ACE Know Before You Go

Your Flights

Client is responsible to book their own international flight. There are lots of airlines that now offer flights to Kathmandu. They can book the flights through local travel agent online.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all clients undertaking any tour. It should provide adequate protection for the full duration of the tour to cover personal injury, death, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, helicopter rescue, air ambulance and adequate coverage for baggage.

A lot of people use www.travelguard.com and www.worldnomads.com

Nepal Visa

Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 Days can be obtained by paying US $40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 90 Days can be obtained by paying US $100. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos to issue the visa upon your arrival.

Food in the mountain

During the trek, most teahouses (lodges) cook a delicious range of mostly vegetarian fare. Pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, dhal bhat, bread, soups, fresh vegetables (variety depends on the season) and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes, and some interesting attempts at custard. You will find a lot of garlic on the menu because it assists with acclimatization – eat some every day. In many larger villages you may find some meat on the menu. You can always get hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks, and treats like chocolate and crisps.

Each day, dinner and breakfast are available at the lodge where you spent the night. Lunch will be taken on the way to our destination for the day.

Three times meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price. 

Items not included in the trip price

Please note that hot and cold drinks, drinking water, hot shower, camera/batteries charging fees are not included in the package price. We recommend you allocate about US$ 12 to US$ 15 per person per day for this. Please change your USD into local Nepali Rupees before you fly to Lukla. Using local Nepali Rupees are very handy when your buy, water, drinks, chocolate etc. in the mountain.

In Kathmandu, you can allocate USD 8 to USD 10 for a lunch / dinner which is not included in the trip price. Breakfast is included in Kathmandu at your hotel. It ultimately depends on your preference and spending habits.

Drinking water

In most places, bottled water is readily available at a cost of about USD $ 1 to USD $5 per bottle. We highly recommend that you drink spring water. Please bring a purifying aid if you wish to drink normal river/spring/glacier water.

Laundry Facilities

There are laundry services available at your hotel in Namche and Lukla. Above Namche, washing of clothes can be done in any of the public taps, or in the nearby rivers and brooks.

Tipping

Tipping is a difficult thing to gauge. We have seen everything from USD 20 to USD 1,000 per person for guides and porters. Tipping is not required, but a small way to thank your guides and local porters for their help. The amount of the tip should reflect the level of personal involvement you had with your guide. 

We recommend a minimum of 10% of your trip price for tipping your guide and porters. The tipping breakdown will be provided to you at the pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu.

It is not common to tip at the guesthouse on the trekking route.

Important Information about flight delay in Kathmandu and Lukla

Twin Otter is the primary mode of transportation to and from the airstrip at Lukla. This service is fairly dependable. However, in case the flights are cancelled due to mountain weather conditions, to Lukla or from Lukla to Kathmandu, Ace the Himalaya will charter a helicopter to ensure you are on schedule for your international flight connections. The Helicopter can fly if the visibility is 1500m, while the Twin Otter can fly if the visibility is 5000m, as per the Civil Aviation Rules. The cost of the helicopter is payable directly to our Kathmandu office in the event that this service is utilised. US cash, traveler's cheques, or credit cards (Visa and Master Cards only) are accepted. You will be given a receipt upon payment so that you may claim the amount with your travel insurance. The minimum cost will be USD $500 and maximum USD $3,500 depending on the number of group members.