Trekking in Nepal FAQs
Learn the answers to the most commonly asked questions about our Trips in Nepal.
Joining a Wildland Trekking trip to Nepal? We have compiled the most frequently asked questions that Wildland Trekking guests have about visiting and hiking in Nepal.
We invite you to peruse the categories below and find answers to your questions.
Money
What are the local customs regarding tipping?
- In general, in Asia, tipping is not as common as in the US. However, it is becoming more common in the travel and tourism industry such as for shuttle drivers, hotel staff, servers, and guides.
- For tipping your guides for this trip, tipping is completely discretionary and always appreciated. For most guides, sharing wild places with others is a true passion and way of life. Tips enable them to make a livable wage while providing outstanding experience to others. The industry recommendation is 5-10% of total trip cost per person. If you have a team of guides and porters, you can pay the lead guide directly and ask that they fairly distribute the tip to the entire team on your behalf. If you prefer, you can divide the total tip and pay each team member directly. It is best to pay cash in Nepalese Rupees.
Are ATMs readily available on this trip?
- There will be a few ATMs in the Kathmandu Airport. During the first few days of the trip while you are in the Thamel neighborhood of Kathmandu, ATMs are readily available. When you transfer up to either Pokhara or Lukla, ATMs will be available there as well. Once you launch out to the villages in the mountains you will not encounter ATMs.
How much cash do we need for the Visa?
- To obtain a visa upon arrival into Nepal you will need to pay $30 USD for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, and $125 for 90 days.
Connectivity
What is the internet access like?
- WIFI and internet connectivity will be available at your hotel in Kathmandu and throughout the city. At the teahouses in the lower elevations, WIFI might be available, but it will not be reliable, and you will be asked to pay a nominal fee. At the teahouses in the higher elevations, WIFI will not be available.
- If you purchase a SIM card for your phone upon arrival, you can purchase data and use that for connecting. Again, up in the mountains, connectivity will be patchy.
Can I use my cellphone while on trip?
- Purchasing a SIM card upon arrival should give you the cheapest and most reliable cell phone coverage while in Nepal. You can also call your phone carrier and ask about international phone plans or activating global roaming. Make sure to ask about pricing for these options.
Do the teahouses have electricity?
- Yes, all the teahouses have electricity. Please keep in mind that you will be in remote areas, and at times there may be power outages. Typically, the teahouses located at higher elevations will be more rustic with fewer amenities.
Gear
Can I store extra lugage on this trip?
- You can store extra luggage at the hotel in Kathmandu. You will have access to it for the first two nights and the last night of the trip
Should I bring micro spikes?
- If micro spikes are needed, the guide will provide them to you.
Accommodations and Amenities
Do you have to pay to charge electronics in the tea houses?
- Yes, it costs NPR 200 to NPR 500 to charge your electronics for an entire night in a teahouse. Depending on the teahouse, you may have to charge in the communal area and wait for an outlet to be available
Are there showers in the teahouses?
- Yes, there are electric/gas geyser hot showers in all teahouses. It costs NPR 200 to NPR 1000 per person depending on the elevation.
Toilets
What are the toilets like on this trip?
- Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara have western toilets in your room.
- Most teahouses have squat toilets, very few teahouses have western toilets. Please remember to throw all toilet paper in the trash can, not the toilet.
- You will want to be prepared with a personal toilet paper kit that includes toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitizer and ziplock bags for carrying out used paper/wipes.
- For more information about using natural settings for a toilet please check out this resource.
Food and Water
Is the water safe to drink along the trek?
- Drinking water from the tap in Nepal is not safe. The hotels will have safe drinking water filling stations. In the teahouses, there are also safe drinking water stations. Our guides also carry water filters and chemical purifying solution tablets for treating water.