Logistics
Required permits and rates Following our itinerary, you will need three permits- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit (USD 30), Makalu Barun National Park Entry Permit (USD30), Khumbu Rural/Municipality Area Permit (USD20) and Mera Peak Climbing Permit. While the rates for other permits are fixed, Mera Peak Climbing permit cost varies depending on the season as follows:
USD 250 – Mar/Apr/May, USD 125 – Sep/Oct/Nov, USD 70 – Jun/Jul/Aug/Dec/Jan/Feb
Mountain Lodges Mountain lodges are the basic accommodation set up by locals to cater to trekkers in the trails. The common features across all lodges are standard rooms, a spacious and heated dining hall, and a restaurant with an extensive menu. The rooms in mountain lodges generally have two or three twin beds with a mattress and blanket. If you are used to sleeping warm, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag. We make sure that the lodges we select have clean rooms and change their bed sheets regularly. Other amenities could be a table, hanger, and dustbin but do not expect to have charging ports and attached toilets in the rooms. Moreover, it is mandatory to have meals in the facility you’re staying at.
Tented Camps We will be sleeping on high altitude tents on camping days. Each tent is shared by two people and will be equipped with foam mattress and pillow. You have to being your own sleeping bags. The campsite is basically over ice, and will have dedicated a kitchen, dining tent, toilet tent, and camping crew.
Sharing rooms Accommodation is on twin-sharing basis, which means there will be two people to a room. If you are travelling solo, we can assign a room partner (with someone of the same gender if you so prefer) or if you are travelling with someone you know, you can share the room with them. A separate single room can be arranged for an additional charge.
Charging The charging station is usually at the reception area in the dining hall and each device is charged on a timely basis. The rates are higher for more powerful devices (e.g. power bank, camera batteries, etc). A portable battery charger (15,000-20,000mAh) is highly recommended. That will allow you to charge your devices 3-4 times between recharging the battery pack at a teahouse.
Cellular Network For cell service, consider purchasing an international calling plan from your home cell service provider. Not only does this save you the hassle of searching for a local SIM card, but it also works just as effectively as the local networks.
If you plan to get a sim card, Nepal Telecom (NTC) network works better in most areas compared to Ncell in most remote areas. Having said that, please bear in mind that the process of buying an NTC sim card is more time-consuming.
There’s no reception on many parts of the trek and climb.
Wifi If you have a sim card or roaming service, you can buy an internet data pack. In several remote parts of Nepal, both the cell network and the internet can be patchy. Lodges in higher altitude and even Mera High Camp has Everest link internet connection. You can buy prepaid cards or purchase wifi on hourly basis as needed. Please note that the internet can be very limited and slow.
Hot Shower Hot showers (solar/gas heated) are available for an extra fee. In elevations above 4000 meters, you only have the option of bucket shower.
Toilets Toilets are usually common to a floor and could either be western or squat style. In lower elevations, attached toilet options are available. However, the options get limited to shared toilets as we go higher (above 3000 meters) and may not even have running water. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper and soap.
Transportation
Mountain Flights Mountain flights operate only in the mornings and will provide you with a very scenic yet exhilarating experience.
The mountain planes used in Nepal are Twin Otter with a capacity to accommodate around 18 passengers. Some of the common carriers are Summit, Tara, and Sita Air.
Vehicle We provide reserved private vehicles to drive you around for pick-ups and drop-offs as per the itinerary. The vehicle type (car, jeep, van, etc) will be allocated depending on the number of people and terrain.
Food & Water
Food For days at the lodges, lunch and dinner are left out from price includes to give you full flexibility on meals, depending on your appetite and preference. Our hotels have a wide selection of food and drink options. For vegetarians and vegans, or if you have any other dietary requirements, please let us at the time of booking so we can make arrangements.
On camping days, the food will be very basic. Dinner and lunch will be a choice of Dal Bhat, Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, Thukpa (noodle soup), etc cooked and served hot for the entire group. You will be provided tea, coffee, juice and hot water as needed.
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Water Carrying your own water bottle/ hydration pack is mandatory. It is always best to have a bottle (1-2 liters) and a thermal flask (1 liter or smaller) during the trek. You can refill your bottle with boiled or bottled drinking water available at lunch spots and hotels. We highly discourage buying plastic water bottles during the trek for environmental reasons.
