General Info
PASSPORT AND VISA
A passport is required and must be valid for 6 months after the end of your stay in Nepal.
The tourist visa is obtained in two ways:
IN NEPAL:
On your arrival at Kathmandu airport you will require a complete printed (and request landing visa application) and take the file “ABROAD WITHOUT VISA” with identity photo and dollars or euros in cash (25 $ for 15 days, $ 40 for 30 days and $ 100 for 90 days). NB: During the high season you may have to wait a long time.
IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY:
Before leaving, you can get it at the local Nepal Embassy
INSURANCE:
Travel insurance is mandatory and is your responsibility. It must cover cancellation, accidents, rescue by helicopter, repatriation to Kathmandu (this clause must be written fully spelled out), health insurance, theft and damage to baggage losses.
Make sure that the coverage amounts are sufficient to cover the costs of the risks mentioned. Inform your insurance agency of dates, place and content of your trek.
NB: if the trek cannot be completed in its entirety for reasons independent of the organizer, no refund is available.
CURRENCY:
ATM’s in Kathmandu are plentiful. VISA or MASTER CARD cash advances are easily obtained.
BAGGAGE:
Baggage not required on the actual trek can be stored at the hotel in a locked locker.
TYPICAL TREKKING STAFF:
A qualified trekking guide
Typically one porter for each two clients. We limit the porters carrying weight to 20 kilos max
Cooks and additional porters for a tent trek.
Note:
The guide adapts the details of the trek depending on weather and customer.
ACCOMMODATION:
Regardless of the type of trek – a lodge or tent- a sleeping bag is necessary. In the lodge, you will have a room with two beds or a dormitory (without heating) dependent on the number of visitors. Bathrooms are shared with individual showers and hot water covered up to 4000m altitude (possibility of buying a bucket of hot water when no shower is available)
TENT:
They are installed near the villages and allow an easy access to lodge toilets and showers at an extra charge. They can also be installed in a camp-site with toilets.
FOOD:
Lodge meals are cooked by the owners and are of good quality. Likewise if you are camping (treks with tent), the trek cook (with his own equipment) provides good quality too.
WATER:
Bottle mineral water is available for purchase at all lodges and guest houses on trek. However, we recommend the use of water purification tablets if possible. Bottle water is expensive as it has to be carried up the trails to the lodges by porters. It is also not the most environmentally friendly way to stay hydrated.
VACCINES. HEALTH. EMERGENCY:
No vaccinations are required but are advised to bring anti-malarial drugs to south of Nepal. As well you should have your medications such as disinfectants, painkillers, betadine, anti-diarrhoeal drugs … In almost every village there will be a telephone..
TREEKKING SEASONS
The must popular period is from September to late November because the sky is clear,the air is dry, and the temperatures not too hot in the south and not too cold in the mountains. March and April are also good months for trekking.. From mid-June to mid September is the monsoon which is best to avoid unless you like trekking in the rain and mud.
CLOTHES TO BRING:
wool hat
cap for sun protection with neck scarf
light gloves
thermal slippers
socks (one pair for two days of walking)
synthetic underwear with long sleeves
thermal long johns
wool sweater
light fleece jackets and thicker ones,
technical jacket
raincoat or poncho
convertible pants
hiking boots that have been broken in
walking sticks
EQUIPMENT:
kitbag (60 to 80 litre)
day pack or backpack (30 litres)
sleeping bag (- 18 ° C)
compact toiletries
quick-drying towel
toilet paper
high mountain sunglasses
headlamp
water bottle 1 litre
multi-purpose knife
waterproof pouch
lock
pens and notebook
camera
trekking polls/walking sticks
PHARMACY:
sunscreen
mosquito repellant
water purification tablets
blister prevention
anti-diarrhoeal, micropur, rehydration sachets, anti-nausea.
