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'PRIVATELY GUIDED' TOUR
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NEPAL - Practical Information
Nepal is the home of the great Himalayan range. With its peaks rising over 25,000ft these legendary mountains provide a spectacular sight. The capital city Kathmandu is only 4,200ft high and is a year round destination. Nepal is an exotic country with a rich culture and natural beauty. The Kathmandu valley and its neighboring ancient villages, Patan and Bhaktapur should be the first to visit. The Kathmandu valley consists of three distinct cities - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhadgaon. Each of these unique medieval cities vies with the other in the distinctive character of its architecture, colorful festivities and the warm hospitality of its people. A short flight away is the valley of Pokhara with a backdrop of 23 to 25 thousand feet high Annapurna Ranges and at the foothills is the famous Chitwan National Park, the home of the single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger.
PASSPORT & VISAS
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required. Tourist visas for Nepal are available on arrival at Kathmandu airport. You will be required to fill out a simple visa form and will need two photographs per person. Current multiple entry Nepal visa fee is $25.00 per person payable at the airport in cash. (visa fee subject to change) |
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HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
India, Bhutan or Nepal governments do not require any inoculations, except proof of a yellow fever shot if you have traveled in a yellow fever effected area within the past six months. As a minimum, most tourists take protection against Hepatitis A and get booster shots. CDC and your local health department maintain a list of recommended shots for travel to your destination. Your personal physician may recommend some shots for your special needs. For more information you may contact your local health department or the CDC at
(800) 232 4636 or visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/regions/south-asia.aspx.
Precautions
Minor stomach ailments are the most common affliction of visitors to the Nepal. To minimize the chances of your getting sick, we strongly recommend that you drink only bottled water during your travel through Nepal. Bottled drinking water is available for purchase throughout. In restaurants, insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Avoid having ice in drinks unless you know it has been made with bottled water. It may be advisable to brush your teeth with bottled water. It is also a good idea to always wash your hands before and after eating. Try and avoid unpeeled fruits or raw salads or make sure fresh fruit or vegetables have been washed in bottled water. Most hotels have physicians on call. They are inexpensive (relative to what you pay at home), competent, and familiar with the common ailments that afflict travelers. Your tour might be traveling through remote areas where medical facilities may not be in easy reach. Our local staff are available to assist you in anyway possible.
CLIMATE
Nepal has a typical monsoonal two-season year. There's the dry season from October to May and there's the wet season, the monsoon, from June to September. The best time to travel to Nepal is October thru May. The valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant equable climate with average summer and winter temperatures of 65° to 80°F and 55° to 70°F respectively.
CLOTHING
No formal clothes are required on your tour and casual to smart casual would be a good general guideline to follow. On tours, shorts are also okay. Bring your protection against sun, (i.e., sun screen, sun glasses, hat, etc.). Cotton clothes are sufficient from March until September but warm clothes are necessary from October to February. However, visitors are advised to carry clothes consisting of layers (or preferably a woolen sweater and jacket) throughout the season, as weather may change at anytime. Although we do not expect rain during the suggested months of travel but in the mountains quick showers can develop anytime. Please carry a light rain coat or an umbrella and a wind jacket. Remember comfortable walking shoes and a few pairs of dark "temple sox" that can be discarded after the tour.
Recommended items to pack include
Good walking shoes, protection against sun, (i.e., sun screen, sun glasses, hats, umbrellas, lip balm etc.), a woolen sweater and jacket, rain gear, extra pair of sox (temple sox), mosquito repellent (Deet or such), diarrhea/altitude sickness/de-hydration medication, soap leaves, wet wipes (single use type packets), hand sanitizer, binoculars, flashlight, alarm clock or a travelers watch, ear plugs, calculator, camera with extra memory sticks/film and batteries.
FOOD & DINING
A smorgasbord of traditional local fare and continental favorites are available in most hotels. Full American breakfast is included daily with juice, fruit, breads, eggs and local items. On our escorted tours we have arranged lunches and dinners that are buffets or a choice of three-course western or Nepalese style meals. Some days a multi choice local favorite meal may be offered. All escorted group tours include gala welcome 'get-acquainted' and 'farewell' dinners. Kathmandu city offers fine dining in city restaurants; in all other cities it is perhaps best to eat in the hotels.
BAGGAGE
Baggage handling of only one piece of checked luggage per person is included on all tours. Domestic flights to Nepal allow each passenger only one checked bag not to exceed 50 pounds. Please check with us regarding restrictions on baggage to your destinations.
ELECTRIC CURRENT IN NEPAL In Nepal, electricity runs 220/240 volts, 50 cycles A.C. Sockets have either three round pairs or two thick round pairs. If you do bring electrical appliances, take along an international converter kit complete with a set of adapter plugs.
TIME ZONE IN NEPAL Nepal has only one time zone; the entire country is 5.45 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and 15 minutes ahead of India Time. For current time in Nepal visit: www.worldtimeserver.com
CURRENCY
Your hotels, sightseeing tours, mentioned meals and on some escorted tours gratuities are prepaid. However, customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to your tour escort is not included. It is easy to change money at your hotel cashier's desk. There is no major advantage in changing money at a bank. It is better to take money by traveler's checks. You may want to take some cash in twenties, tens, fives and ones for small purchases. You should try not to change too much money as it is often difficult to reconvert local money back to US dollars. When you change your money you get receipts (called "encashment certificates") should be retained, as these will enable you to reconvert the balance into dollars, at the time of departure from the country, if the last receipt is no more than 30 days old. All major establishments, hotels, restaurants and shops accept major credit cards. ATMs are very few in major cities only, so please do not plan on using them.
CANCELLATION:
Our cancellation policy is as follows; If canceled in writing;
90 days or more before departure.Minimum penalty $350.00
89 - 60 days before departure.Minimum penalty 50%
59 - 45 days before departure.Minimum penalty 75%
44 days prior till date of departure.100% of the tour price
NO shows . no refunds and no refunds after the tour begin.
All penalties above are per person.
Terms & Conditions |
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