Useful Information

Meals and Accommodation
We will provide all meals on a full board basis during the trekking period. Mount Everest base camp trek is based on lodges/teahouses and we will provide meals three times a day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, tea & coffee during the meals) from the lodge/teahouse menu. The meals consist of a hearty and delicious variety of both American cuisine and numerous traditional Nepali & Chinese dishes. During the stay in Kathmandu, meals are on a breakfast basis with a Welcome & Farewell dinner included in the price. Snacks, bottled drinks including mineral water and alcohol are not included in the price.

We provide 4 nights twin sharing accommodation in 4 star deluxe hotels during your stay in Kathmandu and 15 nights twin share accommodation in good available teahouses/lodges during the trek. (Single occupancy is available on request with single supplement).

Trekking Equipment List:

Head:                                                                   Accessories:
-Sun hat                                                               -Headlamp & spare batteries
-Fleece/Wool hat (to cover ears)                            -Hand torch (flashlight) & spare batteries
-Sunglasses & reading glasses                              -Dry packs
-Scarf to cover face (dust/wind)                             -Open neck water bottles x2
-Watch with light & alarm
Lower Body:                                                        -Pack no heavier than 15kg fully packed
-Under garments                                                   -Pack cover
-Hiking shorts                                                       -Day pack 33litre with waist strap
-Lightweight walking pants                                     -Money belt
-Light weight thermal leggings
-Fleece or tracksuit pants                                      Toiletries & Personal Hygiene
-Waterproof shell pants                                         -1x quick dry towel & face cloth
-Shampoo & Conditioner (biodegradable)                   
Feet:                                                                    -Toothbrush & paste (biodegradable)
-3x thin cotton inner soaks                                    -Multipurpose wipes (face & body)
-3x thick warm wool hiking socks                          -Deodorant
-Hiking boots (with spare laces)                            -Face & Body moisturizer
-Walking sneakers                                                -Nail clippers/file
-Scandals                                                            -Small comb/brush
-Walking poles                                                     -Small mirror
-Clothes washing soap (biodegradable)
Upper Body:                                                       -Toilet paper (you can buy more on trek)
-3x T-shirts                                                           -Anti-Bacterial wipes (4x packs)
-2x lightweight thermal tops                                   -Hand sanitizer (small bottle)
-2x Merino/Fleece long shelve tops                       -Sun block face/body high UV protection
-Waterproof shell jacket                                        -Lip block with UV protection
-Down vest/jacket*                                               -Feminine hygiene products
-Poncho rain cover                                              

Hands:                                                                  Extra Items:
-Lightweight fleece gloves                                    -Camera & extra batteries
-Heavyweight gloves                                            -Binoculars
-Or waterproof/wind fleece gloves                         -Reading books
-Playing cards
-Trail map & guide book
Sleeping:                                                            -Journal & pen                           
-Sleeping bag*                                                     -Photos of home/family
-Sleeping bag liner                                               -Energy/protein bars (optional)
-Pillow slip/case                                                   -Walkman & Steripen

Medical Kit:
-See your Doctor for compete medical kit
-including Diamox

*Down jacket and sleeping bag can be secured on loan from us in Kathmandu.

Trekking Group

This given trekking itinerary is based on joining a group trip in Kathmandu with the minimum number of persons on each group trek being two (2) and the maximum being 10 persons. For a single, you can join others to form a group in Kathmandu or we can organize the trip with a single supplement (except some regions require a minimum of two persons). Please make sure there are enough persons signed up for a given departure date before you book things like air fare, etc.  We can organize the trip for larger groups too, but a small group means we can provide our best and more personalized service.

Physical Requirements

The Mount Everest Base Camp Trek is strenuous but does not require you have any previous trekking or mountaineering experience. It does not require any technical experience; only that you are in good physical & mental condition and be able to hike for 4-6 hours over hilly, rocky, terrain at high altitudes with a light day pack. Before booking the trip with us please consult with your Medical Doctor.

Trek Leaders and Staffs

With a decade of experience in adventure tourism, our incredible guides and staff are the backbone of the company.  They are selected based on being highly skilled professionals with technical proficiency, proven safety records, careful judgment, patient and supportive teaching styles, and great personalities. Most of our field staff are from the local area spanning the eastern and western Himalayan ranges, which supports the local people directly. They are fit and in good health and have vast experience and knowledge leading teams in the Himalayan region. We are going to work with Porter Progress of Nepal (International Porters Progress Group) shortly for porter protection.

