Does Tin-Tin Trekking provide international flights?
The agency do not offer this service.

  Where can I book my international flight?
Tin-Tin Trekking aim is to provide high-quality services at a reasonable cost. Due to this policy, the staff policy has to focus on providing personalised service with respect to Tin-Tin Trekking journeys and cannot be expected to advise you on air fares.

  What about domestic flights?
Tin-Tin Trekking will arrange any domestic flights. We will require all information or documents needed to reserve your flight upon receipt of your booking.

  How do I book?
To book a program please use our booking form or, alternatively, send an e-mail with the following information:

The exact name and duration of the chosen program.
The trekking accommodation (lodge or camping) you chose.
The number of partakers
Full name, nationality, date of birth and passport number/reference for each participant.
Date(s) and time of arrival, and the name of the company you will be flying with (as soon as you have booked your flight).

After receiving your booking form we will e-mail you a quotation. To confirm the booking, we will ask you to wire a deposit (see our booking & cancellation terms for Nepal, India and Pakistan).

  How to pay the deposit?

The deposit should be paid by wire transfer :

Instruction for payment will be provided in the same time we e-mail you the quotation.

When your transfer is done, please e-mail us a confirmation mail with your wire transfer details, so that we can follow up your reservation efficiently.(Also read our terms and conditions for Nepal, India and Pakistan.)

For a tailor made program, you will get a quotation as soon as we get a full description.

  When do I book?

To make sure that the reservation is processed properly, it is wise to make your booking at least two months in advance. However, if you want a good deal on your international flight, we recommend organising your trip at least five months in advance.

Visa and formalities

  Visa

For India, Nepal and Pakistan your passport must be valid for more than 6 months after your return date.

Nepal: You can get your visa either from any embassy of Nepal either at your arrival at Kathmandu airport (2 photographs and 30 $ cash are required for a two months visa).
India & Pakistan: You must handle your visa before leaving your country. You can ge it from an Indian or Pakistanis Embassy.

Tin-Tin Trekking offers a listing of embassies, consulates and plenty of information to obtain your visa. For those information, please visit our links page. Select the country you will be travelling to and look for the visa section.

  Permits and formalities

We will look after all special permits, trekking permits, national parks... so that you don't have to worry for any of those.

Travel insurance

A travel insurance policy is vital if you go trekking. While most general travel insurance cover you against sickness while on a trek, not all cover you for emergency evacuation, which could run into many thousands of dollars if a helicopter were required.

Tin-Tin Trekking do not offer travel insurance policies, however we strongly recommend that you apply for one covering mountain rescue and emergency evacuation.

  Nepal
With a credit card (visa card or master card) it's possible to get Nepalese Rupees in Kathmandu or Pokhara (Grindlays Bank takes no commission) and US dollars traveler checks can easily be cashed (Grindlays Bank takes 1% commission).

Change: 1 US Dollar  = 80.93300 nepalese Roupi ...... 27th  March 2002

  India
In Delhi it's easy to get Indian Rupees with a credit card (visa card, master card or American express) and US dollars traveller checks can easily be cashed.

Change: 1 US Dollar  = 48.86500 indian Roupi  ...... 27th March 2002

  Pakistan
In Islamabad you can get Rupees with a credit card (visa, master card, American express) in the Bank of America. The best solution is to carry US dollars traveller checks and a small amount of cash dollars.

 What's the food like?
There’s plenty of it. It is important to eat and drink as much as possible on a trek, as you will be using a lot of calories each day.
Menus vary from one country to another, but a typical day’s meals would be as follows:
Breakfast – cereals or porridge, eggs to order – usually scrambled eggs or fried eggs - toast or chapatis, honey or peanut butter, tea or coffee.
Lunch and dinner–Mostly noodles, potatoes or a rice dish with the typical dhal (lentils soup); sometimes a curry or stew, and, depending on the region, some salad, vegetables, chapatis or bread. Tea or coffee. During camp treks a packed lunch will sometimes be provided which may consist of some of the following: bread and jam sandwiches, chapatis, tuna fish, cheese, boiled eggs, biscuits.
It should be understood that on long treks some of the food items are not available for the whole distance, such as eggs, meat, and fresh vegetables like cabbage or cauliflower.
Cooks in these countries are well versed in producing a variety of menus and will do their very best to accommodate your requests. However, we highly recommend that trekkers bring their own little supply of ‘goodies’: sweets, cereal bars, dry meat, chocolate and dried fruits will be welcome!

