Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world for its natural beauty due to its unique geographical position and latitudinal variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 meters (197ft) above sea level to the highest point on the earth, Mt. Everest (8,848m/29,028ft), all within a distance of 150 kilometers with varied climatic conditions ranging from sub tropical to arctic. This wild variation has an incredible variety of ecosystems, the greatest mountain range on the earth, thick tropical forests with abundant wildlife, raging rivers, green hills and hidden valleys.
Nepal’s another significant attraction is its cultural diversity. Nepal is also home of 28.58 million people belonging to 125 ethnic groups who speak 123 different languages, most living in their own style along the extension of the Himalayas. The best way to explore this exotic Himalayan nature and culture of Nepal is by trekking through these villages and meeting the charming people along the trail.
So, Nepal is a famous destination for adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering expeditions, climbing small peaks, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, canyoning, mountain biking, bird watching, jungle safari, cultural tours and many more that start with a typical greeting called – “NAMASTE”.
Pre-Trip Meeting:
We will have a Pre-Trip meeting when all the participants of the team arrive in Kathmandu. Please advise us if you will be arriving late and unable to attend the meeting. We also supply the departure information for next day. You may join a cultural tour of Kathmandu should you have some spare days before or after the completion of the main trip. The city tour includes a private vehicle (car, van or bus as per the group size) and professional English speaking tour guide. Please note that the city tours are always optional apart from the customized trips.
There are a total of 7 World Heritage Sites in the city, including at least fifty important shrines and temples in the Durbar Square alone. They are Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu/Patan/Bhaktapur Durbar Squares and Changunarayan Temple. Among them, 4 to 5 sites are possible to visit in a day.
Participation Statement:
Trekking Encounters recognizes that hiking, trekking, hill walking, climbing and mountaineering expeditions are activities with a danger of personal injury. Participants during these activities should be fully aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement. We strongly advise you to remain fully covered by insurance in case of any emergency.
Group Size:
We operate small group travels and solo trips as per your demand. There are certain treks that require minimum TWO persons as per the government provision. All our treks and tours consist of maximum 12 people in a group as we have experienced this to be the optimum size for a successful trip. However, if there are requests for a group of more than twelve people, we can arrange this too.
Trek Leader and Crew:
For a lodge/teahouse based trek, there will be an English speaking and experienced trek leader supported with Sherpa porter(s) for luggage carrying (2 trekkers: 1 porter). This arrangement ensures that the trip can still go ahead as planned if anybody in the group is sick. The staffs can play a vital role in order to make your trip successful, enjoyable and memorable. Our team consists of skilled, experienced, courteous and helpful trek leader and the crew members who are capable of handling your holiday in the mountains smoothly. All our guides speak English fluently and carefully selected. Actually, most of our guides grew up in the mountains of Nepal. So, they’re not only familiar with local communities and culture, they’re a part of it and practice every day. They are also educated on potential medical issues during the trek, biodiversity and environmental issues on training programs. We provide training for all our staffs and all our trek leaders are trained in the following as a minimum:
- English Language
- Trekking Guide or Leader
- Intensive Wilderness First Aid
- Eco-Trekking Workshop and Map Reading
- Conservation and Biodiversity
- Rock and Ice Climbing and Mountaineering (available for expedition leaders)
A Typical Trekking Day:
You will be knocked on your door soon after the light enters your room. A small bowl of warm water will be offered for washing. When the freshening is finished, you pack your bags and make available to the porter. Your breakfast is ready now in the dining followed by a warm cup of tea. We set off for the trek after breakfast while the porters have started already. We usually start our trek between 7:30 to 08:30AM. The pace on the trek will be leisurely with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, take photos and meet with the locals. We stop for lunch after approximately 2-3 hours of trek somewhere on the trail. Our lunch break is usually for one hour including the crew meal. After a relaxing lunch, you will typically spend another 2-3 hours or even more sometimes on the trek before reaching your stopping point.
There will be opportunities to take frequent rest breaks and take time to admire the fascinating mountain views throughout the day. While the trek continues, you can also take plenty of pictures of yourself with incredibly panoramic mountains, rivers, landscapes, prayer flags, temples, shrines, cairns, monasteries, etc. You may take a village tour after having a brief rest and shower. Then you can enjoy the evening by reading, chatting with your fellow trekkers and crew about the trip, enjoying with some drinks or playing cards with the crew. Our crew love teaching various Nepali card games and learn new Western games. Finally, it’s off to bed for a well deserved night’s rest before you start the next day’s trip again.
Accuracy of Itinerary:
Although it is our intention to operate this trip as printed, it may be necessary to make some changes as a result of flight schedules, climatic conditions, local politics and limitations of infrastructure or other operational factors. As a consequence, the order or location of overnight stops and the duration of days may vary from those outlined. You should be aware that some events are beyond our control and we would ask for your patience and understanding. Where a change does occur, we do everything we can to minimize its effect, but we cannot be responsible for the results of changes or delays.
