Important Information on your Tour to Nepal

When and Where should you arrive?

Please book your international flight to arrive and depart from Kathmandhu international airport. The tour starts with an orientation meeting at about 5 pm on the first night of the tour.

You will be met outside the Kathmandu international airport terminal by a driver holding a FOOD YOGA placard and he will escort you to the Hotel.

Important! Please do not give your luggage to the person holding the placard or to anyone else. There are a group of touts who offer assistance then harass newly arrived tourists for big “tips”. Please just bring your own luggage to the car to avoid this inconvenience.

If you plan to arrive early or depart late please make sure you make extra hotel arrangements by contacting thamelecoresort@gmail.com to arrange your extra accommodation. You can mention that you are with the Bohemian Tours group.

After you purchase your international air ticket please contact us at info@bohemiantours.com to give your flight details.

Booking your international flight

If you don’t have a regular travel agent then you can check for international flight options at one of these sites.

makemytrip.com

www.kayak.com

www.vayama.com

They usually have good offers. After you check on a good offer I would recommend trying to purchase the same flight from a local travel agent. That way there is more flexibility with flight cancellation/change of flight.

How many people in each room?

There will be two people accommodated in each room for the duration of the tour. If you prefer private accommodation please confirm this at least 3 months before the tour. Important: Please note that during the trek there are some lodges which won’t have sufficient rooms to provide private accommodation. So, even if you purchase single supplement you will end up sharing a room for 2-3 days of the trek and also during the riverside camping for one night.

Who will be leading the tours/treks?

Our local Nepali team is one of the most experienced 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 Enviromental Educational project. With over 15 years of experience, 26 well trained, friendly guides, and courteous porters you are assured of a wonderfully memorable experience.

Luggage, backpacks and porters

Extra luggage that is not required for your trek can be stored for free in our Kathmandu or Pokhara hotel. For the trek you will be required to have a backpack (preferred) or duffle bag with good straps. You can give you backpack with up to 10kgs to your porter. In addition to this you can carry a daypack with water, camera, toiletries, snacks etc…

Trekking

The 5 day trek will be in a very beautiful part of the Annapurna region. Expect to trek about 5-7 hours daily or about 10-14 kms per day. One day we trek 16 kms (about 7 hours). It is recommended that you prepare for the trek by suitable 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 in to their early 60’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 3200 meters at Poon Hill which offers a breathtaking view of many of the World’s greatest peaks. It is stunning! Please have two passport photos with you for your trekking permit. These can be given to us at the orientation meeting on day 1.

Any trekking equipment such as walking poles, jackets, water bottles, rucksack are very easily available in Kathmandhu near our hotel. Important! Please bring two photos for your trekking permit.

What type of plug and what is the voltage used in Nepal? Please click here for details.

Which currencies are accepted in Nepal?

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

Is Altitude sickness a problem?

The maximum altitude we gradually reach on the 10 day trek is 3200 meters (Poon Hill) which is not usually a problem for altitude related problems for people with stable health.

Drinking Water on trek?

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 a last alternative you can also purchase bottled water at the lodges but this is not recommended.

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

Vaccinations

Please consult your doctor/local travel clinic for the latest recommendations regarding vaccines in Nepal. These websites give some recommendations for maintaining good health in Nepal.

http://www.visitnepal.com/travelers_guide/medical_matters.htm
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/nepal.htm

Is there Laundry facility on the trek?

There will be laundry facility in Kathmandu and Pokhara but not while on the trek.

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 zero degrees Celcious. Although it is often sunny and pleasant during the day, the trek to Poon Hill (3200 meters) in early morning can be cold. For tours at other times please bring a jacket suitable for 4 to 6 degrees celcius, again mainly for the Poon Hill part. Otherwise the daytime weather will tend to be warm or pleasant.

Better to be on the safe side in preparation. The porters are available to carry the bulk of your items. Kathmandhu and Pokhara are filled with stores selling discounted trekking clothes. You can easily and cheaply purchase your jackets, hats, daypacks, backpacks etc.. BUT, bring your hiking shoes from your country.

Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag is generally required for this trek. If you don’t mind renting a used one they are available for about $1/day. If you are very sensitive to using the blankets provided by the lodges we recommend you bring a sleeping bag.

