We’re available 24/7 but sometimes we might be away meditating on the mountains. Call us or drop us a message via the way listed below.
We’re available 24/7 but sometimes we might be away meditating on the mountains. Call us or drop us a message via the way listed below.
Nepal is definitely one of the safest destinations to travel to. A little chaotic & unorganised but we’re a very peaceful country that has one of the most laid-back yet hospitable people in the world. We’ve slowly recovered from the infamous 2015 Earthquakes and it is safer than ever to travel to Nepal now. Moreover, tourism has become the main source of income for many good folks depending on it therefore tourist or facility related to tourism has never been targeted even in times of emergency or strikes.
Nepal is very safe for women travelers. We might have a conservative society but Nepalese embrace every kind of cultures and we respect woman. It is also a common sight to see solo female travelers trekking alone with their guide on the Himalayas. Here in Sherpa Wonders we have always emphasize on gender equality and never shy away from hiring female guide. Our guides are also trained to be sensitive to female trekkers’ health and well-being. We also love to help single traveler to find a trek mate so do let us know when you book with us.
If you love getting up close with nature, away from the stressful daily life in the city and the companion of like-minded travelers, trekking is for you. It might not be as easy as just a walk in the park but in our opinion, it is a walking meditation. It helps us to clear our mind, focus on the moment & connect with yourself which is sadly not possible in this modern world anymore. Moreover, trekking is a raw and truest way to experience the positivity and resilience of our mountain people which might serve as an inspiration to you.
As we will be trekking on mountain terrain and spending several days in high elevation hence the level of fitness we suggest is to have healthy ankles, knee, heart or lungs and able to walk for several hours a day. If you have issues with your health such as heart disease, high blood pressure and asthma, please seek your doctor advice before confirming your trip.
Having said that, Sherpa Wonders itinerary are designed in such a way that walks are attainable and ample time is given for your body to acclimatize. Nevertheless trekking is not a walk in the park, it includes tremendous amount of ascending and descending so to prepare for any trekking trips in Nepal, it’s best if you can do some cardio related workouts like running and distance walking. It’s also ideal if you can take the time to go on a few weekend hikes around your area too or train yourself with undulating walking on a daily basis with the amount of weight you think you will be carrying while on your trek.
A typical trek day involve 4 to 8 hours of walking depending on the physicality and pace of each individual trekkers. The trail varies from easy walking on the lower elevation to strenuous hiking over 5000 meters. Sherpa Wonder offers trekking for all ages and every fitness level. Our treks are graded on difficulty level from easy to extremely strenuous and these gradings can be found in each individual itinerary on the website. The level of difficulty is usually based on the altitude and natural terrain of the trek. However, all our treks are well planned to allow ample rest and adaptation to the environment. If you’re in any doubts if trekking is for you, do connect with us and we will be able to give you our honest advise.
No pressure.
And we don’t mean it in a sarcastic way. There is really no stress of catching up as we do have assistant trek guide(s) in a group and the trek leader will take the responsibility to assign the trek assistant(s) to look out for each and everyone in the trek group. We’re on a holiday to enjoy nature and not a race to the next tea house. We’ll also be reminding everyone to keep a slow and steady pace during our pre-trek briefing
Sherpa Wonders is a growing Nepal-based company that have a great passion in high-altitude climbing. We’re all about having the pride to show the beauty of our country to every explorers on Earth using the most sustainable and responsible way. Our main goal is never to grow into a commercialised business but to offer authentic learning experiences to everyone who comes on board with us.
The main criteria when it comes to recruiting our trekking guide is he or she must encompass the spirit of Sherpa Wonders and they undergo an extensive training to lead the group the ‘wonders’ ways. On top of that, our customers safety is our top most concern so all of our guides are certified by the Nepalese Government and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) as well as completed the Advance First Aid course to be able to deal with any emergency professionally. All of them have at least a decade of experience in leading treks and able to scale the Himalayas almost with their eyes closed. They are humble, gentle, but passionate, sometimes with a wicked sense of humor. But you’re definitely in safe hands.
The best times for trekking in Nepal are from March to May and from September to November. Trekking is possible from December to February and it’s a good time to avoid the crowds but you will need to be prepared for colder temperatures. June to August is the rainy season and we don’t recommend trekking as the weather is erratic and there’s a chance you might not be able to get a clear view of the mountain. However, if June to August is the only time you’re available, send us an email and we can see how we can plan the trip.
