FIND THE RIGHT ANSWERFrequently asked questions
Trekking tips
What is a teahouse?
Teahouse trekking style is the most popular form of trekking in Nepal, these trails run along many established trails in the Himalaya and its foothills. Teahouses or lodges are owned by local people and provide accommodation and all meal facilities. They are great places to meet and interact with locals and experience local hospitality and culture. Teahouse trekking is a relatively cheap and comfortable form of trekking with meals and accommodation provided by the Teahouse. These types of treks are found in famous trekking areas like: Annapurna, Everest and Langtang regions.
Are there toilets available during the tea house/camping trekking??
There are very few trekking trails and routes that have available and comfortable bath room facilities. Most of the trekking trails have very simple toilet facilities which most of the time is a hole in the ground. Be prepared to provide your own toilet paper. Where toilets are available, you must use them. Only human waste and toilet paper should be deposited in the toilets. Each easy trekking trail will have tea houses, those tea houses will have available toilets but the quality will depend on the location of the tea house.
Who will carry my baggage during the trekking trip in the Himalayas?
ExtremeExpeditions always utilize trekking porters. Normally we provide 2:1 ratio trekking porters: cliets and allow for 12-15 Kg luggage per porter. During difficult and challenging trekking we use camping accommodations which means that there would be more porters and yak or mules as required. So to sum it all up: Trekking porters,mules and yaks will carry your personal equipment during the trekking.
Can i use my credit card in the Himalayas?
Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities by hotel shops and airlines. There are ATM machines in Kathmandu and Pokhara. However on the treks you must pay cash for the services in local currency. So we advise you to carry cash in the local currency. There are a lot of banks and money changers in particulars cities for exchange.
Is internet available during trekking?
Internet is available in particular locations along the Everest and Annapurna treks. You can also purchase wireless modems such as NCELL, NTC for your notebook and you will be able to use them. Do not expect internet in the remote areas of trekking and climbing.
Can I get a shower along the trek in the Himalayas?
Most of the tea houses in the Annapurna and Khumbu regions have gas or solar systems to heat water. In remote areas they boil the water and provide buckets as showers facilities at a nominal fee.
Can I charge my batteries during trekking?
Yes. Most of the tea house/lodges provide phone and camera charging facilities for a small charging fee. They have a range of international outlets. On camping trips or in the base camp you will be able to charge your battery from solar panels or solar charged batteries with an inverter. We will provide this equipment.
How safe is the food?
Food safety is always a big concern when visiting a foreign country. This is why we do our best to choose Lodge (tea houses) and restaurants with clean and sanitary kitchens. However, we advise our visitors to avoid junk food and hard types of meats when they are in high elevations. During camping treks, we provide a chef to prepare safe and tasty meals with our own set of kitchen utensils as well as hygienic cleaning facilities. The food we serve on camping trips is completely safe.
Which types of meal do I expect during the trekking, is the meals included in package??
In major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini lunch and dinners are not included. This gives you the opportunity to have a choice of foods in different restaurants and cafes. Your breakfast is a part of your hotel accommodation. On the trekking trails, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided by our company at available teahouses. In the full board teahouse/lodge or camping trekking the meals are included in the package. In the tea house accommodation, there is menu system available and you can order your meal. During camping trekking our chef will cook and provide food for you. Normally, our chefs make several types of foods and food preferances available, they include: Vegetarian, continental, European, Chinese and Indian food. Due to the nature of preparing food in the high mountain regions the meals are not at the same quality as they are in major cities. Most of the tea houses have noodles, pasta, rice, potatoes, vegetables and soup. Some have Nepalese versions of western food such as pizza and french fries.
What is the best season to trek in the Himalayas?
ExtremeExpeditions offers packages and operates in every season throughout the year. In Nepali tourism we have a slogan: Nepal is for all seasons. However, in the monsoon period Nepal experiences heavy rain and in the winter the temperatures become arctic in the mountain areas. There are 2 trekking seasons in Nepal for high elevation trekking: Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). Autumn season starts after the monsoon (June-August). In the spring the temperature increases day by day and it becomes warmer in higher elevations. This is the reason that most trekker’s choose spring and autumn for their trekking trips. However, in the lower parts of the mountains, sub 3000m you can trek any time of the year.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. We advise our clients to secure travel insurance at least one week before departing from their country. Travel insurance is mandatory for all travelers in the Himalaya. You are required to purchase comprehensive travel insurance before traveling with us and provide details of your insurance to our office. Please make sure you know exactly what you are covered for, remembering that there are many adventure activities available during the tour which may not be covered by basic insurance. Make sure that your travel insurance covers general medical expenses, hospitalizations and helicopter evacuations.
