Please click one of the links below to view that section of our introductory information or just scroll down (photo right by Murari Sharma: Patale health post worker Jamyang and Dr. Lisa McClellan examine a Nepalese baby).
Service Trek Programme Description:
- Introduction: Trek to remote Nepal delivering needed medicine and supplies, visiting health clinics, schools, temples, and wander around these extremely beautiful forested valleys with their lovely streams and terraced farms and meet some of the charming local families who provide wonderful hospitality to us.
- After a short flight on an 18-seat plane we trek through remote Nepal at low altitude on snow-free paths, up and down hills, through green terraced villages, rushing rivers, suspension bridges, ancient old-growth forests, stay in rustic inns and camp in verdant meadows beneath towering peaks. There is ample time to experience the friendly and exotic culture, as we walk through some of the most spectacular natural settings and mountain scenery in the world, while staying in comfortable lodgings.
- You travel at a very careful pace without having to carry a heavy rucksack, while enjoying freshly prepared meals and lots of hot drinks. The logistics are all taken care of, so just relax and enjoy the pure and pristine environment of the areas we pass through and meet the local people (photo right by Dan Mazur: Ms. Elselien, Walking on foot hill of Everest.
- This easy, peaceful and interesting trek maximizes many years of coordinating volunteer projects and treks, accumulated wisdom in the Himalaya, a long and proven record of safe and fun trekking through Tibet, Nepal, China, Africa, and many other fascinating mountain destinations around the world. back to top
- Leader and staff: Our friendly guides and trip leaders are experts at leading interesting groups of men and women throughout Nepal. In addition, they have an intimate knowledge of the Sherpa people and customs and temples and shrines in each picturesque village you stroll through. We must also give credit to our polite and highly experienced, hard-working trekking sherpas, cooking, and office staff (photo right by Morris Prokop: Our team brought much needed school supplies to Patale Village and are handing them out to the children in the photo. There are 3 classrooms that serve over 70 students from grades 1 through 5. The school has 3 teachers on staff and students travel here daily from as far away as a 3-hour walk to attend classes daily).
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On trek: Our guide, together with friendly and helpful sherpas, cooks and local porters carry all of your personal equipment, group equipment, and set up camp each day, prepare and serve delicious meals, so you can relax and enjoy the trek. You do not need to carry a heavy rucksack.
- Sherpas: Our excellent sherpas have an intimate knowledge of this beautiful trek and the comfortable villages we will visit because this is their home region. They live in this land, grew up on farms here, have family and friends in the fun areas we will pass through, making our visit less of the usual tourist experience and more involved with the unique and genuine culture of Nepal. They go out of their way to help make your visit remarkable and create lasting ties with the majestic landscapes and the inhabitants who reside there. This is a very enjoyable trek with friendly people. back to top
- Solu-Khumbu District: Covers an area of 1148 square kilometres in Nepal. This district verges upon Everest National Park, including Mt.
Everest and several other well known peaks such as Lhotse, Pumori, Island Peak , and Ama Dablam. Because this district lies on the wrong side of Everest, tourists do not go here. In fact we have never seen another tourist during any of our previous service treks. The surrounding area is a 'world biosphere reserve'. Since 1976 the park has served to safeguard unique cultural, physical and scientific values through sound conservation principles. At low altitudes the district is made up of jungle vegetation, such as trees, rice paddies, and banana trees. At medium altitudes it varies from oak, pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes to fir, juniper,birch and rhododendron woods at mid-elevations. Scrub and alpine plant communities with bare rock and glacier are found above the tree line, although our Service Trek does not reach this altitude. 22 species of rhododendron bloom during the spring (April and May) and much of the flora is colourful throughout the year. Wild animals most likely to be seen in the park are Himalayan tahr, goral, serow, musk deer, red bear, and well over 100 different bird species (photo right by Lisa McClellan: A Buddhist ceremony in Patale village temple, welcoming the arrival of our service trek).
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Optional 'VolunteerKathmandu.org' extension programme: Volunteer in Kathmandu at a school and/or hospital before or after the Service Trek for as many days as you wish to participate. Price includes liaison between volunteer placemnt and the Mountainfund.org staff, airport pick-up, half day city tour, food and lodging. Cost: $200 USD (one time enrollment fee for a minimum of 2 days, plus $20/day for as many days you wish to volunteer before and after the trek).
- Trek: This is one of the most beautiful treks in the world with ancient snow-free paths winding past green terraced villages, rushing streams crossed on swinging bridges and each night a rustic travelers inn or a good tent pitched in a quiet pasture with views of the foothills and perhaps in the distance the highest peaks in the world. Along the way we will stop in several villages delivering needed medicine and supplies, visiting health clinics, schools, local families and temples. Throughout the trip we eat delicious meals of local vegetables, rice, potatoes, and sometimes chicken for the meat-eaters in our group. The trek will be moderately paced, allowing plenty of time for rest and site-seeing. The route winds through rugged up and down valleys and beautiful forests and terraced farms, where you can explore rustic tiny villages. Our trusty porters carry all of your baggage, so you don't have to carry a heavy rucksack. back to top
Kandu Sherpa who got Tuberculosis, year ago and treat in kathmandu help by Mount Everest foundation. Walking down to other village. Working in the Kitchen for dinner.
- Charity/Non-Profit. Please visit the sites of the groups who support our Service Trek, and help local people to help themselves:
- Who is this trip for?
- We encourage men and women from around the world, of all ages to join us as an individual team member or with your own group, whether that is your spouse, partner, friends, sibling, clients, colleagues, etc. Most of our members join as individuals, our team dynamics work well, and we are able to build successful and safe groups that enjoy trekking, climbing, and traveling together.
- We encourage all different kinds of people to join our Service Treks. We also like doctors and medical professionals to join our teams in return for a 5 % discount (photo right by Murari Sharma: Our service trek team going over logistics and getting ready to head out to rural Nepal in our busy Kathmandu office. From left to right: Arnold Coster, Khanad Chakrabarty, Jangbu Sherpa, Deha, Shrestha, Dr. Lisa McClellan, Celia Rogers, and Dan Mazur).
- Previous camping experience is beneficial to enjoying the trip, although not required.
- It would be nice if you have some experience with foreign travel, although we are happy to advise and help you if this is your first time out of the country and, for many of our members, it is.
- All of the work is done for you, such as cooking, carrying group equipment, setting up tents, etc. Porters will carry all of your personal items so you do not have to carry a heavy rucksack.
- It is not necessary to be in extremely good shape to enjoy this trek. If you can have fun walking for 3-6 hours up and down hills with a few 20 minute breaks mixed in, then you should be fine. back to top
Local family. Member bless. Final view of Everest before leaving remote village. Stupa near Jafre.
Please "click" one of the links on the column on the upper right of your screen under "Service Trek" to learn more about our trip.
* Your Service Trek donation includes:
- Trek Leader: A very experienced and qualified British, European, or American leader;
- Nepalese Sherpa-English speaking guides for the group (we are also able to provide Sherpa French and German speakers);
- Return round-trip internal/domestic flights for you and your baggage;
- Yak and porter transport of all your equipment from the beginning to the end of the trek;
- Three hot, nutritious, simple meals per day during the trek;
- All permit fees, trekking fees, and liaison officers;
- Emergency equipment and supplies: first aid, etcetera;
- Sleeping arrangements will be in simple tents and beds in inns;
- We will be carrying satellite communications equipment so we can send news and updates on our progress and stay in touch with our loved ones at home during our trek.
- Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu hotel nights at the beginning and two free Kathmandu hotel nights at the end of the trip. You will be sharing. If you do not wish to share, you can pay an extra $20 for a single room (during any of the included 4 nights). If you want a room for extra nights, outside of the included 4 nights, the price will be $30 (single room). Price includes good delicious breakfast and mandatory 25% Nepal government tax and government service charge. Please bring extra cash to pay for your extra nights and / or your single supplement. We often stay at the comfortable three star Hotel Shakti. Its an excellent and classic hotel surrounded by green gardens and located in the heart of the city action near many delicious restaurants, the city's best mountain equipment shopping, and abundant nightlife all within a few minutes walk. The Shakti also offers lots of entertaining day trip (and night outing) options such as city tours, walking tours, rock climbing, mountain biking, wild game safaris, horse back riding, art classes, volunteer opportunities at orphanages, hospitals, schools, women's centres, bird watching, cooking classes, sport fishing, day peak climbing, herbal medicine seminars, day hikes, pottery classes, car tours, sightseeing, temple tours, henna handpainting classes, massage, swimming, beauty salon, motorbiking, yoga retreats, river rafting, painting classes, golf, language courses, kayaking, writing seminars, bungie jumping, religious worship, canyoning, hot tubs, health club, saunas, fitness center, spa treatments, Mount Kailash Treks, night clubs, meditation retreats, gourmet restaurants, cultural dance performances, wine tasting, pedicures and manicures, casino gambling, barber shop, discotheques, airport transfers, Scenic flights around Mount Everest and much much more. Meals in Kathmandu are at your expense.
Dan typing emails, to be sent during our service trek via satellite telephone. The equipment is powered by solar panel (John Vavruska). There is no electricity, no telephone, and there are no roads in this area.
Sherpas and Equipment Transport: Our trek includes transport of all of your equipment from Kathmandu to your destination, and returned to Kathmandu. While on the trek, we DO NOT ask our members to carry heavy group equipment (although it is an option if you really want to), such as tents, rope, fuel, food, etcetera. We employ trekking sherpas porters, to carry group equipment and supplies. To learn more, please click here.
Cooks and Food: On the trek our experienced trekking cooks provide delicious meals. Our skillful and hard working cooks prepare three hot meals each day with a very healthy diet of fresh vegetables, cheeses, eggs, and fresh as well as tinned fruits, meats and fish (all meats and fish are prepared separately out of respect for the vegetarians in our midst). They supply you with unlimited hot-drinks as well.
Group Equipment: We provide a plethora of top-quality, and time-tested equipment, group gear, and supplies, including: trekking tents; cookers, fuel, food, walkie-talkie radios, etcetera. Please see the group EQUIPMENT link, in the menu bars above to study what we bring for your use and safety.
Staff: Our staff, working together as "Everest Parivar Expeditions, Pvt. Ltd." led by the experienced and influential Mr. Murari Sharma, are hospitality experts and have, for the last 21 years, been arranging overland tours, safaris, raft trips, treks, mountain climbs, trek support staff, cooks, peak climbing permits, satellite phone permits, video and film-making permits, translators, liaison officers, climbing Sherpas, oxygen, helicopter flights, air tickets, equipment purchase/hire, storage, import/export, shipping, customs clearance, transport bookings, advance hotel bookings, visas, repatriations, and permits.
Safety: Our expeditions are allowed access to our extensive communications equipment, medical supplies, first-aid kits, in case of emergency. Thank you for being a well-prepared and safe team member!
Hotels: Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu hotel nights at the beginning and two free Kathmandu hotel nights at the end of the trip. You will be sharing. If you want your own single room, the cost is an aditional $25 per night. This a clean and comfortable "two-star" hotel. We use good quality hot water hotels in a central neighborhood, near many tasty restaurants, and excellent mountain equipment and gift shopping, as well as our trekking and mountain climbing office where we meet before and after the adventure.
*What is not included?
Visa and Passport: Your Nepal visa is conveniently purchased by you upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport. It is not necessary to purchase a Nepalese visa prior to landing in Nepal. In 2017, the cost of a 90 day visa was $100 USD. 30 days visa cost $60. Please bring cash and 2 extra passport-sized photos (extra photos are necessary to obtain the visa in the airport). Thank you. Please Note: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months fom the END of the expedition and contain at least 2 blank pages.
Additional expenses like bottled or canned drinks on the trek, tips and gratuities, and expenses of a personal nature (ie: laundry or gift shopping) are not included.
We recommend the following tip for our group staff: Remote Nepal Service Trek: $100. Expect to pay the above tip no matter what.
Please click one of the links below to view that section of our Service Trek daily itinerary or scroll down.
Please also visit our Service Trek route description for more about what to expect on the trek from Kathmandu, during the climb itself, etcetera.
Note: This is a proposed schedule, which has been developed through previous trips. The actual itinerary of your trip can differ depending on such factors as weather and local conditions. For example, the trip may finish earlier than these dates, or we may need every single day of the schedule. Thank you for being patient and flexible when coming to a foreign country like Nepal.
Arriving in Kathmandu:
1) Arrive in Kathmandu (1300 metres/4250 feet), group dinner option.;
2) Briefing 10:00 am; gear check; shopping; visit the famous Monkey Temple; dinner at 6:00 pm;
3) Fly to Phaphlu (2470 metres/8100 feet), trek to Dungopa (2250 metres/7400 feet);
4) Trek to Jamphre (2820 metres/9250 feet);
5) Vist Taptang, trek to Patale Village (2860 metres/9370 feet). Stay at Jangbu Sherpa's house;
6) Walk to Charmading school and visit, walk back to Jangbu's for lunch. Hike to Dhaurakharkha and make camp;
7) Puja ceremony in the morning. Medical professional members work in the health post, other members walk down to Maidane School and teach there;
8) Medical professional members work in the health post, other members walk down to Dhaurakharkha School and teach there. In the afternoon team hangs out in the health post. Ceremonies and a dance party that night;
9) Say farewell to Patale, trek to Khiji Bazaar and sleep there (2320 metres/7600 feet). Night bus ride back to Kathmandu;
10) Trek down to the village of Sierse (2190 metres/7200 feet); back to top
11) Arrive in Kathmandu early am after night bus ride. Go to hotel and sleep, freshen up, etcetera;
12) Relax in Kathmandu. Last minute shopping, saying goodbye to new friends;
13) Fly back to your home country. Thanks for joining our service trek! back to top
Thank you for joining our Service Trek.
