Welcome to our frequently asked questions page. Please take your time to check out the links to useful information in other parts of our website. Most of the information relating to trekking is found in individual itineraries or at the bottom of our trekking page. If there is something else you need to know, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Q: How safe is it to travel in Nepal? What is the latest political situation?
A: Nepal has always been and remains one of the safest destinations for travellers. There has been a lot of media coverage about political instability, with about 15000 people being killed during the Maoist and Nepal Army conflict over the last ten years. No foreigners have been targeted or become casualties during this conflict. Nearly half a million people trek through the remote Nepalese Himalayas every year without any fear of danger. Now the Maoists have become part of mainstream politics and recently won the constitutional elections. The country has just been declared a republic, and all parties are working together. Nepal is looking more peaceful. Freedom Adventure is a local Nepalese owned trekking company, and so we have the latest and most accurate information about political and natural circumstances. This ensures a sense of security for our visitors.
“A group of friends and I went trekking through the Annapurna region in 2004,’06 and ‘07 with Freedom Adventure Treks. We never felt insecure in any circumstances, and yet our Australian Government still warns not to travel to Nepal”
G. Arkinstall. Victoria
Q: I have heard a lot about Nepal from my friends and have been watching documentaries and it looks like a wonderful place. I am a bit confused about which tour or trek I should take. If I decide to go trekking, what level of fitness do I require?
A: If you are reasonably fit for instance, you can walk to work or shops, and like to go for a bit of a walk now and then. If you don’t have any medical condition which restricts your ability to walk and you are mentally prepared to go trekking, you should have no problems. We have visitors trekking with us aged 5-70 and they all do well from a ten day to three week trek. Some of our special tours and treks are designed for the first time visitors which are paced to be slow and steady. You become fitter while you trek. Even if you are travelling with a group, you are able to travel at your own pace either fast or slow as there will always be one of our porter/guides to keep you company. We employ one porter for one trekker. Check our useful information on our Trekking page. If our itineraries don’t suit you, simply go to First Visitor to contact us with your requirement. We will send you a suggested itinerary.
“No pressures about keeping up, no worries about where to stay or where to eat. There is always someone looking after you, (no matter how slow you walk) always a smile, dancing and singing and friendship. Nepal is a place that stays in your heart and Freedom Adventure Treks makes trekking and exploring this wonderful country so easy as the organizers do all the work and all you have to do is relax and take in the awesome sights, enjoy the company of each other and dream about the next trip.”
Chris Ireland, Melbourne, Australia
Q: I really want to travel by myself/with my family/with a group of friends as I/we have our own thoughts about what we want to do and how we want to walk. Do you do personalized tour/trek arrangements?
A: Yes. Freedom Adventure specialise in personal care and creating individual itineraries to suit client needs, interests, time available etc. Maybe you will find something suitable in our itineraries, if not simply contact us via our First Visitor form with details of your requirements, and we will make a recommendation for you.
Q: I would love to go trekking in Nepal and explore the wonderful Himalayas, but my physical condition does not allow me to go trekking. Is there any other way I can see the mountains and explore the fascinating culture of Nepal?
A: We have created some wonderful tours which allow you to visit some of our world heritage listed monasteries and temples so that you can explore the fascinating culture of Nepal. This tour takes you to some of the most spectacular viewing points where you can see the Nepalese Himalayas; including Mount Everest and the Annapurna region. You will experience the scenic beauty of sunrise and sunset in the mountains. This tour is also designed for mental and physical relaxation with luxury accommodation and great food. Our Luxury Panorama is our recommended tour for you. If the time you have available is different to the itinerary or you have certain interests, please submit your details via our First Visitor form and we will create an itinerary to suit your needs.
Q: I would love to take my young children trekking in Nepal, how difficult would this be? Can you suggest some treks and tours that would suit my 5-12 year old children?
A: We have many visitors with young children. If your children are aged under 10 years, we suggest a 5-10 day trek. These treks go up to 3500m above sea level. There is a list of trek itineraries in Family Treks on our trekking page. If those itineraries don’t suit please submit your details via our First Visitor form and we will create an itinerary to suit your family’s needs. We arrange for extra porters in case children need to be carried, and find that most families have a wonderful experience. It is also a great opportunity to young children to explore Nepali culture and children’s lives. Your children will meet many Nepalese children along the trail, and they will learn from each other.
“Thank you very much for the beautiful time we spent with you in the mountains. You were brilliant with our kids and I don't think they would have walked without you and Anil and Little Sam. We will see you all again when we are ready for the Annapurna circuit. Thank you both very much for the extremely enjoyable six days in the beautiful Annapurnas.”
Ned and Family, Ireland, 2001 Children aged 6 and 10 years
Q: I am very interested in Buddhist and Hindu cultures; what is the best way to explore and learn about those cultures?
A: We have found that the majority of our visitors are interested in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Most of our itineraries will include visits to some of the most sacred Hindu and Buddhist temples and monasteries, which will provide opportunities to learn about Buddhism and Hinduism. Our trekking crew has a mix of different religious and cultural backgrounds, and they are happy to share insights with you. There are some itineraries that are specially designed for those interested in learning more about these cultures. Some of those itineraries combine travel in Nepal and Tibet. Mountains, Monasteries and Monks is one of our special itineraries, as is our Himalayan Great Wonders Tour. If the time you have available is different to the itinerary or you have certain interests, please submit your details via our First Visitor form and we will create an itinerary to suit your needs.
Q: If I book a trip with Freedom Adventure Treks, what do I need to arrange and what will the company arrange for me?
A: You need to arrange:
Your own visa. You will need to apply for this at you local Nepalese Consulate or else you can apply on arrival at Kathmandu Airport.
