Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
You can get a Visa either on arrival in Nepal in the airport arrivals hall, or from the Nepalese Embassy or consulate or other mission offices in your home country.

Visa Fee
~ A single entry visa costs US$25 for 15 days.
~ Additional re-entry costs US$40 for 30 days.
~ visa costs US$100 for 90 days.

What are the main attractions?
Many people come to Nepal just to trek among the Himalaya giants (check out Skyline trekking regions ) but there is also a lot more to the country. If trekking isn't your thing there are many other options such as:-

Explore Kathmandu and it's surrounding valley; walk the streets of Kathmandu on an extensive guided tour, visit the medieval cities of Bhaktapur and Patan, visit the Buddhist and Hindu temples at Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Boudha and drive to Nagarkot to take in the sweeping views of the giant Himal as the sun rises. Take a mountain flight through the Everest region.
Fly over the Annapurnas and relax in the sleepy town of Pokhara sipping cappuccinos at this lakeside location.
Wildlife Safari fly to Chitwan National Park from Kathmandu, take a look at Skyline trip to this area, Chitwan Wildlife.
Bird Watching Nepal has 848 species of birds hence the bird watching is magnificent. Check out Skyline Bird Watching Mecca trip.
Outdoor Adventures Nepal has a plethora of adventure sports on offer from white-water river rafting, bungy jumping, hot-air ballooning and para-gliding. If you interested in any of these please contact us skyline@enet.com.np

When to Travel?
The Nepal Himalaya is governed by the Southerly Monsoon which brings heavy precipitation between the months of June and September, i.e. it rains a lot. There are great treks available in the rain shadow during these months but if you are planning a more popular trek it is best to avoid the monsoon months. Autumn through to Spring is the best time to fully experience Nepal.

Is trekking for me?
If you are reasonably fit and enjoy walking you will find a trek in the brochure to suit you. Normally the shorter treks tend to be easier whilst the longer ones often require a better standard of fitness. All treks in the brochure have been graded. It is also worth remembering if we are tailoring your tour, you can choose the pace and direction of your experience.

Who are my guides?
Skyline Treks has a policy of training and employing only local staff, including guides. These guides are first aid trained, speak English and are constantly being further skilled with eco-tourism and other training programs provided by Skyline. Local guides are passionate about their country and they know the region and the culture better than anyone. Skyline also has a b policy on contributing back to the communities we travel in, so instead of paying relatively large sums to international guides, we only train and employ local guides. Interacting with your guides is also a fun and informative way to gain local insight, and you can pick up a bit of the language and other skills that can make your adventure that much more enjoyable.
We are happy to provide specific details about your guide should you request this for your trip.

What are porters?
Porter is the term used to describe the staff who carry the equipment and belongings for your trek. Porters are in fact often part time farmers who require supplementary income and the practice of portering is an integral part of the Himalayan culture. However, porters are often mistreated by trekking agencies and trekkers. Porter treatment is a real issue in Nepal for more detailed and informative discussion on this subject please visit International Porters Progress Group - www.ippg.net - and Porters Progress - http://www.portersprogress.org/ - Skyline Treks are members of both IPPG and PP and are committed to caring for our porters and following the guidelines set by these two organizations. In fact, Skyline Treks goes the extra yard by actively encouraging our more experienced porters to train as guides, the expense for which is covered by Skyline.
Happy porters make your adventure more enjoyable and provide a unique insight into their culture.

What is rafting like and how safe is it?
Nepal has some of the most magnificent rivers in the world. Deep gorges surrounded by lush forests, villages perched on rocky ledges, white water rapids and flat, warm sandy beaches. Cruising gently down a river on a raft in Nepal can be either relaxing or adrenalin pumping, depending on how you like it.

Rafting trips are fully catered and supported. After a day cruising down the river, the local guides will set up camp on the riverbank. Campsite locations are chosen on the following basis:

Safety
Natural surrounding beauty and away from towns and roads providing a feeling of remoteness Tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, food and campfire are all provided. Just bring along your spirit of adventure!

Skyline Treks give paramount importance to safety and it is without question our number one priority, regardless of the activity. In terms of rafting trips, the following is provided to ensure your safety:

* Helmets and Life jackets are compulsory at all times on the water
* A safety briefing is mandatory before the raft is put in the water
* All raft guides are first aid trained
* Our raft guides are some of the most experienced in Nepal
* All raft trips are accompanied by a minimum of two safety kayakers
* We always use a separate, extra raft for equipment
* Strict hygiene practices are followed at campsites

Where to stay on trek?