Please click one of the links below to view that section for the route on the Service Trek, or scroll down.
Trek to remote Nepal delivering needed medicine and supplies, visiting health clinics, schools, temples, and wander around these extremely beautiful forested valleys with their lovely streams and terraced farms and meet some of the charming local families who provide wonderful hospitality to us.
We are leading upcoming Service Treks to a new health clinic in the village of Patale that we are helping to foster. It is located in Nepal, the world's 12th poorest country and the poorest country in Asia, near to Mt. Everest in a very poverty-stricken valley where tourists never tread and where there are no doctors, no medical facilities, no school teachers, no roads, no electricity and no phones. Some of the patients walk or hobble for two days to get a chance to see the doctors.
It’s in a district called Okhaldunga, a valley where 4000 people toil on the steep Himalayan foothills of Everest. On past treks, not only did our medical team see nearly 100 patients in one day during their visit, some of whom had severe injuries that had been left untreated for months, they also donated a new solar panel, medical and educational supplies. The clinic is part of efforts by the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development of Nepal and Tibet. We are trying to help them raise funds to help poor families living on the "wrong side" of Mt. Everest to get health care so they can go back to work in the fields and survive in their own village and raise their children with dignity, rather than migrating to the teeming unemployed slums of Kathmandu. If you are interested, please visit www.MountEverestFoundation.org, and please consider sending a donation cheque. Thank you very much.
Itinerary-
The proposed itinerary allows enough time for a stunning trek to a rural and majestic less traveled area in Nepal. The weather at this time of year is normally quite good and stable. back to top
Weather-
Throughout the trek temperatures can vary from 27°c to -7°c ( 80°f to 20°f). At night we stay in warm, comfortable teahouse lodges for most of the trek. The wind is the most chilling factor, and can be quite variable, with everything from a flat calm, to brisk. There may be snow, rain, mosquitoes in wet areas, blowing dust, heat, and bright sunshine. back to top
Arriving in Kathmandu-
The trip begins in the ancient and colorful city of Kathmandu, and the staff will personally meet your flight at Tribhuvan airport. Tour Kathmandu, a beautiful exotic Hindu and Buddhist city with an abundance of ancient temples. If this is your first visit, we strongly suggest you tour the temples, including the Monkey Temple, atop a small mountain above the Vishnu Mathi river and the Thamel neighborhood, the Pashupatinath Temple, where the cremations are conducted along the Bagmathi River, Boudhanath , an enourmous white massive stupa first built in 600 AD that you can walk around, absolving a lifetime's sin, and finish at the Kathmandu Durbar or King's Square, where the 400 year old Kathmandu capital was situated. back to top
Touring the exotic temples of Bakhtapur, in the Kathmandu Valley (Felix Berg). A holy man praying near the Baghmati River in Kathmandu (Chris Kinny).
We will take this day to finalize arrangements (such as issuing your trekking permit, etc), in between enjoying food and drink at some of the many westernized restaurants in the Thamel neighborhood. Today is an ideal day to pick up extra bits of trekking kit from the plethora of mountain shops selling a surprising variety of good quality new and used mountain clothing, shoes, and nearly everything you might find in a trekking shop in your home country. The local "supermarkets" are great places to stock up on imported chocolates, sweets, and some surprisingly tasty local trekking foods like energy bars, nuts, granola bars, etcetera. back to top
Service Trek-
After a few beautiful and exciting days of exploring historic and exotic Kathmandu, our Service trekkers will fly together with our Sherpa staff in a twin-otter 18 seat propeller plane, the workhorse of Himalayan flying, to the remote airstrip of Phaphlu at 2364 metres/7750 feet, where our trek will begin. During the trip, we will be treated to exciting views of the Himalayan high peaks.
The first day we will stay in the vicinity of Bitta Kharka (2100 metres/6900 feet), and the second day, we will walk down to the village of Dhaur Kharka, at 2100 metres/6900 feet. We will spend a day delivering needed medicine and supplies, and visiting a new health clinic, school, local families and temples, and wander around this extremely beautiful forested valley with its lovely streams and terraced farms.
Trekking in a beautiful and scenic river valley. This river flows past Mount Everest (Dan Mazur). A peaceful happy Sherpa family in one of the villages along our trek (Liz Stevens). Unloading our 18 seat twin-otter plane, the workhorse of the Himalaya (Dan Mazur).
After a nice long visit these warm and friendly Sherpa's people's village, we will walk to Jamfre at 2500 metres/8200 feet and stay in a simple inn beside the trail. The following day, we will trace the ridge-tops down to the market center town of Rumjatar at 1350 metres/4400 feet. The next morning we will fly to Kathmandu. This is a very beautiful plane trip. back to top
Photos taken along our service trek. Elselien is showing a photo she just took of a local family living near to Everest, in a poor village where tourists never go, surprised and excited; unaccustomed to seeing photos of themselves (J Vavruska). Doctor Jennifer Heinegg checks a patient's leg in the health post. A tree fell on it 8 months ago. It is badly infected. He will need surgery to repair the leg. His condition is serious, but with a little help, he can return to his job, rather than moving to Kathmandu to become a beggar and live in a cardboard shack (Arnold Coster photo)
Going Home-
After packing up all of your equipment, supplies, and rubbish, you will make the return trek to Phaphlu. The following morning, you are up early, and fly back to Kathmandu, where you can enjoy a hot shower and a grand Nepalese western-style feast. In Kathmandu, you can have a day to relax, celebrate, tour the valley, write postcards, and do a bit more shopping, before heading home. We hope you had a safe, enjoyable, and successful adventure. Thanks for joining in! back to top
See the long ridge in the center of the photo? Look to the right and you will see a flat-topped mountain (Nuptse), and a large pyramid to the right behind the flat-topped mountain (Everest). Seen at sunrise from the ridge above the Dhaur Kharka health clinic, located near to Mount Everest National Park. Flying back to Kathmandu after our trek (Dan Mazur). Thanks for joining in!
Thank You for joining our Service Trek!
Organizer: Dan Mazur He has led and organized more than 25 treks and expeditions to Everest, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Mount Kailash, Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and many others. He has trekked to this remote service area numerous times before, and knows very well the local people who we shall be meeting (photo right by Murari Sharma: Greg Mills, Murari Sharma, Dan Mazur, and Troy Chatwin at Everest basecamp in April).
Sherpas: We hire Sherpas and high altitude porters in a support capacity, and now have 23 of these very experienced, friendly, strong, helpful, and loyal people on our staff, including some of Nepal's best climbers and some of Nepal's only women Sherpas. Some of our Sherpas have been to the summit of Everest more than 7 times and led treks to rural Nepal on our Service Trek, Everest Basecamp & up Island Peak countless times. One of our lady sherpas just became the first Nepalese woman to reach the summit of Ama Dablam, Pumori, and Cho Oyu. Many of our sherpas have personally assisted foreign climbers to the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalaya.
During our trek they will be carrying group equipment such as tents, rope, food, and gas. They are also there to assist in any rescues and provide help in the extreme case that there is a sick member. Many of them hail from the areas we will be trekking through, personally knowing the route, villages, and people we will experience on our visit. They have an intimate knowledge of the area, making our trek more authentic and rewarding for our members and less of a common tourist experience.
Staff: Our staff, working together as "Everest Parivar Expeditions, Pvt. Ltd." in our busy agency off
ice in Kathmandu is led by the experienced and influential Mr. Murari Sharma. They are hospitality experts and have, for the last 21 years, been arranging overland tours, safaris, raft trips, treks, mountain climbs, trek support staff, cooks, peak climbing permits, satellite phone permits, video and film-making permits, translators, liaison officers, climbing Sherpas, oxygen, helicopter flights, air tickets, equipment purchase/hire, storage, import/export, shipping, customs clearance, transport bookings, advance hotel bookings, visas, repatriations, rescues, and permits.
Our staff in Kathmandu are available to assist you 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It does not matter which day nor at what time you arrive or depart Kathmandu, they will meet your flight, take you to the hotel, help you find essential things like money changing, shopping, arrange tours of the city, etcetera.
Top row from Left: Murari K. Sharma - Everest Parivar Exp. Pvt. Ltd(MD), Jangbu Sherpa - Climbing Sherpa, Pemba Sherpa - High Altitude Kitchen Boy, Dorjee Lama - High Altitude Kitchen Boy, Tempa Sherpa - Basecamp Kitchen Boy, Krishna Rana Marag - Trekking Guide, Deha K Shrestha - Manager. Bottom row from left; Jens Vogel, Kandu Sherpa - Lady Trekking Guide, Cho-Wang Sherpa - Friend, Maya Sherpa - Lady Climbing Sherpa.
Our leaders, staff, and sherpas look forward to serving you on our treks to form a successful team and create a rewarding experience.
Please "click" one of the links below to go directly to that information or scroll down.
Team Member Experience:
Extensive experience is not required for the Service Trek. The most important thing is for members to be in adequate walking fitness. back to top
Fitness and Health:
It's not necessary to be in extremely good shape to enjoy this trek. If you can have fun walking for 3-6 hours with a few 20 minute breaks mixed in, you can accomplish this trek.
Prior to joining our group, please see your doctor and obtain the necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for travel in extremes of altitude, and also for exotic locales.
Note: You can purchase all necessary medicines inexpensively with no doctor's prescription in Kathmandu. On our application form we ask you to inform of us your condition, previous illnesses, health and medical situations we should know about, what medications you are taking, etcetera. Please help us to be informed by being honest and fully truthful when you complete it. Thank you. back to top
Training Prior to the Expedition:
- If you are in good shape from regular exercise, it is likely you are already more than prepared to enjoy this trek. Here are some fun training tips below.
- In the beginning, to see how you handle the training, and to avoid muscle strains that could slow your training down, you may wish to use shorter more frequent but less taxing workouts, and take more rest. After you get "up to speed" as it were, you could increase the rigour. Older walkers, please take note of the latter. Also remember that swimming and bicycling are a fun and excellent form of training because they do not put stress upon your joints. Thank you.
- In order to train well for your trip you should work toward excercising a few times a week for about 30 minutes each time.
- Adequate rest and a well balanced diet are also essential to avoid injury and illness before the trip. You should sleep at least 8 hours per night, and eat 3 nutritious meals a day. Don't forget that you will perspire when you train, so try to drink lots of water.
- Utilising both gym equipment and the great outdoors will provide more balanced exercise. You should try to accomplish at least half of your workouts outside. This could include walking, running, and cycling, but above all should be fun. Hillwalking with a pack weighing 5-10 Kilos/10-20 pounds is good preparation for trekking.
- We want you to arrive for your expedition in top shape, so please take plenty of rest and do not over-do it. back to top
Training During the Expedition:
- Upon arrival in Kathmandu, members are requested to participate in a day of orientation to how the trip will be conducted. There will be plenty of time for discussion, question answering, and for equipment review and purchasing. Training will be conducted both in Kathmandu in the areas of trekking techniques, safety techniques, medical equipment and procedures, communications equipment, and camping techniques. For the expert and beginner alike, it is important to review these techniques in order to enhance skills, ensure safety-awareness, and work together as a team. back to top
We hope that you will arrive for your Service Trek in good health, both mentally and physically prepared, so we can work together as a team and have a successful expedition.
Below is a detailed list of equipment you need to bring for the Service Trek and at the bottom is a description of team equipment that we bring for you. (Click the links below to go directly to that section of the personal equipment list or just scroll down):
Where should I purchase my equipment?
Please "click here" to view our list of recommendations on where to purchase kit.
Upper Body-
- 1 cotton t-shirt;
- 1 cotton long sleeved shirt;
- Synthetic lightweight shirts or tank-tops
- 1 polypropylene warm but light thermal long shirt;
- 1 fleece jacket;
- 1 wind/waterproof jacket with hood;
- Umbrella (optional); back to top
Hands-
- 1 pr. warm poly thermal gloves, with plastic wind shell (the latter is optional);
Head-
- 1 cotton sun hat;
- 1 cotton head scarf;
- 1 very warm hat;
- 1 head torch with extra battery; back to top
Lower Body-
- 2 pr.+ cotton underwear briefs;
- 1 cotton walking shorts;
- 1 cotton long trousers and/or comfortable synthetic hiking/trekking trousers;
- 1 polypropylene warm but light thermal leggings;
- 1 pr. fleece/pile/trousers;
- 1 pr. wind/waterproof trousers;
Your clothing should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks, bin-liners, or large plastic bags. back to top
Feet-
- 2 pr. cotton socks;
- 1 pr. sandals for use in hotel;
- 2 pr. med. polypropylene thermal socks;
- 1 pr. comfortable trekking/hiking boots with good ankle support and water resistant ("broken-in" please);
- 1 pr. trainers, lightweight running shoes for trekking on flat, easy trails; back to top
Sleeping-
- 1 sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 10 degrees F);
- At least 1 closed cell foam kari-mats. We do not recommend inflatable mats, as we have never seen one not puncture. You can buy these non inflatable mats very inexpensively in Kathmandu. Why carry foam mats around the world, when you can purchase them inexpensively in Kathmandu?