Do I carry medicines during my trekking trip?
You need to bring your personal and prescription medicine. We will provide an adequate emergency first aid kit with you’re trekking guide or leader.
Do I tip my guides and porters?
Tips are appreciated by your support team after the trip. The amount depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. Some trekkers tips 05-10% of the total package cost. This is absolutely your choice, make the best of it. Only you can decide this.
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information onto your leader. It is also a great idea to bring a card with your dietary requirements written in the local language for those times you are eating away from the group.
What will the food be like on my trip?
Food is one of the most exciting parts of travel. There may be some familiar fare but often you’ll be confronted with the new, interesting and downright weird of the culinary world but we like to think of it as an adventure for all the senses. In addition to this, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat with the group or branch out on your own – this means you can eat to suit any budget or desire.
Can I drink the water in the countries I visit?
In some destinations it may not be wise to drink the local water. For more details, you can find country-specific information in our fantastic Destination Pages, which can be found in the red menu bar at the top of our home page, or by going to the belo and then choosing the destination you are travelling to.
What is a teahouse?
Teahouse trekking style is the most popular form of trekking in Nepal, these trails run along many established trails in the Himalaya and its foothills. Teahouses or lodges are owned by local people and provide accommodation and all meal facilities. They are great places to meet and interact with locals and experience local hospitality and culture. Teahouse trekking is a relatively cheap and comfortable form of trekking with meals and accommodation provided by the Teahouse. These types of treks are found in famous trekking areas like: Annapurna, Everest and Langtang regions.
Are there toilets available during the tea house/camping trekking??
There are very few trekking trails and routes that have available and comfortable bath room facilities. Most of the trekking trails have very simple toilet facilities which most of the time is a hole in the ground. Be prepared to provide your own toilet paper. Where toilets are available, you must use them. Only human waste and toilet paper should be deposited in the toilets. Each easy trekking trail will have tea houses, those tea houses will have available toilets but the quality will depend on the location of the tea house.
Can i use my credit card in the Himalayas?
Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities by hotel shops and airlines. There are ATM machines in Kathmandu and Pokhara. However on the treks you must pay cash for the services in local currency. So we advise you to carry cash in the local currency. There are a lot of banks and money changers in particulars cities for exchange.
Is internet available during trekking?
Internet is available in particular locations along the Everest and Annapurna treks. You can also purchase wireless modems such as NCELL, NTC for your notebook and you will be able to use them. Do not expect internet in the remote areas of trekking and climbing.
Can I get a shower along the trek in the Himalayas?
Most of the tea houses in the Annapurna and Khumbu regions have gas or solar systems to heat water. In remote areas they boil the water and provide buckets as showers facilities at a nominal fee.
Can I charge my batteries during trekking?
Yes. Most of the tea house/lodges provide phone and camera charging facilities for a small charging fee. They have a range of international outlets. On camping trips or in the base camp you will be able to charge your battery from solar panels or solar charged batteries with an inverter. We will provide this equipment.
How safe is the food?
Food safety is always a big concern when visiting a foreign country. This is why we do our best to choose Lodge (tea houses) and restaurants with clean and sanitary kitchens. However, we advise our visitors to avoid junk food and hard types of meats when they are in high elevations. During camping treks, we provide a chef to prepare safe and tasty meals with our own set of kitchen utensils as well as hygienic cleaning facilities. The food we serve on camping trips is completely safe.
Which types of meal do I expect during the trekking, is the meals included in package??
