Frequently Asked Questions
Trekking Subjective question
Ques: What is Trekking?
Ans: Trekking means walking on trails in Nepal across varied terrain for more than one day. Each days walking could be from 4 to 7 hours. It is not hiking.
Ques: How difficult are the trekking?
Ans: The difficulty of the trek depends on which trek is chosen. Some treks are shorter and easier, some longer and more difficult. Each trek is different. Shorter treks tend to be easier while longer treks with high passes require more mental and physical fitness.
Ques: What's treks duration?
Ans: The duration of the trek depends on the region of the trekking and on the client's interests and time available. Your trek can range from 2-3 days to month or longer if you wish. Even the same trek can be of a different duration for different trekkers depending on their wishes, abilities, and interests on the route.
Ques: What is Hiking?
Ans: Hiking means day walking and does not stay overnight. It is organized for one day view walks for instance and returning to the same place.
Ques: What kind of trekking you operate?
Ans: We operate tented camping, tea house/lodge and home stay trekking in Nepal.
Ques: What is the Tea House/Lodge Trekking?
Ans: Tea house/Lodge trekking is a trek during which at the end of each trekking day you stay overnight and eat in a lodge, guest house/tea house, or home stay.
Ques: What can I expect from Tea House/Lodge?
Ans: Tea house/Lodge trekking is the combination of guest house, lodge, home stay, restaurant, and social hang out. Many years' experience in organizing various treks in Nepal assures you that we have chosen for our treks the cleanest and most hygienically kept tea houses with a friendly atmosphere and the good views. Most of the tea houses have running water facility. Many of them have hot water available for bathing. But we discourage our groups from using water heated by wood as lack of firewood in most villages and deforestation is a big environmental concern in Nepal.
Ques: What facilities we will have in Tea House/Lodge?
Ans: Private rooms are available in most tea houses except for high altitudes ones. Most bathrooms are shared. Most of the tea houses/Lodge have hot & cold running water facilities.
Ques: Where do we eat our meals and what kind of food is available?
Ans: During a tea house/Lodge trek you will have breakfast and dinner in the tea house, lunch will be eaten at one of the trail side restaurants. Every tea house serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat Tarkari (rice, curry and lentil soup). All tea houses on our routes have a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes and soup. Many of them have western food on the menu. Soft drinks, snacks, and beer are available in most of the tea houses and trail side restaurants.
Ques: What is Tented Camping Trekking and how it is operated?
Ans: Camping trekking is fully organized and supported, with a team of guides, cooks, Sherpas, and porters to accompany you. Our porters carry all the trekking gear, food, fuel and personal belongings. Our cooks prepare hot meals. Trekkers need only carry a small bag/day pack as required for the day. At night, tents for dining, sleeping and washing/toilet facilities are provided and set up. Mattresses and down-filled sleeping bags, tables, and seating are provided. In a typical camping trek, we start the day around 6/7 AM with a cup of hot tea. You are then provided with a bowl of warm water for washing. Then trekkers enjoy breakfast before leaving camp. The trek begins around 7.30 - 8 a.m. Trekkers can set their pace for pausing and sightseeing and the walk to the lunch spot will normally take 3 hours. On arrival, you are served a hot lunch. In the afternoon, after walking for another 3 to 4 hours, you arrive at the next camp around 4/5PM. Tea & snacks are served while our staff readies the camp. Dinner time is around 6/7 PM in the dining tent, lit with lanterns and comfortably furnished. The food is healthy, wholesome and hygienically prepared.
Ques: What is Home Stay Trekking and how it is operated?
Ans: Home stay trekking is a more recent method of trekking in Nepal. Home stay trekking is a living arrangement with a family who offers an extra private guest room or space for our clients. Home stay is most commonly used by foreigners who want to immerse themselves local culture and to participate in the lifestyle of local people. Home stay hosts and their families as well as the trekkers will gain many enjoyable experiences that they will cherish.
Ques: Is it safe to eat during the trekking?
Ans: Food safety is always a big concern and we take it very seriously. That is why we have chosen the cleanest and most hygienically kept tea houses and lodges for our routes. Your trek leader also monitors the preparation of the food to insure proper hygiene.
Ques: What are the sources of drinking water supply during trekking?
Ans: All Tea Houses have boiled water for trekkers. On the main trekking route it is possible to purchase bottler mineral water to drink or trekkers can sterilize their own water by whatever method they choose. The guide will make sure that water is safe for drinking. If camping or home stay trekking we provide the boiled water to our clients.