In the more popular trails (Annapurna, Everest and Langtang) there are well-established Mountain lodges providing sleeping accommodation and meals. Gone are the days when trekkers had to share dormitories, almost all lodges nowadays provide private rooms and many also have solar showers and clean toilet facilities. You can of course opt for a camping trek in these regions but as many campsites are connected to lodges it is debatable whether there is real benefit being under canvas.

Trekking in more remote areas necessitates transporting in all the needs for the group tents food etc. Food is prepared by our cook team and drinking water is adequately treated.

Is the food / water safe to eat / drink?

Hygiene when trekking generally has improved considerably over the last ten years; our guides have the local knowledge to choose the lodges which maintain a high standard of hygiene. If you are under canvas all meals are prepared to high standards, fruit and vegetables are soaked in iodine before preparation. Most lodges serve boiled and filtered water, which is generally safe, we suggest a drop of iodine to be totally sure. We discourage the purchase of bottled water for the obvious environmental reasons

What you should bring during the trek ?

* Good and comfortable trekking boots.
* Rucksack and day bag.
* Some pairs of warm socks aswell as light socks.
* Warm clothes necessary for the morning and evening.
* Your toiletries and medical kit including headache tablets.
* Couple of T-shirts and shorts for the day.
* Scarf and gloves - it can get very cold out of the sun.
* Slippers/Down jackets
* Sun hat and sun block - very important to protect against sunburn.
* Flash light - most important on the trekking since there is no electricity.
* Compass (If necessity).
* Camera with sufficient film.

What is altitude sickness?

A number of measures can be adopted to prevent acute mountain sickness:
Ascend slowly - have frequent rest days, spending two to three nights at each rise of 1,000 metres. If you reach a high altitude by trekking, acclimatisation takes place gradually and you are less likely to be affected than if you fly directly to high altitude.
It is always wise to sleep at a lower altitude than the greatest height reached during the day if possible. Also, once above 3000 metres, care should be taken not to increase the sleeping altitude by more than 300 metres per day.
Drink extra fluids. The mountain air is dry and cold and moisture is lost as you breathe. Evaporation of sweat may occur unoticed and result in dehydration. iv) Eat light, high-carbohydrate meals for more energy.
Avoid alcohol as it may increase the risk of dehydration.
Avoid sedatives.

What happens if there is an emergency?

All of our guides are trained in basic first aid and can deal with the basic ailments that may occur on trek. In the event of an emergency Skyline Treks and Expeditions will cover initial expenses of any rescue operation. It is a condition of booking that you are adequately insured for such an event as these expenses will need to be recovered from your insurance company. In the more frequented regions there are health posts, which have been established by foreign doctors and many are staffed by overseas personnel. Skyline Treks & Expeditions are associated members of The Himalayan Rescue Association.

Further useful information

* Respect local traditions, customs, values and sentiments to help them protect local culture and maintain local pride.
* Respect privacy when taking photographs
* Respect holy places
* Refrain from giving money to children as it encourages begging
* Respect for the local etiquette earns you respect
* Let the Himalayas change you - Do not change them
* Protect the natural environment
* Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it
* Limit deforestation - make no open fires
* Burn dry paper and packets in a safe place
* Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants
* Plants should be left to flourish in their natural environment

If you have more questions, please mail us at skyline@enet.com.np

What is the currency and what do things cost?

The currency is Nepalese rupee (NPR) which is divided into 100 paisa. It is quite easy to exchange currency in Kathmandu , US $, AUS$ and GBP are readily accepted. There are also a number of ATM's in Kathmandu and Pokhara which except both Mastercard and Visa. Travellers cheques are also widely accepted. Major credit cards are accepted in mid-range hotels, restaurants and fancy shops but elsewhere it is safer to assume they will not be accepted.

A bottle of coke costs 60r, a lunch of a sandwich and drink costs 100-200r, beer costs 250r, and a good pizza costs 300r.

As of Nov 2009 exchange rate is - AUS$1 = 67NPR, GBP1 =120.00 NPR, EUR1 =110 NPR, US$1 =74NRP Check out this site for current rates http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic How will my booking be processed?

To confirm your booking we will require a non-refundable deposit of 25% which can be made by bank transfer to our Booking Agents.
The balance is payable on arrival in Kathmandu and is normally made in the form of USD cash, a Money Order or Travellers Cheques. Alternatively this can be made by bank transfer shortly before arriving in Kathmandu.