In major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini lunch and dinners are not included. This gives you the opportunity to have a choice of foods in different restaurants and cafes. Your breakfast is a part of your hotel accommodation. On the trekking trails, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided by our company at available teahouses. In the full board teahouse/lodge or camping trekking the meals are included in the package. In the tea house accommodation, there is menu system available and you can order your meal. During camping trekking our chef will cook and provide food for you. Normally, our chefs make several types of foods and food preferances available, they include: Vegetarian, continental, European, Chinese and Indian food. Due to the nature of preparing food in the high mountain regions the meals are not at the same quality as they are in major cities. Most of the tea houses have noodles, pasta, rice, potatoes, vegetables and soup. Some have Nepalese versions of western food such as pizza and french fries.
What is the best season to trek in the Himalayas?
ExtremeExpeditions offers packages and operates in every season throughout the year. In Nepali tourism we have a slogan: Nepal is for all seasons. However, in the monsoon period Nepal experiences heavy rain and in the winter the temperatures become arctic in the mountain areas. There are 2 trekking seasons in Nepal for high elevation trekking: Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). Autumn season starts after the monsoon (June-August). In the spring the temperature increases day by day and it becomes warmer in higher elevations. This is the reason that most trekker’s choose spring and autumn for their trekking trips. However, in the lower parts of the mountains, sub 3000m you can trek any time of the year.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. We advise our clients to secure travel insurance at least one week before departing from their country. Travel insurance is mandatory for all travelers in the Himalaya. You are required to purchase comprehensive travel insurance before traveling with us and provide details of your insurance to our office. Please make sure you know exactly what you are covered for, remembering that there are many adventure activities available during the tour which may not be covered by basic insurance. Make sure that your travel insurance covers general medical expenses, hospitalizations and helicopter evacuations.
Do I carry medicines during my trekking trip?
You need to bring your personal and prescription medicine. We will provide an adequate emergency first aid kit with you’re trekking guide or leader.
Do I tip my guides and porters?
Tips are appreciated by your support team after the trip. The amount depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. Some trekkers tips 05-10% of the total package cost. This is absolutely your choice, make the best of it. Only you can decide this.
What type of whether shout I expect?
Mountains weather is difficult to predict. Although at night it is generally cooler and the days are warm. Winter (January and February) will be colder but the days can be warm if the sun is out. There will be bit of snow during the month of January, February and December. It is also important to make sure that you can stay warm and dry in just about any conditions. The spring and autumn seasons will be more suitable for trekkers.
What is the weather & temperature like during trekking??
During spring and autumn seasons the weather is usually more stable and warmer at lower elevations up to 3000m. At this height you can expect to wear a T-shirt and shorts. Elevations above 3000m are colder and you have to pack winter clothes. At 5000m you can expect day temperatures around 10-15°C and 0° to -15°C at night. During winter trekking we advise that you do not go above 3500m because of snow fall and colder temperatures.
Expeditions tips
Trekking
Each trekking trip requires a reasonable level of fitness. Most days are approx. 4-8 hour trekking days, at a slow pace, including rest breaks.
rain will be generally be uneven, dusty and with rocky trails. At higher altitudes there may be some snow under foot is there is some snowfall from time to time.
Therefore, to the extent you can spend time walking, swimming, jogging and undertaking some strength work before your trip, it will only add to your enjoyment by allowing you to relax more and not exert yourself too much. Spending time on trails for reasonable periods will prepare your body (and especially your legs) well for the trekking that you plan to do.
Mountaineering
It goes without saying, that mountaineering expeditions will generally be more physically demanding on your body than a trekking trip. Therefore, participants should adopt a sound training regime in advance of any mountaineering trip in order to be well prepared for their climb. At the time of your enquiry with us, we will ask you about your experience and fitness and will provide some guidance on what you can do to be prepared for your trip in order to give you the best chance for success.
For any country where your trek is operating that is a developing country, please expect that it may not have the same hygiene standards as you might find in your home country and, in many cases, the bugs are just different. The availability of water may be a key factor that makes good hygiene difficult but there are ways to look after your health in any event.
Your new best friends on your trip will be waterless hand sanitizer and a buff or mask to minimize the impact of dust and on days where the wind or activity on the trails increase dust levels. Please carry these with you at all times.
Toilets, whilst trekking on some trips, may be hay ‘drop’ toilets (small sheds with hay) or there will be some western style toilets in lodges or local squat toilets.
Will I be able to shower every day?
