EBC info

 

Visa

You can get a visa in Kathmandu airport upon your arrival at USD 25 (or equivalent in other major currencies) for a 15 days visa, USD 40$ for a 30 days visa and USD 100$ for a 90 days Multiple visa, and you can also extend it later on if you wish. They have newly installed technology (visa machine) which makes it no longer necessary to have a passport photo.

Important! Please bring 4 photos for your trekking permit, TIMS and for others.

 

Booking your International flight

Since we do not arrange the International flight tickets, Please book your international flight to arrive and depart from Kathmandu International airport. So, if you do not have a regular travel agent then you can check for International flight options at one of these sites. www.kayak.com,  www.vayama.com

They usually have good offers. After you purchase your international air ticket please email us to give your flight details for your smooth airport transfer. Send us your arrival and departure details including Airline, Flight #, Date, and Time

 

Airport Warning: 

There are some airport touts and scam artists who take advantage of newly arrived tourists. They might offer to carry your luggage and then want a large amount of money. Sometimes they intimidate our drivers and even take away their signs. Best just to bring your own luggage to the car and do not give anyone money. Your airport transfer is included in your package. These touts are a small hassle that tourists sometimes face upon arrival in the airport. If you want to tip the driver after reaching the hotel that is fine. Nepalese in general are very kind and hospitable people.

 

Which currencies are accepted in Nepal?

Some major currencies (USD, AUD and EURO) are accepted for both visa and in general. There are plenty of ATM's in both Kathmandu and Namche and credit cards are accepted in limited shops and many restaurants. Please note that only Nepali rupees are accepted on the trek.

 

When and where should you arrive?

You will arrive at Tribhuwan International airport in Kathmandu on the trip starting day or earlier. You will be received outside the Kathmandu international airport terminal gate by our driver holding a Bohemian Tours signboard and he will escort you to the Hotel.

 

Is there an Orientation program?

Generally, the orientation meeting is scheduled in the Kathmandu hotel at 4 or 5 pm and this will be informed by our representatives after your arrival. The tour starts with an orientation meeting and ends up after scheduled trip after breakfast.

 

Where will I stay during the tour?

During your Kathmandu stay, you will be staying at the three-star category hotel, usually Thamel Eco Resort.  This hotel is 3 star Nepali standard, clean and is highly recommended by the previous guests. During the trekking days, you'll be staying at simple lodges run by Nepali families.

 

Extra nights' Accommodations

If you plan to arrive early or depart late please make sure you make extra hotel arrangements by contacting thamelecoresort@gmail.com.

 

How large is each tour group?

Each trekking group will have a maximum of 16 people with its own experienced English speaking guide. During the trek, there will be a suitable number of porters to carry your luggage.

 

How many people in each room?

The cost of our trip is based on the twin-sharing basis so there will be two people accommodated in each room for the duration of the tour. If you prefer private accommodation or you are a solo traveler there is an additional charge of USD 400. Even with the single supplement, you might have to share a room for some nights due to limited facilities in some lodges on the trek. If you are a solo traveler and we cannot match you with a roommate the single supplement fee is required.

 

Who will be leading the tours/treks?

Our local Nepali team is one of the most experienced, hospitable and respected trekking outfits in Nepal. The team is fully licensed and affiliated with the Trekking Agency's Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Tourism Board, Govt. of Nepal, Sustainable Tourism Network, Himalayan Rescue Association, and Kathmandu Environmental Educational Project. You will be provided with the professional and an experienced English Speaking trekking guide with the good knowledge of the place and the trek. The trekking crew is skilled with the experience of over10 years, well-trained, friendly guide and, courteous and helpful porters, assured of a wonderfully memorable experience.

 

Porters

For the trek, we'll have one porter for two people or necessary Yaks as per group size. The porter will carry 12 kg per person luggage during the trek. You need to carry your daypack to keep your personal belongings such as wallet, camera, water bottle, dry snack, headlight, gadgets etc.

 

Trekking

Our trek will be in a very beautiful part of the Everest region. Expect to trek about 5-7 hours daily or about 08-12 KMS per day. Since the beginners can also join the trip, but it is recommended that you prepare for the trek by some suitable general training such as climbing hills or stairs, jogging, and spending some time in the gym to improve your stamina for a few months prior to the trek. If you are quite fit and do sufficient training prior to arriving in Nepal the trek will be enjoyable, and it is suitable for fit people into their early 70's. This trek is the most popular trek for those wishing to get wonderful views of the Himalayan peaks.

