1. Is the country politically safe and stable?
Nepal is a federal republic country and the politics of Nepal function within a multi-party system. Nepal is politically stable and is very safe to travel. People in Nepal respect and honor tourists as a guest and they believe “Guests are God.”
2. What Kind of Weather Nepal has?
The weather of Nepal varies according to the geographical regions. However, the weather of the mountainous regions become cold most of the time and also unpredictable. The temperatures can fall below zero degrees Celsius mostly in winter seasons: December, January, and February.
3. What is the best season for trekking/tour/expedition in Nepal?
Tour can be done around the year, however, Autumn (Sept- Nov) is the best trekking season with excellent weather and breathtaking mountain view, and Spring (march-may) is considered as the second-best season for trekking in Nepal. Some of the trekking can be done even during the monsoon which includes: Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, and Tsum Valley.
4. How long will we walk in a day in an average?
Six to seven hours walking is an average walking in a day on which you can cover 10 to 12 km distances. When you are above 3000m, you need to cover only 7 to 9 km. However, the itinerary can be amended as per the fitness level and physical condition of the visitors/clients.
5. What is the average group size for trekking?
The minimum group in most of our trekking is two.
6. Does your company support to arrange international flights, domestic flights, and hotel bookings and other required services?
We can arrange the services as per the needs of visitors/clients. However, we propose the visitors to book the international flight on their own and we are ready to provide any kind of assistance they are seeking.
7. What is the altitude sickness and what are its safety measures?
High altitude sickness which is also called Acute Mountain Sickness is a physical condition of the people who are likely to suffer when they are going to the higher altitudes. It commonly occurs at an altitude of 2200m and above. There is a chance that the more you are in higher altitude, the less oxygen and air pressure you have. High altitude sickness occurs when one is gaining heights quickly in the mountains and not paying essential attention to body response. The high altitude sickness symptoms include headache, breathlessness, fatigue, dizziness, and sleep depravity. If you provide the proper attention to your body response, it does no harm, but if not it could be fatal in extreme cases. The precaution for preventing yourself from suffering is to acclimatize with weather and altitude, ascend the heights gradually, drink plenty of water and take the advice of guides as per the need. To reduce the chances of high altitude sickness, all the trekkers are advised not to trek more than 600m in one day. It is important to know that if you are suffering from high altitude sickness and if you are not recovered after rest, you should descend to a lower altitude immediately.
8. What equipment should I bring along the trek?
You are requested to bring comfortable dresses for trekking and some warm clothes to have stayed in Kathmandu. Besides this, you can bring your sleeping bags, torchlight, walking sticks, or camps as you wish. But if you do not bring, we can hire the staff to be used during the trekking.
9. What equipment can hire or buy in Nepal?
All the necessary equipment used for trekking in Nepal can be hired. You can buy the items in well-branded shops in Kathmandu or you can buy the locally made trekking products which include sleeping bags, tents, walking sticks mattress, torch lights, shoes, down jackets, etc. And also you can either hire these products too.
10. Do we need any trekking permits for trekking?
Of course! Yes. You will need to get trekking permits which we called TIMS before trekking. In addition to this, You will have to take permission to enter the premises of national parks too. We will arrange all the permits in advance of your trekking date.
11. Can we get internet facilities in the remote trekking area of Nepal?
Nepal has developed broadband and optical fiber connection throughout the country and internet are available in all trekking routes such as Mt Everest, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Langtang, etc. However, some remote trekking destinations may not have internet facilities and this destination includes Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and Dolpo. The detailed information will be provided once visitors/clients fixed the trekking destinations.
12. What types of food are available in Nepal during the trekking?
The foods available while trekkings are both Nepali continental and Asian ones. You can get different variety of foods such as Nepali Dal Bhat, pizza, noodles, cakes in the popular trekking trails like Mt. Everest, Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Langtang. However, the menus will be limited in Kanchenjunga and Manaslu.
13. Any safety concerns?
You will never feel unsafe during your visit to Nepal. But, some women warn that groping is a big problem. The crowds on the streets can see how local men get away with it. However, traveling with standard precautions seemed to be adequate and you won’t avoid travel to Nepal because of safety issues.
14. Any health concerns?
There are two things you should be aware of while traveling in Nepal: altitude sickness and food/water safety.
Altitude sickness can be a real concern for trekkers. Although the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara are at reasonable elevations, the mountain trails can climb sharply to dangerous levels. The short trek to Ghorepani and Poon hill rarely give you such risk. Ascend slowly, drink plenty of water, and be sure to acclimate slowly with plenty of rest stops and overnight adjustments. Mild symptoms can include headaches and fatigue, but in severe cases, altitude sickness can lead to death.
Like in many parts of the world, tap water is not safe for consumption and food preparation practices are held at a lower standard if you go to the local areas. Sanitation is certainly not what you’re used to at home and different bacteria can, unfortunately, make you ill. Some tourists say they ate to their heart’s delight at local restaurants, family kitchens, street carts, and from farm stands and never had a problem. But you can avoid to go local area, use a water purifier for drinking water. If it looks and smells fresh and you can see how they’re preparing your meal, you’re likely okay.