Ques: What is the best time for trekking?
Ans: Best time for trekking is autumn (October-November) and spring (end of February-April) when fair weather exists in Nepal. Short treks and some tea houses treks can be done during winter and monsoon season as well. Lately, winter trekking to the most common treks has become popular. It is colder but with the proper equipment it can be managed.
Ques; Do I need Trekking Permit?
Ans: Yes, for trekking all regions is has required Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) as new policy but some of areas are not require. However, the Mt Everest area need local entry permit by village municipality, directly can collect in Lukla or other check post. You will need a National park / Conservation entrance permit. Some of control area does require a special trekking permit issue by Immigration through trekking agency.
Ques: What kind of Trekking equipment need during trekking?
Ans: Please check out the equipment list
Climbing/Expedition Subjective Question
Ques: What is climbing or Expedition??
Ans: Mountain expedition or climbing is typically referred to as a long journey undertaken for a specific purpose, often exploratory, scientific, geographic, or climbing in high mountains.
Ques: How difficult is the climbing or expedition?
Ans: The difficulty of the climbing and expeditions depends on the mountain to be climbed. Some mountains require vertical climbing or have steep and difficult snow and ice covered slopes. You will need appropriate climbing experience for each climb. Some of 'trekking peaks' are easier to climb, but you still need proper equipment and requires some mental and physical fitness.
Ques: What is climbing or Expedition duration?
Ans: The duration of the climbing or expedition depends on which trekking peak or Mountain is going to be climbed, how many days that ordinarily takes plus how many days it takes to get to the mountain and back. Each mountain is different and has different requirements. Time for acclimatization and mountain weather has to be consider. The weather is the main obstacle and can have a large effect on the duration of the climb.
Ques: Do I need Climbing/ Expedition Permit?
Ans: Yes, it is compulsory to have a climbing/expedition permit if you wish to climb a trekking peak or gone on a mountain climbing expedition. There are 33 trekking peaks whose permit cost is far less than expeditions to high mountains. Permits for trekking peaks are issued by the Nepal Mountaineering Association. Please visit www.nepalmountaineering.org. The higher mountains require a permit from the Nepal Government – Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation - for more information visit www.tourism.gov.np .
Ques: What kind of Climbing equipment need during Climbing/expedition?
Ans: Please check out the equipment list
Weather/Equipment/Health Subjective Question
Ques: What is the weather like?
Ans: You need to be prepared for sudden weather changes while trekking. That's why trekking equipment should be chosen carefully before the trip. Sudden rain storms or snow is always a possibility which needs to be considered. The weather during the fall and spring trekking season is somewhat more stable. "Asian Hiking Team" pays attention to weather forecast, so you will be told about weather prognosis and we will be given advice before the trek. We have four seasons – September to November autumn, December to March winter, April to May spring and June to August are monsoon season. Very few people trek during the monsoon season though it can be arranged.
Ques: What type of shoes should I have?
Ans: For shorter less strenuous treks where light loads are carried and maximum support is not required then comfortable tennis shoes or trail hikers are enough. Longer treks require carefully chosen hiking boots which should strong, well-made but light boots. Shoes and boots are best to buy before arriving in Nepal. Proper fit is a must for boots and we advise you to wear your new boots for some time before the trek for your feet to feel absolutely comfortable during trekking. We will provide the climbing or expedition plastic boot during the expedition or climbing. Warm socks are a must for treks into high altitude and colder areas also. Your boots should be fitted with you wearing your trekking socks to insure proper fit.
Ques: Should we bring all trekking equipment with us?
Ans: We provide some equipment to our clients such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, and down jackets. Other items can be easily rented for a reasonable price in Kathmandu or Pokhara before trek, but it's always preferable and more convenient to have your own equipment during trekking, so we advise you to bring equipment with you. Clothing such as wool hats, gators, trek pants etc can be bought in Kathmandu or Pokhara in one of the many outdoor gear shops.
Ques: What is High Altitude Sickness?
Ans: General trekkers going to higher altitudes quickly the problems like headache, Nausea, shortness of breath, tiredness encountered at high altitude i.e. above 8000 ft. Cause / Factor of Altitude Sickness, for more information visit our Health page.
Ques: What happens in case of emergency?
Ans:"Asian Hiking Team" company is prepared for any emergency situation and knows how to handle it. Our guides are trained in first aid and can deal with most of the basic elements that occur during a trek and can directly connect to the main office in Kathmandu each day if required. Every client should have his own insurance before coming to Nepal in case of emergency. Our all staff has insurance in case of emergency.