The highest altitude we reach is 5545 meters at Kalapatthar which offers a breathtaking view of many of the World's greatest peaks. It is stunning! Any trekking equipment such as walking poles, water bottles, and the rucksack is very easily available in Kathmandu near our hotel.  

 

Health Issues

 If you have health issues please consult your doctor about the advisability of going on the trek.

 

Altitude sickness a problem?

In case you feel any symptoms of ill health during the trek immediately speak to your guide who will advise appropriately.

You don't have to be a runner to enjoy the trek. But some good preparation will probably save you complications on the trail and help you to enjoy your experience there. The suggestions we have for physically preparing is to take good, long, brisk walks, preferably wearing a pack with a similar load that you'll be carrying. Cycling and swimming are also great alternatives too, as is just about anything that gets your cardio working. Do some breathing exercise to get more oxygen into your lungs? Watch for signs of altitude sickness: symptoms include headaches, dizziness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite and breathlessness and advise your guide of any difficulties with these symptoms.  Bring a supply of the medication Diamox for treatment; if symptoms persist, descend.

Trekking to Everest Base Camp may not be the trip for everyone as it is quite a physically demanding experience, and when you combine high altitude with plenty of climbs, you may get a recipe for suffering. But normal, average, travelers can do Everest Base Camp trek.

 

Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance & rescue when traveling to Everest Base Camp is required. Your insurance should provide adequate protection for the full duration of the tour. Your insurance policy must cover all the activities that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal such as helicopter rescue, cancellation, air ambulance, injury, death, lost baggage, theft, liability, medical treatment, and cover repatriation and personal expenses. If a client becomes ill, all hospital expenses, doctors’ fees, and repatriation costs are the client’s responsibility.

 

Here are some insurance companies that are commonly used by trekkers: QBE Insurance Click or Europe assistance Click or World Nomads Click or Travel Direct- TID Click.

 

Refund policy in case of not completing the trek: 

Sometimes trekkers are unable to finish the scheduled trek due to the various reasons or they ended up not completing the trek for health or personal reasons. In this case please realize that we cannot offer you any refunds for unused days on the trek. You have to understand that our costs are the same as we have an obligation to pay our guides and porters for the time they have committed. Any extra costs for hotel nights/food/medical etc.. must be paid by the client.

 

What do we eat?

All the breakfast during your trip are usually included but the lunches and dinners are not.  Meals during Kathmandu stay and trekking days cost from $5 to $8 per item depending on what you choose to eat. Please check your itinerary to be clear on which meals are included.

 

Is being a Vegetarian, a problem? 

There will not be any problem for vegetarian, most of the lodges serve vegetarian meals. We always recommend our clients to eat vegetarian meals to avoid the food poisoning, eating heavy meals and non-vegetarian meals at the high altitude is not really safe for the stomach.

 

Drinking Water

There are two good options for having proper drinking water during the trek. You can bring water purification tablets or fill your bottle for a nominal fee from the recognized and regulated "pure water" stations along the trek. As the alternative, you can also easily purchase bottled water at the lodges. The bottled water costs USD 2$ - 4$ per liter.

It is very important that you drink at least 3 liters of pure water daily during the trek. 

 

Toilet facilities in the guesthouses?

Most of the tea houses do have western style flushing toilets. But in higher elevation, you may also find the traditional type of toilet made of either a ceramic basin on the ground or few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground and it is situated outside the room.

 

Shower Facilities during Trek

You will typically get the facilities of hot/cold water running with attached bathroom up-to Namche without any extra charges. But above Namche, you will be charged about USD 5$ per shower (depending upon guesthouse) for a hot water shower.

 

Laundry facility on the trek?

There will be some laundry facility in Kathmandu and Namche.

 

Weight limit for Lukla flight?

The maximum weight limit for the Lukla flight is 15kgs, which is equivalent to 33 pounds including your hand-carry (daypack). If your baggage exceeds the weight limits, additional costs of USD 1$ -2$ per kg will be applicable and the payment should be made at the airport counter itself.

 

What Clothes shall I bring?

