Useful Info
General
The following general information applies to people travelling with The Walking and Climbing Company and will assist you when preparing for your trip to the Himalayas. You will also notice that our trips are divided into walks, treks, trekking peaks and climbs/expeditions to give you an indication of the type of trip you are embarking on.
Altitude has a significant effect and makes physical demands on the body. All trips involve being at altitude to varying degrees. An appropriate level of fitness, together with good health will assist the body to acclimatise in the majority of cases. Please make sure you read the section; How fit do I need to be? so you are prepared for your holiday.
We want you to enjoy your visit to Nepal and recognise that advice may be required regarding fitness. Please request this service when filling in the relevant section of the booking form and we will contact you. Alternatively, if you require this information in order to make your decision as to which trip to choose, please telephone us on 01964 551029 or 07718755031 or email sbaer@walkingandclimbing.co.uk
All our adventure holidays and expeditions are staffed using guides, cooks and porters from the local area who are skilled in their particular field. In this way we not only guarantee you get the very best support, but also ensure you’re able to experience the Nepalese or Tibetan culture. In addition, it helps to sustain the local economy, giving back something in return for the chance to spend time in such a special place.
Guide books are a useful way to prepare yourself for your trip. We recommend Trailblazer Guides for this; www.trailblazer-guides.com.
Please also note that our brochure prices are accurate at the time of ‘going to print’. For confirmation and an up to date price list see Dates and Prices.
Flights and Visas
Our prices do not include international flights, which need to be booked separately. We can assist you with this if required. Prices vary depending on the time of booking. As a guide, the price of a flight to Kathmandu from the UK is usually between £550 and £750. We recommend Brightsun UK Ltd for booking your flights tel.0161 2799000. Whichever agent you choose, we strongly recommend you opt for one that is ATOL bonded.
We will meet you at Kathmandu airport and therefore need to know your flight details once they are confirmed. Holiday dates are based on the departure and return date from and back to the UK.
On entry to Nepal you will be expected to complete a form, provide a passport size photograph and pay a fee of around $35 for your visa. This is subject to fluctuation and not included in our fees. Tibet visas are organised for you whilst in Kathmandu, immediately prior to the start of your trek.
Please note, when leaving Nepal, airport tax has to be paid. Currently, this amounts to 1500 Nepalese rupees or approximately £15 sterling and is subject to fluctuation. You will see from our details that this is not included in the fees charged.
Insurance
Once your trip is booked we will insure your holiday unless you hold a relevant insurance policy that you wish to use. The travel insurance policy contains certain terms, conditions and exclusions e.g. the policy excludes pre-existing medical conditions of those travelling and also any person upon whom travel depends, such as a close relative. Our insurers provide a medical helpline (0870 906 3140) for you to call to disclose any medical conditions. If contact with the medical helpline is not made, whatever the reason, no cover will be in effect for any known, pre-existing medical condition. Policy documentation will be issued immediately and it is recommended that you read the policy terms and conditions in full to ensure you are happy with its cover. Clients have 14 days, provided travel has not commenced and no claim has been submitted, to raise any concerns with the policy.
Climate
Please view our Climate table for details of the likely weather conditions in the Himalayas to help you determine when to travel.
Accommodation
All holidays start and finish with a short stay in a quality hotel in Kathmandu. In general, on walks we use local lodges for accommodation, whilst treks and expeditions will involve a mixture 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. Again, if you require a single, this can be arranged and needs to be requested on the booking form in advance.
There will be additional charges for single accommodation arrangements.
Catering
Your hotel accommodation in Kathmandu includes breakfast. For lunch and dinner there are numerous restaurants to choose from of a very good standard.
Once we leave Kathmandu, all meals are included and provided by the lodges where you stay or by the catering staff accompanying the trip. Fresh food will be purchased locally and will be of a high standard.
If you have any specific dietary requirements please include these on your booking form so we can accommodate them as far as possible.Equipment
An equipment list will be supplied in advance to everyone travelling with The Walking and Climbing Company. Your trip will allow some time in Kathmandu for purchasing equipment. Purchasing or hiring equipment, when you get there, can make a significant saving. We do, however, recommend that you buy and ‘wear in’ your boots before travelling. All equipment will be checked in Kathmandu by the guides to ensure its suitability.
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*
*Denotes those items that can be bought in Kathmandu
**Denotes those items that can be bought or hired in KathmanduAt 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 that visitors to Nepal and Tibet should be immunised against Polio, Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis. The Walking and Climbing Company strongly advise you to consult your GP for current advice before travelling.
Money
Visitors to Nepal and Tibet are recommended to use Travellers Cheques and/or American dollars. Travellers cheques can be exchanged for Nepalese rupees (not available in the UK) at the airport or hotel in Kathmandu. In some of the areas we visit it is not possible to exchange Travellers Cheques once we leave Kathmandu. It is therefore also useful to have Nepalese rupees and Yuan in Tibet, especially in the mountains where many of the locals will prefer these.
If there is any further information you require, please do not hesitate to telephone us on 01964 551029 or 07718755031 or email sbaer@walkingandclimbing.co.uk