Category: Awareness

Trekking in Nepal is an amazing opportunity to experience Nepal’s natural beauty, enjoying the Himalayan topography, cultural elements in spectacular customs, customs and the religion. Through the trekking, gorgeous Himalayan topography of Nepal are breath-taking in every step and every way. After deciding to do trekking in Nepal for your next holiday, there are many fraud deals sites which display misleading travel deals of the trip packages and in real present very poor value-for-money. If you have confusion to select a good trekking agency among the thousands of companies in Nepal, than this article will give you some ideas to help you out with choosing the best trekking agencies in Nepal. Here are listed down some helpful tips to aid you make the best decision for your upcoming trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal.

1. Registration, Licenses and Associations (Nepal Government Authorized Trekking Agency)

This is very important for you to know that, Your Trekking agency are authorized with proper licenses and registration from various Authorities or not? A Trekking agency has Company Registration Certificate, Permanent Account Number (PAN), and License from Department of Tourism of Nepal (NTB) and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) to conduct their services. But If Trekking agency sells the Climbing packages then need to be registered with Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). You can see the legal documents in the profile in website, if not present ask them for certificate before the final booking and don’t forget to check the date of expiry.

2. Read Client Reviews and testimonials

Not only Register Company offers good service for trekking. Reviews and testimonials may help you to get the basic ideas about the trekking company and their services. The testimonials may help you get the basic idea about their business and their strengths. Read the reviews from the past clients and find out the reliable trekking agency based on the reviews and rating.  Trip Advisor and Lonely planet may be a good way to get the reviews from the past clients and find out the reliable trekking agency based on the reviews and rating.

3. Year of Experience of the Agency

The years of Experiences may be the important factors to determine the services of trekking company. While old company doesn’t mean they provide better services, a momentous years of experience will assure the reliable expertise of the company. So some new trekking agencies opened by experienced guide can provide the value of money. Also, check the Founders of Company, whether they are simply a businessman or adventure leaders or experts. Do they have earlier adventure trip leading experience or are they leading the trip.

4. Cost and services

First, let’s not forget the value of your holiday, Cheapest may not always give you best value for the money. To find the reasonable cost it is necessary to compare your needs with the facilities provided by the agency. Check about their services and prices clearly which gives you the overview of your total expenses. Check carefully the cost inclusion and make sure it fulfill your requirement for the trip. Be sure no hidden cost will apply on the service.

5. Safety standards of the company

Before booking your trip assure that your trekking agency have great safety standards and good safety records. Before heading to Himalayas the company does carry the Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) or Oxygen with comprehensive first aid kit and medical trained trek leader on all high altitude treks to handle any emergencies or health issues in the Himalayas. Make sure that, during the emergency case they provide helicopter rescue or not?

6. Send an Inquiry Email

It is very important to know that how they reply your email and responds the answer of your question. Communication will not just let you know about their facilities and services but their response to your inquiries will help you clear all your doubts, know them more closely and get a clear picture about your upcoming adventure.

7. Agencies and their Guides

Guides are the one of the most important factors that determine your experience while you trek so, assure that, your trip leader who is reliable competent professional with government license holder and medically trained capable of handling any adverse situation on trek. Guides are not just to show the way and to tell the mountains name or only charm smiling. Guides must have communication skills Specially-English and multiple languages are pulse points. Because, they know their cultures but they can’t tell or describe on properly its spoil your whole journey. Finding a multilingual guide will make your trek more comfortable. They must have general knowledge of politics, cultures, lifestyle, movies, international events, news so they can make a nice conversation.

fWith using the Drone, Many travelers and Trekkers make beautiful travel vlogs. Using this drone footage, different travel agencies and travelers are promoting their business. In Nepal, It is illegal to fly the drone over the Nepalese sky without permission. We can use drone inside our home and in our personal garden. However you need an approval from the civil aviation authority (CAAN) when taking aerial photographs. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) maintains and regulates these rules of requirements to fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/ drones in Nepal. This permission is rarely granted to foreigners. Those flying illegally risk arrest or massive fines.

General Rules/Law in Nepal

1. You cannot fly your drone over airports or in areas where aircraft are operating and Military Air Space, army, military or securities areas and Archaeological areas are strictly prohibited.
2. You cannot flying your drone around temples without prior permission.
3. You do not need permission to use drone from CAAN, if you are flying drone is less than 2 kg kilograms and flown at the height of 400 meters and a distance of 500 meters on your personal purpose and properties like inside your house, land, and garden
4. You cannot fly your drone over people or large crowds, keep 150 meters away from people or crowds.

Process to obtain drone flying permission in Nepal:

Documents required:

1. Filled form
   1. Request letter addressed to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal asking for permission to use drone.
   2. A copy of Operation Specifications of Drone.
   3. Copy of map of intended drone operation area.
   4. No Objection letter or Recommendation letter from concerned owner if drone operation area is over private/public place or property.
   5. Letter from the concerned authority for security clearance or other clearance. This security clearance is taken from the operation areas Police Headquarters.
2. Cost/Time:
   1. Cost: Free
   2. Time: After submit your required documents and accepted by CAAN, you should get the permission within 3 days.
3. Process to get permission:
   1. Get a permission letter from the Municipality of the places that you want to fly drone.
   2. You need to take recommendation letter from the CDO (central district office) office. CDO will provide recommendation letter only after getting the permission letter from the municipality.
   3. After showing these 2 letters to police headquarters, they will provide security clearance letter (For larger production) if needed.
   4. All the documents listed above you should submit your application to the Drone operation permission department within Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Nepal is also known as a Land of Himalayas. Nepal has carved out its own distinct culture. Nepal is a dream destination for adventure seekers and for those bitten by the travel bug. If you’re planning to travel in mountains and the Himalayas area. There might be risk and chances of problems like health issues, injuries and even altitude sickness. Therefore, travel insurance is the most important for your trip. In Nepal, most medical treatment must be paid for at the point of delivery.

If your insurance company does not provide upfront payment, be sure to obtain receipts so you can reclaim later be sure that the Travel Insurance must cover both the medical and emergency evacuation via a helicopter(rescue from the high altitude ) cost. Make sure that, you choose the correct plan and/or adventure sports option with hiking & trekking cover. Taking out a Travel Insurance before you go on a trip will protect you from such unforeseen expenses. Also, always make sure to inquire about the hidden costs as some insurance companies try to fleece the customers with unnecessary burdens.