ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

All foreigners except Indians need to have a visa to enter Nepal. Unlike other countries, Nepali consulates and embassies overseas issue visas without much fuss. Visas are also issued on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport or at the border checkpoints. It can easily be obtained at the Nepal/China border as well. When you arrive at the airport you must fill in an application form and provide a passport photograph. A single entry visa is valid for 15, 30 or 90 days and it costs $25,40 or 100 respectively. At the airport, you can pay this amount in any major currency but some land crossings insist on payment in USD. Children under 10 are required to have a visa but are not charged for the same. If you are planning to visit India, Tibet and Bhutan you could apply for a multiple entry visa. You can change your single entry visa to multiple entry visa at Kathmandu’s Central Immigration Office. Keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you submit your visa application. For further information, you can easily contact the Embassy of Nepal.

All foreign nationals entering Nepal are required to arrange a visa either on arrival or beforehand. A Nepalese visa can be obtained either prior to your arrival at a Nepalese embassy abroad or on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport. Please note that nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon Arrival. Nepalese visa can also be secured at entry points at Nepalese borders. A digital photo (size: 1.5” * 1.5”) will be required and the following fees either in USD dollars cash or the equivalent local currency:

Updated Visa Fee: Effective from 17th July 2019

Multiple Entry | 15 Days | US$ 30 or equivalent Nepalese currency

Multiple Entry | 30 Days | US$ 50 or equivalent Nepalese currency

Multiple Entry | 90 Days | US$ 125 or equivalent Nepalese currency

Visa Extension (Within Valid Visa Period) USD 3 per day or equivalent Nepalese currency

For further information please visit: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/post/notice-regarding-visa-fee-updates

Apply Online: http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa

Europe and Nepal share pretty much the same weather, completely opposite of the Australian seasons. January is the coldest month and July is the hottest. We can say that the climate of Nepal is moderate which means that winters are dry and summers are hot. The important thing to note is because of the huge range in altitude and landscape, climate in Nepal differs significantly. Monsoon lasts from around the end of June to the end of August. About 80 percent of the rainfall occurs during this period throughout the country but the remainder of the year is dry. March to May is spring and September to November is autumn and they are also the most pleasant seasons. During winters (December, January and February) temperatures drop down with a high level of snowfall especially in the high mountain areas.

Payment in hotels, travel agencies and airlines can be made in foreign exchange. Credit card payments are accepted at most business establishments. There are plenty of cash machines or ATMs in cities and most will accept cards issued by any of the major international banking networks (Plus, Cirrus, etc). The maximum withdrawal amount is Rs 10,000 in majority of ATM’s ( you can definitely make repeated withdrawals). Most credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, JCB and American Express are readily accepted at most tourist class hotels, restaurants, airlines and major tourist merchants. There is however a transaction fee for processing the cards (please note that this charge is enforced by the banks and not the merchants so it’s useless asking for a discount to remove this). The surcharge is usually around 4% or higher.

On arrival in Nepal, your baggage should be cleared by the customs at the entry point. You are allowed to bring a personal laptop, camera, movie or video camera, 15 film rolls etc. apart from your personal belongings. If you purchase an antique in Nepal and want to take it home with you, the item will have to be certified by the Department of Archeology. In Nepal, it is illegal to take outside the country objects that are 100 years and older.

Please do not forget to provide your emergency contact information while filling out the form to book this trip.  You can give the contact details of a family member or someone close to you.

Nepal is one of the safest and hospitable countries in the world for travelers (for groups as well as solo travelers). Nepalese are very warm and friendly towards tourists and most of them go out of their way to help visitors visiting their country. Having said that, to be on the safe side one should always take care of one’s belongings. Keep your cash, jewelry and expensive gadgets and accessories in a safe place. Try not to venture out alone during nighttime, especially at places where there are less people.

In Nepal the standard voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50 HZ. While in cities most hotels have multi-adapter style sockets but in the mountains the teahouses may have two pronged or three pronged outlets.  It would be handy to bring along a worldwide adaptor with you to charge your devices. Some teahouses along the trail utilize solar polar.

We advise you to visit a physician specializing in travel related illnesses six months before your trip’s departure. Take the required boosters and vaccinations. Some of the vaccinations require six months for a complete course and it is advisable to take the full course before embarking on an adventure to a foreign country. You may not have to worry about tropical illnesses if you are trekking in the mountains.

On the trail while your heavy luggage is carried by a porter, you will be carrying a light daypack filled with your important belongings and accessories. Please note your baggage (carried by the porter) should not weigh more than 15 kg. One porter will carry the baggage of two clients.

The baggage allowance for domestic flights is 15 kg. You will have to pay for extra baggage if your total baggage weight exceeds 15kg.

Walking in higher altitudes is always more physically demanding than walking in the lower reaches. If you are in good health; have average physical fitness, positive attitude, self-confidence and strong determination, you can definitely complete the trek successfully. We would recommend exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip. This will help you enhance your strength and stability. Past trekking and hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skills are required for this trip. Participants who have pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung and blood diseases are required to consult their doctor before participating in this trip. We also advise you to inform Third Rock Adventures if you have any medical condition before booking the trek.