15. How do you pay?
Nepalese Rupees are the official currency of Nepal. Cash is the King, so you’ll want to stop at an ATM to be prepared. About 75% of the restaurants and attractions we visited were cash only, as were many hotels. Even where credit cards are accepted, you’ll be paying a 4% surcharge for the privilege.
I had no issues using a Charles Schwab ATM card (highly recommended) or breaking the 1000-rupee notes spit out by the ATM.
16. What’s the weather like?
Supposedly the best weather of the year comes post-monsoon or roughly mid-September through December. However, even in late October and early November, the weather was often rainy and hazy. You should make the trip in any season other than this “best” part of the year. Other than the summer monsoon, most weather variations are based on altitude. It is quite cold in Kathmandu except for January – February. At higher elevations, it will be cold at night and need to layer up significantly because the temperatures were near freezing.
17. Were the locals friendly? Any tips on making communication easier?
Nepal is home to some of the friendliest people in the world. Locals shared stories over lunch, helped us with navigating, answered questions about their culture and crafts, and very rarely were pushy with sales. You will have several movements to laugh a lot with the people you meet. You will be fascinated by their stories.
18. Were the locals friendly? Any tips on making communication easier?
Communication is a mixed bag: many Nepalis speak English, a side effect of how big the tourism industry is. However, there’s no middle ground here and you’ll be out of luck with those who don’t speak any English whatsoever. Everyone will appreciate it when you make an effort to greet and thank them in Nepali “Dhanyabad” to receive anything from them, service or things, and Namaste at the first meeting and while seeing off.
19. How much luggage can I take on domestic flights?
For mountain flights, you’re allowed 5 kg. for carry-on and 10 kg. for checked-in luggage. For non-mountain sector flights, the check-in allowance increases to 20-25 kg.
20. Where can I store my luggage during the trek?
You can leave your additional luggage at your hotel in Kathmandu or the company office of your specialist. Either way, your luggage will be waiting for you at your hotel when you return from your trek.
21. What kind of trekking boots do I need?
You should bring trekking boots that are comfortable and broken in. Especially when crossing high passes, there can be some snow so it’s good to be prepared for a variety of conditions. Your footwear doesn’t need to be warm but should be strong and durable. It should have a chunky sole—preferably made of Vibram or another durable material—and should also protect your ankles. There are a variety of styles available at any outdoor store made of leather or synthetic materials, so it’s really up to you what’s more comfortable.
22. How long will we walk on an average day’s trekking?
Each day you can expect five to seven hours walking, covering 10 to 14 km. However, above 3500m, the times will be the same but you’ll only cover 8 to 9 km. Importantly, all our itineraries are flexible and can be altered by weather, geographical and physical condition of the individual participant
23. How much should I tip the guide and porters?
Tipping is not required but is expected, and depends on how happy you were with the service. Guides (both for trekking and cultural tours), porters, and drivers are typically provided with a tip at the end of your service with them.
24. How to stay in good health when traveling to Nepal?
Before coming to Nepal you are advised to take one or two vaccines for common diseases like Japanese encephalitis. When in Nepal, eat thoroughly cooked food. Drink only the reputed brand of bottled water, While on a trip Oriental Journeys will provide pour drinking water. Soft drinks like Coke, Pepsi are fine to drink. Avoid Fast foods and salads. If you are planning to travel from June to September there is a chance to caught by Cholera. But this will not be a big problem if you will follow our advice like not drinking contaminated water like tap water and avoiding uncooked food. Wear a mask (if possible) when walking in the dusty and polluted streets, especially during the summer season in Nepal it can be tough to walk in the streets. Many private clinics and hospitals are open during the day. Drug stores near the big hospital regions are open 24 hours (Bir Hospital, Teaching Hospital, Patan Hospital, etc). Of course, the other rules apply; a) Quit smoking! b) Drink (alcohol) less.
25. How many days should I spend in Nepal?
If you’re mainly looking to experience Nepal’s cultural and natural highlights, you can have a great experience in 5-7 days, where you can visit three regions (likely, Chitwan, Pokhara and Kathmandu). Chitwan National Park is UNESCO Heritage-listed Natural Site, Pokhara showers with natural beauty whereas Kathmandu preserves the greater essence of heritage, architecture, culture, archaeology, and history. To get into the Himalaya on a multi-day trek, you need to plan at least 10 days to have enough time to reach higher altitudes and safely acclimatize. To undertake one of the longer, classic treks in Nepal or to combine multiple regions and activities into one visit, 14-24 days is the ideal duration.
26. The last thing!
One of the reasons people love Nepal so much is because Hinduism and Buddhism are so closely and peacefully intertwined. While the rest of the world is busy fighting for their religion, Nepal is open and accepting of others’ beliefs. Tourists could learn a lot from Nepal!