Your sleeping bags should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks, bin-liners, or large plastic bags. back to top
Rucksack and Travel Bags-
- 1 medium backpack (40-60 liters, can be used for airplane carry);
- Waterproof rucksack cover (optional);
- 1 large kit-travel bag with lock (80-100 liters for checked bag); back to top
Personal Hygiene-
- 1 toothpaste/brush;
- 1 bar soap/1 small towel;
- female or male hygiene supplies;
- 1 set earplugs; back to top
Medical-
Medications are inexpensive and readily available in Kathmandu with no Doctor`s prescription;
- Small personal first-aid kit. (Simple and Light), blister repair kit, waterproof first-aid tape, athletic tape, plasters, Band-Aids, personal medications, etc. The leaders will have extensive first-aid kits, so leave anything extra behind. Please let your leader know about any medical issues before the climb;
- 10 anti-diarrhea pills (Imodium, Loperamide);
- 10 anti-headache pills (Paracetamol, Tylenol);
- 10 anti-inflamatory pills (Ibuprofen);
- 20 cough lozenges, cough sweets, Strepsils, Halls;
- 1 small bottle anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox, Acetylzolamide;
- 10 stomach antibiotic pills: (Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin);
- 6 broad spectrum antiobiotic pills: (Azithromycin);
- Do not bring sleeping pills. They are a respiratory depressant;
- 1 Steripen, or bottle of water purification tablets or water filter;
- 1 set earplugs;
- 1 small bottle of hand-sanitizer suncream for skin and lips. minimum factor 20
Extra prescription glasses, contact lens supplies. Contact lens wearers, WARNING: your contact lenses might not work well on the mountain, please carry glasses at all times in case of emergency. A new pair could be quickly made in Kathmandu for just $40. Please order prior to arrival if you are interested. A new pair could be quickly made in Kathmandu . back to top
Personal Food-
On the trek we cook 3 hot meals each day. This food will consist of soup, local cheese & sausage, biscuits, dried noodles, potatoes, rice, porridge, butter, dried and tinned vegetables, fruit, meats, and fish, tea with milk and sugar, powdered juice drink, and drinking chocolate. Our sherpas will be carrying this.
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We ask each member to bring their own imported daily snack and energy foods. We do not provide cold “snack” food such as chocolate or "energy-bars". We ask that you bring or buy your own "snack" or daily cold energy food, 2 kilos/4 pounds, is a good amount. A growing variety of imported foods such as European and American cheeses, chocolates, biscuits, cookies, nuts, and locally made power-bars are now available in Kathmandu, at realistic prices. However, imported power bars, GU, re-hydration drinks, dehydrated food, "freeze-dried meals", imported cheese and sausage are not available. If you want these items, you must bring them from your home country. Many of our members, especially Britons, Europeans, and Australians with tiny baggage allowances, now purchase their daily snacks in Kathmandu. Our schedule in Kathmandu allows plenty of time for shopping. back to top
Practical- back to top
- Comfortable clothes for in town;
- 1 water filter;
- 1 bathing suit/swimming costume (you never know);
- 1 telescoping ski stick/pole (3 section);
- 1 pr. sunglasses . For eyeglass wearers, prescription sunglasses are best and are available inexpensively in Kathmandu with your prescription for just $40. Please order in advance if you are interested;
- extra prescription glasses, contact lens supplies. Contact lens wearers, please bring glasses in case of emergency. A new pair could be quickly made in Kathmandu for just $20. Please order in advance if you are interested;
- 1 litre water bottle;
- 1 small roll of repair tape, 1 sewing repair kit;
- 1 cigarette lighter, 1 small box matches;
- 1 compass, 1 small multi-purpose knife;
- 1 battery powered alarm clock/watch;
- 1 camera and film or digital camera with spare cards;
- 4 large, waterproof, disposable rubbish sacks;
- passport, 2 extra passport photos, flight ticket, flight itinerary;
- Separate photocopies of passport and relevant visa pages, proof of insurance;
- Dollars, Pounds or Euros cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks, and to purchase your own drinks and gifts;
- Credit cards (bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler's checks, etc;
- Please be sure and bring your patience and try to keep an open, relaxed, positive and friendly attitude as travelling in this part of the world may be very different than what you are used to, but things always seem to fall into place at the last moment. Thank you.
This is not an exhaustive list. Please submit other equipment concerns and suggestions. Thank you. back to top
Group Equipment:
We provide a plethora of top-quality, and time-tested equipment, group gear, and supplies, including: trekking tents; cookers, fuel, high-altitude food, walkie-talkie radios, etcetera. Please see the group EQUIPMENT link, in the menu bars above to study what we bring for your use and safety.back to top
- A) How do I join and prepare for this trip?
- How shall I join the team? Request information and application materials.Open in a new window
Please fill out our online request information form . Please be sure and tell us which expeditions and treks you are interested in and mention your experience, qualifications, etcetera . Please send us your email, postal address, and telephone number (which will remain absolutely confidential, we never share your addresses, phone numbers, or any personal details).
Firstly, carefully read all of the associated information here on the website, ask questions and discuss it with us, print out your application from this website, then complete, sign, and post the application forms, and additional required documents immediately. Include your 10 percent refundable deposit, passport photocopy, 2 passport size photos (name printed on reverse), proof of insurance, and other required documents such as flight itinerary (may be sent now or follow later).
Here is a checklist of what we need to have in your file at least two months before the trip begins. We encourage you to send an electronic scan of all of the below documents, please be sure they are signed. Thank you:
[ ] Completed Payment,
[ ] Trip Registration Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Participant Release and Acknowledgement of Risk (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Terms and Conditions of Booking (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Medical Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] 1 Passport sized photo, which is a simple, very clear picture of your face, sent as an email scan. (We simply require a picture of your face against a white background. You can take it yourself for free with your own digital camera or smart phone),
[ ] Exact photocopy of passport identification pages,
[ ] Exact photocopy of complete flight itinerary,
[ ] Proof of mountain rescue and repatriation insurance,
[ ] Proof of travel, accident, and repatriation insurance (cancellation insurance is advised).
Please do let us know what further questions you may have about the registration process, or anything else for that matter. Thank you.
- Is this a guided trip?Open in a new window
We are friendly and highly experienced expedition leaders, climbers, trekkers and organizers, with a 17+ year track record of building high-quality, safe, friendly and fun climbing & trekking teams and successfully placing our team members to their destination, helping them achieve their goals, and getting home safely. Our leaders and our top team of sherpas are not licensed guides, but some of the most qualified Himalayan mountain and trekking specialists available. We are there to assist the entire group. This is a team effort. Our leaders and sherpas are there to help all members safely and successfully trek within their abilities.
All of our treks include sherpas for the group.
- What sort of experience should I have?Open in a new window
Extensive experience is not required for the service trek. The most important thing is for members to be in adequate walking fitness.
- What sort of training should I pursue if I join the expedition?Open in a new window
If you are in good shape from regular exercise, it is likely you are already prepared to enjoy this trek. Here are some fun training tips below.- In the beginning, to see how you handle the training, and to avoid muscle strains that could slow your training down, you may wish to use shorter more frequent but less taxing workouts, and take more rest. After you get "up to speed" as it were, you could increase the rigour. Older walkers, please take note of the latter. Also remember that swimming and bicycling are a fun and excellent form of training because they do not put stress upon your joints. Thank you.
- In order to train well for your trip you should work toward excercising a few times a week for about 30 minutes each time.
- Adequate rest and a well balanced diet are also essential to avoid injury and illness before the trip. You should sleep at least 8 hours per night, and eat 3 nutritious meals a day. Don't forget that you will perspire when you train, so try to drink lots of water.
- Utilising both gym equipment and the great outdoors will provide more balanced exercise. You should try to accomplish at least half of your workouts outside. This could include walking, running, and cycling, but above all should be fun. Hillwalking with a pack weighing 5-10 Kilos/10-20 pounds is good preparation for trekking.
- We want you to arrive for your expedition in top shape, so please take plenty of rest and do not over-do it.
- Where should I purchase my equipment?Open in a new window
We help you buy and rent inexpensive mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, and walking gear, equipment, clothing, boots, shoes for sale, purchase and hire at affordable, cheap, low prices. We recommend that you shop carefully and frugally for your clothing and climbing equipment. Below we have listed some of the least expensive shops we know about in Kathmandu, UK, Seattle, Canada, Chamonix, and Hong Kong. If you hear of any others, we would like to know about them, as we wish to tell our members where they can purchase equipment affordably.
Kathmandu has a wide variety of inexpensive used and competitively priced equipment, boots, shoes, and clothing; In over 50 well-stocked mountaineering and trekking shops. Be sure to purchase your closed cell kari-mat foam mattresses in Kathmandu. Why bring duffle bags of foam mats on your international flight? Please send us an email to request a Kathmandu price list.
For prices at Kathmandu shops, please "click here". For information about using your credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal, please "click here" . For more information about how much cash to bring for a Service Trek, please "click here" . Below we have listed several inexpensive shops around the world. It may be best to telephone them directly with your questions, as they are very busy and do not always answer email enquiries in a timely manner. When you do contact them, always be sure to mention your name and the name of our company and expedition leaders to them, as we send them many customers and they often give our members substantial discounts. You may or may not choose to purchase the product from them, but it should give you a good idea of what the fair price for the equipment should be. We especially recommend Second Ascent in Seattle, as it has a very large selection of second hand, discontinued, and rental mountain climbing equipment and clothing.
Gauri Shankar Shop - Kathmandu - (For hardwear like Millet Everest Onesport boots, plastic boots, trekking boots, ice axes, crampons, ascenders, helmets, and harnesses and hiring ) - contact SummitClimb's Kathmandu offfice to check availability: info@summitclimb.com . Thank you very much
Shona's Shop - Kathmandu - (Manufactures down duvet clothing. Hundreds of their jackets, trousers, and suits have reached the summit of Everest) e-mail: shonasrentals@hotmail.com , phone: (9771) 4265120 Everest Hardwear - Kathmandu - (Manufactures down duvet clothing. Hundreds of their jackets, trousers, and suits have reached the summit of Everest. A bit better quality than Shona's.) e-mail angsonam25@yahoo.com , tel (9771) 4230399, mobile (977) 98510 45706
Peglers - UK 
www.peglers.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 1903 883375
Pegler's have the largest selection of inexpensive clothing and equipment in the UK.
Second Ascent - Seattle 
www.secondascent.com, Tel: +1 206 545 8810
Check out their new online shopping store for used and discontinued equipment, clothing, and boots.
Mountain Equipment Co-op - Canada
http://www.mec.ca/, Tel: +1 888 847 0770
MEC have the largest selection of inexpensive clothing and equipment in the Canada.
Snell 
Sports - Chamonix
Tel. : + 33 4 50 53 02 17, email: snell@cham3s.com
Decathlon - France
http://www.decathlon.fr/FR/index.html
Au Vieux Campeur - France
www.au-vieux-campeur.fr
Chamonix Alpine Equipment - Hong Kong
www.hongkongclimbing.com/chamonix/chamonix.htm
Tel: +852 2388 3626, +852 2374 0924
Everestgear.com - Online
www.everestgear.com
- When must I decide?Open in a new window
Please post your 10% refundable deposit now, to reserve your membership in our team. If you decide not to go, we send your money back, subject to our refund policy. Complete your payment two months prior to departure, unless you make special arrangements with us.
- May I join this trek as an individual?Open in a new window
We encourage you to join us as an individual team member. Most of our members join as individuals, our team dynamics work well, and we are able to build successful and safe groups of people that enjoy trekking together.
- May I bring my friends, family, colleagues, and clients with me on this trip?Open in a new window
Because there are a group of you, you can benefit from our group discounts: 2+ persons receive a five percent discount (we also provide discounts for doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners, returning members and combining trips). If you would be so kind as to send the email and postal addresses of the other person(s) in the group, we would be glad to send them the information and a colour card as well. Thanks.
- What sort of contact will I have with the team before the trip?Open in a new window
We send out a newsletter with all of the logistics for your arrival in Nepal approximately one month prior to the trek. At this point, we usually share your email address with the other team members, so you may meet one another.
- What will the weather and temperature be like?Open in a new window
Throughout the trek temperatures can vary from 27°c to -7°c ( 80°f to 20°f). At night we stay in warm, comfortable teahouse lodges for most of the trek. The wind is the most chilling factor, and can be quite variable. There may be snow, rain, mosquitoes in wet areas, blowing dust, heat, and bright sunshine. We will be traveling at lower altitudes during the trek, so the weather is usually quite comfortable.