Snacks to Carry It is recommended to bring snacks (like chocolates, dry fruits, etc) and energy bars to munch on during the trek.
Shops along the way You will come across several shops on the trails stocked with water, snacks, bottled drinks and toiletries. Shops are limited to lower elevations, so make sure to carry your supplies early on.
Crew
Guide One professional licensed climbing guide and assistant guides (depending on the number of trekkers) will accompany you on the trek. Our guides are highly experienced in the mountains, with technical expertise and adequate training. Feel free to reach out to the team for any kind of queries or emergencies.
Porter A porter is someone who carries your luggage. They are generally locals of the region and will accompany you directly on the day of your trek. The maximum weight one porter carries is 30kgs / 66lbs. The weight of two trekkers will be carried by one porter inside a big duffel bag.
Money
Extra Costs to Expect Possible expenses, other than meals, could be drinks, laundry, tipping, wifi, battery charging, and shopping. Please make sure you have read the inclusions thoroughly so you know what you might need to pay for while traveling.
Emergency Fund Our trips are planned to the last detail. However, there might be unforeseen circumstances arising from factors beyond our control (like political unrest, strikes, bad weather, natural calamities, bad road conditions, airport closures, flight cancellations, etc). For this reason, please set aside USD 500 as reserve fund.
Currency You are advised to carry the local currency (Nepali rupees) for the trails as all the service providers transact in rupees.
ATMS and Credit cards In most areas outside the cities, cash is the more reliable and widely accepted payment method. You’ll have the option to pay by card at some hotels and eateries in Kathmandu and Lukla. Additionally, you will be charged an extra 3-4% transaction fee on top of the amount if you choose to pay by card. As for ATMs on trails, there are a couple of them in Lukla.
Tipping A service charge with tips is included by most hotels and eateries in their bills. You are welcome to give some gratuities to the trekking crew if you like their service. A good reference is around USD 20 per day for the guides and USD 10-15 per day for the porters. Feel free to tip higher if you love their service.
Cancellations and Refund In case of flight delays/cancellations due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, we will reschedule at no extra cost. However, any extra cost incurred and extra charges because of the changes, including but not limited to transportation, accommodation and food, will be the responsibility of the traveler.
Health & Safety
Altitude sickness We take altitude sickness very seriously and all our itineraries are designed to go on a slow pace, covering short distances as we go higher. With the increase in every thousand meters, we stay an extra night at the same stop or place with a similar elevation to acclimatize our bodies to the altitude. During the trek, we will also take precautions by staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol consumption, and going for acclimatization hikes as needed. We also have a training day before the climb to see how our body feels, and a contingency day incase we need to make necessary adjustments. Our guide will check your vitals with oximeter every evening during the trek so we know how your body is reacting to the changing elevation. If you see any symptoms of AMS or have a headache, please contact our guide immediately. In most cases, mild headaches can be tackled with food, hydration and rest.
We don’t recommend diamox (pills for altitude sickness) but you can take it as precaution starting a day or two before the trek if you are coming from sea level.
Safety equipments Our crew will be well-equipped with necessary gears at all times including SKED Stretcher for rescue, gamow bag, oxygen mask gegulator, radio and satellite phone, first aid kit and oximeter. If you have any pre-existing health conditions please let us know when booking.
Insurance You must obtain travel insurance for the trek. This should cover emergency evacuation and medical expenses. Make sure that the policy also covers you up to 6,500m elevation(21,0005ft) above sea level.
Emergencies If you have any issues or emergencies while trekking, please contact the lead guide or anyone from the team. They will help you contact the nearby hospitals, transport, ambulance, police office, army checkpoints, embassy, and even facilitate rescue operations. We will also send you a list of relevant emergency contacts before the trip starts.
Drinking Water Water safety is very crucial as one can easily contract waterborne diseases (and you don’t want that during your trek). We recommend drinking only boiled water or using one of steriPEN, LifeStraw, or purification tablets during the trek.
Trail Safety Pack your passport, flight tickets, phone, wallet, camera equipment, cash, and all your valuables in your day pack or waist belt. Please don’t leave them in the vehicle. Please don’t bring or carry expensive items like jewellery etc or a large sum of cash while travelling for security reasons.
Immunization Generally, immunizations recommended before trekking in Nepal are Hepatitis A, Typhoid fever, and chickenpox. Nobody would check but this is for your own safety.
