Nepal and Bhutan Tour

A typical trekking day
A typical day’s walk lasts from five to seven hours and involves a number of ascents and descents. It is rare to spend much time at the same level. On an organized camping trek, the day is run to a remarkably tight schedule: up at 6 am with a cup of tea, pack the gear before breakfast, start walking at 7 am, stop for lunch around 12 o’clock for about half an hour, start after lunch at noon and stop walking at about 3 pm. The dinner is served around 6.30 pm and followed by a briefing for the next trekking day and then it is time to go to sleep.
Please be aware that this time table may be adjusted according to weather conditions, availability of camp sites, water supply etc.
To ensure you will fully enjoy your trek and make the most of it, we also advise you about the following points which should seriously be taken into account:

Food and Water
Lodges and tea houses are carefully chosen by our staff all along the trek. We will make sure that excellent food will be provided to you and that water is boiled or adequately treated, as this is one of the basic rules for healthy trekking. On a camping trek, your only concern with food is sitting down to eat it! The porters carry all the food along with them and there will be a cook with assistants who can turn out meals of often stunning complexity, like baking a cake

Altitude Sickness
Acclimatization is very important for trekking above 3500m. Our trekking schedules have been carefully designed to maximize your ability to acclimatize safely. We ascend slowly and ensure an adequate number of rest days.

However, it is still possible for mountain sickness and your guide will be watching for symptoms with an experienced eye throughout the trip. These symptoms are commonly headache, nausea, lethargy and sometimes breathlessness. If you or any of the group members display any of these symptoms, we will be able to provide informed advice and ensure a proper course of action.

Money
Everything is included in the price of the trek, except for the purchase of water and soft / hard drinks so we advise you to always carry Nepalese rupees during your trek. The amount to be carried depends on the area and the duration of the trek.

Be a responsible trekker and minimize your impact

• Although trekking in the Himalayas plays a vital role in the economy of many mountain areas, it also may have a negative impact which has become a major concern.
• From an ecological point of view, always carry your rubbish with you, drink treated water instead of mineral water in order to reduce the use of plastic bottles.
• Be respectful of the flora and the fauna.
• From a human point of view, please respect Nepalese culture and traditions. It is a good thing before leaving for the trek to have a look at the “Do and Don’t” since an inappropriate behavior, though considered normal in Western countries, could severely shock or hurt local people.
• Do not “steal” pictures and always ask permission from the person before photographing them.
• Please do not give money or sweets to the children directly on your trip, as this encourages them to beg and may contribute to dental problems. If you would like to give something back, you can assist with our charity work by volunteering or giving a donation.

Travel insurance

Travel Insurance is highly recommended for all of our clients who are travelling to Nepal in the near future. Before you buy Travel Insurance for Nepal, you should make sure that the Insurance policy covers the cost of a rescue helicopter from mountainous or remote regions of the country and covers all extreme activities for your trip such as rafting, expedition, trekking, canyoning etc. If you fall ill or have an accident during your trip in Nepal, the cost can become exorbitant if you lack travel insurance.

Many insurance companies from all over the world are providing travel insurance services at a reasonable cost and if you are travlling in a group, you may be able to get further discounts.
Finally, please always have a printed copy of your insurance policy handy while travelling in Nepal and also, save an e-copy online. If you need more information about travel insurance, please feel free to contact us.

Nepal Visa

Tourist who intends to visit Nepal must hold a valid passport and visa.

You may get your tourist visa in your home country or on arrival. We recommend you to get your tourist visa on arrival as it is very easy. To get your visa on arrival, you must have a valid passport and one passport sized photo with a light background.

Tourist Visa fee for visitors who enter Nepal for the first time in a visa year, from January to December:

• Multiple entry visa for 15 days US$ 25
• Multiple entry visa for 30 days US$ 40
• Multiple entry visa for 90 days US$ 100

You may pay in Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen. Credit card, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fee.

Tourist visa extension facility:

• Visa extension fee for the period of 15 days us US$ 30
• Visa extension fee for the period of more than 15 days US$ 2 per day.
• Visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a visa year (January - December) at the Department of Immigration.

No visa required for:

• Children below 10 yrs.
• Any foreigner, who has stayed in Nepal up to fifteen (15) days continuously and re-enters Nepal during the same visa year.
• Any tourist who is entering Nepal for three days or less.

Dos and Donts:

• A tourist may stay in Nepal up to 150 days in a visa year.
• A tourist must extend his/her visa before expiry of the visa validity period. A tourist who does not comply with these regulations may be liable of fine and other prosecution as provided in Immigration Act and Rules.
• A foreigner having obtained tourist visa shall not be allowed to work with or without receiving remuneration.
• A foreigner shall not be allowed to carry out any work other than that for which purpose s/he has obtained the visa.

Should you have any question regarding visas, please contact us.