- How shall I organize my visa?Open in a new window
Your Nepal visa is conveniently purchased by you upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport. It is not necessary to purchase a Nepalese visa prior to landing in Nepal. The cost of a 90 day visa is approximately $100 USD & a 30 day visa costs approximately $60. Please bring cash and 2 extra passport-sized photos (extra photos are necessary to obtain the visa in the airport). Please Note: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months fom the END of the expedition and contain at least 2 blank pages.
- Which vaccinations and immunizations will I need?Open in a new window
Many medical precautions are advised, including vaccinations. Please see your local tropical/travel medicine clinic, physician, or general practitioner. There are also numerous immunization resources on the internet, and one of the best is from Kathmandu's famous CIWEC Clinic:
http://ciwec-clinic.com/
Note: You can purchase all necessary medicines inexpensively with no doctor's prescription in Kathmandu, but we recommend you obtain the vaccinations in your home country.
- How shall I pay?Open in a new window
We accept credit card, cheque, etcetera. You may post us cheques, pay in cash on arrival (initial payment required), send a bank wire, etcetera.
In the US, please make out the checks for the contribution payable to the Mountain Fund. Here is the address:
Mountain Fund- Care of SummitClimb Inc.
- POB 123
- Lakebay, WA, 98349
For the rest of the world, please make out the checks for the contribution payable to Rural Assistance Nepal. Here is the address:
- Rural Assistance Nepal
- Care of Himalayan Expeditions
- 30 Downfield Lodge, Downfield Road, Clifton Bristol BS8 2TQ, ENGLAND
You will receive an IRS tax deductible receipt for all contributions that you could use on your taxes.
If it is desired to use credit card to pay for service trek, here is the website:
https://mountainfund.org/projects/the-mount-everest-foundation-for-sustainable-development-in-nepal-tibet/
If you use your credit card, we need a copy of your receipt to show that you have paid, the date, how much, etc.
- What if I decide to cancel my membership?Open in a new window
If you decide to cancel your membership, your payment will be refunded according to the refund policy contained in the registration forms. We urge you to purchase cancellation insurance whenever possible. We are able to hold your payment with no penalty, if you decide to go on another trip at a later date.
- Is there a chance this trip will be cancelled?Open in a new window
Only in the rarest of circumstances has a trip ever been cancelled. If we decide to cancel the trip, 100 percent of your payment shall be returned.
- What is your refund policy?Open in a new window
We have not cancelled a trip before. If we decide to cancel the trip, 100 percent of your payment shall be returned.
Due to the nature and heavy costs of government and operator permits, and the harsh "no-refund" policies of third-world tour operators and government mountaineering offices, We must adhere to a stringent refund policy. PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED TO PURCHASE TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE. Specific cancellation and refund policies may supersede those enumerated below. If you cancel your trip membership 60 or more days before scheduled departure, this will result in an 75% refund. 59-30 days before scheduled departure will result in a 50% refund. 29-14 days before scheduled departure will result in a 25% refund, 13 or less days before scheduled departure results in zero refund.
- Is it possible to get a tax deductible receipt for the Service Trek donation and my flight cost?Open in a new window
If you are going for the tax deductible option on the Service Trek then your cheque has to be made payable as follows:
In the US, please make out the cheques for the contribution payable to the Mountain Fund. Here is the address:
Mountain Fund- Care of SummitClimb Inc.
- POB 123
- Lakebay, WA, 98349
For the rest of the world, please make out the cheques for the contribution payable to Rural Assistance Nepal. Here is the address:
- Rural Assistance Nepal
- Care of Himalayan Expeditions
- 30 Downfield Lodge, Downfield Road, Clifton Bristol BS8 2TQ, ENGLAND
It's possible to use your credit card to pay for the trip at https://mountainfund.org/projects/the-mount-everest-foundation-for-sustainable-development-in-nepal-tibet/
It's possible to have your plane ticket be tax deductible. Please send us a copy of your airline receipt (available for US and UK members at this time).
- Who can join this trek, what will I contribute?Open in a new window
We welcome all members to join this trek, including medical practitioners, educators, farmers, gardeners, technicians, builders, and everyone else. You don't have to be an expert to make a difference.
Our Service Trekkers come from various fields and backgrounds. The most important thing is that you come with an open mind to help make a difference, participate, and do as much as you feel comfortable in doing to contribute.
Only about half of our former Service Trek members have been teachers or medical practitioners and we welcome everyone to come share their ideas and help make Nepal a better and more sustainable place.
- B) Who are the leaders, sherpas, and staff?
- Who will be leading the trek?Open in a new window
- How can I meet the leader(s) of the trek?Open in a new window
We encourage you to meet with the trekking leader(s) during our Lecture Tour . Each year our leaders tour the world and present slide and video lectures detailing their recent climbs in order to raise money for charities/non-profits, such as the MountEverestFoundation.org . Please enquire as to the possibility of hosting or attending such a presentation in your locale. In addition, we urge you to participate in our GLACIER SCHOOL held each spring and autumn, where you can meet and climb together with the leader(s).
- Will there be Sherpas?Open in a new window
All of our treks include sherpas for the group. We hire Sherpas and high altitude porters in a support capacity, and now have 23 of these very experienced, friendly, strong, helpful, and loyal people on our staff, including some of Nepal's best climbers and some of Nepal's only women Sherpas. Some of our Sherpas have been to the summit of Everest more than 7 times. One of our lady sherpas just became the first Nepalese woman to reach the summit of Ama Dablam, Pumori, and Cho Oyu. Many of our sherpas have personally assisted foreign climbers to the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalaya. During our expedition they will be carrying group equipment such as tents, rope, food, and gas. They are also there to assist in any rescues of a sick member.
- Who will be organizing the trek?Open in a new window
Your expedition is organized by our British, European, American, Nepalese, Tibetan, and Chinese office personnel working on-the-ground together as well as in your home-country. For example, one of our lead organizers is the very experienced Dan Mazur, trekking in Nepal since 1986 and climber-leader-organizer of Everest, K2, and 12 "eight-thousand-metre-peaks". He is a relaxed, friendly and well organized person, and a highly-skilled professional with 25 years experience in helping people explore the mountains, with the highest attention to detail, comfort, and safety.
Please click here to view our Service Trek leadership page for more about our leader, organizer, sherpas, and staff.
- Who are the trekking staff?Open in a new window
Our very loyal and hard-working staff are made up of porters, yak-drivers, guides, basecamp managers, wait staff, kitchen assistants, cooks, high-altitude porters, high-altitude climbing-sherpas, bus, truck, and jeep drivers, local agents, tour-operators, and government liaison officers and ministry officials.
Please click here to view our Service Trek leadership page for more about our leader, organizer, sherpas, and staff.
- Do I need to tip our staff and sherpas?Open in a new window
It is customary that each trekking member will make a contribution toward staff gratuities. Our staff are extremely proud of their efforts, and receiving a gratuity is a matter of the utmost honour, a mark of recognition of a job well done. We will "pool" these tips together and then, as a group, we will vote on the distribution of the tips to the individual staff. This method has seemed to be the fairest and has worked very well in the past. Our staff of more than 23 Sherpas is an extremely loyal and hard working group. You will be duly impressed by their level of effort and reliability. The main reason our staff are consistently some of the hardest working people in town, on trek, and on the mountain, is that they know they can rely on the generosity of our members to consistently provide a good tip. Please be sure to keep up the tradition, for future team members, as you have benefited from the reliable generosity of team members who came before you. Thank you very much.
The "staff tip" will be $100 per foreign trekker. Expect to pay this tip no matter what.
- May I bring clothing and equipment to give to the Sherpas as gifts?Open in a new window
Please do. Clothing and equipment gifts are highly appreciated. Also, Sherpa children and wives and sisters and mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers need clothing and shoes too. Please remember that sherpas come in all shapes and sizes, from children to adults. Items that are very small or very large can be traded for items that fit. There are men and women Sherpas, and they may be tall, short, extra-large, large, medium or small. The clothing and equipment you bring will be collected from you at the end of each expedition, then stock-piled by the lead staff and handed out to the Sherpas at the beginning of each expedition. In this way, we can ensure that they will actually use it during the expedition and not sell it immediately.
Here is a list of items that are needed broken into sections. Please click a link below to go directly to that list or scroll down.
Clothing and shoes for the village and in town (men, women, and/or children) - Clothing and shoes for the mountain (men and women)
- Climbing equipment (men and women)
- Communications and electronics
- Medical and educational
Clothing and shoes for the village and in town (men, women, and/or children):
- t-shirts;
- cotton or wool or synthetic shirts and trousers;
- fleece/pile/polar shirts and trousers;
- thermal trousers or shirts;
- waterproof clothing;
- warm hats;
- caps;
- gloves;
- under garments;
- socks;
- scarves;
- bandanas;
- boots;
- shoes;
- sandals;
- dress-up clothes and shoes;
- suits. back to top
Clothing and shoes for the mountain (men and women):
- thermal trousers or shirts;
- cotton or wool or synthetic shirts and trousers;
- gore-tex jackets and trousers and suits;
- fleece/pile/polar shirts and trousers;
- duvet/down jackets;
- warm hats;
- scarves;
- bandanas;
- socks;
- mittens;
- gloves;
- duvet/down booties;
- boots;
- plastic or one-sport climbing boots;
- rock shoes. back to top
Climbing equipment (men and women):
- harnesses;
- slings;
- webbing;
- ascenders;
- belay/abseil devices;
- descenders;
- carabiners;
- ropes;
- ice-axes and ice-tools;
- pitons;
- ice-screws;
- rock protection;
- cams;
- helmets;
- sunglasses;
- goggles;
- face masks/balaclavas;
- day packs/sacks;
- full-size rucksacks/backpacks;
- kit/duffle/travel bags;
- tents. back to top
Communications and electronics:
- GPS devices;
- computers/laptops (at least a pentium 2 or newer is preferred);
- old mobile phones (must use sim card);
- old satellite phones;
- walkie-talkies;
- music playing devices;
- watches. back to top
Medical and educational:
- cosmetics;
- medical supplies;
- medecines;
- hygiene items;
- books;
- kids toys of educational value (reading, writing, mathematics, science, etcetera).
Please submit any other ideas for gifts we may have overlooked to, info@summitclimb.com . back to top
- C) Who are the members?
- What type of team members will be on the expedition?Open in a new window
Members are men and women from around the world who enjoy touring, walking, trekking, camping, and being in the mountains with friends. Our youngest member was age 18, and our oldest 82 years of age. The average age is 36, with many members in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. We have neither a lower nor an upper limit on group size.
PLEASE NOTE: We seek out members who can bring to this expedition a friendly spirit of team-work, as trekking is all about cooperation and working together and getting on with your team-mates.
- How can I meet the other members of the expedition?Open in a new window
Quite often, during our lecture tours, we organize meets of our team-members. Please enquire as to the possibility of this in your area. Also, in our GLACIER SCHOOLS past, present, future, and prospective members are able to meet and climb together. Approximately one month prior to the expedition we send out a newsletter with all of the logistics for your arrival in Nepal. At this point, we usually share your email address with the other team members, so you may meet one another.
- Who will I be trekking and camping with during the trip?Open in a new window
We have been told that our members and groups get along extremely well, and members are pleased to learn how enjoyable our treks are, and often say how pleasantly surprised they are by how well our team members and staff and leaders function together.
Most members prefer a single room while in Kathmandu. Our trek-tents are based on sharing.
Each night, our group will camp in an established campsite or teahouse where there are multiple trekking tents. Throughout the trekking days and camping nights, our leaders and sherpas will be trekking and camping together with you to help set up tents and make sure you are staying healthy and safe and that things are going well.
- Will I be sharing a room or tent with anyone?Open in a new window
Most members prefer a single room while in Kathmandu. Our trek-tents and teahouse lodgings are based on sharing.
- How large will the group be?Open in a new window
The average group has probably been 4 people, with half of all treks having less, and half having more members. As we add members to our team, we hire more Sherpas to assist the group as a whole, bring additional supplies and equipment, and add additional leaders, assistant-leaders, and leaders-in-training.
- What is the minimum number of members needed to run the expedition?Open in a new window
The minimum number of members needed is 3, although sometimes we will still run an expedition with less than 3 people.
- May I join this expedition as an individual?Open in a new window
We encourage you to join us as an individual team member. Most of our members join as individuals, our team dynamics work well, and we are able to build successful and safe groups of people that enjoy trekking together.
- May I bring my friends, family, colleagues, and clients with me on this trip?Open in a new window
We offer a 5% discount for groups of 2+.
- Can I earn a commission for referring my friends, colleagues, clients, or a group?Open in a new window
We offer a 5% cash "finders-fee", paid to you for each of your friends and colleagues who become a member of our team.
Often, someone is well-placed as a guide, lecturer, eminent community figure, travel agent or tour operator, etcetera. We are glad to offer increasing commissions based on multiple referrals to any of our various trips and classes in any calendar year. In the past, people who referred Service Trek members to us donated their finders fee back to the charity to help support the Mount Everest Foundation.
- D) What the contribution includes.