Visa

You can get a visa in Kathmandhu airport upon arrival for $25 USD (or equivalent in other major currencies) for a 15 day visa or $40 USD for a 30 day visa. Please bring a photo for the visa. Expect to have some waiting time in the que for obtaining your visa. You can also get your visa prior to coming on the tour by contacting your closest Nepali embassy.

Is there an Orientation program?

Yes, the orientation will be at the Kathmandhu hotel after your arrival and before starting trekking. The orientation meeting is scheduled for 5pm on the first day of the tour.

Where will I stay during the tour?

In Kathmandhu we will be staying at the Thamel Eco Resort, in Pokhara we will use Pokhara Eco Resort or a similar 3 star hotel. These places come highly recommended but please don’t expect a European standard of hotel. These hotels are good, clean tourist hotels and are a good quality by Nepali standards. On the trek we’ll be staying at simple lodges run by Nepali families. During the trek the bathrooms are outside the rooms and hot water is dependent on solar panels so don’t count on many warm showers.

What do we eat?

During the trek you will have 3 vegan meals daily (veg curry, Dal soup, noodles, pasta, tea, etc..) In Kathmandu and Pokhara you will have a buffet breakfast . For lunch and dinner in Kathmandhu and Pokhara you are free to explore the local restaurants.

Travel Insurance?

It is strongly advised that you get traveler’s insurance. Please consult with your travel agent to choose a suitable insurance company. Travel InsuranceInsure and Go orTravel InsuranceWorld NomadsTravel Insuranceare two possible insurance companies. Your insurance should provide adequate protection for the full duration of the tour to cover personal injury, death, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, helicopter rescue, air ambulance and adequate cover for baggage.

What is the weather like in Nepal?

Mountain weather is unpredictable but for early April you can expect mainly warm weather during the day and possibly down to about 4 – 10 Celcius high on the trek in the early morning/late evening.

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 in city. It is advised that you change at least $100 USD in to Nepali rupees to bring with you for the trek and for your meals in Pokhara and Nagarkot. Only Nepali rupees are accepted on the trek

Porters

For the trek we’ll have a suitable number of porters to carry your luggage. The weight limit for the trek is 8-10 kgs per person. If you want to bring more than that (camera equipment etc.) you’ll need a private porter for an additional cost of $130 USD. Before the trek we will store all our excess baggage in our Pokhara hotel and only take what we require on the trek.

Tips

Tips to the Nepali drivers, porters and guides are appreciated and appropriate. It is standard practice to offer a total of $8 – 15 per day in tips. Please tip according to your means and inspiration. The tip can be offered at the end of the trek.

What should I bring?

• Day pack
• Back pack or duffle bag (porter will carry it) Recommended size: Sufficient to carry about 10 kgs of clothes and supplies If you are travelling with a friend you can share one large pack between the two of you for one of the shorter treks.
• Well worn Hiking boots or shoes
• A pair of sandals
• Sleeping Bag (can be rented for about $1 daily)
• Yoga mat (we provide used mats)
• 2 passport photos for trekking permit and 1 photo for visa on arrival
• A one – liter hard water bottle to be filled up along the trekking trail
• Warm jacket (can be rented for about $1 daily)
• Light-weight modest cotton clothing
• Water proof jacket (a fold -away windcheater is fine)
• Light sweater
• Bath towel
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Mosquito repellent
• Sun cream
• Knee supports (optional for the downhill portions of the trek)
• Trekking poles
• Chap stick
• Water purification tablets or some other technique for purifying water
• Small First-aid-kit ( Bohemian Tours will also provide one)
• Headlamp (preferrable) or Flashlight (torch)
• Camera
• Loose stomach and nausea medicine
• Toiletries for trek (toilet paper, soap,shampoo etc…)
• Optional: School supplies (pens, notebooks, colored pencils etc..). These gifts can be directly turned over to our Nepali tour coordinator who will arrange for them to be distributed through the proper channels.

Much of your trekking clothes and supplies can be easily purchased in Kathmandhu near our hotel at good prices. Bring hiking boots/shoes from your country.

Risk & Liabilities

We are committed to providing the best services which will give you a once in a life time 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 government 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