Question 1

Which hotel are we staying at in Kathmandu?

Accepted Answer

We are staying at Hotel Ganesh Himal, about a quarter mile south of Thamel.  The rooms will be deluxe singles for single guests and deluxe double/twin for couples.

Question 2

Why are we going in February and March? Won't it be cold?

Accepted Answer

February is the tail-end of the winter on the Indian subcontinent.  This does mean that it can get cold on the trek, but it also means that we won't have to worry about fully booked flights to the trek, overbooked teahouses, or crowds in general on the trek.  The focus of this trek is amazing photographs for my guests, and I believe that this is the best time of the year to go to Nepal.

You can expect temperatures on the beginning of the trek to be in the 40's to 50's Fahrenheit (6-10 degrees Celsius) at Namche Bazaar, and at the end of the trek the temperatures to be around freezing.  Please remember that we will be spending the majority of the day trekking, so you will be pretty warm, despite the low temperatures.

Question 3

Does Fresh Tracks Hiking cover all costs on the trip?

Accepted Answer

No.  Fresh Tracks Hiking does not provide any funds for personal expenses on the trek such as extra snacks, alcoholic beverages, wifi on the trek, showers, souvenirs or anything else.  Please continue to scroll down the page to see what is included and what is not included.

Question 4

How many people can sign up for the trek?

Accepted Answer

I open up my treks to a maximum of 10 people.  Any larger and I feel as though I won’t be able to be as personable as I would like to be.

Question 5

What should I pack for the trek?

Accepted Answer

Unsurprisingly, it is not that too hard to over pack for your trip to Mt. Everest Base Camp.  After booking, we will schedule a video conference for you to ask any questions that you may have and we will go over all this.  Additionally, we will have a meeting on our first night in Kathmandu to go over the essentials of what to bring on the trek.  ANYTHING that you need for the trek can either be purchased or rented for cheap in Kathmandu.  You can literally come to Nepal with nothing and get anything you need for cheap in Thamel.  For a list of everything that is recommended to bring on the trek, please continue to scroll down!

Question 6

How much money should I bring?

Accepted Answer

You must bring an emergency fund of USD $500 in cash with you on this trip, which you may need to use in case of delayed or canceled flights.  Additionally, I recommend an extra $200 for luxuries on the trek, such as showers, wifi, alcoholic beverages or any other souvenirs that you might want to bring back with you from Nepal.

Question 7

How much am I allowed to bring on the flight to the trek?

Accepted Answer

All airlines that service Lukla allow for 10kg of checked baggage and 5kg for a carry on bag.  Any weight over this is excess baggage and you will be charged for extra weight by the airline.  Tyler Brooks Photography LLC is not liable for any excess baggage fees on any internal flights within Nepal.

Question 8

Is international airfare included in the price of the trip?

Accepted Answer

No.  The only flights that are included in the price is the roundtrip flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.  Please note that the trekking in this area of the world is extremely popular and therefore, flights going to and from Lukla may be operated out of Ramechhap Airport, in an effort to alleviate congestion at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Lukla is the gateway port to the Everest region and flights throughout Nepal – particularly in high mountain areas – are often delayed or cancelled due to poor weather conditions. In order to maximize our chances of boarding a flight to Lukla, any departures affected will need to wake up quite early on Day 2 to drive the 130 kilometers  (approximately 80 miles and 5-hours of driving) from Kathmandu to Ramechhap Airport. Any private vehicle transfers will be provided at no additional cost. In addition, flights back from Lukla may also land at Ramechhap Airport, therefore sufficient time is needed for land transport back to Kathmandu.

Question 9

Should I book my flight home the day we’re scheduled to arrive back in Kathmandu?

Accepted Answer

Flights in the Himalayas can be canceled with no warning at all.  There is no radar or communications at Lukla airport, so pilots must depend on line of sight in order to land and takeoff.  It’s recommended that everyone schedule their flight to their next destination a few days after we’re scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu after our trek.

Question 10

How much can I give my porter to carry?

Accepted Answer

We hire one porter for every two people on the trek, and each porter can carry up to 20kgs/44lbs. (10kgs per person) We will have a group meeting on the first night of the trip in Kathmandu where we will go over who will be sharing porters, what to bring, what to expect on the trek and any other questions that you might have.

Question 11

Will gear be available for rent?

Accepted Answer

You can rent nearly anything you need in Kathmandu.  We will go over what you need to bring on your first night in Kathmandu and go shopping for everything on the second day.

Question 12

Should we tip our guides and porters?

Accepted Answer

Tip­ping is always a per­son­al choice, but is great­ly appre­ci­at­ed by your guides. If you decide to tip me, I accept Venmo, Paypal and cash.   Any tips that I receive will be split among the guides and porters.  Please note that I pay our guides and porters 50% more than the going rate to ensure that they’re taken care of.

Question 13

Do I need to purchase insurance for our trek?

Accepted Answer

Insurance is mandatory for this hike and should cover adventure activities above 5,000 meters and cover air evacuations.  Even though none of our trek will be on any technical terrain, it is easy to have an accident.  Helicopter evacuations are a commonplace, and are not cheap!  World Nomads is a reputable company to get travel insurance through.

Question 14

What is the Payment Details, Deposit and Cancellation Policy?

Accepted Answer

All payments should be paid via Venmo, Paypal, Bank transfer, Zelle or Wise.  A deposit of $500 is due at booking, with the remaining balance due 90 days before the trip date.

If you choose to cancel your booking the deposit is non refundable. You may move your booking to a new date at no additional cost.  Cancellation terms are as follows:
Cancel +84 days before departure is loss of deposit only
Cancelling between 45 - 84 days of departure will incur a 50% of total tour cost
Cancelling between 30 - 44 days of departure will incur a 75% of total tour cost
Cancelling between 0 - 29 days to departure will incur a 100% cancellation fee

Question 15

What if my question wasn't answered here?

Accepted Answer

We always want you to be fully prepared with all pertinent information for your safety and enjoyment of your adventure.  If you question was not addressed here, or is unique to your situation, please don't hesitate to Contact Us and we will respond right away!

Frequently asked questions