- Why are the prices of these trips low?Open in a new window
Our prices reflect our honesty, integrity, efficiency, and emphasis on providing a safe, high quality treks for a fair price, as our company was founded 17 years ago by climbers for climbers, and we still have some of the original founders with us and strive to maintain these priorities. In addition, we have very long experience and deep connections with the mountaineering authorities in Nepal and Tibet, and we are fortunate to receive favourable prices and better treatment. Even though our prices are less, our approach reflects the best possible value for money and emphasizes effective team building within our own trek, as well as good relations with everyone along the trek.
We are dedicated to a philosophy of encouraging trekking and mountaineering by keeping costs to a minimum and welcome team members who are willing to share in achieving our objectives. All of our European, British, or US staff and leaders began their Himalayan climbing careers as paying team members. Thus, we never charge more for a trip than we would be willing to pay ourselves. We have excellent relations with the government authorities who regulate the world of mountain climbing permits, liaison officers, yak drivers, etcetera.
Additionally, our staff of more than 23 Sherpas are very long term, loyal, hard-working, and honest employees. We take good care of our staff and their families, and they work for a fair wage in return for steady employment. We help our Sherpa's families in many ways, and have been building schools and hospitals in their villages, and helping to protect their local environments for several years. Our agents and local on-the-ground operators are long term employees and they provide services at a competitive cost, in return for fair compensation and our return business, year-after-year.
This is neither a luxury nor a 5-star expedition. Our equipment and methods are basic, simple, and proven over more than 50 Himalayan expeditions and countless treks. We re-use our equipment and re-hire our staff over many treks and expeditions. Our food is well prepared, abundant, and nutritious, but we do not use expensive imported foods. We neither print nor post expensive brochures.
- What does the price of the contribution include?Open in a new window
Trek Leader: Daniel Mazur, trekking in the Khumbu valley since 1991.- Nepalese Sherpa-English speaking guides for the group (we are also able to provide Sherpa French and German speakers);
- Transport to basecamp to/from Kathmandu, for you and equipment, including all internal / domestic flights Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu;
- Yak and porter transport for all your equipment from Lukla to and from to your final destination on the trek and back down;
- Three meals per day during the trek, normally these may be cooked, but sometimes, during trekking, they may be a "packed-lunch".
- All permit fees, including peak climbing fees, and liaison officers;
- All group equipment like tents, stoves, etcetera.
- Emergency equipment and supplies: medical oxygen, gamow bag, basecamp medical kit, high-altitude medical kits, etcetera;
- Sleeping arrangements will be in comfortable and roomy tents while camping, or in comfortable bunks in teahouses;
- What is not included in the contribution price?Open in a new window
Hotel :Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu hotel nights at the beginning and two free Kathmandu hotel nights at the end of the trip but not food. For more information, please click here .
We recommend the following tip for our group staff: Remote Nepal Service Trek: $100. Expect to pay the above tip no matter what.
Also not included are: International flights, personal clothing and equipment (sleeping bag, boots, etc.), visas, vaccinations, health, travel and rescue insurance, snack-energy food, gratuities, drinks on the road or in town, expenses of a personal nature, changes to the pre-planned itinerary (such as early departure), and expenses while traveling away from the group or leader. Not included are unexpected expenses, such as expenses due to emergencies, rescues, weather, political situations, transport delays, etc.
- E) Details of the itinerary, route, and weather.
- What are the details for the itinerary?Open in a new window
- What are the details of the route?Open in a new window
For a detailed description of the expedition route, please "click here" .
- What will the weather and temperature be like?Open in a new window
Throughout the trek temperatures can vary from 27°c to -7°c ( 80°f to 20°f). At night we stay in warm, comfortable teahouse lodges for most of the trek. The wind is the most chilling factor, and can be quite variable. There may be snow, rain, mosquitoes in wet areas, blowing dust, heat, and bright sunshine. We will be traveling at lower altitudes during the trek, so the weather is usually quite comfortable.
- F) What qualifications, experience, fitness, & training do I need?
- What sort of experience should I have?Open in a new window
Extensive experience is not required for the Service Trek. The most important thing is for members to be in adequate walking fitness.
- How healthy and fit do I need to be?Open in a new window
It's not necessary to be in extremely good shape to enjoy this trek. If you can have fun walking for 3-6 hours with a few 20 minute breaks mixed in, you can accomplish this trek.
Prior to joining our group, please see your doctor and obtain the necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for travel in extremes of altitude, and also for exotic locales.
Note: You can purchase all necessary medicines inexpensively with no doctor's prescription in Kathmandu. On our application form we ask you to inform of us your condition, previous illnesses, health and medical situations we should know about, what medications you are taking, etcetera. Please help us to be informed by being honest and fully truthful when you complete it. Thank you.
- What sort of training will I need to pursue?Open in a new window
If you are in good shape from regular exercise, it is likely you are already prepared to enjoy this trek. Here are some fun training tips below.- In the beginning, to see how you handle the training, and to avoid muscle strains that could slow your training down, you may wish to use shorter more frequent but less taxing workouts, and take more rest. After you get "up to speed" as it were, you could increase the rigour. Older walkers, please take note of the latter. Also remember that swimming and bicycling are a fun and excellent form of training because they do not put stress upon your joints. Thank you.
- In order to train well for your trip you should work toward excercising a few times a week for about 30 minutes each time.
- Adequate rest and a well balanced diet are also essential to avoid injury and illness before the trip. You should sleep at least 8 hours per night, and eat 3 nutritious meals a day. Don't forget that you will perspire when you train, so try to drink lots of water.
- Utilising both gym equipment and the great outdoors will provide more balanced exercise. You should try to accomplish at least half of your workouts outside. This could include walking, running, and cycling, but above all should be fun. Hillwalking with a pack weighing 5-10 Kilos/10-20 pounds is good preparation for trekking.
- We want you to arrive for your expedition in top shape, so please take plenty of rest and do not over-do it.
- Is there an age limit?Open in a new window
We encourage climbers of all ages to consider joining our team.
The youngest trekker we have had was 18.
The oldest trekker we have had was 84 years old. We notice that people who are older may need more rest, acclimatization, and a careful attention to nutrition and hydration.
- Must I carry a heavy rucksack?Open in a new window
Our trek includes transport of all of your equipment from Kathmandu to your destination, and returned to Kathmandu. While on the trek, we DO NOT ask our members to carry heavy group equipment (although it is an option if you really want to), such as tents, fuel, food, etcetera. We employ trekking sherpas, and porters, to carry group equipment and supplies. You will only need to carry a small day-pack/rucksack along the trek with your water, jacket, camera, etcetera.
- G) Personal & team equipment and what I need to bring.
- What personal equipment should I bring?Open in a new window
We help you buy and rent inexpensive mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, and walking gear, equipment, clothing, boots, shoes for sale, purchase and hire at affordable, cheap, low prices.
Please see the Equipment link , to study what is needed. If you are not familiar with the necessary trekking kit, we can recommend places to buy it affordably .
- Where should I purchase my equipment?Open in a new window
We help you buy and rent inexpensive mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, and walking gear, equipment, clothing, boots, shoes for sale, purchase and hire at affordable, cheap, low prices.
We recommend that you shop carefully and frugally for your clothing and climbing equipment. Below we have listed some of the least expensive shops we know about in Kathmandu, UK, Seattle, Canada, Chamonix, and Hong Kong. If you hear of any others, we would like to know about them, as we wish to tell our members where they can purchase equipment affordably.
Kathmandu has a wide variety of inexpensive used and competitively priced equipment, boots, shoes, and clothing; In over 50 well-stocked mountaineering and trekking shops. We recommend you purchase your Millet Everest One-sport boots and crampons in Kathmandu, where a very wide selection is available for reasonable prices. We also recommend you purchase your down/duvet jacket, trousers and suit there as well, again for some of the best selection and prices to be found anywhere. Also, be sure to purchase your closed cell kari-mat foam mattresses in Kathmandu. Why bring duffle bags of foam mats on your international flight? Please send us an email to request a Kathmandu price list. If you need a pair of high altitude mitts, we don't recommend Kathmandu, but rather suggest you check out mittens by Wild Country or Outdoor Research (the OR Alti has been popular with our Cho Oyu, Everest, and Lhotse summitters).
For prices at Kathmandu shops, please "click here" . For information about using your credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal, please "click here" . For more information about how much cash to bring for an Lhotse expedition, please "click here" . Below we have listed several inexpensive shops around the world. It may be best to telephone them directly with your questions, as they are very busy and do not always answer email enquiries in a timely manner. When you do contact them, always be sure to mention your name and the name of our company and expedition leaders to them, as we send them many customers and they often give our members substantial discounts. You may or may not choose to purchase the product from them, but it should give you a good idea of what the fair price for the equipment should be. We especially recommend Second Ascent in Seattle, as it has a very large selection of second hand, discontinued, and rental mountain climbing equipment and clothing.
One strategy our members often pursue is to visit Seattle for one of our Glacier Schools, and then during time set aside during the course, work together with our leaders to try-on, compare, and purchase and hire the equipment they need at one of the least expensive mountaineering shops in Seattle. It is rare to find such a good selection of equipment and clothing in one shop, but Seattle is known for its large glaciated peaks, and large community of mountaineers. Gauri Shankar Shop - Kathmandu - (For hardwear like Millet Everest Onesport boots, plastic boots, trekking boots, ice axes, crampons, ascenders, helmets, and harnesses and hiring ) - contact SummitClimb's Kathmandu offfice to check availability: info@summitclimb.com . Thank you very much
Shona's Shop - Kathmandu - (Manufactures down duvet clothing. Hundreds of their jackets, trousers, and suits have reached the summit of Everest) e-mail: shonasrentals@hotmail.com , phone: (9771) 4265120 Everest Hardwear - Kathmandu - (Manufactures down duvet clothing. Hundreds of their jackets, trousers, and suits have reached the summit of Everest. A bit better quality than Shona's.) e-mail angsonam25@yahoo.com , tel (9771) 4230399, mobile (977) 98510 45706
Peglers - UK
www.peglers.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 1903 883375
Pegler's have the largest selection of inexpensive clothing and equipment in the UK.
Second Ascent - Seattle www.secondascent.com, Tel: +1 206 545 8810
Check out their new online shopping store for used and discontinued equipment, clothing, and boots.
Mountain Equipment Co-op - Canada
http://www.mec.ca/, Tel: +1 888 847 0770
MEC have the largest selection of inexpensive clothing and equipment in the Canada.
Snell Sports - Chamonix
Tel. : + 33 4 50 53 02 17, email: snell@cham3s.com
Decathlon - France
http://www.decathlon.fr/FR/index.html
Au Vieux Campeur - France
www.au-vieux-campeur.fr
Chamonix Alpine Equipment - Hong Kong
www.hongkongclimbing.com/chamonix/chamonix.htm
Tel: +852 2388 3626, +852 2374 0924
Everestgear.com - Online
www.everestgear.com
- Will there be time to hire-rent-purchase my equipment, boots, and clothing in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
We help you buy and rent inexpensive mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, and walking gear, equipment, clothing, boots, shoes for sale, purchase and hire at affordable, cheap, low prices.
Our planned schedule allows plenty of time for equipment shopping in Kathmandu, where there are so many shops that you will find almost everything you need.
For prices at Kathmandu shops, please "click here". For information about using your credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal, please "click here" . For more information about how much cash to bring for a Service Trek, please "click here" .
For soft goods like down jackets trousers and suits, we have used two shops:
A. Everest Hardwear shop in Thamel. e-mail angsonam25@yahoo.com , tel 4230399, mobile (977)98510 45706
B. Shona's Shop in Thamel: e-mail: shonasrentals@hotmail.com , phone: 4265120
- How much are the prices for boots, clothing, shoes, mattresses, and climbing equipment in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
We help you buy and rent inexpensive mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, and walking gear, equipment, clothing, boots, shoes for sale, purchase and hire at affordable, cheap, low prices.
Most equipment, boots, clothing, shoes, mattresses are available for purchase and hire in Kathmandu. We allow extra time for our leaders to check your equipment in Kathmandu. If you need additional items, we allow time for shopping and have staff and members to show you where the shops are.
For information about using your credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal, please "click here". For more information about how much cash to bring for an Service Trek expedition, please "click here".
Here is a partial list for those desiring to contact Nepalese manufacturers:
Gauri Shankar Shop - Kathmandu - (For hardwear like Millet Everest Onesport boots, plastic boots, trekking boots, ice axes, crampons, ascenders, helmets, and harnesses and hiring ) - contact SummitClimb's Kathmandu offfice to check availability: info@summitclimb.com . Thank you very much
For soft goods like down jackets trousers and suits, we have used two shops:
A. Everest Hardwear shop in Thamel. e-mail angsonam25@yahoo.com , tel 4230399, mobile (977)98510 45706
B. Shona's Shop in Thamel: e-mail: shonasrentals@hotmail.com , phone: 4265120
There are so many shops in Kathmandu, you will find almost everything you need.
- What sort of equipment will the organizers bring?Open in a new window
Please see the trekking group EQUIPMENT link , to study what we bring for your use and safety.
