Permit Fee Structure / Environmental ethics and Garbage deposit / Trip booking procedure
Travel Insurance
Qualification for the climbing trips
Mountains in the Himalayas are not only for extreme mountaineers. Many of our clients are simply lovers of outdoors who want to add little extra of adventure in their trip; and are first timers. Many of the trekking peaks (small to medium level peaks) are not technical in terms of difficulty. They are climbed without the help of supplementary oxygen. Good physical condition and sense of enjoying adventure activities will enhance you to enjoy the mountains. Anyone who are able to hike daily 5-8 hours for couple of weeks, are not afraid of snow and can follow the very simple instructions of our climbing guide that includes following basic rope skill, wear and use equipment properly are qualified for small range (trekking peak) climbing trips. For large scale mountaineering it’s important to have experience of climbing smaller peaks, basic training and understanding of technical issued related to climbing.
What does our full cost include?
The full board cost mentioned on the trip memo includes: climbing and national park entry fee permit, 4 nights hotel in Kathmandu, transport, airfare/bus fare, food, camping/cooking equipment and staff (guide, porters, etc). We need minimum 2 people in the trip to implement our price mentioned on the trip information. We provide bulk insurance to on behalf of our guides porters safety and care. We value fair business concept and we are committed to provide quality service in reasonable price. Following are the specification of our services and items we include on the trip cost.
Guide or Climbing Sherpa
Climbing guides in the Himalayan Peaks are also known as climbing sherpa. The term Sherpa comes from mountain ethnic group of Nepal who lives in Mountain area. Many of the climbing sherpas come from this Sherpa community but not all of them. So, it doesn’t mean that your climbing Sherpa is always a Sherpa by ethnicity.
Our climbing guides are not chosen just to hold the job but to function as professional guides. They are trained in handling mountaineering expeditions by Nepal Mountaineering Association. We don’t send climbing guides who has not climbed ore observed the mountain you are heading in. Our guides are educated, responsible and speak good English. They are trained in first aid and handling all situations in the field.
Cook and Food
Approach trek to the trekking peaks or any expedition peak, up to base camp are completed by teahouse or camping treks. In camping treks we provide our own supply of food, equipment and support staff whereas in teahouse trek you will sleep and eat at the local family run teahouses or lodges. At any case at the base camps and higher camps you will have fully supported camping service. We send dry foods and fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits for the trip. While we trek through villages we buy fresh vegetables and fruits from the villagers to support their economy and at same time to use fresh foods for the clients.
Porters / Livestock carriers
To transport all the expedition supplies, we use porters from trekking starting point to base camp and back. Porter job is considered as one of the very difficult jobs but many Nepalese live with this job. Concern on porters’ safety has been increased in these days and a professional trekking agencies like ours take good care of the porters they employ. We provide excellent equipment to our porters to protect themselves from the cold, wind and other situations in the high altitude. Porters are well paid and are insured for safety. We never overload (12 to 20 kilogram is the average load we make them carry, by one) them and they don’t have to worry about where to sleep at night. We provide porter’s Tent along with our other equipment. In possible places, we transport the supply by Yaks but it’s difficult in some cases.
Camping Equipment:
Alpine Tent (double or single) high quality four season tents. Most of our tents are made by The North Face or Mountain Hard wear. Dinning Tent, Toilet tent, Shower Tent, Cooking Tent, Porter’s Shelter, Sherpa Tent are provided as per requirement.
Kitchen Equipment:
Adequate supply of kitchen dishes like: cooking dishes, plate, fork, spoon, knife, etc.
Dinning table, Chair
Sleeping mat (warm thick and insulated)
Food (Everyday 3 times meal, afternoon tea and snacks)
Rope
We provide climbing rope (main rope and auxiliary ropes) as necessary in the peaks. Ropes are imported and are of UIAA tested standard.
Trek Pack (Duffel Bag)
To put your personal / climbing gears for the trip.
What should you bring?
Depending on which level climbing you are aiming list of equipment can vary but following list may be helpful.
Foot Gear
Climbing Boot (Koflach) or Lasportiva / Crampon / Gaiter While you buy or want to rent a Climbing boot, Make sure that it fits well to your feet. Walk several minutes and test it if the crampon and gaiter fits well. Consult with the dealer who sell or rent the equipment.
Socks: Pack enough socks inner and outer socks (2 pairs of woolen and few pairs of cotton/ nylon Hiking Boot: Goretex
Head Gear
Warm Hat: Cotton glacier hat or Baseball Hat for sunny days.
Warm insulating caps of wool, fleece or pile are essential for cold.
Need 2-3 bandanas / cotton towels to protect wind in face while walking in wind.
Sunglasses: Very important to secure your eyes. High quality ultraviolet ray protection sunglasses are necessary. Always smart to bring extra pair.
Upper and Lower body:
Set (pant – Jacket) of Gore-Tex (windproof -water proof), insulated with fleece or similar material is better or can wear fleece or sweater inside and gore tex outside. Long underwear; Synthetics like polypropylene and polyester are best fabrics for this purpose. A fleece Jacket is also necessary for most of the times sitting in the dinning tent or for chilly cold. Wind stopper fleece can be smart choice. Insulation layers should be made of wool or synthetics. Cottons are not very good in cold as if it get wet will take long time to dry. Dawn Jacket, Rain parka is also essential and extra t-shirts of course.
Hands
A pair of synthetic pile or good woolen mittens worn inside waterproof out layer is perfect choice for most of the trekking peak climbs. Apart from that, simple wool glove or fleece glove will also be essential.
Pack (Day pack)
As long as you choose to use our full board service, you don’t need to bring big rucksack to carry on your personal belongings on the trip. Up to base camp your belongings (cloths, climbing equipment) are carried by our staff in our own duffle bags. (We provide a free duffle bag to each participant). To put your camera, small first aid, water-bottle, batteries, journal, extra cloths, head lamp, you should have separate medium size day pack of 30-40 liter.
Ice Axe:
One ice-axe is essential for each participant.
Carabineer:
About 3 lock carabineer and 3 open type carabineer are essential for each climber.
Harness:
Full body harness (seat Harness)
Water bottle
Camel-pack (piped water pack) is popular these days. We provide the iodine or water purifying tablets. In camps we provide boiled water.
Sleeping bag
Very important, it’s always better to buy one at home rather than to buy in Kathmandu. Somehow, if you don’t have to use again, you can rent one in Kathmandu. Before buying or renting make sure if it’s big enough for you and turning over while sleeping. For large expeditions it’s good to have your own sleeping bag. The bag must be true minus 20 degree Celsius for the big climbs and at least minus 5 for the base camp or trekking use.
Flash Light with extra batteries and bulbs
Personal First Aid Kit:
(Insect repellent, Moleskin, Diomax, Aspirin, Cipro, etc.)
Pocket Knife
Sunscreen and lip protection
Power bar, dry foods, light and healthy snacks of your choice
Always ask for equipment checklist while you correspondence or seek help with experienced people i.e. the place where you buy equipment.
Permit Fee Structure for Trekking Peaks (Large Scale Peak Permit fee structure can be send on request)
Please visit this link for royalty structure of trekking peaks also known as NMA peaks http://nepalmountaineering.org/article-royal_structure
And for the other peaks check out in this link. http://www.tourismdepartment.gov.np/mountaineering-royalty
Environmental ethics and Garbage deposit:
We are very concerned in quality tourism and its ethics. Nepal mountaineering association (NMA) and ministry of tourism have rule of certain amount to be deposited as garbage depoist. This refundable deposit is taken care by ourselves. Each expedition team is requested to bring back non- biodegradable items are requested to bring back to proper site or carry back home. And biodegradable items are properly disposed in allocated sites in the route.
Trip booking procedure:
It is wise to inquire about the trip in well advance; at least three months advance for small peaks and 6 month ahead of time for big peaks. Make sure you have asked each and every question that you wanted the answers. After you are mentally ready to sign in for a trip you are requested to send us US$ 200.00 (or equivalent) as the nonrefundable deposit for a trip. For the bigger expediton trips advance or trip deposit can be higher. After sending the deposit your hotel in Kathmandu, airline ticket to the point where your trek start (if applicable) and your guide and staff are confirmed. Rest of the trip cost should be paid before the trip. After the trip is started from Kathmandu your money will not be refunded at any case.
Travel / Rescue Insurance:
Travelers coming into Nepal for trekking, mountaineering or other adventure trips are strongly requested to have their travel insurance from home which should cover the emergency evacuation by helicopter / airplane from the remote areas. The remote areas of Himalaya where most trekking area and peak lay lack of any medical facilities or transport. So, to have insurance with coverage of emergency evacuation is a must.
How to get more information:
This website is the result of some efforts of our own guides and managers who seek to perform professional business in the mountain tourism of Nepal. We know that the website still lack of much detail information. We are determined to extend the information on itineraries, maps and route options in coming days. When you seek more information please, contact us by e-mail, phone or other online options. Our e-mails: office@threejewelsadv.com cc amberkathmandu@gmail.com (manager’s personal e-mail)