Nepal Tours - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

01 :   Is your company the registered one with your Govt?

Yes, Lalima Travels Pvt. Ltd is the registered company with Nepal Govt’s Dept of Tourism and Industry. Our registration no. … …. We have been organizing tours and treks in Nepal, Tibet/China, India and Bhutan for our valued clientele for the last 30 years. We have strong counterparts in above destinations.

02 :   How good are your guides and other staff in English?

Our cultural tour guides are proficient in English in their area of knowledge. We do have good guides in other international languages like French, Spanish, Italian and also in Chinese. All of our field staff are good enough in English. Our trekking guides (Sirdars) and assistants speak good workable English. They are good enough in describing places, local culture and daily affairs, but not as fluent as our cultural guides. There is certainly a difference in language performance between the cultural guides and mountain guides.  

03 :   How many types of trek are there?

Generally, there are 3 types of trek. They are I. Guide, Accommodation and Porters trek (GAP Trek), II. Tea House trek  (TH Trek), & III. Fully Organized trek (FOT Trek).                                                                           

I. Guide, Accommodation and Porters trek (GAP Trek)

It is known as GAP Trek in short. This is the most popular trek among the budget trekkers as the clients normally pay for guide, accommodation and porters (if required), but not for food. Under this type of trek, we provide the basic support like a guide, book and pay for their accommodation in tea houses/lodges and arrange needful porters. The trekkers pay for their meals themselves directly. This way, they are free to eat as freely as possible as per their taste and choice.

II. Tea House Trek

It is popularly called TH trek. It is similar to GAP trek. The only difference is that meal is included in this trek. In other words, the quoted price includes room in a good trekking guide, tea houses/lodges, porters as per agreement and above all, it includes meals during the trek (fullboard: breakfast, lunch and dinner) in tea houses. There are clients who do not want to take the hassle of paying directly for their meals in each tea house everyday. They are the trekkes who choose TH trek. There is never a complain on the quality/quantity and prices of meals.

III. Fully Organised Trek (FOT trek)

In short, it is called FOT trek. This kind of trek is popularly or mandatorily undetaken in those remote trekking areas where there are no tea houses/lodges. Everything has to be taken with the help of the porters like food, camping equipments like tents, mattresses, toilet tents, kitchen tent with kitchen utensils with a back up supports of trained crew members including a good cook.

4. How do you manage security of group in the trek?

Security of our clients is the prime concern of ours. A careful selection is undertaken while choosing our guides and support staff of the trek. All of our guides are trained and liscensed by the concerned Dept of Nepal Government. Our trekking crew team are sincere and maintain good coordination among themselves in making the trek problem free and the most enjoyable one. In the meantime, we would also like to advise all the participants to take care of their personal belongings themselves. While you are on trek, please do not leave your bags unattended at any time for your own safety. Take your main bag inside the tent once you reach the campsite. At night, put all bags and belongings in the middle of the tent. Your guide assigns some Sherpas to guard the campsite throughout the night on turn basis. If you are on Tea House or GAP trek package, your accommodation will be in the tea houses. You do not have to worry so much about your belongings, only the valuables and money. Always , keep your lodge room locked when you are out.

05 :   What is the best time for trekking?

The best time to trek is from October to May. The first two months of the dry season – October and November, when it is still comfortably warm – are ideal for trekking in Nepal. December, January and February are still good months for trekking, but it can be bitterly cold at high altitudes. If you are a lover of flowers, April and May are also beautiful time for trekking as it is the rhododendron season in Nepal.

06 :   Do we have to join your group for trekking?

No. Not necessarily. You are welcome to join our group tours/treks or undertake a private trek. As you like it. Even a single woman trek/tour is also organized by us with a professional female guide.

07 :   Normally, how big are your groups in trekking and tours?

Minimum requirement of our fixed departure groups is 2 persons and there is no maximum limit. However, if you wish to buy tour or trekking on private basis, we organize the tour/trek even on 1 person basis. You know that the smaller the group, the more enjoyable it is. However, you know the bigger group is cost effective. Please note, for the private tours/treks, there is no minimum or maximum requirement. Bring your family. Bring your friends. You will have a great time with us.

08 :   How long do we have to walk each day in average?

In average, our guide expects you to walk 3 hours after breakfast and 3 hours after lunch. However, during the trek your walk is some days are shorter like 4-5 hours. In some route, you are supposed to walk 6-7 hours. It all depends upon the distance of places where we are supposed to have over night. However, there are some physically challenging treks. They may require 7-9 hours walk, but that also for few days. Otherwise, normally everyday walk involves just 5-6 hours walk.

09 :   What type of food is served during a trek?

On a FOT Trek, the food we provide includes three good meals every day with a variety of local and western dishes. Our normal breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread with jam and butter. Lunch is generally served with a choices of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. Dinner is served with a 3 course meal with soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice, and pasta dishes with a simple dessert. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also served at all meals. We try our best to use as much of fresh and local produce as possible keeping in view of dietary norms. Our trek sirdars and cooks are proficient enough in maintaining very strict health and hygiene requirements in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and sanitation during the food preparation procedures. All foods are well cooked and vegetables well treated with potassium permanganate or iodine. Boiled water is served for drinking every day. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water is used for washing in the kitchen.

