The following general information applies to people travelling with The Walking and Climbing Company Ltd and will assist you when preparing for your trip to Nepal or Tibet. You will notice our trips are divided into walks, treks, trekking peaks and climbs/expeditions which are an indication of the type of visit you are embarking on. For any further information you require please do not hesitate to contact us.
Tel: +44 (0)1977 706718.
E mail: sbaer@walkingandclimbing.co.uk
Website: www.walkingandclimbing.com
Please note that the trip prices are accurate at the date of printing.
Our trip prices do not include the international flight costs. We are ATOL bonded and can book flights for you. Flight prices vary depending on the time of booking and dates of travel. As a guide price however, from the UK to Nepal is usually £450 - £650 and slightly cheaper to Chengdu in China.
Holiday dates are based on the departure and return date from and back to your home country. We will meet you at the airport in Kathmandu or Chengdu in China (for some Tibet trips) so we need your flight details once they are confirmed. If you choose to book flights yourself we strongly recommended you use an agent who is ATOL bonded.
The Walking and Climbing Company
ATOL: All the flights and flight inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected either by ABTOT or the ATOL scheme. When you pay for something protected by the ATOL scheme you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to here:
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under its ATOL Franchise and The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for The Walking and Climbing Company Ltd, ABTOT number 5314, ATOL number 10201, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following:
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if you are abroad. Please note that bookings made by customers outside the EEA are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with The Walking and Climbing Company Ltd.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call ABTOT's 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here:
Once your trip is booked you need to insure your holiday unless you hold a relevant insurance policy that you wish to use. Travel insurance policies contain certain terms, conditions and exclusions. E.g. Excluding pre-existing medical conditions, increasing charges for those over 65 years of age.
The Walking and Climbing Company has selected to work in partnership with Campbell Irvine and a quote for Travel Insurance can be obtained from them by phone: 0207 938 1734 or email or their website
Campbell Irvine Insurers have worked with The Walking and Climbing Company for over 10 years and you will find them informative and helpful when arranging your cover.
Please note that cover starts from the time of booking your policy not just the duration of your holiday so we strongly encourage you to book this as soon as you pay your trip deposit. Campbell Irvine also provide a medical helpline (01702 427 237) for you to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. Prior to travel with us we will require you to complete this
All holidays usually start and finish with a short stay in a quality hotel in Kathmandu / Tibet / China. In general, on walks we use local lodges for accommodation while treks and expeditions will have a mix of lodges and camping.
Those joining on their own will be booked to share a room with another member of the group of the same sex. If however, you wish to have a single room please tick the relevant box on the booking form. Whilst on the walk/trek/expedition, rooms and/or tents are also shared, if you require a single this can be arranged and needs to be requested on the booking form. There will be a small additional charge for single accommodation.
Your hotel in Kathmandu/Tibet includes breakfast. For lunch and dinner whilst in the city there are numerous restaurants to choose from of a very good standard.
Once on your trek all meals are usually included and provided by the lodges where you stay or catering staff accompanying the trip. See what is and is not included on the trek details page.
Food in Nepal/Tibet is generally cooked from fresh, is simple and of a high standard. Specific dietary requirements can usually be accommodated please include these on your booking form.
Alcohol and bottled drinks are not included. On standard trips boiled water for drinking will be provided each day (1 x 2 litres) of the trek or you can purchase bottled water or bring your own water purification system.
An equipment list will be supplied to everyone travelling and your trip will allow some time in Kathmandu/Tibet for purchasing equipment.
All equipment will be checked by the guides to ensure its suitability.
Purchasing or hiring equipment in Nepal/Tibet can make a significant saving.
We do, however, strongly recommend that you buy and wear in your boots and socks before travelling.
A typical trekking equipment list includes:
*Denotes those items that can be bought in Kathmandu/Lhasa
**Denotes those items that can be bought or hired in Kathmandu/Lhasa
At the start of the trek each person needs their belongings in their own bag - please do not combine bags.
However, it is fine to travel to Nepal/Tibet with belongings combined as you can repack prior to the start of the trek.
It is recommended for visitors to Nepal/Tibet to be immunised against certain diseases before travel e.g. Polio, Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis.
We strongly advise you to consult your doctor at least 3 weeks before travelling for professional advice and the necessary injections. See www.travax.nhs.uk
It is recommended that visitors to Nepal/Tibet travel with Travellers Cheques, Sterling, Euros or American dollars.
All can be exchanged in the airport and in Kathmandu/Lhasa.
In some of the mountain areas we visit it is not possible to exchange money once out of the city.
