There's always plenty of questions that need answering before you embark on any trip. Here is a list of questions we frequently get asked, we hope they provide you with some of your answers. If not then please contact us.

• WHO WILL MEET ME AT THE AIRPORT?
• WHAT WILL MY HOTEL ACCOMMODATION BE LIKE?
• DO I NEED A VISA FOR NEPAL?
• WHAT MONEY AND HOW MUCH SHOULD I BRING?
• WHAT WILL BE THE TRANSPORT WITHIN NEPAL?
• IS ADVENTURE TRAVEL FOR ME?
• WHAT OUR PRICE INCLUDES?
• WHO ELSE WILL BE ON THE TRIP?
• WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE GROUP SIZE?
• WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE?
• WHO WILL LEAD OUR TRIP?
• WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
• WHO DOES THE COOKING?
• WHERE DO WE EAT AND SLEEP?
• WILL I GET SICK?
• WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SICK OR INJURED?
• WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
• WHAT LANGUAGE DO PEOPLE SPEAK & WILL I BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE?
• WHAT VACCINATIONS DO I NEED?

Who will meet me at the airport?
As you exit the terminal building at Kathmandu airport, you should look for the Himalayan Frontiers signboard. The man holding this will lead you to the minibus that takes you to your hotel. That evening, a Himalayan Frontiers representative will meet you at your hotel, and will discuss all relevant aspects of your holiday with you.

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What will my hotel accommodation be like?
We have taken particular care in choosing our hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara for quality, comfort and location.  The hotels Marsayangdi and Dwarikas in Kathmandu offer 3 and 5 star accommodation respectively. In Pokhara, the Blue Heaven and Shangri-La hotels are 3 and 4 star.

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Do I need a Visa for Nepal?
When you book one of our trips we provide you with a Trip Dossier that gives you all the information you need to prepare. This includes instructions on obtaining the relevant visas. It is your responsibility to obtain the entry visa, whether through the Nepalese embassy in your home country or at the Airport in Kathmandu. We recommend you obtain your visa in the home country to expedite your passage through customs when you arrive.

For trips where Trekking or Special Permits are required, we will obtain these for you, and we will contact you for the required information to obtain these after you have booked your trip.

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What money and how much should I bring?
The Rupee is the currency in Nepal. It is a closed currency, so you will not be able to obtain any until you arrive in the Kingdom. We recommend that you purchase your Rupees after you arrive at your Hotel; they all have exchange desks. Alternatively there are numerous ATM (cash point) machines in and around Kathmandu that accept most western bankcards. Bring some US dollars with you (we suggest at least $100), as if you haven’t arranged your entry visa in the UK, you will need $30 for your visa application at the customs desk. All major currencies can be exchanged and credit cards and Travellers Cheques are accepted in the main cities.

Budget for £10 a day on the treks for snacks, aerated drinks and beer.

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What will be the transport within Nepal?
Each trip dossier details the mode of transfers for the trip. Internal flights are by Twin Otter STOL aircraft. These offer excellent views of the country. Bus transfers are either by private minibus for larger groups or by the excellent Greenline coach company that provide a quality service between the major towns. Most of the transfers to road heads at the start of our trek are by jeep or private car.

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Is adventure travel in Nepal for me?
All of the trips we offer at Himalayan Frontiers will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has an enthusiasm for hill walking, the great outdoors, different cultures and travel overseas. We pride ourselves on the relaxed and informal style of our trips, yet providing the best possible experiences in the Kingdom.

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What our price includes?
Please refer to the separate downloadable trip dossiers to see exactly what is included in your trip cost.

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Who else will be on the trip?
Our trips are popular with travellers of all ages and from all walks of life and from all around the world. The average traveller is in their mid 30’s. We are very popular with individuals and couples and just under half our clients are female (45%).

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What is your average group size?
Each trek we offer varies in numbers, but the average for 2003 season was 6. We take a maximum of 12 clients per trek and most will run with a minimum of 3. See individual trip dossiers for details of minimum and maximum numbers.

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What about Insurance?
We need to see a copy of your insurance document before your departure. For adventure travel in Nepal, you must take out comprehensive cover for your protection in the unlikely event that you become sick or injured in a remote area, and a helicopter evacuation is required and/or repatriation.  The British Mountaineering Council has excellent policies – please visit their website - www.thebmc.co.uk

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Who will lead our trip?
For each trip, the detailed dossier will explain what is included and who will be leading and guiding you.  In general, the longer expeditionary treks will have a western leader and Sirdar, whereas the shorter tea-house treks will have a Sirdar/local guide. At Himalayan Frontiers, our leaders, whether western or local, have the local knowledge and experience to ensure your you get the most out of your holiday.