Ques: What is Personal Insurance?
Ans: You will need personal travel insurance before coming Nepal so you are responsible to purchase your own travel insurance. This should at least covers injury, medical expenses, evacuation, repatriation, death, cancellation, etc. Any client who has pre-existing medical condition must inform us of the true nature of condition before making a booking. Such client will need to provide a statement from GP that they are fit to travel.
Service/ booking/ Office Subjective question
Ques: What sort of experience does your Tour leader or Guides have?
Ans: Tour leader or Tour/Trekking Guides of "Asian Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd. have many years of guiding experience in Nepal as well as Tibet and Bhutan. Most of them have been spending years exploring the country. Our guides receive training from the Nepal government, Tourism board, as well as advance rock/ice climbing for expeditions, and first aid. They know how to handle any situation of trekking or climbing. All our guides or leader speaks fluent English and happy to share their deep knowledge of the country and beauty of Nepal with you. We believe in and follow the idea that it's not enough to take visitors to special places or special cultures, we need to provide guides who can get people to feel involved in what they are experiencing, explain it thoroughly, and keep them entertained.
Ques: What type of service you can provide?
Ans: Full organized service - you want to be free from all concerns to enjoy this experience to the fullest. Guide only - you prefer to carry your own pack, but want to benefit from the guide's experience & knowledge. Porter(s) service only - you know where you are going & no additional information is desired, but you need to helping for carry and documentation. And of course full service group trekking with guides and porters.
Ques: Will somebody come to pick me up at the Airport upon my arrival?
Ans: Yes, our Airport Representative will come to the airport to pick you up. Outside of the terminal hall, he/she will be displaying a card of Asian Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd. with your name on it. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to a hotel or our office.
Ques: How many persons in a group size?
Ans: Group size is listed in website and brochure is our target size but this can change. Maximum a group size is 15 to 20 persons. Smaller groups can be arranged.
Ques: How can I book Holiday?
Ans: To book your holiday you will feel to send us completed booking form or completed online booking form.For more information visit our how to reserve trip?
Ques: what is my Responsibility?
Ans: Please visit Responsibility Tourism.
Ques: Can Change of Itinerary?
Ans: Subject to change or cancellation should unforeseen circumstances occur, for example, political situation, severe weather condition or expedition leader decides to do so. The Company accepts no liability as consequences of any such change. The programs and details are published in good faith of intention only and reasonable changes in the program might occur when we feel necessary. No refund will be made for any unused services which are included in the tour price.
Ques: Any risk?
Ans: When you make booking with us you are accepting that there is inherent risk in adventure travel for example risk of altitude sickness as most of our programs involves going to high altitude. Most of our trekking involves going to rural areas where there are limited facilities. The company will not be responsible or liable for injury, sickness or death which might occur. When you do booking with us it is implied and accepted that you have read and understood all these booking conditions and agree to abide by them.
Ques: What information provided by company?
Ans: All information, for example, weather, clothing, luggage, equipment, visas, permits, documents, itineraries etc. are given in good faith. The client accepts responsibility for obtaining visas and other necessary documents for your holiday.
Ques: What is the process of payment?
Ans: The 20 % payment in advance through the company bank account. Please note full payment should be made before tour departure date for cash. For cheque or bank transfer please note full payment must be paid 5 days before departure date. We will send you a confirmation invoice to confirm the booking, please check all the details are correct and inform us immediately if there is any mistake. Visit on this page for payment process.
Ques: Does Asian Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd. accepts credit cards?
Ans:Yes, we accept Visa and Master Card for payment (not American Express). The bank will be charge 4 % extra to pay by cards.
Ques: Can I cancellation Tour?
Ans: Yes, you can cancellation tour but you need to pay cancellation charge as company rules.
Ques: Can I complaint the tour?
Ans: Yes, we welcome your recommendation as well as complaints so we can resolve problems, if any. If you are not happy during the tour, the client should inform the tour leader immediately who will then try to put things right. If your complaint is not solved, then please call to Asian Hiking Team during the tour or visit us after returning to Kathmandu so we can address the issue. Kathmandu office, Tel no: +977 (0)1 4520858, email- info@asianhikingteam.com as soon as possible.
Ques: How can I contract?
Ans: No contract shall exist between client and company before the company sends confirmation in writing (Confirmation Invoice email). Our contact address is Tel. 977-(0)1-4520858 (off), 977-(0)1-4880928 (res), 977-9841306857 (hand phone), Email: Asian Hiking Team, GPO Box: 11938, Gaahiti Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal.