Nepal Information Visa and trekking permits Trekking permit fees Best seasons to travel Peaks open for mountaineering Trekking workers: Fair wages, please Model Trekker Medical advice Altitude sickness

AFT NEPAL information

Tourists who visit Nepal must hold valid passport and visa.

Entry
Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy / Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:

Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)

Tourist Visa

Tourist Visa Extension
Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day

Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January - December).

Gratis (Free) Visa
Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.
Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal.

Transit Visa
Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal's immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.

For further information, please contact:
Department of Immigration Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmand
Tel:00977-1-4221996 / 4223590 / 4222453
web site: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

A) Trekking Permit

A trekking permit is a must to visit restricted areas mentioned below.
To visit normal trekking areas, no permission is required.

B) Restricted areas which have been opened for Group Trekking

The following restricted areas are open only for group trekkers. And a trekking permit will not be issued to individual trekkers for such areas. The areas and required fees are as follows:

S.N. Area Fee (per person)

1. Dolpa district

Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

For the first 10 days per person US $500 and After 10 days per day per person Us$50

a) Areas of lower Dolpa
b) Areas of Upper Dolpa

Taplejung District

Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

Kanchanjanga Region
(Areas of Olangchunggola, Lelep, Papung and Yamphudin Village Development Committee)

2. Mustang district.

Upper Mustang

For the first 10 days per person US$ 500 and after 10 days per day per person US$ 50.

3. Gorkha District:

From September to November per week per person US$ 70 and
after 7 days per day perperson US$ 10.

and from December to August per week per person US$ 50 and
after 7 days per day per person US$ 7 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

A. Manaslu Area

B. Chhekampar & Chunchet VDC (Sirdibas- Lokpa-Chumling-Chhekampar -Nile-Chhule Area)

From September to November per person US$ 35 for first 8 days and
from December to August per person US$ 25 for first 8 days (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

4 Dolakha District

Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

(Gauri Shankar & Lamabagar)

5 Humla District

(Simikot and Yari):

For the first 7 days per person US$ 50 and
after 7 days per day per person US$ 7 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

Areas of Limi and Muchu village Development Committee, and area way to Tibet via Tangekhola of Darma Village Development
committee.

Trekking fee of other restricted areas imposed by Nepal government

6. Rasuwa District :

Thuman and Timure

per week per person US$ 10 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

7. Sankhuwasabha District

For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and
after 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

(Makalu Region):

Areas of Kimathanka, Chepuwa,Hatiya and Pawakhola Village Development Committee.

8. Solukhumbu District

For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and
after 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

Everest Region:
All north-west area way from Thame to Nangpala of Namche Village Development Committee

9. Manang District:

Areas of Nar, Phu, and Northern area of Tilche Village of Thochhe Village Development Committee

From September to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

10. Mugu District:

Areas of Mugu, Dolpu, Pulu and Bhangri.

For the first 7 days per person US$ 90 and after 7 days per day per person US$ 15 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

11. Baihang District:

Areas of Kanda, Saipal, Dhuli.

For the first 7 days per person US$ 90 and after 7 days per day per person US$ 15 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

12. Darchula District:

Areas of Byas Village Development Committee.

For the first 7 days per person US$ 90 and after 7 days per day per person US$ 15 (or equivalent convertible foreign currency).

Note:

1. To get a group trekking permit an application form with other relevant documents should be submitted through any registered trekking agency of Nepal.

2. Trekking fee can be paid in Nepalese currency: Notwithstanding anything written in above, the Indian citizen can pay in Nepalese currency equivalant to US Dollars.

RAOnline Trekking Guide Support

RAOnlineTrekkings in Nepal

External Links

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Trekking in Nepal can be undertaken through the year. There are four seasons in Nepal. Each season has its distinct attractions to offer. The seasons are classified as follows:

RAOnline Nepal's climate

The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) and representatives of four unions of trekking workers - All Nepal Revolutionary Tourism Workers Union (ANRTWU); Union of Nepal Travel, Trekking, Rafting and Airlines Workers; Nepal Tourism Workers Association (NTWA); All Nepal Tourism Workers Union (ANTWU); and Nepal Tourism Workers Association (NTWA) – have decided to raise daily wages of trekking porter by Rs 300 and guides/cooks by Rs 250 with effect from October 1, 2014.

Minimum wage

NTTRWU has determined a minimum wage for guide, cook and porter.

The hike is based on the understanding that the previous executive committee of TAAN had reached with the worker unions.

The two sides have also agreed to form Workers' Welfare Fund under Social Security Scheme of the government and deposit Rs 15 million from the TIMS Fund after guidelines for the operationalization of the fund is finalized by the government. The two sides also decided to lobby with the government to prepare guidelines for operationalization of the fund within a month.

TAAN and worker unions have formed a taskforce under the 2nd vice president Kul Bahadur Gurung to look into issues related to trekking workers. The taskforce consists of TAAN executive members as well as representatives of different workers unions.

The taskforce has decided that every company should have to provide identification card to all their field staff. Similarly, the taskforce has decided that TAAN and worker unions will jointly lobby with the concerned agency to implement ‘no trekking without guide/porter' system. Regarding hike in insurance cover for trekking workers, the taskforce decided to work in cooperation with insurance companies that agrees to provide maximum insurance cover.

It also decided to strictly implement the agreement signed between TAAN Pokhara and Sanctuary Tourism Entrepreneurs' Committee in December 2013.

The taskforce has decided that trekking companies will have to provide Rs 8,000 per person to guides, cooks and Sherpas as festival allowance once a year. Similarly, companies will have to provide pay and perks to their employees as per the minimum pay enforced by the government. Likewise, trekking companies will have to compulsorily send budget list of every groups with the guides.

The taskforce has decided to allow only the licensed guides to lead trekking groups from January 1, 2015 onwards.

Similarly, the taskforce has decided that representatives of TAAN and all four trekking workers will visit all check posts before October 1 to inform trekking guides and porters about the hike in their daily wage. Similarly, the taskforce has asked TAAN and tourism workers unions to take joint initiatives for requesting companies to provide appointment letters to cooks, Sherpas and guides who have worked for the company regularly since two years.

Nepal Trekking Travels and Rafting Workers Union (NTTRWU) has severely criticised the wrong attitude of some trekking agencies towards the trekking workers.

In average many hoteliers charge 10 to 20 dollars per day for one guide or porter, but they pay in average only Rs. 250 to 300 to the guide or porter.

Minimum wage 2003

NTTRWU has determined a minimum wage for guide, cook and porter.

Tips for good services
Good services should be honoured by tipping (about 10% to 15% of the total wage). Please respect that guides should be get more money than cooks, cooks more than porters. Female and male workers should get the same amount of money.

Comparing
A porter carrying loads for shopkeepers (for example a 50kg-sack of rice grains) get Rs. 100 a load in rural areas.

Helpers in Kathmandu may earn about Rs. 2,100 in a month time.
Khandbari-Tumlingtar road: 21km-distance local transport by 4WD jeeps - Rs.65 per passenger

Trekking in Nepal need not be considered risky affair as far as your health is concerned. Nevertheless. preventive measures such as a thorough medical check up and inoculations before you start trekking can save you from unexpected hazards. Since the remote places of Nepal are not supplied with necessities that are essential for modern medical facilities, and as the rescue and evacuation are measured in days, it is impressive to make a comprehensive First Aid Box consisting of basic drugs and accessories as part of the paraphernalia for trekking.

Various trekking guide books and the pamphlet published by the Himalayan Rescue Association gives you detailed information on a complete list of medical supplies. These guide books are easily available in the book-shops of Kathmandu. In case of serious illness or injury, prompt evacuation to Kathmandu is the best remedy. Modern dentistry is unknown in the hills of Nepal, so it is advised to have a check-up before departure from home. Tooth fillings sometimes loosen in cold temperatures and at high altitudes, so it is recommended to have them checked.

The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) has set up medical clinics at Manang, Pheriche (Everest Region) and Everest base camp. The clinics in Manang Goan and Pheriche have been in operation since March 01, 2004 with the Everest base camp starting opening from April 01, 2004. The Manang Clinic is managed by Dr. Alexandra Halina Dunin Bell and Dr. Michael Kai Chin while the Pheriche Clinic is manned by Dr. Suzanne Christinne Boyle. The two clinics will be open until the 20th of May 2004. The Everest base camp Medical Clinic set up at the height 5,340 meters will be looked after by Dr. Lauanne Freer and Dr. Denise Meritt and assisted by the HRA staff. The Everest clinic will be open till the end of May, 2004, coinciding with the closure of expeditions and trekking in the area. The managers of the clinics are experienced and qualified persons in mountaineering and high altitude emergencies, the NTB release added. The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) is a voluntary non-profit organisation formed in 1973 with an objective to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas, especially keeping in view the increasing number of Nepalese and foreigners who trek up into the remote wilderness. Everest Base Camp Clinic The Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal, a non profit organisation which operates medical clinics at Pheriche and Manang is considering a proposal to set up a trial medical clinic at Everest Base Camp spring 2003, staffed by physicians with previous high altitude experience. We plan to set up camp on or around April 1 and remain at EBC until the end of spring climbing season. The experienced medical staff will treat all climbers and staff at EBC for a fee (similar to the operations at Manang and Pheriche) and will treat trekkers visiting base camp as well. If the clinic is successful, it will allow climbers and trekkers to pursue their missions and leave their health care needs to the professionals. Of course, our mission to provide low cost medical care the native Nepali will carry on at the EBC clinic as well. The HRA staff will be based at EBC and will not climb with any team, even in the event of emergency. Any medical emergencies occurring at advanced camps will be expected to be dealt with by the individual team in the usual manner. In addition, the HRA clinic will NOT supply teams with medications for their summit attempts. We will, of course, provide any assistance we can from our base in case of emergency. If the spring trial of the HRA EBC clinic is successful, the clinic will be a permanent entity at Everest. If there is sufficient demand, services may be expanded to fall climbing season as well. April 2004

External Links

Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) HRA Everest Base Camp Clinic

All trekking demands a level of fitness that will enable one to put a good days walking, up hill and down. The best preparation for trekking is cycling, swimming, jogging, squash, tennis, and long walks involving up and down hill. Good physical conditioning will probably help for the maximum enjoyment of the treks.

Altitude sickness means the effect of altitude on those who ascend too rapidly to elevations above 3,000 meters. The initial symptoms of AMS are as following :

- Nausea, vomiting - loss of appetite - insomnia/sleeplessness - Persistent headache - Dizziness, light headedness, confusion - Disorientation, drunken gait - Weakness, fatigue, lassitude, heavy legs - Sight swelling of hands and face - Breathlessness and Breathing irregularity - Reduced urine output These symptoms are to be taken very seriously. In case of appearance of any of the above symptoms any further ascent should be reconsidered; otherwise more serious problems can occur which can even cause death sometimes within a few hours, the only cure for the altitude sickness is to descend to a lower elevations immediately. Acclimatization by ascending to no more than 300 to 500 meters per day above 3,000 meters and the proper amount of rest are the best methods for prevention of AMS.