- How much cash should I bring?Open in a new window
Your Nepal visa is conveniently purchased by you upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport. It is not necessary to purchase a Nepalese visa prior to landing in Nepal. The cost of a 90 day visa is approximately $100 USD & a 30 day visa costs approximately $60. Please bring cash and 2 extra passport-sized photos (extra photos are necessary to obtain the visa in the airport). Please Note: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months fom the END of the expedition and contain at least 2 blank pages. Please also bring plenty of cash for tips + gratuities, for shopping, drinks, etcetera. You will be paying for your own hotel and meals in Kathmandu . There are good cash/atm machines and traveler's cheques will work, especially in Kathmandu. Members who don't bring enough cash are often found sitting on their hands in a dark and cold hotel room or tent while the rest of the team are out having fun enjoying the night life that is surprisingly exciting and even funny, the sometimes fun pubs and shopping.
The "staff tip" will be $100+ per foreign trekker. Expect to pay this tip no matter what.
- Can I use my credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal?Open in a new window
In Nepal, using your bank, cash or atm card (as long as it's a Cirrus, Plus, or Visa), you can usually obtain rupees at a bank machine in Kathmandu. The machine will not give you dollars, or any other foreign currency. Sometimes, foreign cards dont work in Nepal. The most international bank is Standard and Chartered, and if you plan on using a credit card, you might ask your company to check if your card will work at S&C.
- Bringing equipment and supplies as checked luggage on my international flight.Open in a new window
Most of our members carry their personal equipment and snack foods in their checked and carry-on luggage on their international flight.
In Britain, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world, your baggage allowance may be as low as: 23 kilos/50 pounds of checked baggage, plus a small carry-on bag of 15 kilos/33 pounds (don't show the counter staff this much carry-on luggage upon check-in), for a total of 40 kilos/88 pounds. First ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. The documentation of this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of documentation by far).
If you are unable to attain a sport baggage allowance, obviously, those members coming from these countries will either be faced with wearing their trekking boots, clothing, etcetera onto the plane (this is normal procedure for many Australian, British, and European team-members), or paying excess baggage charges, or purchasing/hiring a portion of their equipment or daily snacks in Kathmandu, which is now becoming more and more of a viable option. If you chose to pay the airline's excess baggage charges, you might be faced with $20 per kilogram/2.2 pounds, of excess. Be sure to make full telephone and email inquiries before checking your bags at the airport.
You may wish to investigate cargo shipping from your home country to Kathmandu.
Those members flying from North America are currently allowed 2 checked bags weighing 50 pounds/23 kilos each, plus one small carry-on weighing 30 pounds/13 kilos, for a total allowance of 130 pounds, or 60 kilograms. Baggage allowances change frequently. Before departure, you must ring your airline to verify the exact amount.
In North America it may be possible to pay an additional $120 per extra 70 pound/32 kilo bag, up to a total of ten or so extra bags, on flights bound for Nepal or China, but not for flights returning from there. However, be sure to ask about such "extra-bags" policies carefully before booking, and be sure to check with ALL of the airlines on your itinerary, as some of these airlines may try to "double-charge" you.
- How do I ship extra cargo from my home country?Open in a new window
First ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. Before arranging cargo shipping, ring your airline and explain what you are climbing/trekking and need to bring extra food/equipment, etcetera. Airlines often allow you to carry extra bags when you fly for a reduced charge, when you arrange it all in advance. The big advantage is that the bags should travel with you all of the time, don't have to be cleared through customs, etcetera. WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. The documentation of this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of documentation by far).
If you do arrange cargo shipping, it's not difficult but takes a little more time. Always put your name and expedition name on the first two lines, as this will clarify that you are personally using these items for climbing and they are not the property of our local agent, nor are they for resale in Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu you will go to the Customs Hall (near the airport) in the morning and go through a one day process required to clear your cargo through Nepal Customs. So, if you are planning to ship cargo, be sure to arrive in Kathmandu on a weekday (M-F) before the scheduled beginning of our expedition, so you don't miss any critical team orientation meetings, etcetera. You may need to pay some fees to the Nepal Government at the time of pickup. Always be sure to speak to the government officer in-charge there, not a middleman from a freight forwarding company, as they will add on a lot of needless charges. If you have filled out the packing list with amounts stated minimally at point of origin, its mostly used equipment and personal food, and everything is for your personal use during the expedition only, and you say you will take all of it back to your country, your fees payed to the Nepal Government will be very small indeed.
So:
Your First and Last Name: ie: "John Doe"
Service Trek Nepal International Expedition 2007
Care of: Everest Parivar Expedition
Inside Beijing Hotel Intl., Jyatha, Thamel
Murari Sharma
Jyatha Tole
Kathmandu, Nepal
tel: 4249825, 4248813
Mobile: 985102 3985
You will have to request shipping times and charges from your local agent as we don't know the details from your country.
- Do you provide secure facilities to store my excess baggage & valuables in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
We provide secure facilities in Kathmandu in which to store your extra personal items such as luggage, extra money, credit cards, passports , jewelry, expensive watches, etcetera. These facilities are kept locked, watched, and nothing has ever been lost.
- Do I need to bring my own snack energy food?Open in a new window
We do not provide cold “snack” food such as chocolate or "energy-bars". We ask that you bring or buy your own "snack" or daily cold energy food, 2 kilos /4 pounds is a good amount. A growing variety of imported foods such as European and American cheeses, chocolates, biscuits, cookies, nuts, and locally made power-bars are now available in Kathmandu, at realistic prices. However, imported power bars, GU, re-hydration drinks, dehydrated food, "freeze-dried meals", imported cheese and sausage are not available. If you want these items, you must bring them from your home country. Many of our members, especially Britons, Europeans, and Australians with tiny baggage allowances, now purchase their daily snacks in Kathmandu. Our schedule in Kathmandu allows plenty of time for shopping.
- What medicines do I need to bring?Open in a new window
Please visit the medical section of the Service Trek Personal & Team Equipment link to view a full list of the medicines we recommend you purchase inexpensively in Kathmandu, without a doctor's prescription, before departing for the mountain.
- Packing my bags in Kathmandu which I will take with me to basecamp.Open in a new window
When you pack your bags in Kathmandu, please organize your materials into two locking duffle kit bags weighing no more than 20 kilos/44 pounds each. These are the bags that will be put on the flight and tied on the yaks, so please make sure they are strong and secure. You will be able to store your excess baggage in Kathmandu.
- What is the best photo or video camera to use?Open in a new window
Any small and light camera will be fine. Many people use digital cameras now, and download their photos on our laptop in basecamp (our laptop works at high altitude, while yours might not, so check carefully before bringing your own laptop).- There are new digital video cameras that are small and light and work well. Many peoples bring them and there has been some very good quality movies made by our members. Some members have even edited their own feature length films from video they took with one of these good-quality small 'handi-cams'.
- Our members take great photos and we might ask your permission to use them in news stories on our news website. Of course you will be credited as the photographer.
- If you are planning to download your photos, then you have to bring your own lead/cable and your own software, if available. Digital cameras also have the advantage of being able to take small video clips. We love seeing your video clips on our site and they really add to the excitement of telling the story of your climb. There are some good digital cameras that will work well in the $200, £100, or €135 range.
- Be sure you always keep your camera in a plastic bag in the inside pocket of your jacket and you will have to sleep with it at night. You never want it to become cold or be exposed to wind, snow, dust, moisture or rain.
- With any camera, make sure you have your battery/charging system well-thought-out before you leave home, as options to figure this out in the mountains will be limited.
- Can I have prescription spectacles or glacier glasses made inexpensively in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
Yes you can, and prescription glacier specs with leather side shields cost $28, £14, or €18. However, you will have to examine the possibility and assess the choice of frames and quality of workmanship personally when you arrive in Nepal. If you decide to go ahead, it can sometimes take up to a few weeks for your order to be ready. It's important that you will have your own correct prescription glasses before leaving home for the expedition, as your purchase will most likely not be ready for you until your return to Kathmandu after the trip is over.
- What paperwork and information do I need to provide before arrival?Open in a new window
Here is a checklist of what we need to have in your file at least two months before the trip begins. We encourage you to send an electronic scan of all of the below documents, please be sure they are signed. Thank you:
[ ] Completed Payment. Please restate payments you made and what those payments were for.
[ ] Trip Registration Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Participant Release and Acknowledgement of Risk (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Terms and Conditions of Booking (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Medical Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] 1 Passport sized photo, which is a simple, very clear picture of your face, sent as an email scan. (We simply require a picture of your face against a white background. You can take it yourself for free with your own digital camera or smart phone),
[ ] Exact photocopy of passport identification pages,
[ ] Exact photocopy of complete flight itinerary,
[ ] Proof of mountain rescue and repatriation insurance,
[ ] Proof of travel, accident, and repatriation insurance (cancellation insurance is advised).
Please do let us know what further questions you may have about the registration process, or anything else for that matter. Thank you.
- H) Flying from home country, welcome to Kathmandu.
- What is the best way to purchase my international air ticket?Open in a new window
It's best to purchase your international air ticket several months before trip departure. Although, surprisingly inexpensive air tickets may be available on short notice only a few weeks before the trip begins. However, for some busier times of year known as "high season", it might be best to purchase your air tickets 4-5 months before flying, or, if you are trying to use frequent flyer or air miles, 6-12 months prior to the beginning of the trip.
We can recommend agencies and airlines that offer the lowest prices and best service.
Flights from UK or Europe to Kathmandu currently cost £450-£700 (GBP), or €665-€1000 (EURO).
For Kathmandu, the most normally used airlines are Gulf Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Ethitad Airways or occasionally Jet Airlines. It takes 1 or two days to fly there, and one or two days to fly back. Many Europeans prefer to fly to London first, to take advantage of the inexpensive flights. Flying from London, to begin, may we recommend you contact anyone at Trailfinders on 0207 9383939. Also, please ring the Flight Centre in London on: 08705 666627, or 0207 9356669.
First ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. Before arranging cargo shipping, ring your airline and explain what you are climbing/trekking and need to bring extra food/equipment, etcetera. Airlines often allow you to carry extra bags when you fly for a reduced charge, when you arrange it all in advance. The big advantage is that the bags should travel with you all of the time, don't have to be cleared through customs, etcetera.
WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. The documentation of this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of documentation by far).
Be sure to mention that you are one of our members when you ring your travel agent, as the above companies arrange quite a few of our flights and they may give a discount or provide extra baggage allowance.
Flights from North America to Kathmandu currently cost $1200-$1700.
When flying from North America to Kathmandu it takes three days on the way there (because you are crossing the date line), and two on the way back.
For starters, we recommend you check the internet. Internet flight shopping is easy: www.Expedia.com often has inexpensive flights. Also try other websites such as www.Orbitz.com , www.Kayak.com , etc. If you would like to work with a travel agent, please contact Sue at Unique Travel: 503-221-1719. Another travel agency you may wish to check prices with is: Himalayan Treasures and Travels 800-223-1813, or Bootsnall.com 503-528-1005. Be sure to mention that you are one of our members when you ring your travel agent, as the above companies arrange quite a few of our flights and they may give a discount or provide extra baggage allowance. By the way, before booking your ticket, please check the itinerary carefully and check how much baggage they will allow. In case you have excess baggage, you may wish to ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. Before arranging cargo shipping, ring your airline and explain what you are climbing/trekking and need to bring extra food/equipment, etcetera. Airlines often allow you to carry extra bags when you fly for a reduced charge, when you arrange it all in advance. The big advantage is that the bags should travel with you all of the time, don't have to be cleared through customs, etcetera. BAGGAGE WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. The documentation of this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of documentation by far).
- What day do I need to arrive and what day may I leave the expedition?Open in a new window
All members must be present on the first day of our scheduled itinerary in Kathmandu unless you have made special arrangements. We do quite a bit of orientation and sight seeing before setting off on the trek, in the next day or two. Of course it is fine if you wish to arrive earlier than the first day of our scheduled itinerary.
In addition, we need you to stay until the last day of the expedition unless you have made special arrangements. Its OK if you want to leave a bit earlier, but schedule your flight for the final day in any case. You never know when bad weather or route conditions can slow you down and cause you to need each and every day. Of course its fine if you want to stay on after the trek ends.
- Will someone be there to meet me at the airport?Open in a new window
Yes and the cost is included in your registration fee. In fact, during our expeditions last year we were able to meet 100 percent of our member's scheduled flights, and bring the team to our hotel. Please make sure we have your complete flight itinerary. Upon picking up your bags and exiting the customs area and walking out into the arrivals hall, be sure to move slowly and look for the person carrying a sign with your name written upon it. Normally, this sign will bear your surname (last or family name), but occasionally they might have written your first or given name on the sign. The sign may also simply say, "SummitClimb".
Our staff in Kathmandu are available to assist you 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It does not matter which day nor at what time you arrive or depart Kathmandu, they will meet your flight, take you to the hotel, help you find essential things like money changing, shopping, arrange tours of the city, etcetera.