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What is the food like?
In the major towns there are many excellent restaurants, cafes and bars that serve an array of world cuisine. The food is safe to eat at the restaurants that we recommend you to go to in the major cities. On our treks, we will provide simple, yet tasty food incorporating a mixture of Nepali and Western cuisine.  Each day will provide a different menu but below is a typical day:

Breakfast: cereals or porridge, eggs, usually scrambled/fried, toast/chapatis, honey,  peanut butter, tea and coffee.

Lunch: noodles/potatoes, curry, salad, rice, dhal and vegetables, chapatis or bread, tea or coffee. When crossing high passes or drier regions a packed lunch will be provided which may consist of some of the following: bread and jam sandwiches, chapatis, chicken, boiled eggs, oranges or apples, chocolate, cartons of juice. When we arrive into camp, tea and biscuits are offered.

Evening meal: Start with  popcorn/popodums, then soup followed by a rice based dish, sometimes a mild curry or stew with several separate fresh vegetable dishes to accompany, and fresh local meat, usually chicken, fresh or tinned fruit, tea, coffee or hot chocolate. The meal will not be made overly spicey and you can add more spice from a separate bowl if desired. Condiments include salt and pepper, tomato ketchup, chutney, brown sauce or hot chilli sauce.

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Who does the cooking?
On all our camping treks we provide a trek cook and assistant. The trek cooks and assistants are trained to prepare food hygienically in the field and antiseptic water is provided for you to wash your hands before mealtimes. Vegetarians can be catered for quite easily, and other special diets can be accommodated with plenty of advance notice.  It is amazing what the trek cooks can produce on occasions. With quite basic equipment they manage to produce very good cakes, apple tarts, pizzas, fried chips, spaghetti and a multitude of other dishes. On the majority of treks most of the food is carried in from the road head, and this is supplemented by purchasing fresh vegetables and meat in villages along the way.

On the Tea House treks, we choose lodges where we know the proprietors who provide good, varied food and run a clean kitchen, and in most cases our trekking crew will be doing the cooking and serving. Kerosene cookers are always used at the tea-houses we utilise.

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Where do we eat and sleep?
On a camping trek you sleep in double tents and have meals in the mess tent. Supplements will apply if you require a single tent. The mess tent is the main tent for hanging out at night for games, reading or writing diaries. We supply tables and chairs and a lantern or candles. There is a full team of Sherpas to set and break camp, cook, serve meals, wash-up, produce hot water for washing and the all important morning cup of tea in bed. There is a separate kitchen tent and toilet tent.

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Will I get sick?
With sensible precautions you should be fine. Your trek cooks are trained to prepare the food. The main problem comes in eating and drinking in cities, where there is untreated water. In cities always drink bottled mineral water or water you know to be safe or treated. Do not brush your teeth in the tap water and keep your mouth closed in the shower. Wipe your knife, fork and plate with a paper napkin or handkerchief, particularly if they look wet. Do not eat anything from street vendors unless it is fried up in front of you, do not eat cold, sweetmeats or ice-cream and do not eat fruit unless you can peel it. Always try and wash your hands before eating. Wash your hands after going to the toilet.

On our treks we provide boiled water each night for you to fill up your water bottle for the following morning. You should bring iodine tablets or other water purification devices in case you have to fill up the next day.

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What happens if I get sick or injured?
Most travelling incidents involve nothing more than cuts and bruises, or a brief spell of travellers tummy; there is no reason why you should contract stomach trouble if you take sensible precautions. Those people that do encounter ‘travellers tummy’ will usually find that this is merely an inconvenience. Our leaders are trained to cope with these. In more serious and rare cases, we will seek medical assistance locally, or in extremes, use our 24 hour UK emergency line. This is why we insist on appropriate personal insurance.

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What should I bring with me?
The most important point to remember when packing your clothing is that, it should all fit into your main rucksack. Below is a recommended list of what to bring for a mid-level altitude trek:

Please note that tight fitting, figure-hugging clothing, such as those made with Lycra can often be offensive to locals, especially on women.

Personal first Aid Kit:
We provide a full expedition first aid kit on all our trips but it is useful if you bring along your personal kit. We recommend that it includes the following:

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What language do people speak & will I be able to communicate?
Nepali is the national language but only around 55% of the population can speak it as there is a wealth of other ethnic dialects spoken within the Kingdom. English is now very widely spoken and you will have no problem communicating in the cities and on the major trekking routes. However, once off the beaten path it is best if you learn a few simple words and phrases. A simple “Nameste” can work wonders in opening opportunities and interactions with locals. All our Sirdars and most of the porters speak excellent English and will gladly help you in expanding you vocabulary.

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What vaccinations do I need?
You will need to consult your doctor at least 6 weeks prior to departure to enable you to have a full course of the immunisations. The following is a guideline only – you should ask your doctor if there are any changes to this list:

Polio
Tetanus
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Meningitis

Malaria has been all but eradicated in Nepal, and is not considered a high risk.

The following may be considered optional, but some are difficult or expensive to obtain. Your doctor will let you know if they are appropriate:-

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