Rupees and American dollars in Nepal and Yuan in Tibet are favoured by the locals in the mountains.
We will assist you with this if required.
Nepal has some wonderful opportunities
for rafting and it is not necessary to have previous
experience to enjoy this. This is an additional 3 days at
the end of a trip - longer if desired. It is a relaxing and
exciting way to travel and you will see some wonderful wild
life along the way. Please request this on your booking form
and we will do our best to accommodate you. This will incur
an additional fee.
Altitude has a significant effect and makes the physical demands on the body greater.
All trips will experience the altitude to varying degrees. An appropriate level of fitness, together with good health will assist the body to acclimatise in the majority of cases.
We recommend all clients trekking or climbing bring Diamox tablets which are available on prescription from your doctor.
Further information is available on request.
As you will see our trips are divided into Walks, Treks, Trekking Peaks and Climbs/Expeditions.
We have then graded each one on a scale of 1-3 (1 being the easiest and 3 the hardest) on the level of fitness required so that you can prepare yourself prior to your holiday.
We want you to enjoy your visit to Nepal/Tibet and recognise that advice may be required regarding fitness.
Please request this when completing your booking form or please get in touch and we will gladly discuss this with you.
Basic 1 – Walk easily for 2 hours per day in undulating
terrain.
Intermediate 2 – Walk easily for 3-4 hours per day in hilly
terrain.
Advanced 3 – Walk easily for 5 hours per day in hilly terrain.
Basic 1 – Walk for 4-6 hours per day in hilly terrain.
Intermediate 2 – Walk for 5-7 hours per day with a mixture
of steep and hilly terrain and some ice and snow. Fixed
ropes and crampons may be necessary – training will be
available.
Advanced 3 – Walk for 5-7 hours per day with some days of
steep terrain and walking on ice or snow. Fixed ropes and
crampons may be necessary – training will be available.
Basic 1 – Climb for 3-8 hours per day and areas of steep walking on snow and ice.
Intermediate 2 – Climb for 6-8 hours per day and areas of steep walking on snow and ice and continue for 10 to 20 days.
Advanced 3 – Climb as for Intermediate 2 except this level may be climbing at this intensity for over 30 days.
The Himalayan range is the highest and also one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world, having been formed during the Jurassic Era (about 80 million years ago). Situated in Asia, it separates the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau and stretches across six countries (Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan) for about 2,400 km, from Nanga Parbat in the west to Namche Barwa in the east.
The range is home to all fourteen of the world's highest peaks (all exceeding 8,000 metres), including Mount Everest, and over 100 of its mountains exceed 7,000 metres. It is the source of three of the world's major river systems, affecting an estimated 750 million people who live in its watershed area, which includes Bangladesh. The range also encompasses an impressive number of glaciers, including Siachen Glacier, the largest in the world outside the polar regions.
The name Himalaya is derived from Sanskrit meaning "the abode of snow". The climate varies from tropical at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest peaks and has a profound effect on the weather in the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau. It prevents dry Arctic winds from blowing south into the subcontinent, keeping South Asia warmer than corresponding temperate regions in the other continents. It also forms a barrier for the monsoon winds, preventing them from travelling northwards.
Because the climate plays such an important part in any Himalayan adventure holiday, it's a good idea to prepare for the likely conditions. The type of weather you can usually expect throughout the year in Nepal and Tibet is illustrated below.
| Mth | Everest and Annapurna regions inc. Island/Mera Peaks |
Kailash/ Lhasa | Cho Oyu/ Lhakpa Ri Peaks |
| Jan | Cold | Cold | Cold |
| Feb | Cold | Cold | Cold |
| Mar | Best | Good | Good |
| Apr | Best | Best | Best |
| May | Good | Best | Best |
| Jun | Monsoon | Best | Best |
| Jul | Monsoon | Good/ Rain | Good/ Rain |
| Aug | Good | Good/ Rain | Best |
| Sep | Best | Best | Best |
| Oct | Best | Best | Good |
| Nov | Best | Cold | Cold |
| Dec | Good | Cold | Cold |
Best
A wonderful time to be on holiday. The weather is consistently warm and sunny during the day and cold at night. The mountain views are clear and it’s unlikely to rain or snow. The flowers in Nepal in March and April each year are stunning.
Good
The weather may be less consistent. Some showers and snow fall if near the beginning or end of the monsoon season.
Cold
Really only for the very hardy. Can be very cold at these times, with snowfall in the mountains.
Monsoon
Warm and rainy, particularly in the afternoons. Not safe to climb at this time due to the risk of avalanche. Treks in the lower areas are OK. Internal flights are very unpredictable, often not flying due to the weather.
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