- Will my hotel be booked in advance & will someone take me to my hotel?Open in a new window
Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu hotel nights at the beginning and two free Kathmandu hotel nights at the end of the trip. You will be sharing. If you do not wish to share, you can pay an extra $20 for a single room (during any of the included 4 nights). If you want a room for extra nights, outside of the included 4 nights, the price will be $30 (single room). Price includes good delicious breakfast and mandatory 25% Nepal government tax and government service charge. Please bring extra cash to pay for your extra nights and / or your single supplement. We often stay at the comfortable three star Hotel Shakti. Its an excellent and classic hotel surrounded by green gardens and located in the heart of the city action near many delicious restaurants, the city's best mountain equipment shopping, and abundant nightlife all within a few minutes walk. The Shakti also offers lots of entertaining day trip (and night outing) options such as city tours, walking tours, rock climbing, mountain biking, wild game safaris, horse back riding, art classes, volunteer opportunities at orphanages, hospitals, schools, women's centres, bird watching, cooking classes, sport fishing, day peak climbing, herbal medicine seminars, day hikes, pottery classes, car tours, sightseeing, temple tours, henna handpainting classes, massage, swimming, beauty salon, motorbiking, yoga retreats, river rafting, painting classes, golf, language courses, kayaking, writing seminars, bungie jumping, religious worship, canyoning, hot tubs, health club, saunas, fitness center, spa treatments, Mount Kailash Treks, night clubs, meditation retreats, gourmet restaurants, cultural dance performances, wine tasting, pedicures and manicures, casino gambling, barber shop, discotheques, airport transfers, Scenic flights around Mount Everest and much much more. Meals in Kathmandu are at your expense.
Our staff in Kathmandu are available to assist you 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It does not matter which day nor at what time you arrive or depart Kathmandu, they will meet your flight, take you to the hotel, help you find essential things like money changing, shopping, arrange tours of the city, etcetera.
- Must I pay for my hotels & meals in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu hotel nights at the beginning and two free Kathmandu hotel nights at the end of the trip. You will be sharing. If you do not wish to share, you can pay an extra $20 for a single room (during any of the included 4 nights). If you want a room for extra nights, outside of the included 4 nights, the price will be $30 (single room). Price includes good delicious breakfast and mandatory 25% Nepal government tax and government service charge. Please bring extra cash to pay for your extra nights and / or your single supplement. We often stay at the comfortable three star Hotel Shakti. Its an excellent and classic hotel surrounded by green gardens and located in the heart of the city action near many delicious restaurants, the city's best mountain equipment shopping, and abundant nightlife all within a few minutes walk. The Shakti also offers lots of entertaining day trip (and night outing) options such as city tours, walking tours, rock climbing, mountain biking, wild game safaris, horse back riding, art classes, volunteer opportunities at orphanages, hospitals, schools, women's centres, bird watching, cooking classes, sport fishing, day peak climbing, herbal medicine seminars, day hikes, pottery classes, car tours, sightseeing, temple tours, henna handpainting classes, massage, swimming, beauty salon, motorbiking, yoga retreats, river rafting, painting classes, golf, language courses, kayaking, writing seminars, bungie jumping, religious worship, canyoning, hot tubs, health club, saunas, fitness center, spa treatments, Mount Kailash Treks, night clubs, meditation retreats, gourmet restaurants, cultural dance performances, wine tasting, pedicures and manicures, casino gambling, barber shop, discotheques, airport transfers, Scenic flights around Mount Everest and much much more. Meals in Kathmandu are at your expense.
- Will there be a day of orientation in Kathmandu, to meet the members, leaders, & check my equipment?Open in a new window
- Bringing equipment and supplies as checked luggage on my international flight.Open in a new window
Most of our members carry their personal equipment and snack foods in their checked and carry-on luggage on their international flight.
In Britain, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world, your baggage allowance may be as low as: 23 kilos/50 pounds of checked baggage, plus a small carry-on bag of 15 kilos/33 pounds (don't show the counter staff this much carry-on luggage upon check-in), for a total of 40 kilos/88 pounds. First ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. The documentation of this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of documentation by far).
If you are unable to attain a sport baggage allowance, obviously, those members coming from these countries will either be faced with wearing their boots, trek clothing, etcetera onto the plane (this is normal procedure for many Australian, British, and European team-members), or paying excess baggage charges, or purchasing/hiring a portion of their equipment or daily snacks in Kathmandu, which is now becoming more and more of a viable option. If you chose to pay the airline's excess baggage charges, you might be faced with $20 per kilogram/2.2 pounds, of excess. Be sure to make full telephone and email inquiries before checking your bags at the airport.
You may wish to investigate cargo shipping from your home country to Kathmandu.
Those members flying from North America are currently allowed 2 checked bags weighing 50 pounds/23 kilos each, plus one small carry-on weighing 30 pounds/13 kilos, for a total allowance of 130 pounds, or 60 kilograms. Baggage allowances change frequently. Before departure, you must ring your airline to verify the exact amount.
In North America it may be possible to pay an additional $120 per extra 70 pound/32 kilo bag, up to a total of ten or so extra bags, on flights bound for Nepal or China, but not for flights returning from there. However, be sure to ask about such "extra-bags" policies carefully before booking, and be sure to check with ALL of the airlines on your itinerary, as some of these airlines may try to "double-charge" you.
- How do I ship extra cargo from my home country?Open in a new window
First ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. Before arranging cargo shipping, ring your airline and explain what you are climbing/trekking and need to bring extra food/equipment, etcetera. Airlines often allow you to carry extra bags when you fly for a reduced charge, when you arrange it all in advance. The big advantage is that the bags should travel with you all of the time, don't have to be cleared through customs, etcetera. WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. The documentation of this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of documentation by far).
If you do arrange cargo shipping, its not difficult but takes a little more time. Always put your name and expedition name on the first two lines, as this will clarify that you are personally using these items for climbing and they are not the property of our local agent, nor are they for resale in Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu you will go to the Customs Hall (near the airport) in the morning and go through a one day process required to clear your cargo through Nepal Customs. So, if you are planning to ship cargo, be sure to arrive in Kathmandu on a weekday (M-F) before the scheduled beginning of our expedition, so you don't miss any critical team orientation meetings, etcetera. You may need to pay some fees to the Nepal Government at the time of pickup. Always be sure to speak to the government officer in-charge there, not a middleman from a freight forwarding company, as they will add on a lot of needless charges. If you have filled out the packing list with amounts stated minimally at point of origin, its mostly used equipment and personal food, and everything is for your personal use during the expedition only, and you say you will take the rest back to your country, your fees payed to the Nepal Government will be very small indeed.
So:
Your First and Last Name: ie: "John Doe"
Service Trek Nepal International Expedition 2008
Care of: Everest Parivar Expedition
Inside Beijing Hotel Intl., Jyatha, Thamel
Murari Sharma
Jyatha Tole
Kathmandu, Nepal
tel: 4249825, 4248813
Mobile: 985102 3985
You will have to request shipping times and charges from your local agent as we don't know the details from your country.
- Will there be time to hire-rent-purchase my equipment, boots, and clothing in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
- How much are the prices for boots, clothing, shoes, mattresses, and climbing equipment in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
Most equipment, boots, clothing, shoes, mattresses are available for purchase and hire in Kathmandu, with the exception of good high altitude handwear. We allow extra time for our leaders to check your equipment in Kathmandu. If you need additional items, we allow time for shopping and have staff and members to show you where the shops are.
For information about using your credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal, please "click here" . For more information about how much cash to bring for a Service Trek, please "click here" . Here is some information on Kathmandu equipment prices:
Prices for hiring are the same as purchasing used equipment, seen below in Nepalese Rupees (Rs), at the lowest range of the used prices. $1 USD = 75 rupees (as of 2011)
- Camping mattress:
- Down Sleeping bag, extra-long size for tall person:
- New Shonas: Rs. 9000 to 9500
- New Everest Hardware: 14,000 to 25,000
- Used Imported: 7000 to 20,000
- New Imported: 51,000 to 55,500
- Renting: 100 to 300 per day
- Lightweight leather trekking boot:
- Used Price: 3000 to 10,000
- New Price: 5500 to 28,000 (Coleman, Millet, Crispi)
- Goretex jacket:
- Used Price: 2000 to 10,000
- New price: 3500 to 27,000
- Medium-large rucksack:
- Used Price: 1500 to 5000
- New Price: Rs. 6500 to 20,00
- Renting: 45 to 100 per day
- Glacier sunglasses:
- Used Price: 1500 to 3000
- New Price: Rs. 4500 to 8000
- Ski goggles:
- Used Price: 1500 to 4000
- New Price: Rs. 6000 to 8500
- Gloves and Mittens:
- Used Price: 3000 to 5000 (hard to find)
- New Price: 9000 to 9500
- Head Lamps:
- Used Price: 600 to 2000
- New Price: 3500
Here is a partial list for those desiring to contact Nepalese manufacturers:
For hardwear like boots and crampons, go to the Everest Summitters shop in
Thamel. Email: evecom@mos.com.np , phone: 9771 4219404, 9771 4468775.
For soft goods like down jackets trousers and suits, we have used two shops:
1. Shona's Shop in Thamel: e-mail: shonasrentals@hotmail.com , phone:
9771-4265120
2. Everest Hardwear shop in Thamel.
e-mail angsonam25@yahoo.com
tel 4230399
mobile 98510 45706
There are so many shops in Kathmandu, you will find almost everything you need, except good mittens and gloves.
- Do you provide secure facilities to store my excess baggage & valuables in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
We provide secure facilities in Kathmandu in which to store your extra personal items such as luggage, extra money, credit cards, passports, jewelry, expensive watches, etcetera. These facilities are kept locked, watched, and nothing has ever been lost.
- Packing my bags in Kathmandu which I will take with me to basecamp.Open in a new window
When you pack your bags in Kathmandu, please organize your materials into two locking duffle kit bags weighing no more than 20 kilos/44 pounds each. These are the bags that will be put on the flight and tied on the yaks, so please make sure they are strong and secure. You will be able to store your excess baggage in Kathmandu.
- Can I use my credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal?Open in a new window
In Nepal, using your bank, cash or atm card (as long as it's a Cirrus, Plus, or Visa), you can usually obtain rupees at a bank machine in Kathmandu. The machine will not give you dollars, or any other foreign currency. Sometimes, foreign cards dont work in Nepal. The most international bank is Standard and Chartered, and if you plan on using a credit card, you might ask your company to check if your card will work at S&C.
- How shall I organize my visa?Open in a new window
Your Nepal visa is conveniently purchased by you upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport. It is not necessary to purchase a Nepalese visa prior to landing in Nepal. The cost of a 90 day visa is approximately $100 USD & a 30 day visa costs approximately $60. Please bring cash and 2 extra passport-sized photos (extra photos are necessary to obtain the visa in the airport). Please Note: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the END of the expedition and contain at least 2 blank pages.
- I) Insurance and safety.
- How shall I organize my-trekking and travel insurances?Open in a new window
Nearly all developed countries have agents who offer travel and mountain climbing insurance at a reasonable price. Full-coverage insurance is essential, because it not only covers mountain climbing, but also travel to and from the mountain. This could cover you for lost bags, a car accident on the way to the airport, etcetera. When you see what high-quality insurance covers, you will realize that it is a very good value. BEFORE PURCHASING, BE SURE TO REQUEST A COPY OF THE POLICY AND BE SURE TO READ AND UNDERSTAND IT. Please enclose proof of insurance with your final team-membership payment. If you are one of the unfortunates who come from a country where such insurance is not available, we will accept an authorization letter and your credit card. You must be covered for travel, full domestic rescue, helicopter (where available) and international rescue and repatriation expenses. NO CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION = NO EXPEDITION MEMBERSHIP.
In UK, Europe, South America, Asia, the Antipodes, etcetera, many of our members are now using a company called Global Rescue, http://www.globalrescue.com , which can be combined with a standard travel policy, such as InsureMyTrip.com , CSAtravelprotection.com , or TravelInsuranceDirect.com.au .
Here are some other options our members have used successfully:
https://www.ingleinternational.com/ (with "sports rider" coverage)
(Get the "Adventurer Plus Pak". This Pak is required to receive medical and evacuation coverage for mountaineering and a rental allowance in the event your gear is lost. To receive this benefit, your policy and Pak must be purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit.
http://www.snowcard.co.uk/ Mountaineering up to 5000m covered on Extreme Adventure package and up to 7000m guided only on Pro adventure Package. Insurance policies available from this website can only be used by uk & channel islands residents
http://www.hccmis.com/ (with sports rider added on)
http://www.dogtag.co.uk
In the US and Canada, your total full-coverage insurance package may vary, depending on trip duration and amount of coverage. We have seen several companies that offer comprehensive plans for travel and mountain rescue. A company called Global rescue is worth checking out; http://www.globalrescue.com , which can be combined with a standard travel policy.
Those who wish to shop further, or have higher incomes and/or assets to protect may also be interested in: Access America, Travelex, Travel Guard, etc. Be sure to check what the policy covers before you buy.
Also it's worth checking out https://www.dogtag.com/
- What sort of safety precautions are to be taken?Open in a new window
Members are allowed access to our extensive medical supplies, first-aid kits, etc. Our methods and equipment used in expedition trekking are time-tested over more than 20 years. We do not spare expense and have a complete range of equipment and very in-depth knowledge and experience in the use of rescue equipment, communications equipment, cookers, fuels, cooking equipment, proper and nutritious foods, hydration supplies and techniques, a vast array of tents (both used and used), and camping equipment. Our philosophy is one of "It is better too bring too much than not enough". We believe that our philosophy of being extra prepared is one of the key factors in our long tradition of successful ascents.