We always encourage our clients or anyone to purchase a travel insurance while they travel. If you’re leaving your home country, your health insurance may or may not travel with you hence it is always advisable to have an emergency medical and evacuation coverage. Moreover, we will be trekking along with Mother Nature which we have no control over the change of climate or weather. Depending on the treks that you will be embarking on, we suggest that you purchase an all-inclusive travel insurance package from a reputable insurance company such as World Nomad which covers up to 5,000m in height as well as providing emergency evacuation.
Yes, it is included. We will be on hand to greet you upon your arrival and be with you every step of the way till the adventure ends.
Trekking in Nepal is some of the most beautiful in the world, and getting to your destination is an adventure of its own. Due to the high elevation and remote location of the domestic airports, weather conditions and visibility can change rapidly. This makes the flight a difficult one to schedule or predict. To safeguard the passengers’ safety, the aviation officials and airlines have become stricter on the acceptable flight conditions and regulations for aircraft to take off. The airlines also do not take chances with weather conditions, and will cancel or delay a flight rather than risk an unsafe journey or landing. Therefore, we highly recommend anyone taking a domestic flight to mountainous area to keep a few spare days as contingency days.
*Updates on domestic flights to Lukla
Due to the reparation work being carried out at Kathmandu domestic airport, all flights to Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary airport) with effect from April 2019 will be operated from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. Ramechhap District lies about 132 kilometres east of Kathmandu. It takes around 4.5 hours drive to reach Manthali Airport from Kathmandu.
The maximum weight is 15 kg.
Prior to the trip, you will receive a complete packing list from us on what’s required and what you to bring with you. It’s also worth noting anything you need in the way of trekking clothing and/or equipment can be purchased or rented in Kathmandu when you first arrive.
Sherpa Wonders will also provide the following:
Before we depart for our trek, it is highly recommended to pack all the items you don’t need during your trek and deposit with the hotel we’re staying with in Kathmandu. The hotel has safe deposit box for your valuables but we do advise you to carry your belongings such as passports, money or medication with you at all times if it is highly valuable.
Visitors from most countries are eligible to obtain a Visa on Arrival at Kathmandu International airport. It takes about 20 minutes to an hour depending on the seasons. During peak trekking seasons, we tend to see a surge in visitors hence the queue to apply for Visa can be a long wait. If you want to avoid the queue, some countries are able to prearrange for Visa issuance in their home country prior to their entry to Nepal. Please note that visitors are responsible to check and verify all visa requirements before arriving. Your passport needs to have at least 6 months validity on the date you’re entering Nepal. For more information on visa requirements, you can read about it here.
Vaccination of any sort is not mandatory while visiting Nepal. But we recommend the standard vaccinations as per CDC (See link). If you have any pre-existing medical conditions please consult your doctor and let us know before you book your trip to Nepal.
Apart from high-altitude sickness, you probably heard about the awful stories of food poisoning and stomach issues from other trekkers returning from their trek – which is not entirely untrue. All of the water in Nepal needs to be treated before drinking and our trek guides are well-aware to provide you with safe drinking water. Whether trekking or in Kathmandu it is best to avoid uncooked vegetables and ensure all your meals are cooked and avoid meat while you’re on the mountain.
In Kathmandu
We use local hotels centrally located in Thamel – the tourist hub and also a perfect place to get all your trekking gears. It is also located near to a few UNESCO heritage sites.
The hotel we’re staying with in Kathmandu will be providing breakfast but any other meals in Kathmandu will not be included in the tour package (unless otherwise stated). But rest assured, you will be spoilt for choices to try different Nepalese or even International cuisine at the heart of Thamel.
Can I extend a few extra nights in Kathmandu?
Yes, this can be arranged. Please let us know in advance if you need extra nights so that we can extend the reservation with the hotel.
On Trek
Accommodation
We use the best family-run tea houses lodging on all of our treks so that we ensure there’s no exploitation. Tea houses are basically small accommodation found in local villages that offer both a place to sleep as well as home cooked meals. Rooms are typically shared with 2 trekkers per/room. Toilets are shared as well and some tea houses come with hot shower facility (with additional cost).
Can I request for a private room at the tea house? If so, how much extra will this cost?
In some of the Tea houses on the trek, it may be possible to have a private room and we will do our best to arrange that. However, during peak trekking seasons there is a limited amount of lodging available so it might be impossible to arrange for private rooms. Even if you’re willing to pay extra, the tea house owners will not give out a private room as it means someone else goes without a room.
