Group composition - Travelling alone

Tin-Tin Trekking doesn't organize any fixed date programs for groups composed of persons who don't know each other. You will be alone or accompanied by the members of your own group. Of course you can choose any date which is convenient for you.

Lodge or Camp trek?

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Lodge trek:
On the popular trekking routes such as Everest and Annapurna there are lodges in the main villages. A lodge is a kind of rustic mountain inn, which is , from the outside, similar to the other houses of the villages. During a lodge trek, you will sleep in lodges (dormitory or separate room) and have your meals (prepared by the lodge owner) in a common dining room. You will be accompanied by a guide and porters for your personal belongings (12 kg per person). The advantages of this kind of trek are the conviviality with other groups of trekkers, at the evening stop, and a more attractive price.
Camp treks:
With this kind of trek, your autonomy is complete. You will sleep in a 2 person tent and all along the way fresh food will be prepared especially for you by your personal cook. You will be accompanied by a guide and porters who will often, at night, sing and play music. This is more the traditional way of trekking and the only one, which is possible in remote areas. The advantages of this kind of trek are a greater privacy compared to lodge dormitories and better quality meals.

Visas

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Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months after your departure date from Nepal. You can get your visa either from any embassy of Nepal either at your arrival at Katmandu airport (2 photographs and 30 $ cash are required for a two months visa).

Taylor-made program

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Modification of our programs to your convenience and taylor-made treks. Contact us to receive your personal quotation.
If you wish to reduce or add some days to your trek we will propose you all possible variations and we will build your itinerary together.

Trekking and Trekking Peak permits - National Park

Before the trek, one full day in Kathmandu is necessary to comply with the formalities; after the trek at least one day is required as a security day for your international flight (For Dolpo and Kanchenjunga: 2 to 3 days).

Saturday and Sunday are bank holidays in Nepal. If you arrive on Friday, you will have to wait two more days in Kathmandu and if you arrive on Saturday, one more day will be required.
For some treks it is possible to arrange the formalities in advance, so that you can leave for your trek the following day of your arrival. Contact us to be informed of the procedure.

Trekking permits are no more required for Annapurna, Everest and Langtang-Gosaikund-Helambu regions. However, payment of National Parcs entrance fees has to be done before the trek starts, in Kathmandu.

2 photographs are required for a trekking permit and one more photograph for a trekking peak permit. Passport and photographs must be deposited in the agency at least in the early morning of the day before the trek departure date.

Money

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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).

Immunization

No immunizations are required by law for entry into Nepal but the following are recommended: poliomyelitis, diphtheria and tetanus, typhoid. One can complete them by vaccines against rabies and hepatitis A and B.

First aid kit

Here are the main things which can be useful: iodine tablets, tincture or crystals for water purification, analgesics, antidiarrhoeal, intestinal disinfectants, antibiotics, antiseptic, eye drops, bandages, coetaneous antiseptics, waterproof tape, adhesive pads, cotton swabs, skin applications (burn, sunburn, bites or stings), acetazolamide (Diamox) for acute mountain sickness...

Equipment

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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.
A small backpack (about 40 l. It will contain what you will need during a trekking day and carried by you), a kit-bag with padlock (or a big backpack. It will contain the 12 kg personal belongings, which will be carried by porters. We advise you to protect the inside of the kit-bag with a plastic bag), a good sleeping bag, a sweater, a fleece jacket and a waterproof jacket (preferably Gore-Tex), good trousers as well as a waterproof trousers (preferably Gore-Tex), gloves and cap, hiking shoes, sunglasses and sun cream, a walking stick (optional), a frontal lamp or an electric torch. A foam mattress is provided, but if you have a self-inflating mattress (such as Thermarest), bring it: you will feel more comfortable.

Trekking Peaks equipment

High mountain boots, crampons, ice axe, gaiters, harness, 2 carabiners, 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).

Airport Tax

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600 Rupees for India and 1000 Rupees for all other destinations (November 2000).

Tips

For a porter 50 to 100 Rupees per day appears reasonable. For the guide 100 to 200 Rupees per day. This is of course just a suggestion and you are free to act as you feel.

Remarks

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Our very attractive prices are possible because we have low costs. We have no high advertising costs and no agency abroad. During the treks, the number of porters who will accompany you will be sufficient. It is important that you limit the weight of your personal belongings carried by porters to 12kg. If you find it necessary, you can hire porters for 10 $ per day for 24 Kg extra weight.
During the ascent of a trekking peak, the groups are accompanied only by a high mountain guide. We recommend that you hire a 2nd high mountain guide who will help during the ascent and bring back to the base camp those who are not able to reach the summit. Without the 2nd high mountain guide, a whole group could be obliged to return to the base camp just because one of the members is not able to reach the summit (The extra cost is 350 $).
Meals are served in sufficient quantity (rice, noodles, eggs, potatoes …), but can be somewhat monotonous. You could bring along some personal supplies (especially for lodge treks) such as sausage, cheese, chocolate, dry fruits...