Depending on when you plan to travel it's important to have the proper clothes and be prepared for unexpected weather. Fairly well-worn hiking boots/shoes are a must! For tours between November and the first two weeks of March bring a jacket suitable for -10 degrees Celsius. For tours at other times please bring a jacket suitable for -3 to 5 degrees Celsius, Otherwise, the daytime weather will tend to be warm or pleasant. 

 

Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag is necessary during the trekking days and if you have your own sleeping bag, you can bring it. Otherwise, we can arrange a rental for about $1 daily if it is not included free in your itinerary.

 

What is the weather like in Nepal?

The width of Nepal is only about 200 km on an average, but within this short distance, the altitude of the land rises from 60 m up to 8,848 m. Hence the weather depends upon the altitude of the place in Nepal. However, in general, Nepal has four climatic seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

Spring starts from March to May. The temperature of this season fluctuates between 20C to 30C (68F to 86F). Summer starts from June last to August. These are also the monsoon months with occasional evening-thunderstorms and hot temperature. Autumn starts from late September and ends by November. During this period, the climate is generally dry and mild with temperature fluctuating between 20C to 30C (68F to 86F). Winter starts from December until February. The mornings and evenings are very cold while the afternoon is pretty sunny. The temperature during these months rises from 10C to 20C (59F to 68F). At higher altitudes, it is cold during the winter months.

 

Will there be a place to store items/clothing not required for the trek? 

The trip hotel in Kathmandu does provide free storage services. You can store your luggage and clothing that are not required for the trekking and you can collect it after your trek.

 

Charging the digital camera or other equipment on the trip? 

These facilities will be available in most of the places in your hotel reception by paying some service charges (US$ 3-$5). Remember to bring TWO and THREE pin travel adapters! You can also buy the adapters in the supermarkets or electronic shops in the Kathmandu.

 

What type of plug and what is the voltage used in Nepal?

 Please click here for details.

 

How much money for my personal expenses?

It’s difficult to give an exact amount of money that you should bring. Costs will vary according to how much you want to spend for shopping and where and what meals (lunch & dinner) you want to eat. Most trekkers find that around $20 (for lunch & dinner) a day is reasonable for the trekking days.

 

Tips

 A general rule of thumb for tipping is USD 50-80 for guide and porter if you are fully satisfied with their service. So we suggest you allocate a minimum US$ 50 for Tipping. This is just a guideline and you may tip whatever /how much you think is appropriate for the services rendered which made your trek a memorable one. 

 

What should I bring?

• Daypack 

• Backpack (porter will carry it) Recommended size: about 50-liter capacity (10-12 KGS per person) if you are traveling with a friend you can share one pack between the two of you. For some itineraries, we supply a duffle bag in which case bringing your backpack won’t be necessary

• Well-worn Hiking boots or shoes

• A pair of sandals

• Sleeping Bag ( For some itineraries we will provide a bag. If not you can either bring your own or rent one for about $1 daily)

• A one - liter hard water bottle to be filled up along the trekking trail

• Warm jacket 

• Light-weight cotton clothing 

• Waterproof jacket (a fold -away windcheater is fine)

• Light sweater

• Bath towel

• Sun hat

• Sunglasses

• Sun cream

• Knee supports (optional for the downhill portions of the trek)

• Trekking pole

• Water purification (Himalayan Social Journey will provide water purification tablet)

• Small First-aid-kit (Our guide will also have one)

• Headlamp (preferable) or Flashlight (torch)

• Camera

• Loose stomach and nausea medicine

• Toiletries for the trek (toilet paper, soap, Towel shampoo etc…)

 

Voluntarily/Optional: School supplies (pens, notebooks, colored pencils etc...). These gifts can be directly turned over to our company when you arrive in Kathmandu. And we will arrange to distribute through our proper channels.

Much of your trekking clothes and supplies can be easily purchased in Kathmandu near our hotel at good prices. Bring hiking boots/shoes from your country. The Nepali ones are not recommended.

 

Risk & Liabilities: We are committed to providing the best services which will give you a once in a lifetime journey. We perform our duties honestly & seriously to make your journey very smooth & pleasant.

 

Bohemian Tours and its related organization shall not be responsible for any changes in the itinerary due to unavoidable circumstance such as govt. restriction, Land slide, road blockage, flood, snow, political unrest, cancellation of flight, delay, sickness or accident, Any extra cost incurring there of shall be born by the clients on the spot.

 

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us at info@bohemiantours.com