Food
You’ll be able to choose a meal and hot drink from the menus at the tea houses. Meals ranges from boiled eggs to omelettes, toast to momo, fried rice to noodles and vegetarian curries to pizza. The national dish of Nepal – Dal Bhat which consists of rice, lentils, and a vegetable is usually an all-you-can-eat style so always a good choice with trekkers. Meat on the mountain is stale and not hygienic so we always suggest our clients to opt for the vegetarian options.
Can you accommodate vegetarian or other special dietary requirements?
Yes, definitely. This is not a problem at all and in fact we recommend that everyone opt for a vegetarian diet on the trek to avoid stomach issues. If you have special dietary requirements, let us know when you’re booking with us and we will do our best to ensure the requirements are met.
In the city, there are plenty of shops to purchase bottled mineral water which are safe for consumption. Alternatively, we recommend that you can get the hotel to refill your water bottle with boiled water to reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles.
If you’re on trek, we strongly discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles as there is practically no waste management system up on the mountains and the plastic are usually burnt or get dumped into the river. Our crew will provide water that are thoroughly boiled and safe for consumption on a daily basis.
Hence, we suggest you to bring along at least 2 water bottles such as metal/stainless steel thermal vacuum bottles or plastic bottles which can withstand high temperature such as Nalgene. These hot bottles can also act as a hot pack for your sleeping bag at night.
Most of the time you can use the toilets in one of the tea houses along the trail, but if it’s urgent you can go off the trail and find some privacy.
Most of the tea houses have western style flush toilets but the toilets are mostly shared and not attached to individual rooms. At higher elevation, some tea houses uses squatting toilets.
You can buy them in Kathmandu prior to your trip and also easily buy a roll along the trail but do note that the higher the elevations the higher the price for everything on sale.
The lower elevation tea houses such as at Namche Bazaar have hot showers but the higher elevation tea houses generally can only provide a bucket of hot water. It costs about an extra $3 to $5 for a hot shower but we don’t recommend you taking any shower while ascending as it puts you at a risk of catching a cold especially at higher elevation.
Tea houses have electricity at the common areas such as dinning room but they do charge an extra fee of $1 to $4 an hour for charging.
A lot of the tea houses have the power strips with the American outlets. You can check out all the details on the different outlets here. Alternatively, you can purchase the common adapterswhen you get to Kathmandu.
Some of the lower elevation tea houses offer wi-fi for an extra charge of $3 to $10. Or you can simply purchase a Nepalese SIM card in Kathmandu for both internet and calls. However, even with SIM card data, it is mainly limited to lower elevation. As you get to higher elevation such as Gorakshap, you might need to purchase the specific sim card meant for the location which can be very costly.
There are laundry services available in some of the tea houses, and it may be possible to wash some clothes during your rest days in Namche Bazaar for an extra fee. However, in our opinion, is better to plan ahead and pack enough as we aren’t sure about the weather up at the mountains. You can always wash your clothes when you get back to Kathmandu at the end of the trip.
While not mandatory, tipping is always appreciated in Nepal and on our treks. Tipping is a great way to show your appreciation for our team’s hard work and devoted attention to the crucial success of your trek. Despite the fact that all our crew are paid fairly, tipping adds up more to their effort. We generally recommend a top of roughly 10% of the cost of the trek distributed among the entire crew.
You can simply complete the form here.
Or contact us through our email address at hello@sherpawonders.com indicating the trek that you’re interested in.
Any forms of enquiries are also welcome!
We’ll definitely get back to you within 2 working days.
You can also read about our Terms & Conditions before you book with us.
We accept all major currencies such as USD, Euros or British Pound. You can pay the balance in cash or with a credit card but note that we charge a 4% fee for credit card payments so it’s better to pay your balance in cash.
Most places in Nepal don’t accept credit cards so it’s better to prepare more cash. However, there are ATMs in Kathmandu where you can withdraw Nepali rupees with a good exchange rate. Do note that the banks generally charge $5 USD service fee in addition to any charges that you might incur from your bank at home. There is also a limit to the maximum amount you can withdraw at a time. Generally, the maximum amount is 25,000 Nepali rupees but depending on which banks you withdraw from.
If you come on a trek with us, our trekking packages are pretty much all inclusive. We generally suggest you plan on about $300 to $400 for extra expenses including your Nepal visa, tips for the trek crew, food & drink in the city, showers, Wifi, and charging electrical devices facility while you’re on trek. We also suggest extra funds in cash or on a credit card in case your flight to Lukla is canceled and you decide to charter a helicopter.