FAQ

Hiking Adventure Treks is one of the largest and most experienced tourism operators in Nepal. We specialize in trekking & touring activities in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet.

We at Hiking Adventure train the people from the mountains/villages to be able to work in the field of tourism and earn their living. We believe that our small contribution in creating jobs inspire people to not live their homeland and work as competent guides/porters and run small business.

World’s top eight Mountains above 8000 mtrs, including the greatest Mount Everest, are in Nepal, making it a dream destination for hikers, trekkers and mountain lovers. Trekking in Nepal is a diverse option available within a short distance. The country is relatively smaller in area compared to the great ranges of mountains, hills and plains it encompasses. Ranging from challenging climbs & treks to moderate hikes and walks, Nepal is your one go destination. The country is rich with a diverse ethnicity of people, festivals and their culture. Surprise awaits at every corner to amaze you with simplicity, uniqueness and beauty.

Trekking is the multi-days walking trip enjoying the scenery of rural regions, rugged hills and valleys that usually follows a established trail. Trekking is not same as climbing and mountaineering which requires climbing equipment and rigorous trainings. There are two different types of trekkings- one is teahouse (or lodge) trekking and the other is tented camping trekking. Teahouses (lodges) are the hotels/lodges run by the local people. They provide good food with restaurant-style menus, bed and hot shower in some places. Tented camping is organized under the open sky, as we move from one destination to next.

The duration of the trek largely depends on the region and, broadly speaking, your level of interest. Your trek can range from two-to-three days to a month or longer periods according to interest and region. Even the same trek can be of a different duration. Our itinerary for different treks are tailored to provide you more detail idea of duration of each trek.

All the trekking area in Nepal requires trekking permits. One permit is TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) which is required for all regions. Then, we have area conservation permits for particular regions: ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit), MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area) Permit, Sagarmatha National Park Permit and so on.

Restricted Area Permit is a special permit that is required to access the remote protected regions of Nepal such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu.  These permits are generally more expensive than the regular permit. However, this permit is not required in all the trekking zones.

Once you book the trek with us, our agency will apply and obtain all necessary permits required for your travel without hassles. All you need to do is provide us with a copy of your passport and a passport size photograph.

Make sure you put comfortable clothes for the trek. Bring along warm sweaters, a padded jacket, T-shirts, pairs of warm wool pants, woollen and cotton socks, thermal wear, and you should be fine. As you would trek for 5-6 days, good trekking shoes are a must. You can also rent a pair from rental shops available all around Kathmandu. Bring a lightweight pair of boots that are sturdy, have rubber soles and good ankle support. You also need to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a compass and a bug spray for precautions. *For rafting you will need flip-flop or sandals, bathing suits and lightweight shorts.

Check out the incredible festivals in Nepal. Observing or participating in one of them will blow your mind away.

The proper footwear depends on the trek. Shorter treks in low altitude can be done in comfortable running shoes while longer, more demanding treks in high altitude require sturdy trekking/hiking boots. It’s best to purchase shoes and boots before arriving in Nepal. Proper fit is a must for boots. We encourage wearing your boots before trekking to wear them in.

Do not forget to pack slippers/sandals as nothing is more rewarding than getting rid of the heavy hiking boots in the evenings of the hard trekking days.

Always carry a first-aid kit for personal emergency. If you are taking any particular medicines, bring them along and let us know about your medical conditions when we ask you when you book trips with us. Apart from that, you can easily get medicines for minor ailments. Our travel guides will be equipped with first aid kit for your safety.

You can count on the water provided by the hotels/lodges as they are boiled and filtered. You can also buy bottled mineral water from shops. Avoid tap and stream water because they contain bacteria against which your body may not be immune. You can also bring water filters if you want to use water from rivers and taps. Additionally, carry water purifier tablets to be on the safe side.

The duration of the trek largely depends on the region and, broadly speaking, your level of interest. Your trek can range from two-to-three days to a month or longer periods according to interest and region. Even the same trek can be of a different duration. Our itinerary for different treks are tailored to provide you more detail idea of duration of each trek.

A standard telephone system is easily available in cities. Fax email and internet are also easily available in major trekking parts like Everest, Langtang, Annapurna, and most other trekking routes. If you have any laptop, you can get internet via data card from NTC, Ncell, CDMA Service provider and in major cities you can easily access Wi-Fi services. However don’t not expect such facilities while on remote trek. Bring your mobile phone and use the locally available SIM Cards for local/international calls, and internet. Make sure that your mobile device is not regionally locked.

Get yourself covered with proper travel insurance that includes flight evacuation in emergency situations. If the situation is not so urgent, we will help you get to the nearest health post. On serious cases, a helicopter will be summoned to lift you to the hospital. If necessary, an international medical flight will also be arranged. We recommend having an insurance policy covering you against these risks of travel. The cost will get expensive without a cover.

Difficulty of the treks depends on the region of the trek and duration of it. Shorter treks tend to be easier while longer ones require some physical fitness. We follow important trekking protocols to help you acclimatize during treks with high climbs. Basic exercise of walking, running and similar activities is recommended at least a week before your trekking starts.

Nepal is the best destination for the tourism activities throughout the year. Each season provides unique trek experience and perspective. There are four distinct trekking seasons in Nepal.

Autumn (Sept. – Nov): Autumn is the best time to experience trekking in the Himalayas. The weather is excellent and mountain views are exhilarating. Two greatest festivals of the Nepalis, Dashain and Tihar (Diwali) also fall between October and November.

Winter (Dec. – Feb.): Winter season is noted for occasional snowfall at higher elevations. It is an ideal season for lower elevation trekking, which is generally below 3000 meters. It is a great time for Mountain Biking, Bungee Jumping, Cycling, Paragliding, River Adventures and Jungle Safari.

