The Walking and Climbing Company

Useful Info

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following general information applies to people travelling with The Walking and Climbing Company Ltd and will assist you when preparing for your trip to Nepal or Tibet. You will notice our trips are divided into walks, treks, trekking peaks and climbs/expeditions which are an indication of the type of visit you are embarking on. For any further information you require please do not hesitate to contact us.

Tel: 01964 551029 or 07718755031.

E mail: sbaer@walkingandclimbing.co.uk

Website: www.walkingandclimbing.co.uk

Please note that the trip prices are accurate at the date of printing.

FLIGHTS

Our prices do not include international flights, which need to be booked separately. We can assist with this if required. Prices vary depending on the time of booking however as a guide the price from the UK is usually £550 - £750. Holiday dates are based on the departure and return date from and back to your home country. We will meet you at the airport in Kathmandu or China/Tibet so need your flight details once they are confirmed. We can recommend agents for booking your flights if required. Whatever agent you choose it is strongly recommended they are ATOL bonded.

ATOL

The holidays in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 10201. Please see our booking conditions for more information. ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services shown on this website. Please ask us what protection may apply to your booking.

INSURANCE

Once your trip is booked you need to insure your holiday unless you hold a relevant insurance policy that you wish to use. Travel insurance policies contain certain terms, conditions and exclusions. E.g. Excluding pre-existing medical conditions, increasing charges for those over 65 years of age. The Walking and Climbing Company Ltd has selected to work in partnership with Campbell Irvine and a quote for Travel Insurance can be obtained from them by phone:0844 8262722 or email or the website

Campbell Irvine Insurers have worked with The Walking and Climbing Company for several years and you will find them informative and helpful when arranging your cover. Please note that cover starts from the time of booking your policy not just the duration of your holiday so we strongly encourage you to book this as soon as you pay your trip deposit. Campbell Irvine also provide a medical helpline (0844 826 2686) for you to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. See enclosed Travel Insurance page for further details.

Total Payment Protection (topp) Policy cover

In compliance with the UK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 and the Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) Regulations 1995 an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Company plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, to protect customers’ prepayments in the unlikely event of our financial failure and paid in respect of:

Flight inclusive packages commencing and returning to the UK
Non-flight inclusive packages commencing and returning to the UK
Flight inclusive packages, where the initial flight from your home country, which is outside of the UK, was included in the package price of the holiday
The ground handling aspects of packages where the customer is responsible for arranging travel to the destination offered in this brochure/literature/document/on this website (subject to the terms of the insurance policy), for:
- A refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled, or
- Making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled, or
- Repatriation of customers to the UK or their home country as may be applicable.

Customers’ prepayments are protected by a topp policy. In the unlikely event of financial failure please contact the claims helpline on 0870 0137 965. A copy of the policy is available on request.

ACCOMMODATION

All holidays start and finish with a short stay in a quality hotel in Kathmandu / Tibet / China. In general, on walks we use local lodges for accommodation while treks and expeditions will have a mix of lodges and camping. Those joining on their own will be booked to share a room with another member of the group of the same sex. If however, you wish to have a single room please tick the relevant box on the booking form. Whilst on the trek,
rooms and/or tents are also shared, if you require a single this can be arranged and needs to be requested on the booking form. There will be additional charges for single accommodation arrangements.

FOOD

Your hotel in Kathmandu/Tibet includes breakfast. For lunch and dinner there are numerous restaurants to choose from of a very good standard. Once on your trek all meals are usually included and provided by the lodges where you stay or the catering staff accompanying the trip. Fresh food will be purchased locally and will be of a high standard. Specific dietary requirements can usually be accommodated please include these on your booking form. Alcohol and fizzy drinks are not included. Boiled water for drinking will be provided each day of the trek as local water is not safe and bottled water expensive.

EQUIPMENT

An equipment list will be supplied to everyone travelling and your trip will allow some time in Kathmandu/Tibet for purchasing equipment. All equipment will be checked by the guides to ensure its suitability. Purchasing or hiring equipment in Nepal/Tibet can make a significant saving. We do, however, strongly recommend that you buy and wear in your boots and socks before travelling.

