FAQs

Some frequently asked questions

Trekking in Nepal with kids is very much possible. However, you have to choose the family-friendly trekking destination which is suitable for your kids. Tours with children requires a lot of patience and praise; it’s all about the journey, so let your kid experience the beauty of the mountain, learn while they travel and grow. Older children of 8 years or more who are active and acclimatize well can participate in most of the tours for beginners.

Tipping is taken as a gesture of appreciation and a token of love from the guests. If you are trekking solo, $5 a day is appropriate. If you’re in a group, $10 a day is expected. If you are happy with their service and you feel he warrants a thank you, tipping more is always great.

The tea houses/ lodges have electricity or solar power and some plug adaptors but we recommend carrying replacement batteries. Be warned there can often be a queue. At lower altitudes, it is possible to recharge your camera and mobile phone batteries for about US$2-3. We also recommend you to keep both batteries and camera as warm as possible.

Nepal's food is as culturally diverse as it is ethnically and geographically. Most menus in Nepal consists of Dal Bhat dishes (dal = lentil, bhat = rice, tarkari= curry, achar= pickles), potato dishes, noodle dishes, soup dishes, bread dishes, and egg /porridge dishes. Momos are also very popular. These are Nepali dumplings served with chutney dipping sauce. We recommend that you try it. In addition to this, you can get different kinds of western food during the trekking. Food is operated on a first-come-first-serve basis and we advise you to order as soon as you arrive to avoid disappointment. Food is also a medium to support the local guesthouses and bakeries along the way.

Autumn (Sept - Nov) is the most popular time to go trekking in Nepal, as the temperature is moderate and the weather is usually stable with unobstructed, crisp views. Autumn features great festivals including Dashain (October) and Tihar (November). Spring (Feb - April) is another popular trekking season, as it brings exceptional clarity with blooming flowers and lush green valleys. Spring has festivals like Holi in March and Nepalese New Year in April. Winter (Dec- Jan) brings cold weather at higher elevations, especially at night, but panoramic mountain views, quieter trekking trails, crystal clear skies with exuberant beauty will leave you spellbound. This is also the time of year when electricity rationing is very high with long hours of no power. Summer (Jun - August) is not the best time to visit Nepal if you're trekking, but will reward you with spectacular views of lush and green hills washed by rainwater.

It depends upon your walking/trekking speeds, difficulty level and height of the peak and weather conditions. On average, your walking hour will be 6-8 hours per day.

Without some pre-trip training, or a good basic level of fitness, trekking can be difficult. In addition to physical fitness and good health, one should require a positive attitude. We recommend you begin a programme of regular exercises at least two months prior to your arrival in Nepal to prepare yourself for a trek. Nonetheless, you will need to get used to exerting yourself at high altitudes before you are going to be able to trek in the high elevation mountains. We recommend a visit to the doctor or a registered nurse before the visit to Nepal.

Yes, we strongly recommend you to get your insurance cover from your home country. Most travel insurance covers emergency air ambulance/ helicopter rescue including medical expenses, theft or loss of possessions.

All foreigner nationals, except Indians, must have a visa. You can obtain your entry visa upon arrival at the international airport in Kathmandu and at all land border crossings that are open to foreigners. You need a valid passport, two passport size photos on hand and money. The visa fee is payable in any major currency but some crossings insist on payment in US dollars.

Nepal offers a wide range of tourist friendly accommodation throughout the country. However, the cost of accommodation depends on the facilities and location. Kathmandu and Pokhara have their own tourist quarters from high end five star hotels to mid-range family friendly hotels to backpacker friendly guest houses. Besides these areas, accommodation facilities in lodges, tea houses or trekking inns in trekking routes is relatively easy.

There are numerous kinds of cars/cabs available in Kathmandu for intra-city transportation. A taxi ride in Kathmandu can take around $0.70 per km. For a slightly lower cost, you can hire a bike or metered three-wheeler scooter cabs called tempos. Walking is the best option if you want to explore around town, especially in the old parts of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.