  Will I get a stomach upset?
If you take sensible precautions, you should stay healthy. The main danger comes in eating and drinking in cities. Untreated water is the main cause of problems. There is no reason why you should contract stomach trouble if you take sensible precautions. Those people that do encounter ‘travellers tummy’ will usually find that this is merely an inconvenience, and rarely anything more serious. We do not advocate the use of Immodium, which does not cure the illness and actually adds another problem – constipation. Anyone going on a trek should take the precaution however of carrying a course of antibiotics, suitable for treating any major stomach trouble, with them.

  Will I join a group, as most Tour Operators propose?
Tin-Tin Trekking  promotes independence and flexibility, and will not ask you to join a pre-arranged group. Any adventure you choose will be tailored to your own individual needs, and you will travel either with your companions or alone.

  Will I be able to join Tin-Tin Trekking clients if I am alone or prefer to trek with more people?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to help you finding trekkers to join and will not put you in touch with other clients. However, we will soon implement a notice board where our clients will be able to look after trekkers to join.

Travelling alone

  Nepal

Most of our Nepalese trekking programs are available for a person travelling alone.  However, the Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Mustang, Dolpo, Dhaulaghiri and Rolwaling programs are subject to local legislation that requires travelling in a group in order to obtain a permit. Trekking peaks for one person are subject to a personalised quotation.

  India & Pakistan

All treks require a minimum of two people.

Most popular and frequented areas

Which are the most touristy and frequented areas?

  In Nepal the Everest and Annapurna regions are highly attractive areas and the flow of tourists is quite important.
  India the Zanskar traverse is quite famous.
  Pakistan the K2 base camp and Gondogoro La attracts quite a few trekkers as well.

Staff and leaders

 Who will be leading my trip?
In Nepal, India and Pakistan, the personnel is exclusively local with guides who speak English.

Who will accompany me during a trek/trekking peak program?
In Nepal, a licensed guide and porters for your personal belongings and, for camp treks only, a cook, a kitchen boy, and additional porters for the camping equipment and food. For lodge treks, only a porter-guide will accompany a trekker travelling alone. A high mountain guide for trekking peaks ascensions. For Mustang and Manaslu, a relation officer is obligatory.
In India and Pakistan: a guide, a cook and porters or horses.

Hotel standard

You will be welcomed in small and fairly simple hotels, chosen for their fair level of cleanliness and a calm atmosphere.

Lodge or camping

How do I choose between the lodge and camp trek options?   Only for Nepal

A lodge is a kind of rustic mountain inn. During a lodge trek, you will sleep in lodges (dormitory or separate rooms) and have your meals (prepared by the lodge owner) in the shared dining room. A guide and porters, taking charge of your personal belongings (12 kg per person), will accompany you. The advantages of this kind of trek are the conviviality with other trekkers at the evening stop, and a more attractive price.

During a camp trek, you are completely independent. You will sleep in a 2-person tent and throughout the trip your personal cook will prepare fresh food especially for you. A guide and porters will accompany you, , and often, in the evenings, they provide the entertainment by singing and playing music. This is a much more traditional way of trekking, and the only one possible in remote areas. The advantages of this kind of trek are: greater privacy compared to lodge dormitories, and a better quality of meals.

The following list only mentions the essential elements. You have to prepare a list of clothes and small personal articles you will need during the trek.

Trekking peaks equipment

What you will have to bring with you:
High mountain boots
crampons
ice axe
gaiters
harness
2 carabiners
a belay device
ascension handle jumar style
a long sling or 2 to 3 m of dynamic rope (8,5 mm)
glacier sunglasses

You can rent this equipment in Kathmandu (An example of rate: high mountain shoes cost 1.50 $ per day).

Equipment provided by the agency
Ropes
Fixed ropes
Snow bars and ice screws

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