Meals on the Trek:
You can enjoy with typical Nepali food, varieties of ethnic and all sorts of international cuisine including Tibetan, Continental, Indian, Mexican etc. on your teahouse/lodge trek. Most teahouses/lodges can prepare a set of delicious meals including pasta, tuna bakes, potatoes, noodles, daal-bhaat, variety of breads and soups etc. They can even cook pizza, chips and some desserts like apple pies, pancakes and custard. You can also get hot chocolate, tea, coffee, hot lemon, soft drinks and snacks in many places. Generally, dinner and breakfast are provided from the teahouse/lodge where you spend the night. Then we stop for lunch on the way to next destination. On our camping treks, you can enjoy with freshly cooked hygienic and nutritious meals on full board basis prepared by our experienced kitchen crew. They prepare a typical set of Nepali food, varieties of ethnic and some international cuisines as per our ‘trekking menu’. A complimentary welcome or farewell dinner with cultural dance will be offered in Kathmandu.
Accommodations on the Trek:
We provide standard accommodations in two/three stars hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara on twin sharing basis with breakfast included. All accommodations on the teahouse/lodge trek are provided on twin sharing plan included in the trip cost and are chosen based on standard of hygiene, quality of food, location and availability. The rooms have wooden beds, foam mattresses and quilt or blankets but no heating system. We advise you to bring your own sleeping bag or are available in Kathmandu on rental. Most teahouses/lodges have only shared washing and toilet facilities; however we try our best to provide you with attached rooms. If you prefer single room, please indicate that while booking a trip and single supplement charge is applicable on top. Many places do not allow single accommodations in the Everest and Annapurna Base Camp regions. Your single room supplement will include a single room in Kathmandu and where available on the trek. Please expect occasional dormitory rooms at some places in high seasons. At our camping treks, accommodations are provided in comfortable two-man tent with foam mattresses on twin sharing basis. Single supplement is applicable here if you prefer single tent.
Transportation:
We use good condition tourist vehicles during your sightseeing tours, inter-city tours and airport transfers. The ground transportation we provide are mostly private but tourist buses can be provided on your request for some sectors like Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan and vice-versa. Depending on the group size, we use car, minibus, van or land cruisers. There are some rough roads that require 4WD vehicles only. The small and light vehicles are more flexible and enable us to take you through the narrow and hilly roads of Nepal. The flights are organised where mentioned in the itinerary unless you prefer to change with alternatives.
Private Groups:
The trips featured on our websites and other advertising materials are some outlines for many of our private group travellers. We can organize custom designed itineraries for solo travellers, groups of friends, clubs, charity’s, schools or even work colleagues. Our team will assist you the best way possible to design itineraries of your choice.
Trip Availability:
If you find any of our trip(s) suitable for you, we encourage you to contact us to check the availability. There may be several reasons why you may not be able to join your preferred trip as there are limited numbers of spaces available and we operate small group departures and probably this could be one of them. We are receiving the demands increasingly each year making it difficult to join a trip at last moment. So, we ensure you to assist onto your adventure of a lifetime that we ask you to check the trip availability at your earliest convenience.
Acclimatisation:
All our treks above 4,000m/13,123ft are planned with a high degree of awareness of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Our itineraries generally allow sufficient time for your body to acclimatise. The best way to avoid any problems is to do everything slowly, walk at a gentle steady pace and drink plenty of fluid. Going high too fast causes a medical condition serious enough to kill. Sensible planning is therefore necessary to minimize the risk of AMS. We advise specially the trekkers with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before heading off for high altitude treks. Headache is the most common symptom and there are other signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) for different people but include fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, difficulty in walking and rattling breath.
Travel Insurance:
All members will require comprehensive travel insurance for personal injury, medical, evacuation, repatriation, air ambulance and adequate cover for baggage. All members MUST have rescue insurance with helicopter evacuation. You must carry proof of insurance (e.g. your insurance certificate) with you. We will make a copy of those for our records in case of emergency need.
Medical:
You should seek advice on inoculations from your GP, travel clinic or online. Medical assistance is available in Kathmandu at some international standard hospitals. We advise specially the trekkers with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before heading off for high altitude treks.
Rescue and Evacuation:
There are provisions for rescue and evacuation by land/or air (helicopter) in Nepal. If anyone/or group becomes seriously ill and determined by the group that rescue is necessary, one of the staff (or group member) will rush to the nearest available place for communication to inform us in Kathmandu. We will immediately report the case to your insurance company and obtain clearance for evacuation. Then we will send a rescue helicopter as immediately as possible. Usually, it can reach on asked place within 2 or 3 hours. However, rescue flights are very much technical and weather permitting depending on the places. We put our best efforts in order to save your life like your family does.
