Nepal Travel & Other Logistics
Travel Logistics
Please book your flight early into Kathmandu to arrive before 3pm on the start date of your trip. Please note that the trip itinerary cannot be postponed due to delayed arrival of guests. You are welcome to arrive before the expedition start date. Please let us know and send us your accommodation and flight itinerary. You can plan to depart anytime on the last day of the program. We will pick you up and drop you off at the airport.
Food
The traditional food of Nepal is Dal Bhat (rice and lentils). Nepali people eat it twice daily with curry vegetables, momos (dumplings), and corsani (chili pepper). In Kathmandu there is wide variety of food and fusion of dishes from all over the world. On the trek, we will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in tea houses along the trail. There is more variety at lower elevations, including pizza, dal baht, fried noodles, rice, pastas, etc. Breakfast usually consists of oatmeal, eggs, roti, chapati, pancakes, etc. Please bring comfort snacks. Western candy bars and junk food snacks are available to purchase in Kathmandu.
Tipping
The industry standard is to tip the guide team 10-20% of the total trip cost. Tips will be distributed to the porters and local guides on the last night. There are no ATMs in these remote areas so if you plan to tip, bring USD cash in 50 dollar bills or less. If you build a strong relationship with a specific person, feel free to tip them privately.
Visa & Passport
A visa is required for Nepal. You can get your visa online or purchase it with cash upon arrival at the airport. Please bring USD cash to pay for your visa upon arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your trip dates.
Altitude & Self Care
Expect to be challenged by the Himalayana Mountains. They are rugged and not easy. However, nothing worthwhile typically is. It's a different environment: dusty, cold, and smoky in teahouses. Aggressive self-care is critical including drinking 3-5 liters daily, eating well, layering when cold, and communicating openly about how you are feeling. Hiking and sleeping over 14,000 feet requires deliberate, slow movement. Something a simple twisted ankle can become an evacuation. We bring safety gear, including O2, satellite communication, 1st aid kits, etc. Please check with your physician before the trip. If you are headed to the Everest Region, may want to bring Acetazolamide (Diamox) for altitude sickness and prevention. Notify us of your medication plans. In the Everest Region, lower route options are available. With multiple guides we can divide the group to by-pass high points as needed.
Hygiene & Toilets
It is recommended to wash hands twice and thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet. Generally, TP is placed in a bin, not the toilet. Squat toilets are used in the mountains in Nepal. Guidance will be provided on how to effectively use these toilets. Plan to pack several personal rolls of TP. TP can be a rare commodity while trekking.
Hot Water & Wifi
Regardless of the rapid influence of globalization, Nepal is different. Hot water may not be available in the tea houses. At elevations above 14,000 ft, showers are not available. There is WiFi in remote locations; however, it is not always reliable. The Internet can be purchased directly at the teahouses.
Cultural Competency
Nepal is diverse with 125 ethic groups. Kathmandu is the cultural and economic hub. We will stay in the Thamel District in Kathmandu which is comprised of outdoor enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and everything in between.
In the Everest Region, we will be in the state of Solukhumbu where the ethnic groups are primarily Sherpa and Tamang. Sherpas are not "porters". Sherpa people are an ethnic group. "Sher" means east and "Pa" means Nepal. Tamang means "horse people." Both ethnic groups migrated from Tibet and each have their own mother tongue in addition to speaking the county language, Nepali.
In the Langtang Region, majority of the people are from the Tamang ethnic group.
Covid
Please bring a K95 mask in case of exposure. Covid tests will be provided as needed. In the case of a positive test that individual will go to Kathmandu to rest in quarantine.