At higher altitudes (2000 metres and above) the air gets thin and the oxygen level decreases. To let the body get used to thin air one should acclimatize properly before going higher. Going too high too fast will result in acute mountain sickness or AMS. The symptoms include difficulty in breathing, nausea, headache, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, vomiting etc. If left untreated it will affect the brain (known as HACE or High Altitude cerebral Oedema (swelling of the brain)) and the lungs (HAPE or High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema(fluid in the lungs) ) and will result in death within an hour or two.

All our itineraries allow sufficient time for acclimatization. One or two rest days have been assigned at lower elevations before you venture into the higher reaches (3500 to 4000 metres and above). This will give your body enough time to get used to rarefied air. Additionally our guides carry a first aid kit with medicines like diamox (a pill that prevents and reduces the symptoms of altitude sickness) and antibiotics. On the trail, keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids as dehydration doubles the risk of AMS. To be on the safe side we advise you to consult your physician before booking a trek.

The list give below is a guideline to help you pack for your adventure. We also want you to understand that the items listed below will vary according to season and the trek duration. The weight limit for your luggage is 33 pounds or 15 kg. Your luggage will be carried by your porter but you are required to carry a day-pack (with your valuables or anything important) on your own. We would also suggest you to pack only what is important.

Important documents and items

• Valid passport, 2 extra passport size photos, airline tickets
• Separate photocopies of passport, visa form (easily obtained at Kathmandu airport), proof of insurance
• Dollars, pounds or Euros in cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks, and to purchase your own drinks and gifts
• Credit cards, Bank/ATM/Cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines (bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler's checks, etc.

Head

• Bandana or head scarf, very useful for dusty conditions
• Warm hat that covers your ears (wool or synthetic)
• Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Prescription sunglasses (if required)

Upper Body

• Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves)
• Light and expedition weight thermal tops
• Fleece wind-stopper jacket or pullover
• Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
• Down vest and/or jacket
• Gore-Tex jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable

Hands

• 1 pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves or lightweight wool or fleece gloves.
• 1 pair of mittens, consists of 1 Gore-Tex over mitt matched with a very warm polar-fleece mitt liner (seasonal)

 Lower Body

• Non-cotton underwear briefs
• 1 pair of Hiking shorts and 1 pair of hiking trousers
• 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms (seasonal)
• 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers/ waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric.

Feet

• 2 pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks and 2 pairs of havy poly or wool socks and cotton socks(optional)
• 1 pair of Hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water resistant, ankle support, “broken in”)
• 1 pair of trainers or running shoes and/or sandals
• Gaiters (winter only), optional, “low” ankle high version

Sleeping

• 1 sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 14 degrees F)*
• Fleece sleeping bag liner (optional)

Rucksack and Travel Bags

• 1 medium rucksack (50-70 liters/3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used for an airplane carryon)
• 1 large duffel bag
• A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables, should have good shoulder padding
• Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
• 2 large waterproof rucksack covers (optional)

Medical

• Small, personal first-aid kit. (simple and light)
• Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
• 1 skin-blister repair kit
• Anti-diarrhea pills
• Anti-headache pills
• Cough and/or cold medicine
• Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylzolamide
• Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant.
• Water purification tablets or water filter
• 1 set of earplugs
• Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies

Practical Items

• 1 small roll of repair tape, 1 sewing-repair kit
• 1 cigarette lighter, 1 small box of matches
• 1 compass or GPS(optional)
• 1 alarm clock/watch
• 1 digital camera with extra cards and batteries
• large Ziplocs
• 2 water bottles (1 liter each)
• 1 small folding knife
• Binoculars (optional)
• 4 large, waterproof, disposable rubbish sacks

Toiletries

• 1 medium-sized quick drying towel
• Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multi-purpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorants
• Nail clippers
• Face and body moisturizer
• Female hygiene products
• Small mirror

Personal Hygiene

• Wet wipes (baby wipes)
• Tissue /toilet roll
• Anti-bacterial hand wash

Extras/Luxuries

• Reading book
• Trail map/guide book
• Journal and pen
• iPod
• Travel game i.e. chess, backgammon, scrabble, playing cards (to help you pass the time at teahouses and/or camps)
• 1 modest swim suit
• Binoculars (optional)
• Lightweight pillow case (in case your teahouses provide you with pillows) or use your own stuff as a pillow

If you join a fixed departure trip, you will be traveling with a group of people from different countries and backgrounds and of varying ages. It is a great way to meet new people and make friends. For all our fixed departure trips the minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 16 people.

The trekking group is led by a professional trek leader. He is a licensed trekking guide with years of experience guiding trekking groups in the mountains. He is a local and has in-depth knowledge of the region you will be trekking to. Assistant guides and Sherpa crew assist the trek leader.

We offer airport pick up and drop off services. On arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, our representative will meet you and drive you to your hotel. On the last day of your trip you will be transferred to the international airport well in time (3 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure) to catch your flight.

It is always a good idea to have a travel insurance policy while travelling to Nepal. Nepal is an adventure destination and most of the tourists who visit Nepal come to see the high Himalayan Peaks and experience different adventure sports. You will reach above 4000m in most of the treks in Nepal and it is best to have a policy that covers medical and emergency rescues. Helicopter rescues and emergency evacuation is common in Nepal so you have to choose insurance wisely. It’s a wise decision to have insurance policy that pays directly to the hospital rather than you having to pay for it at the spot.