Know Important Checklist to Trek in Nepal
Here we provide an important checklist to trek in Nepal, whether you are planning self-organized trek, or organized trek through agency. Not to mention, if you are trekking through agency, most of the checklist you can ignore. Like accommodation, airport transfer, permit, transportation to start and end trek, trekking crews and so on. But it is always better to verify they are exactly in order.
However, the priority of the mentioned checklist can be different, depending on individual preference, situation and requirement. For example, a tourist map is the most important and reliable thing to carry for self-organized trek. In contrast, this can be an optional checklist, while organizing trek through agency.
Here, we have divided important checklist to trek in Nepal, into two different sections. Things to consider before arrival and after arrival in Nepal. Or, you can say, information you need to know/gather/understand before starting trek in Nepal.
A.Important Checklist to Trek in Nepal (Before Arrival)
Before, arrival in Nepal, note down all the important checklist to trek in Nepal and make a small note. Starting from flight tickets, visa policy, budget, risk factors of trekking in Nepal and so on as per necessary.
1. Find International Flights Operating to Nepal
Check appropriate international Airlines that operate in Nepal, depending on your country of residence. In context of missing luggage, luggage transfer, delay flight, a connecting flight can be very helpful. Few and limited major airlines operating in Nepal mean, there is few chances you get cheap tickets to Nepal.
2. Calculate Approximate budget
Without a doubt, Calculation of approximate budget is important checklist to trek in Nepal. Besides, day to day trekking budget, don’t forget to add transportation, permit, accommodation cost depending on your trekking itinerary. You need not necessarily carry cash, but contingency budget in any form is advisable.
3.Gather General information on Protected Areas
Having some information on the region you are trekking can be important checklist to trek in Nepal. Since, budget, difficulty level, weather, modes of transportation, trekking permits highly depends on trekking region. General Knowledge on protected areas of Nepal can be useful in many ways either you organize your trek yourself or through agency.
If Nepal embassy is nearby your hometown, you can obtain Nepal visa in the Embassy. Doing so, you can release great pressure of bureaucratic process, and skip long queues in Tribhuvan International airport. But, if you are planning to apply for visa after arriving in Nepal, read the process carefully and determine whether you are eligible or not to get visa upon arrival. Carry valid passport.
5. Know about Airport transfer
If your trekking is organized through agency, there would be office representative to pick you up in airport. If not, you can hire airport taxi to transfer to your hotel.
6. Note down address of your Hotel
You can book accommodation online from your home country by yourself if you are trekking on your own. In organized-trek through agency, most of the time your accommodation is included in package. You always have various options to choose different categories of hotels depending on your budget. Address and contact details of your hotel can be important piece of note in a confusing scenario,
7. Check you have proper Trekking Equipment
One of the most important checklist to trek in Nepal. Depending on number of trekking days, you might need different types of trekking equipment. Check whether you are fully content with proper clothing and equipment for trek or not. Every trekking agency has a list of trekking equipment in their respective website as a travel/trek information. From complex to simple. Pay extra attention for peak climbing and camping trek.
8. Make sure your Travel Insurance covers Helicopter Rescue and Medical bill
If you don’t have travel insurance, buy one. Travel insurance is mandatory to trek in Nepal, that needs to cover helicopter evacuation and medical expense. If you forgot/missed to buy travel insurance in your home, you can purchase the policy in Nepal as well. Hand a copy of the policy to trekking agency. This surely is important checklist to trek in Nepal, in case something goes wrong during trek.
9. Note down contact details of trekking agency and Embassy/consulate
Carry address and contact details of your country’s embassy/consulate. You rarely need to contact them. But in case of theft/loss of your passports and valuable belongings, you might need to report them your situation. In organized trek through agency, you need to keep detail contact of your agency.
10.Understand Safety and Risks Factors.
How cannot understanding and noting down safety and risk factors be important checklist to trek in Nepal? In organized-trek through agency, you are always in safe and reliable hands. However, understand and determine the risk factors plus know safety measures prior planning a trek to Nepal. In self-organized trek, trekker needs to remain highly alert and extra careful.
B.Important Checklist to Trek in Nepal (After Arrival)
Consider below mentioned, the important checklist to Trek in Nepal after arrival. These are things you need to sort out as soon as you land in Nepal. Reconfirming itinerary, meeting trekking guide, knowing about Altitude sickness, currency exchange are some important points to clear and be sure.
1.Proper Visa Processing in Airport
If you obtained visa of Nepal in your home country through Nepal Embassy, you still need to put arrival stamp on your passport by immigration officer. If not, you need to follow proper procedures to get visa. Do not exit Immigration premises without completing appropriate procedures. Following proper visa process is one of the most important checklist to trek in Nepal to stay out of any trouble.
2.Re-confirm Itinerary with Travel agency
Finalize the trekking itinerary upon arrival and clear any remaining doubt if you have any. In organized trek through agency, they will give you maximum options available in the given situation. Also, in self organized trek, a trekker needs to be absolutely sure about their trekking itinerary. However, as a backpacker, you can gather general help/information from reliable agency to finalize the itinerary.
3. Know and meet Nepalese Trekking crew
In organized trekking through agency, most of the time you have an opportunity to know the trekking guide in advance. Where you can discuss about the trip plan in detail and if it seems fishy, you can ask for alternative trekking crews. For self-organized trek, you may need to compromise things to hire guide and porter, under certain scenarios. Furthermore, hiring trekking guide and porter can be really difficult during peak season.
4. Check required Park and Permit
Either agency organized or self-organized, you need to buy required park and permit to trek on respective regions. Furthermore, if your itinerary has peak climbing, you need to pay royalty and permit fee depending on trekking peak. However, to obtain restricted area permit, backpacker needs to anyway contact trekking agency to issue on their behalf, including hiring a registered trekking guide. A trekking region you chose to trek will determine what park and permit are necessary. Either self-organized or agency-organized itinerary park and permit is the most important checklist to trek in Nepal.
5.Know your Transportation to start and end trek
Another important checklist to trek in Nepal. As a trekker, you need to have proper information regarding transportation options available to start and end trek. More importantly, most effective and efficient one that suits you. Look for alternatives and try to know about pros and cons of using certain types of transportation. Ask them to provide alternative, if you are not comfortable with it.
Authorized entities, agencies, organization accepts major foreign currency as mode of payment around city like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. However, during trekking in Himalayas you need Nepalese currency to pay your bill. Depending on your spending habits, carry enough Nepalese rupees cash. If you need to convert Nepalese rupees to any other currency before leaving Nepal, show your previous exchange receipt. Exchanging currency is a sensible issue in Nepal. Consider it one to be an important checklist to trek in Nepal.
7.Understand Risks of Altitude Sickness
There is high risks of altitude sickness while trekking in Himalaya if you under-estimate and don’t follow pre-planned itinerary. However, following simple guidelines can minimize these risks in great extent. The trekking itineraries are well balanced, but still if you are not sure about, ask/know from experts. Hiring registered trekking guide can be another reliable option to minimize the risk.
For organized trek through agency, cost Includes and Excludes section is the most important checklist to trek in Nepal. Read thoroughly to know what services are included, before paying money. Ask for customization if necessary. The list of important checklist to trek in Nepal can be absolutely helpful either for experienced trekker or amateur trekker. Also, for self-organized trek or organized trek thorough agency.