Acclimatization

This Mount Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary is specially tailored to minimize the effects of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Normally, altitude sickness starts at about 3,600 meters/11,808 feet, with no problems below this level. During your trek the best approach to preventing AMS is to go slowly and allow your body to acclimatize. At higher altitudes there is less oxygen in the air. For instance, when crossing high passes at more than 5,000 meters/16,400 feet, there is 50% less oxygen than at sea level. Your body needs several days to acclimatize during travel in the high Himalayas.  Our trips are set up with important acclimatization days built in.  Please learn more about high altitude sickness from Dr. Jim Duff of Australia at:  http://www.treksafe.com.au/medical/altitude_illness.htm

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation and travel insurance. This comprehensive travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delays, medical expenses, and emergency assistance.

Climate and Weather

Nepal is a country of diversified topography starting at 60 meters and climbing to the top of the planet at 8,848 meters at the top of Mt. Everest. We have a dry season from October to May and a wet season (monsoons) from June to September. For the Everest Base Camp Trek, mid September to mid December is one of the best times.   March to May is also an excellent time to trek. During the autumn months the vegetation is lush after the monsoon rains and the air is clean and fresh.  Spring can be a little dusty but with pleasant & warm weather and it is the busiest time at Base Camp itself.  December to February has good visibility but is cold at the high altitudes and even in Kathmandu. The rains usually start in June and continue until mid September often causing poor visibility.

Passport and Visa Requirements

Before you travel to Nepal for the Everest Base Camp Trek please check your passport and its validity date. Passports must be valid for at least six (6) months past the end date of your trip. We require a copy of your full passport with details be sent to us, preferably by fax or scanned copy. In Nepal you will require a visa which can be obtained in advance from the Nepalese Embassy in your country or you can get it upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. (During peak season you may have a long wait at the airport to obtain the visa). Here is general list of Nepalese visa fees and web link at: http://www.immi.gov.np/

Fees to be levied while issuing tourist visa by the Mission or entry point:

• US Dollars 25 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 15 days multiple entry visa.
• US Dollars 40 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 30 days multiple entry visa.
• US Dollars 100 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 90 days multiple entry visa.
• Notwithstanding anything written in clause (a) and (b), no visa fee shall be applicable to the passport holder of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for 30 days.

Permits and fees

During this trip you are required to obtain Sagarmatha National Park entry permits with TIMS permit and World Heritages Site entry permits. All the relevant permits and entry fees are included in the given cost, excluding any personal donations or contributions.  We will inform you if any additional permit fees are required before you make a booking with us.

Health and Medical Information

During the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek with us, you will be served by our experienced crews who have helped travelers achieve their dreams for many years. In fact, we specialize in Himalayan travel and are all from the Himalayan region.  Having been guides for more than a decade, we have plenty of local knowledge and insights.  This is a key factor in our ability to provide an outstanding standard of service to our clients and help you avoid any problems. All our services are based on the client’s safety and satisfaction. We provide the wide range of high quality services and personally take care of you during the trip. Each of our guides carries a medical kit bag for unexpected incidents that may occur during trek and they are trained in first aid.

Environmental Concerns

We are highly sensitive to the need to protect our natural environment and participate in many environmental cleanup campaigns. Our responsible tourism effort carries a positive message to the locals and we insists and train them in the Do’s and Don’ts, how to take care of the environment, etc.  We believe the tourism industry has an obligation to protect and preserve the natural environment for future generations. The Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) (http://www.keepnepal.org/) works with many trekking companies including our organization, providing a lot of useful training to our crews and awareness of environmental programs on the mountain.

Our Experience

Himalayan Planet Adventures P. Ltd. firmly took form beginning in 2009 becoming a Govt. registered company based in Kathmandu, Nepal working in adventure travel in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and India. Our operation has a decade of experience in adventure tourism working as guides, adventure travel consultants, and by founding our own company. Our long experience in adventure travel has made us even more dedicated to fulfilling our clients’ requirements and desires and we always appreciate our client’s sincere gratification. We are also delighted to say that many of our past clients who organized their trip in the Himalayas through us wouldn’t hesitate to tell you about our organization and our professional skills.

How to Book

When you have chosen your trip, contact our head office by mail, phone, or e-mail to check the available dates, groups being formed, and to ask any remaining questions you may have.   (You may visit the updated departure date page on our web site.)  We are happy to help and will reply responsively as soon as possible. We’ll hold your booking with us until you make your final decision. Please read properly our trip booking terms & conditions before your booking and fill out the booking form (downloaded from our website) along with the appropriate deposit of 20% per person in advance.  Payment may be made through a bank transfer or submit your credit card (visa/master card) details with the booking form. When you choose the method of advance payment, a signed and completed booking form is still required for confirmation. Bookings will only be confirmed once we receive a completed and signed booking form along with appropriate amount of payment.

The final balance for your booking will be paid upon arrival in Kathmandu. We will send you an invoice for the final balance before your arrival along with other final pre-departure details as appropriate. Your final invoice will show the price based on the previous quote at the time of invoicing.

We wish you a wonderful Himalayan experience with us!