Well, not really… this is adventure travel. You will be able to have a wash each day, if you like, and from time to time there may be showers available (depending on where you are, there may be a fee to shower if you plan to shower in a lodge).
It is also recommended that you bring along some ‘wet wipes’ on your trip. It may be possible to have showers every few days (or less!) over the duration of the trek. Some showers may, in any event, consist of a bucket and a cup, but you will be surprised how refreshing a ‘shower’ with a bucket and cup is! It is not uncommon for trek or expedition participants to go many days or weeks without having a ‘shower’ with relying on a quick wash, hot towel or wet wipes often being the ‘norm’.
Should I bring my own medicines?
If you have any special requirements, please bring your own medicines. Please also make sure you disclose these medical items and any medical issues you have on your personal medical form that we give you prior to you booking the trip. Otherwise, there will be an extensive medical kit on your trip.
How much gear can I take on an internal flight?
For your particular trip, we will let you know this in advance and give you information on what and how to pack for internal flights.
In Nepal, the maximum amount of personal gear that you can take on a flight is 10-15kg (subject to change) so it is not very much. You will need to pack efficiently. We will do a gear check in Kathmandu to make sure you have what you need and we can take out anything you don’t need.
How safe is the water to drink in Nepal, India, Tiber, Tanzania?
With particular reference to any developing country you may be travelling to, it is recommended that you only drink water that has been properly boiled or is purchased in a bottle with a sealed lid. We will let you know if you should not even drink the boiled water. In Nepal, you can expect that routinely we will arrange for drinking water to be boiled. In addition, for environmental reasons, we do not include provision of bottled drinking water in your trip costs and you would need to pay for those if you elect not to drink the boiled water. Some parts of Nepal are actually seeking to remove plastic and glass from various areas, so we appreciate your understanding to support the local environment.
Your Extreme Expedition leader are well trained at looking after foreigners and know to boil water well. However, do expect that the water you receive each day will likely be warm so if you are a cold water drinker, its best to try and get your water the night before, where possible. You can also bring tablets or a solution to add to your water to manage purification, if you are concerned. However, we generally find boiling the water does the trick in most cases because we know where the water is coming from etc. (Note that local people often drink tap water in the countries you are visiting, but foreigners are sometimes not so used to the local bugs). If in doubt, please ask your ExtremeExpedition crew.
Where can I eat lunch and dinner?
For any trip you are on with us where you are free to explore towns and cities at your leisure, you may want to have lunch and dinner at unknown cafes and restaurants.
We will discuss ‘safe’ places to eat at the start of your trip ie. places with a reduced risk of bugs.
In recent years, more and more ‘safe’ places have sprung up in the adventure destinations we operate in so there are many choices of ‘safe’ places to suit a variety of tastes – and there are now many new western style and up market cafes and restaurants around to choose from. It is not recommended that you buy food from street vendors.
Do I need travel vaccination?
Please consult a travel vaccination specialist for up to date information on any recommended travel vaccinations for your trip. It is recommended that all usual vaccinations are current.
Also, for Nepal, consideration should be given to obtaining (in particular) immunization for Typhoid, Hep A, Hep B and it is recommended that your MMR and DPT immunisations are current.
For Tanzania, please also seek advice on any requirement for Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. However, in all cases, please rely on professional travel vaccination advice to confirm.
How safe are our destinations for your trips?
Safety comes first. Extreme Expedition regularly reviews trip locations and political issues associated with or which may impact on trekking in Nepal and elsewhere.
You can also visit the government travel assistance website of your home country for information before you travel, or please ask us at any time.
Tipping in many of the destinations where we have trip offerings is customary in trekking and expedition situations.
It is not mandatory (unless on a particular trip this is made known to you for particular reasons – on expeditions it is more likely to have a mandatory component for – say – summit bonuses type payments). If you have a tour guide or bus driver specifically for you or your team or a jeep driver on part of your trek, there may be a customary payment that you could pay as well.
Tipping of guides and porters is customary, at a total rate for you of – commonly – $US5-$US10 per day whilst on trek. (A guide or cook will commonly be paid more, whereas a porter would commonly be paid less.)
Summit bonuses are imposed by law in countries as Nepal and China and they are subject that differs from each expedition type. Please ask our representative for the mandatory summit bonus value for your expedition.
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