Your flight ticket: We may be able to make suggestions about which travel agent has offered us a good price at any time.
To talk to your doctor about you medical requirements and immunizations for your trip.
Travel insurance which covers you for air rescue if it becomes necessary.
We arrange:
Airport pick up and drop off at departure
All necessary permits such as trekking, rafting, sightseeing, jungle safari
All accommodation, food and transport
All staff including trekking guides, tour guides, white water rafting guide and porters
Equipment as be necessary for your trek.
For up to date information check your itinerary for details of what is included and what is not for each trek or tour.
Q: I would like to do some volunteer work during my trip; can you make arrangements for me? I am interested in __ number of days.
A: We do make arrangements for volunteer work and specialise in community based environment work, which can involve model farming, tree planting, teaching, rubbish clean-ups and information sessions, cultural exchange. We can also make arrangements for longer term teaching placements or working at an orphanage. If you let us know where interest lies we can make arrangements for you. Our Incredible Nepal with Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a combined trip that includes ten days of community based environment work and trekking, rafting, jungle safari and sightseeing. For more information about our environment projects visit our Eagle’s Nest Environment Centre page. Q: Why should we travel to China/Tibet, Bhutan/Sikkim with a Nepalese travel company?
A: Bhutan, Sikkim, Tibet and Nepal are similar in the diversity of their geographical features. All those little Himalayan Kingdoms are located side by side connected by the great Himalayan range. There are cultural, language and religious similarities between these countries/regions. Sikkim and Nepal have an open border with nearly 70% of the population there being Nepalese in origin and some members of our crew came from Sikkim. Bhutan and Tibet also share cultural and religious similarities with parts of Nepal. Nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees have made Nepal their home over the last 10-15 years and thousands of Tibetans have been settled there for fifty years. Some of the disappearing cultures from Tibet and Bhutan may still be seen in original form in Nepal. Freedom Adventure Treks offers a combined tour that creates a great opportunity to explore, compare and understand these blending Himalayan cultures. We have a policy of working together with locals and extend our fair go approach to them as well.
Q: How do I keep in contact with family during the holiday? How will they know where I am? A: Satellite phone services are quit common and you may contact your family whilst trekking in some regions. Internet access is readily available in larger towns. In the case that they want to contact you, we will provide contact details to you when you finalise your booking with us. Your family members will be able to make contact to get updates on your location or leave/pick up messages. If you wish to provide your details of where you are to your family members let us know and our office staff will email updates during your trek.
Q: We have decided to go trekking with Freedom Adventure Treks, how do we book and pay?
A: You can book via our online booking form, or print off a copy to send to our nearest office or fax to our Nepal office. When you decide to travel with us, we will let you know what the different payment options are eg: direct deposit, credit card or cash on arrival in Kathmandu. It will depend on which country of origin you are from. Q: What happens when we arrive in Kathmandu?
A: Our tour coordinator will be waiting to pick you up at the airport. Just look out for your name board. They will then travel with you to your hotel and help you get settled.
Q: Is the local tap water safe to drink?
A: In the city areas, the hotels we stay in have boiled/filtered water available for drinking. Don’t risk drinking tap water or using it to rinse your teeth. If you are not sure about the water in a restaurant, simply buy bottled water which costs about Rs15, but be sure to check the date and seal. During trekking, most of the time we provide boiled water, but you can treat it with iodine as well. In many places you can just fill your bottle from the tap, but you will need to treat with iodine or some other treatment chemical. It is handy to have two refillable drinking bottles, one being treated and one ready to drink. Tang or other flavoured energy drink tablets help to make iodine treated water taste better.
Q: How much extra money will I need to take on my trip? Do I need US$?
A: It will depend on your own personal spending habits, but usually we recommend $10-20/day during the trek. If you don’t drink much alcohol, this may cover your souvenir shopping as well. It will also depend on where you are going and for how long. In some isolated areas snacks, bottled water etc can be quite expensive. You do not need US$, as you can change all major currencies when you arrive. You will also be able to withdraw money in local currency directly from your account via ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Q: When is the best time to trek in the Himalayas?
A: Mid September to December and March, April, May are the best seasons to do any high altitude challenging treks. There are some treks that do not go over 3200m and last about a week which you can do from September to June. June to August is the monsoon season and is very wet, but we recommend our Monsoon Wander trip for those wanting travel in wet and wild conditions without many other tourists around. The Mustang, Manang and parts of the Tibetan plateau where it is dry all the time, because of the mountain rain shadow, are also great to visit at this time. See our departure dates in our individual itineraries.
Q: What is culturally appropriate clothing?
A: Women should be sure to wear modest clothing - long skirt/trousers and long sleeved blouse. Observe what the local women wear. Respect other people's cultures.
Q: Do I need to carry a first aid kit?
A: Our crew always carries a specialised first aid kit, but a simple first aid kit is a useful addition to your luggage. Good things to include would be paracetamol tablets, blister pads/plasters, diarrhoea medication, band aides, antiseptic cream, cotton bandage and anything else you may think useful, including personal medications.
Q: Why should I travel with Freedom Adventure Treks? What are the benefits?
A: You may read our website to find out about us, who we are and why you should choose to travel with us.
Freedom Adventure specialises in individual care for our clients. You can see our references to see what people say about us.
We offer personal contact with genuine local cultures, because we are local, we have deeper connection to and knowledge of the areas we travel through.
Most of your payment goes directly to local workers and businesses, not only because of our fair go policy, but because we are a local company and we employ locals where ever we travel.
We believe in environmentally sustainable tourism and are the first trekking company to set up our own environment centre. You will have the opportunity to work with locals on projects that aim to create sustainable practices for the future.
Travelling with us is not just about having your own adventure or changing your own life, but also about making a difference in the lives of others by working together. |
