly recommended the coverage be extended to include cancellation, curtailment, loss of belongings and all other expenses, which might arise because of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring. As part of our Terms and Conditions, Adventures in Nepal shall have no liability for loss, theft of or damage to baggage or personal effects. We also advise that Nepalese Insurance Companies do not provide travel insurance for foreign nationals. They provide travel insurance only for Nepalese citizens. Please bring your insurance documents with you as we will need to see them to confirm coverage prior to the start of the trek.

Is a deposit required?

To confirm your tour package, we require a 20% deposit at the time of booking. The remaining amount can be paid after you arrive in Kathmandu. Since most of the teahouse owners prefer U$s and are paid as we go, it makes it easier if the remaining balance is paid in cash as less is lost to foreign exchange.

 

How far in advance do I need to book?
If you intend to do the Everest Base Camp trek, we recommend you book 3 months in advance as air tickets to Lukla need to be reserved. During the September to December period (the busy season), air tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis. Flights to Lukla are only available with a few airlines that operate in Nepal so we strongly recommend that you reserve your trek as far in advance as possible as well, your international air travel.

Are Adventures in Nepal company’s trekking crew insured?
We ensure all our trekking staff (guide, sirdar, porters and others).

Do Adventures in Nepal look after their porters?
The Adventures in Nepal pays our porters a fair wage and we also cover their transportation home plus insurance. We fully support porters’ rights and have contributed regularly to campaigns such as Porters Progress for improving porter welfare. It is so important that porters have warm clothes and proper trekking boots. Adventures in Nepal provides an equitable wage for our porters relative to other professions’ wages here – portering is hard work and should be compensated accordingly. We donate a percentage of our profits to community projects in the mountain regions of Nepal where many of our porters come from.

Can I hire an extra porter in the mountains?
Our trek packages allow one porter for two people. One porter can carry 15-20 kg of your luggage and you will be responsible for carrying anything over and above this weight. For the Everest Base Camp Trek specifically, if you are interested in hiring an extra porter, we recommend hiring in Lukla but please advise us at the time of booking. The porter cost is approximately U$20. After Lukla, it is very difficult to obtain a porter. if you do hire a porter beyond the Lukla or Namche bazaar, the porter cost increases accordingly but they are not always available.

What alcoholic beverages are available?
Nepal produces different types of bottled beer, all of which are excellent. Some lodges have a good supply of local as well as foreign whisky, gin, vodka, rum and soft drinks. A local “wine” is produced in the hills which is served hot and resembles sake. If you have a special preference, you might want to purchase it at a duty-free shop on your way to Kathmandu.

What kind of footwear will I need?
You will require a light weight pair of hiking boots with good ankle support and rubber soles with thick tread. As every foot is different, we can’t recommend a specific pair. We do recommend spraying them with waterproofing and wearing them on the plane (if your luggage is delayed, it will be impossible to purchase and break new boots in, in time for the trek and your feet will suffer).

How hot/cold does it get in a day?
As general rule, it is hot enough during the days to wear an open-neck shirt with shorts and you will not be cold. During the evening, it does get cold so, long trousers and a warm jersey are essential. At higher elevations, warmer attire is required.

Should I bring my own medications?
Please consult your local doctor and follow his advice. However, if you are taking a particular medication for a medical condition, it is best to bring it with you (and also carry the meds on the plane with you).

Is it possible to rent equipment?
There are trekking shops in Thamel, in Kathmandu, where you can easily rent or buy items like sleeping bags, down jackets, walking sticks, rucksacks, duffel bags and other equipment at very reasonable prices.

Do I need a sleeping bag? How warm should it be?
We recommend that you rent or buy sleeping bags for temperatures as low as -30 °C. This temperature is suitable for Everest base camp treks (above 4000m). Also, you can rent /buy sleeping bags in Kathmandu trekking stores if you would prefer not to bring one with you.

How many extra days should I allow in case of flight cancellation?
If you are flying from a remote mountain airstrip like Lukla, Jomsom, Simikot, Taplejung and Dolpo, you should allow at least two extra days before your departure for home.

Is communication to home possible while on a trek?
Trekking areas like Everest, Annapurna and Langtang, almost all teahouses/ mountain lodges usually have Wi-Fi available.

Is Nepal safe?
Nepal is a safe country to travel to. Our staff takes every precaution to ensure the comfort and safety of our trekkers. In previous times, there were political movements and demonstrations however, that was in the past and today, tourists can travel in Nepal and be relatively at ease. As with any place though, care should be taken to safeguard any devices or cameras carried in hand or in your pockets.

How does it work with the porters? How much weight can one porter carry?  
all our treks have an experienced trekking guide. He oversees your overall trekking. This is the person you should go to with all problems, concerns, and questions. He is well trained all aspects of trekking, high altitude medicine, first aid and emergency procedures. Please remember that trekking guides are local citizens and their spoken English may be basic and limited to trek-related topics however they are fully trained to be proactive with regard to trekkers' safety and concerns. Our porters carry your luggage and normally one porter carries 20 to 25 kg. They are also local citizens and welcome the opportunity to engage in conversation. Normally we provide one porter for every two trekkers.

What kind of accommodation in Kathmandu is provided?
We have chosen accommodation options based on the following criteria: standard of hygiene, standard of service, location, food standard and cost. Normally for trekkers we give three-star level hotels in Kathmandu as well as in Pokhara. All accommodation is based on twin sharing with breakfast.

How many hours prior to the departure flight are we picked -up from the hotel?
You are picked from your hotel 2-3 hours before the time of your departure flight.

How are we assisted in our transfer?
On the day of departure at the appointment time, a team member meets you in the lobby of the hotel where you are staying and they will assist you with the transfer to the airport.