On the Tea House treks (TH Treks), we provide standard breakfast, lunch and three course dinner with tea or coffee. Your guide will be around to help you with menu selection and ensure that you get the best possible meals in terms of value and quality. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive during the trek. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available in breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks and in some areas you will find fresh fruits in season. Bottled mineral water is also available in most of the local lodges and shops en route or you can also ask your guide to fill up your water bottle with boiled water every day.

10 :   How fit do I need to be for the trek in the Himalaya?

You should be moderately fit. Mind you, to be able to trek in Nepal, you do not have to have mountaineering background at all. Your two strong legs are more than enough. However, it is better to be used to some regular exercises and  walking before you undertake any trekking in Nepal.

11 :   How safe is drinking water on the trek?

On FOT Trek (camping trek), our staff will boil and cook meals treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. On GAP or TH trek, you can buy safe bottled mineral water or get boiled water in most of the tea houses. Even though, we advise you to take water purification pills with you. On the trail, sometimes in case you run out of mineral water or boiled water, you can also use the water directly from the stream after pill treatment, if the tea houses are away.

12 :   What is the accommodation like during the trek?

There is no problem of accommodation in the urban areas. A range of good hotels from budget to 5 star categories is easily available. However, during trekking, types of accommodation may vary depending upon the type of trek you choose. If you are undertaking GAP trek or TH trek, although you may be using good hotels in the urban areas like Kathmandu and Pokhara, you are bound to use basic tea houses. The basic room is mostly small requiring you to use common bath and toilets outside the room. Rooms with attached bathroom are rare during the trek in the remote areas. Although simple and basic, the teahouses do provide warm food and shelter with good hospitality as they are run by the friendly and local families. TH and GAP treks are much less expensive than the FOT trek (camping trek) and are largely suitable for small groups. Mind you, usually during busy seasons in case the rooms are fully occupied, you might have to sleep in dormitory.

13 :   Do you provide any equipment for trekking?

For the FOT trek (Camping trek), we provide all needful two-men good quality tents, sometimes dome tents or sometimes sturdy A-frame tents with good mattresses, needful cutlery and utensils, gas and stoves, candles/kerosene lantern, tables and stools, kitchen tent, dining tent and toilet tents. On Tea house trek there is no need for any camping equipments. Basic rooms and good food are there in all tea houses.

14 :   What type of ground transportation is used on your tours?

We have a fleet with both Japanese and Indian made good vehicles of all types and sizes ranging from small two-seater luxury cars to large capacity luxury tourist coaches, 4WD Land Cruisers and Scorpio jeeps.  We use two-seater cars for 1-2 persons, micro luxury 6-seater vans for 3-5 persons, 10-seater vans for 6-9 persons and coaches for above 10 persons. All our vehicles are fully air conditioned. Our drivers are trained and experienced in the hospitality industry. All the vehicles are periodically checked and maintained accordingly to ensure problem free services.

15 :   Do you arrange domestic and international flights?

Yes, we take care of all the needful domestic and international flight tickets, if required. Please let us know.

16 :   Is tipping included in your cost? If not, how much is normally advised?

Tips are the sign of satisfaction of the clients. The amount depends on your budget and the level of satisfaction from services provided by our staff like guides and drivers. Although it is not mandatory, as per Govt. regulation, it requires all clients to pay 10% service charge in almost all tourist standard hotels and restaurants.

17 :   How do you take care of us in case of emergency?

In the case of a serious sickness or a casualty that we believe it will not happen, you shall be rescued by a helicopter as fast as possible to the capital and treated in the best hospital. Since you are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in evacuation and treatment, please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back in Kathmandu. We always assure you of our best attention and fastest services during the emergency.

18 :   How should we normally dress up during a trek?

During the trek, there is a big difference in the temperature of day and night time. You are advised to bring the clothes accordingly. So, for the day walk, lightweight trekking trousers and T-shirts are recommended along with a waterproof jacket and some warmer clothing are recommended as mountain weather is always unpredictable.

For the cold nights, thermal underwear, a warm fleece jacket and even a down jacket will help to keep you warm. On top of that, good sturdy and lightweight shoes, but used are of great importance. For higher altitude treks where you may have to walk on the snow for long hours, good trekking boots can be hired or bought in Kathmandu.

In view of local tradition and customs, too skimpy or revealing clothes are frowned upon. Polite dresses are always appreciated everywhere.

19 :   Is pre-booking possible in the lodges on the trek?

We always try to provide good accommodation to our clients. Although pre-reservation of rooms in the tea houses/lodges is not possible, every day we send a porter a few hours ahead of the group each day to book the better rooms in the a better tea house.

20 :   Is it possible to alter or change the day trips?

It is possible to change the day trip as per your need and request in consultation with your guide. So, you are always advised to coordinate with our guide who is in-charge of the tour on the spot.  

21 :   Is a change possible in the itinerary?

Yes, it is. However, it all depends upon several factors. It is possible if it is not causing any major changes in the cost like hotel, drive, entrance fees, flights and  so and so forth. However, we will try our best to arrange the changes with minimum of extra cost. If there is a major extra cost in case of change, the cost shall be borne by you.

Fully hope our answers are satisfactory enough for you. If any further clarification is required or if you have any further questions, please feel free t o write to us. We assure you of our best attention at all time.