Porter Care Policy:
Nepal’s entire trekking and expedition industry rely on the back of hard working local porters. They carry the logistics and baggage while trekking to the remote areas. We are very sorry to say that they have endured a history of exploitation and abuse at the hands of the industry. In an effort to combat this, we are firmly committed to porter rights and we ensure that all our porters/staff are fully paid, insured and well-equipped. Porters who become sick are treated with the same care and attention as you would expect if this was you in case of any physical hazard while on a trek.
Competitive Price:
We guaranty you the most competitive prices on our all treks and tours. There are absolutely no hidden extras. The cost is prepared in view of suiting your needs and specified what this covers for.
Baggage and Packing:
Usually airlines in Nepal restrict baggage to 20kg and the Lukla flight 10kg. In case your main luggage goes missing en-route, it is a good idea to wear your boots on the plane. Most other things can be replaced but comfortable, well worn-in boots are more difficult to replace easily. You can leave some items at the hotel till your return. Most hotels offer free storage service including their safe deposit locker. Clothing and equipment not required on the expedition can be left safely at the hotel. It’s a good idea to leave travel clothes with the hotel laundry so that you have at least one set of clean clothes on your return to civilization.
Equipment List:
A detailed equipment list is provided on our website. Sleeping bag and down jacket are available on hire in Kathmandu at a very reasonable price. Each item will cost about US $1 per day on rental. However, we advise you to purchase a good 4 season sleeping bag and jacket for winter treks and serious expeditions. Please visit our page for comprehensive equipment list.
Country Information – Nepal:
On the 28th May 2008, the constituent assembly voted in overwhelming favour of abolishing the Monarchy in Nepal. The last was the Shah dynasty who ruled in Nepal for 240 years. Nepal has been proclaimed a “Federal Republic State” to be known as the “Democratic Republic of Nepal”. Continue reading>>
General Travel Information:
Nepal is a landlocked country known for its beautiful and dramatic natural scenery. Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity due to its unique geographical position and altitude variation. The elevation ranges from 65 meters above sea level to the highest point on earth, the Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters (29,028ft). Nepal has so much to offer including the scenic views, glaciers, lakes, majestic Himalayas, spectacular mountains, clear waterfalls, raging rivers, ancient cultures, temples, monasteries and traditional villages, etc. So, we are trying to supply you with the most current and updated information on Nepal and avoid worries planning a trip in this wonderful land. Continue reading>>
Tipping:
Tipping is generally expected and part of everyday life. The general amount to tip is from $3 to $5 per day per person to each guide and porter. There are no restrictions to tip more and note that tipping is always for better service.
Bookings and Payments:
To start a booking of any trip published by TEN on its marketing materials, we shall need a completed booking form along with 25% of deposit to the specified bank account. A complete booking form will be available to you by e-mail or fax. On completion, it needs to be sent us back by fax, e-mail scan copy or post to our office in Kathmandu along with the 25% of deposit. This will constitute your acceptance of all Terms and Conditions. We also require your copies of passport and insurance details. After we receive your 25% of trip cost as deposit amount, completed booking form, copies of passport and insurance details, we shall send you final confirmation of your booking and receipt.
Deposits are on per person and per trip based. Please contact us directly to get deposit instructions.
- If sending via wire transfer, a bank service charge may apply and should be borne by the Client.
- If paying by Credit Cards, a surcharge of 4% will be levied as card processing fee. For your information, we accept Visa and MasterCard only.
- Full payment is necessary minimum 21 days prior to the trip departure date.
Environmental Concern:
We assure our commitment to reduce the impact to the natural environment due to our customers’ visit and dedicated to sustainable eco-tourism. Trekking Encounters would like to request its customers to help in preserving the environment by conserving water, supporting the use of renewable resources, minimizing the use of plastic bottles, canned food and other things that pollute the environment. We supply our clients with safe and purified drinking water instead of bottled water.
Our CSR:
Trekking Encounters is one of the socially responsible companies that act in a number of ways to benefit society; by giving donations to preserve the arts and culture, funding academic scholarships, supporting community-building initiatives and so on. We have been donating a certain percentage of our profits to local charities that work for environmental protection, education and health services in Nepal. We aim to find more opportunities in building up scholarship funds for the remote and underprivileged children of Nepal.
Please Contact Us if you are willing to sponsor a child in Nepal. Your small contribution may give lights to someone.
Terms and Conditions:
The Booking Terms and Conditions contain important information so that it is necessary for you to read them carefully and understand well. It also constitutes a legally binding contract between Trekking Encounters Nepal (TEN) referred as the ‘Company’ and ‘Client’ for the services to be provided by TEN and defines the legal obligations to either party. Continue reading>>
Additional Information:
We have provided as much information as possible about this trip on our website. However, if you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip, please feel free to contact us by e-mail. If you wish to speak to us directly, you may call us at: +977 9851076388.