Spring (Mar. – May): Different varieties of wild flowers, most exceptionally the rhododendrons, make the hillside above 3000 meters – a haunting paradise in Spring. It is mildly warm at lower elevations, and colder at higher elevations. Mountain views are excellent and temperature is moderate. This season is best for mountain expeditions, peak climbing, trekking and hiking.

Summer (June – Aug.): Summer season represents monsoon in Nepal. It rains on most days. It can be the best time for river adventure as the water level rises. You also can have an Agro Tour as Nepalese are busy in the field during this time. This season would be best for those interested in vegetation, eg. a botanist as the higher valleys and meadows blossom with flowers and lush vegetation.

You do not need to be a super athlete nor a mountaineer for trekking. Nevertheless training and exercise will definitely enhance your experience. It will not be enjoyable struggling to walk the trails when a little sensible preparation would have made the journey much more rewarding.

It is important to be in good physical condition before starting any trek. Try to spend an hour a day on the road. Walk upstairs rather than take a lift, walk or cycle than drive or ride a bus, take the dog for a walk. Jogging and aerobics will also come in handy. It doesn’t have to be too complicated.

Also don’t forget to break those new trekking boots to avoid blisters on the first day out on the trail. Those planning to climb need to be physically fit. Mentally fitness is also something to consider. The trails test willpower at times.

Food safety is always a big concern and we take it very seriously. We have chosen the cleanest and most hygienically kept Tea Houses for our route meals and accommodation. In Camping Treks,our cook prepares safe and tasty meals from carefully chosen food items and takes care of utensil and food hygiene.

Altitude sickness is a serious problem. Fatigue, dizziness and fainting can occur due to thinner atmosphere in high altitudes. To counter this, we introduce acclimatization as per requirement in each of our trek. Our guides are trained to spot these symptoms in an instant and provide aid in case a group member is affected. Let your team leader know as soon as you realise these symptoms.

All of our guides are highly skilled professionals topping technical proficiency, proven safety records, careful judgment, patient and supportive. We also assign trekking leaders based on their own locality / area so they know the terrain and people better. To make your trip memorable, our guides are loaded with interesting information about the Himalayas, the trails and the people. All of our guides are trained and licensed by  the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The guides are quick to lead the trails, make decisions, provide assistance and first aid treatment whenever necessary.

To make a preliminary booking of an adventure – click “Book here” or in the upper right corner of the selected adventure page or send us email with your interest The preliminary booking form will appear on the website once you click on the link, and you will be able to book. This form also allows you to add side trips to your trek. in case you need to book more than one trip.

Tea house trek includes accommodation in small basic mountain lodges with the facilities of food too.They are at regular intervals in the mountain trekking routes.

Private rooms with bathrooms are available in all Tea Houses except for those at very high altitude. Most bathrooms are shared. Hiking Adventure Treks will always insure you 100% clean sleeping bags, new liners and pillows.

Yes, the tea houses have facilities for hot showers. But usually they charge for it as they are using Gas Geysers and hot water is available in the shared baths only considering the altitudes.

Our guides are trained in first aid and can deal with most of the basic ailments that can occur during a trek. If a serious emergency occurs help from outside will be needed. That’s why every client should have their own emergency rescue and health insurance arranged before coming to Nepal. If an emergency occurs Hiking Adventure Treks will help you to contact the Helicopter Company to rescue you and take you to Hospital connect to your insurance company as well.

Well, generally if you are not trekking in very remote region and you have the idea of proper navigation, it is safe and the locals can also guide you regarding the routes. There are signs also at different locations showing the routes to follow. But if you are trekking to remote regions or if you do not have idea about trekking, it is strongly recommended to travel with a guide to ensure proper safety.

Nepal has a lot of options for trek lovers. Additionally, when it comes to trekking with your family, you will surely have a lot of options to choose from depending upon the age of the trekkers in your group. It is always on the wise side to take the help of an experienced travel agent to make the correct decision when it comes to family treks.

If we have to share our experience, we have had diverse family groups:

A father trekked Annapurna Circuit with his five year old son. It was of course challenging task. He hired an extra porter just in case to be sure that he had some help if his son had some trouble walking. Here, we have a photo of the duo taken near Manang.

e had another interesting family. 5 members of three generations: Grandfather (70), his son and daughter in law along with grandchildren 12 and 10 years. They made it to the Everest Base Camp. Only the grandson had mild problem else they did a great job.

Nepal has a lot of options for trek lovers. Additionally, when it comes to trekking with your family, you will surely have a lot of options to choose from depending upon the age of the trekkers in your group. It is always on the wise side to take the help of an experienced travel agent to make the correct decision when it comes to family treks.

If we have to share our experience, we have had diverse family groups:

A father trekked Annapurna Circuit with his five year old son. It was of course challenging task. He hired an extra porter just in case to be sure that he had some help if his son had some trouble walking. Here, we have a photo of the duo taken near Manang.

We had another interesting family. 5 members of three generations: Grandfather (70), his son and daughter in law along with grandchildren 12 and 10 years. They made it to the Everest Base Camp. Only the grandson had mild problem else they did a great job.

The amount of money you bring on a trek depends on you. Cold sodas, Mineral water, Hot Shower,  during the day and an occasional beer after a long day of trekking can be awfully nice. Drinking beer should be avoided during high altitude treks, or kept at a moderate level not to affect next day’s trek.

Generally speaking, the major trekking regions are Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu and Remote Regions. The festivals of Nepal add more fun to your trip as you get the chance to observe and participate as our guest.

We believe that our Nepal Trekking FAQs- All You Need to Know will be helpful for you to clear your doubts. Should you have any further questions, do not hesitate to write to us.