Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Nepal visa on arrival?

Yes! Nepal visa is easily available up on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu. US$30 will be charge for a 60 day visa. You will get 60 days visa even if you stay less than that and you will still be charged the full US$ 30. Passport photos can now be obtained at the airport??

Do you have Airport pickup facilities?

Definitely! If you are booked on one of our treks or tours, the airport pickup is part of the package. Please let us know which flight you are arriving on and we will be there to pick you up. Look for a sign which says Himalayan Trails and has your name on it.

What is a tea house Trek?

Teahouse trekking means staying and eating in local lodges. We stay in single rooms where possible, but often you will have to share. Rooms are basic, normally just a bed with a pillow, no blankets. A few have electric lights and all have a spacious dining room-lounge.
We eat at teahouses and, although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, the menu is not extensive. They offer a variety of potato, rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. Beers and local spirits are often available, but that will be at your own cost. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There are also snacks available such as basic biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks and in some areas you will find fresh fruit in season.

How many hours do you walk per day on a trek?

After walking for 3-4 hours we stop for lunch at around midday. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter and we usually arrive at our destination in time for afternoon tea. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent exploring the village, doing a bit of washing or simply relaxing with a good book. On some days we will arrive at our destination by lunchtime and the entire afternoon will be free.

Who will be our guide?

Your guide is Nepali, but speaks English very well. If required we can also arrange for guides who speak some other language such as French, Spanish, Japanese, German and Italian. Most of our guides come from mountain regions of Nepal above 3000 m. climbing guides are usually Sherpas where as normal trekking guides can be Sherpas or from other ethnic communities like Gurung, Magar, Rai, Brahmin etc.

What is the minimum group size and maximum size?

Teahouse group sizes:
The normal maximum group size is 8 clients (if a couple book last we will take 9). Mostly the minimum number is two (!).
Camping group sizes:
The normal maximum group size is 10 clients (if a couple book last we will take 11). Mostly the minimum number is three (!).

Does your company arrange personal (custom) tours?

We are more then happy to arrange any sort of personal tours such as; family tour, honeymoon, yoga treks, all female etc. Just send us a request and we will help you set up the perfect holiday.

Do your guides speak English?

Our guides speak English but they are not native speakers, they will however be able to tell you lot about the fascinating cultures and nature of Nepal. We can also provide guides who speak other foreign languages.

How do you organize my Tibet Tour?

We need you to send us a scan of your personal details page from your passport; we prefer this in JPG format not much bigger than 100 KB. We need to receive this at least one month before your Tibet tour, we will then do all the necessary work for you to get a travel permit to Tibet and a Chinese visa.

Can I get my own visa for Tibet from home?

No, sorry you will have to let us arrange a group visa for you, as the Chinese don’t allow travellers to travel individually to Tibet from Nepal.

Does your company help to arrange domestic flight, international flight, hotel bookings and other services?

We are a Nepal based company, so we suggest you get your International flight yourself. All domestic flight and hotels are reserved as per itinerary but additional service also be provided if you let us know your requirements.

What type of insurance should I have before come to Nepal? Can I get it there?

We insist you have travel insurance when you come on one of our tours. You need to get this from home as no travel insurance is available in Nepal. Please refer to our insurance advice for more information.

Is travelling as a single women safe with your company?

We ensure all safety and security for individual woman travellers while with us! We take this issue very seriously and do our outmost to make you feel comfortable on our tours and treks. We give you personal room on tea house treks and personal tent for wilderness camping treks. If you are interested we can also organise treks for all female groups with a women only staff.

What is a camping trek?

Camping means sleeping in tents, normally we provide a two person tent for one client, and large three person tents for a couple. These treks normally go to more remote regions where there are no tea house facilities. You will have a full staff of guides, cooks and porters to take care of you on these treks.

What kind of food will I get on a camping trek?

On camping treks we provide 3 tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelette, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. After a day on the trail dinner is a hearty 3 course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at most meals. We use as much fresh produce as possible and our cooks and kitchen crew maintain good standards of cleanliness and food preparation hygiene. Special dietary requirements can be catered for.

I have never trekked before; can I do a trek in the Himalayas?

Himalayan Trails will help you find a suitable trek, you just have to be honest when you write to us with your previous trekking experience and general fitness. Generally you can complete any of our normal treks if you just do some sort of sports or exercise at home.

What equipment should I bring?

We will help you in your selection of equipment to bring, it depends a lot upon the season you arrive here or where you are going, so please see our basic equipment lists besides each tour or e-mail us for a complete gear list.

Are your staff fully equipped and what about their insurance?

All our staff has insurance and free access to equipment. The salaries are above average and our staff members are free to join any trade union. Medical care, if needed, is for everyone in the expedition. Our porters carry a maximum of 30 kilos and if a porter gets sick we will take care of him until he has recovered. This means that our clients are paying a slightly higher rate but you are supporting decent and equitable working conditions for all staff.

What does your company provide on the camping treks?

We provide all the tents, sometimes dome tents, sometimes sturdy A frames and a foam mattress each; all the cutlery and utensils, cooking pots, stoves; candles/kerosene lantern, tables and stools, kitchen tent, dining tent and toilet tent; all the main meals while trekking but not snacks; and the best service we can manage.