A typical trekking equipment list includes:

Thermal underwear*
2 Pairs woollen socks
Gaiters*
Shorts
Windproof trousers (preferably Gortex salapets)*
Down jacket **
Head torch *
Fleece hat *
Sunglasses with side shades *
Down sleeping bag **
Wind proof gloves *
Trekking boots
Tracksuit bottoms or similar
Ski pole(s) – optional *
Ruck sack or duffell type bag (one for all your kit which the porters will carry) *
Day ruck sack *
Water bottle *
Sun screen and lotion*
Lip salve*
bandana

*Denotes those items that can be bought in Kathmandu/Lhasa

**Denotes those items that can be bought or hired in Kathmandu/Lhasa

At the start of the trek each person needs their belongings in their own bag - please do not combine bags. However, it is fine to travel to Nepal with belongings combined as you can repack in Kathmandu prior to the trek.

INJECTIONS

It is recommended for visitors to Nepal/Tibet to be immunised against certain diseases e.g. Polio, Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis. We strongly advise you to consult your doctor before travelling for professional advice and the necessary injections. See www.travax.nhs.uk

MONEY

It is recommended that visitors to Nepal/Tibet travel with Travellers Cheques, Sterling, Euros or American dollars. All can be exchanged in the airport and in Kathmandu/Lhasa. In some of the mountain areas we visit it is not possible to exchange money once out of the city. Rupees and American dollars in Nepal and Yuan in Tibet are favoured by the locals in the mountains. We will assist you with this if required.

AIRPORT TAX

Airport tax is not included in the trip cost. In Nepal this is not currently charged.

VISA FEES

On entry to Nepal you need a passport photograph and £30 for your visa (this is subject to fluctuation and not included in the trip cost). Tibet visas will be discussed with you, these can be organised for you whilst in Kathmandu immediately prior to the start of your trek or from the UK if travelling via China.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Nepal has some wonderful opportunities for rafting and it is not necessary to have previous experience to enjoy this. This is an additional 3 days at the end of a trip - longer if desired. It is a relaxing and exciting way to travel and you will see some wonderful wild life along the way. Please request this on your booking form and we will do our best to accommodate you. This will incur an additional fee.

ALTITUDE

Altitude has a significant effect and makes the physical demands on the body greater. All trips will experience the altitude to varying degrees. An appropriate level of fitness, together with good health will assist the body to acclimatise in the majority of cases. We recommend all clients trekking or climbing bring Diamox tablets which are available on prescription from your doctor. Further information is available on request.

FITNESS

As you will see our trips are divided into Walks, Treks, Trekking Peaks and Climbs/Expeditions. We have then graded each one on a scale of 1-3 (1 being the easiest and 3 the hardest) on the level of fitness required so that you can prepare yourself prior to your holiday. We want you to enjoy your visit to Nepal/Tibet and recognise that advice may be required regarding fitness. Please request this when completing your booking form or please get in touch and we will gladly discuss this with you.

WALKS

Basic 1 – Walk easily for 2 hours per day in undulating terrain.
Intermediate 2 – Walk easily for 3-4 hours per day in hilly terrain.
Advanced 3 – Walk easily for 5 hours per day in hilly terrain with some steep stretches.

TREKS/TREKKING PEAKS

Basic 1 – Walk for 4-6 hours per day in hilly terrain.
Intermediate 2 – Walk for 5-7 hours per day with a mixture of steep and hilly terrain and some ice and snow. Fixed ropes and crampons may be necessary – training will be available.
Advanced 3 – Walk for 5-7 hours per day with some days of steep terrain and walking on ice or snow. Fixed ropes and crampons may be necessary – training will be available.

CLIMBS/EXPEDITIONS

Basic 1 – Climb for 3-8 hours per day and areas of steep walking on snow and ice.

Intermediate 2 – Climb for 6-8 hours per day and areas of steep walking on snow and ice and continue for 10 to 20 days.

Advanced 3 – Climb as for Intermediate 2 except this level may be climbing at this intensity for over 30 days.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (FCO)

If you have any concerns regarding the political situation in the country of your intended travel please contact us and or consult the FCO www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

Revised March 2010