Although every guide on your trip carries a comprehensive medical kit, it is advisable to bring a small supply of first aid items for your own personal use. Base your kit on the following list, plus any special medications you may require:

1. Insect repellent.
2. Antiseptic cream.
3. Sun/face cream and lip screen.
4. Throat lozenges or hard candies.
5. Anti-diarrhoeal drug
6. Anti-protozoan. (Flagyl). Ask your doctor.
7. Antibiotics. A broad-spectrum antibiotic. Please ask your doctor.
8. Analgesics. Aspirin, Advil or Tylenol - for headaches etc.
9. Moleskin or Second Skin for blisters.
10. Diamox. Already discussed.
11. Re-hydration salts. A small tub of Gatorade powder mix is a good idea.
12. Multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea.
13. Iodine-based water purification tablets.

Entrance fees must be paid before touring heritage sites around Kathmandu Valley like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bauddhanath, Swayambhunath and Changu Narayan Temple. Entrance fees must be paid before touring Lumbini Gardens, the sanctuary of the Mayadevi Temple, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, in Lumbini, Rupandehi. Entrance fees must be paid before touring the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, and museums in Kathmandu Valley. Entrance fees must also be paid before touring local museums in different parts of Nepal.

You should make an appointment to get a check-up with your family doctor and dentist before embarking on your trip. Below is a quick list of frequently needed immunizations. This is only a basic guide and we strongly recommend that you follow the advice given by your doctor.

• Tetanus: An updated booster shot every 10 years is recommended.
• Typhoid: This series is now available in pill form and provides 5 years of coverage.
• Hepatitis (A): The Hepatitis A Vaccine (commonly called Havrix) is highly effective and provides 10 years coverage.
• Hepatitis (B): The Hepatitis B Vaccine is recommended for long term travelers and those in the health care profession. Twinrix is a combined Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine.
• Meningitis A+C: This vaccination is now recommended for Nepal. Each shot provides three years of coverage.
• Rabies Vaccine: Recommended for long term travelers but optional for tourists.
• Cholera: The risk of cholera to the foreign traveler or resident in Nepal is still minimal.
• Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is not a disease risk in Nepal and is only required if arriving from a country where yellow fever is present.
• Diamox: A number of studies have consistently shown that the controlled taking of Diamox (Acetazolamide) can be effective in reducing some of the symptoms of AMS (acute mountain sickness). We would recommend that you ask your doctor to provide you with a small supply of Diamox (12 x 250mg tablets).

Given enough notice, your doctor or local health clinic should be able to administer all the above. Two excellent sources of up to date medical advice are: The CIWEC CLINC in Kathmandu, Nepal and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

•     Pickups and drops from hotels and airports
•     All meals, tea and snacks
•     English speaking, trained and experienced local guide and staff
•     Company services and all required Bhutanese government taxes/royalties

What is not included

• International Flight
• Meals in Nepal
• Monuments entrance fees
• All personal expenses such as bar bills, beverage, snacks etc.
• Airport tax
• Extra shower, battery re-charge, laundry charge etc.
• Personal clothing and gears
• Tips to guide and porter
• Cost raised by cancelation, landslide, weather, political unrest, illness which are not under our control
• Alternative transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide, strike, road blockade or any other unexpected circumstances.
• any other expenses which is not mentioned in included section

General Trekking Equipment

The equipment and clothing you require depends on where and when you trek. Of course, you will not need the same equipment for going up to the Everest Base Camp in the middle of winter and doing a short, low altitude trek.

• One backpack to be carried by the porter with a large plastic bag to put inside the backpack in case of rain
• One light day pack
• One warm sleeping bag, especially if you camp. In tea houses, there is no heating in the rooms
• One pair of waterproof broken in trekking shoes
• Three pairs of socks
• One rain coat
• One down-jacket
• One pair of long pants and one pair of short pants
• Three T-shirts, long and short sleeves
• One sweater
• Three pairs of underwear
• One bathing suit (there may be hot springs along the trek)
• One pair of gloves
• One warm hat / one sun hat
• One pair of sunglasses, with good eye protection if you intend to climb glaciers
• And also: head torch with extra batteries, multi-purpose knife, sun block lotion, towel, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, a large reusable water bottle, purification drops/tablets to treat the water, medicine (band-aids, blister pads, painkillers, stomach pills, anti-diarrhea tablets, antibiotic, sterile plain and crepe bandages, tube of antiseptic cream, decongestants/antihistamines, throat lozenges, paracetamol or aspirin, camera equipment, binoculars, walking stick

Remember that all this equipment can also be bought or rented in Kathmandu

Equipment list for day tours

Usually you should need these things while you are in Nepal with you for a cultural day tours, day hiking or short village tours around Kathmandu or Pokhara.

• Day back pack
• Nepalese Money
• Passport
• Address book
• Walking Boots
• T shirts
• Fleece 
• Sun-hat
• Walking Trousers
• Towel 
• Wash Gear (compact) 
• Sun Block
• Sandals 
• Shorts 
• First Aid pack + any extra medication
• Glasses
• Sun Glasses
• Digital Camera + extra batteries + charger & leads 
• Mobile Phone (Buy Local SIM card) 
• Battery chargers for above
• Small Padlock
• Water Bottle
• Water Purifier 
• Pocket knife
• Head Torch
• Trekking Pole(s)
• Guidebook / Maps
• Snacks
• Waterproof / Windproof Jacket
• An Umbrella 
• Insect repellent cream
• Personal toiletries
• Hand sanitizer 
• Personal toiletries