- Will there be a doctor present?Open in a new window
Our leaders are highly trained and extremely experienced in diagnosing and treating illness and injury in the Himalaya, and are well equipped with extensive medical kits. More often than not, a doctor or medical professional will be present for the Service Trek to the health clinics we will be visiting. We encourage doctors and medical professionals who climb and trek to join our teams, in return for a 5 % discount. Out of our last nine expeditions, six had a doctor, and two had more than one doctor.
- What if I need a rescue?Open in a new window
In case of emergency, God forbid, our leader and Sherpas would help apply first aid, provide medicines and assistance with our medical oxygen, then we would transport you to where an evacuation would take place. In Nepal, this evacuation would be via helicopter, at your expense.
BE SURE TO PURCHASE GOOD QUALITY CLIMBING, TRIP INTERRUPTION AND TRAVEL INSURANCE.
- What are the risks of sustaining an injury during this trek?Open in a new window
Only in extremely rare cases do such things happen, but, lets be honest, risks are present when traveling and trekking in the mountains. However, optimists will tell you that your chances of being involved in an auto-accident on the way to or from the airport are greater than during the actual trek itself. BE SURE TO PURCHASE GOOD QUALITY CLIMBING, TRIP INTERRUPTION AND TRAVEL INSURANCE.
- We request you to leave your credit card in Kathmandu as a rescue bond.Open in a new window
WE NOW REQUIRE A SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION LETTER TO BE ON FILE WITH OUR KATHMANDU OFFICE IN CASE OF A HELICOPTER OR OTHER RESCUE (where applicable).
In the very rare case of an emergency, this letter authorizes our agent and rescue companies to organise a rescue on your behalf. The letter is part of the forms you must sign, in order to register for the trip. The letter will be kept locked in our safe and we have never had a problem with this in the past. Some insurance companies respond to a rescue request on a 24 hour basis. Other insurance companies do not, and you file your claim after returning to your home country, so we need the rescue letter on hand, with payment instructions. Obviously, we need to be able to send a helicopter and/or special rescue jeep and rescue team immediately, in case of the unlikely event you are injured and unable to walk, or perhaps unconscious. Please Click here for Helicopter or other Rescue form . Or Please Click here for Download the form . Thank you very much.
- J) Where do we stay and what shall we eat?
- Where do we stay in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu hotel nights at the beginning and two free Kathmandu hotel nights at the end of the trip. You will be sharing. If you do not wish to share, you can pay an extra $20 for a single room (during any of the included 4 nights). If you want a room for extra nights, outside of the included 4 nights, the price will be $30 (single room). Price includes good delicious breakfast and mandatory 25% Nepal government tax and government service charge. Please bring extra cash to pay for your extra nights and / or your single supplement. We often stay at the comfortable three star Hotel Shakti. Its an excellent and classic hotel surrounded by green gardens and located in the heart of the city action near many delicious restaurants, the city's best mountain equipment shopping, and abundant nightlife all within a few minutes walk. The Shakti also offers lots of entertaining day trip (and night outing) options such as city tours, walking tours, rock climbing, mountain biking, wild game safaris, horse back riding, art classes, volunteer opportunities at orphanages, hospitals, schools, women's centres, bird watching, cooking classes, sport fishing, day peak climbing, herbal medicine seminars, day hikes, pottery classes, car tours, sightseeing, temple tours, henna handpainting classes, massage, swimming, beauty salon, motorbiking, yoga retreats, river rafting, painting classes, golf, language courses, kayaking, writing seminars, bungie jumping, religious worship, canyoning, hot tubs, health club, saunas, fitness center, spa treatments, Mount Kailash Treks, night clubs, meditation retreats, gourmet restaurants, cultural dance performances, wine tasting, pedicures and manicures, casino gambling, barber shop, discotheques, airport transfers, Scenic flights around Mount Everest and much much more. Meals in Kathmandu are at your expense.
- What do we eat in Kathmandu?Open in a new window
In Kathmandu, for a few days only, at the beginning and the end of the trip, you pay for your own meals . There are a wide variety of tasty restaurants in Kathmandu serving continental and Asian food. Prices are reasonable compared to what you would pay at home, depending on how much alcohol you wish to drink with each meal. We do not encourage our members to drink too much. For example 10 - 30 US dollars, 5 - 15 pounds, 7 - 22 euros, a day should be enough for all of your meals. Please review how much cash to bring for the expedition. Thank you.
- Where do we stay on the trek?Open in a new window
On the trek to basecamp we stay in rustic teahouses or camp, at the organizers expense, so you do not have to pay. Please view the Service Trek itinerary page for more about where we will be traveling to.
- What do we eat on the trek?Open in a new window
On the trek our skilled trekking cooks provide delicious meals. Our cooks prepare 3 hot meals a day for us using many fresh ingredients, including fresh vegetables and meats, and fresh bread and boiled eggs for breakfast. If you are a vegetarian, be sure and tell us, so we can instruct the cooks to prepare vegetarian dishes, no problem.
- Do I need to bring my own snack energy food?Open in a new window
We do not provide cold “snack” food such as chocolate or "energy-bars". We ask that you bring or buy your own "snack" or daily cold energy food, 2 kilos/4 pounds, is a good amount. A growing variety of imported foods such as European and American cheeses, chocolates, biscuits, cookies, nuts, and locally made power-bars are now available in Kathmandu, at realistic prices. However, imported power bars, GU, re-hydration drinks, dehydrated food, "freeze-dried meals", imported cheese and sausage are not available. If you want these items, you must bring them from your home country. Many of our members, especially Britons, Europeans, and Australians with tiny baggage allowances, now purchase their daily snacks in Kathmandu. Our schedule in Kathmandu allows plenty of time for shopping.
- K) Communications and electronics for Service Trek.
- Will there be a website dedicated to this trek?Open in a new window
- Will people be able to contact me while I am on the trek?Open in a new window
SummitClimb has a local agent in Nepal available from 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Nepal time. Family and friends can contact our agent and have their emergency messages relayed to members on the trek.
- May I bring a laptop, ipod, mp3 player, and/or digital camera?Open in a new window
- Will I be able to charge my laptop, ipod, mp3 player, and/or digital camera?Open in a new window
Many members do bring their laptop , ipod, mp3 player, and/or digital camera.
Bring the "wall charger" for your appliance.
- Will my wall charger work in Nepal?Open in a new window
In Nepal, electricity comes from the mains in your hotel at 220 volts with a European style two-round-pin plug. There is an automatic converter in most North American appliances which will allow you to plug 110 volt items into the 220 volt electricity in Nepal. Please be sure to read the back of your appliance or charger to make sure it does this conversion automatically.
- What is the best photo or video camera to use?Open in a new window
Any small and light camera will be fine. Many people use digital cameras now, and download their photos on our laptop in basecamp (our laptop works at high altitude, while yours might not, so check carefully before bringing your own laptop).- There are new digital video cameras that are small and light and work well. Many peoples bring them and there has been some very good quality movies made by our members. Some members have even edited their own feature length films from video they took with one of these good-quality small 'handi-cams'.
- Our members take great photos and we might ask your permission to use them in news stories on our news website. Of course you will be credited as the photographer.
- If you are planning to download your photos, then you have to bring your own lead/cable and your own software, if available. Digital cameras also have the advantage of being able to take small video clips. We love seeing your video clips on our site and they really add to the excitement of telling the story of your climb. There are some good digital cameras that will work well in the $200, £100, or €135 range.
- Be sure you always keep your camera in a plastic bag in the inside pocket of your jacket and you will have to sleep with it at night. You never want it to become cold or be exposed to wind, snow, dust, moisture or rain.
- With any camera, make sure you have your battery/charging system well-thought-out before you leave home, as options to figure this out in the mountains will be limited.
 | | Dan Mazur |
| .jpg) | | John Vavruska |
|  | | Murari Sharma |
|  | | Lisa McClellan |
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|  | | Liz Stevens |
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 | | Dan Mazur |
|  | | Morris Prokop |
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Below are some short video clips taken from our recent Service Trek. Please click the picture or title in the left column to view each clip. In the right column is the description for each video.
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Mount Everest Foundation video with scenes from our 2006 Service Trek. 7 minutes (58 MB). |
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Baby Exam
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Patale health post worker Jamyang and Dr. Lisa examine a Nepalese baby (Dr. Lisa McLellan). 1:10 minutes (10 MB). |
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Knee Exam
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In the Patale health post, Dr. Lisa shows health worker Ms. Pasi Sherpa and Jamyang how to examine a patient's swollen knee (Dr. Lisa McLellan). 1 minute (8.5 MB). |
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Patient
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A person carrying in a sick family member to see the doctor(Tenji Sherpa). 0:10 seconds (1.5 MB). |
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Phaphlu
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A panoramic view of the main trail in the "large " village of Phaphlu (Tenji Sherpa). 0:20 seconds (2.5 MB). |
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Shisha Kola
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The nearest school to Patale is 2 1/2 days walk to the village of Shisha Khola (Tenji Sherpa). |
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Buddhist Ceremony
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The Buddhist ceremony in Patale village temple, welcoming the arrival of our service trek (Dr. Lisa McLellan). 0:20 seconds (3 MB). |
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Leaving Ceremony
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Ceremony thanking us for our visit to the Patale health post and school (Tenji Sherpa). 0:30 seconds (4.5 MB) |
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Kathmandu
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A few scenes the ancient and colourful city of Kathmandu, where the trip begins (Scott Darsney). 0:25 seconds (3.5 MB). |
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Team members enjoying a delicious meal at one of the comfortable tea houses we stay in along our trek (Scott Darsney). 0:40 seconds (5.5 MB). |
If you wish to purchase our mountain climbing and trekking films, please contact Videoland Productions.
You can can go to their site www.videolandproductions.com and email info@videolandproductions.com or call (+1)360-491-1332 to buy any and all of the mountain climbing and trekking films we have. Please tell them we said hi!
We will be expanding this section with more Service Trek video clips.
Archive news: Please Click Here
Trekking in a beautiful and scenic river valley. This river flows past Mount Everest (Dan Mazur).
Thank you for reading about our past Service Treks. To follow along with our ongoing trips around the world, please view our "Recent News" section.
What questions do you have? Please ask as many questions as possible. This helps us to have a proper conversation so we can better understand one-another's expectations, so you will have a very safe, enjoyable, and successful trek. Thank you. Before completing the application forms, please be sure to carefully study the Service Trek "Questions" website for information regarding flights, payment, team members, application forms, insurance, etcetera: Service Trek Frequently Asked Questions .
Below you should find a pdf or MS document containing the application pro forma. Are you able to read it? When all of your questions have been answered to your satisfaction, please print out the application and return it to us with your refundable ten-percent deposit, to hold your place in our team. Would you please just post it to us at the mailing address you will find on the form? Thank you very much. If you decide not to go, your deposit will be refunded according to our refund policy. Your registration and the final payment must be completed two months prior to the expedition starting date. Thank you very much.
Click here to download PDF Form for US Service Trek Applicant
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If you do not have an Adobe PDF reader, please obtain it here
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Here is a checklist of what we need to have in your file at least two months before the trip begins. We encourage you to send an electronic scan of all of the below documents, please be sure they are signed. Thank you:
[ ] Completed Payment,
[ ] Trip Registration Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Participant Release and Acknowledgement of Risk (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Terms and Conditions of Booking (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Medical Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] 1 Passport sized photo, which is a simple, very clear picture of your face, sent as an email scan. (We simply require a picture of your face against a white background. You can take it yourself for free with your own digital camera or smart phone),
[ ] Exact photocopy of passport identification pages,
[ ] Exact photocopy of complete flight itinerary,
[ ] Proof of mountain rescue and repatriation insurance,
[ ] Proof of travel, accident, and repatriation insurance (cancellation and trip interruption insurance is advised).
Please do let us know what further questions you may have about the registration process, or anything else for that matter. Thank you.
What questions do you have? Please ask as many questions as possible. This helps us to have a proper conversation so we can better understand one-another's expectations, so you will have a very safe, enjoyable, and successful trek. Thank you. Before completing the application forms, please be sure to carefully study the Service Trek "Questions" website for information regarding flights, payment, team members, application forms, insurance, etcetera: Service Trke Frequently Asked Questions .
Below you should find a pdf or MS document containing the application pro forma. Are you able to read it? When all of your questions have been answered to your satisfaction, please print out the application and return it to us with your refundable ten-percent deposit, to hold your place in our team. Would you please just post it to us at the mailing address you will find on the form? Thank you very much. If you decide not to go, your deposit will be refunded according to our refund policy. Your registration and the final payment must be completed two months prior to the expedition starting date. Thank you very much.
Click here to download PDF Form for International Service Trek Applicants
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If you do not have an Adobe PDF reader, please obtain it here
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Here is a checklist of what we need to have in your file at least two months before the trip begins. We encourage you to send an electronic scan of all of the below documents, please be sure they are signed. Thank you:
[ ] Completed Payment,
[ ] Trip Registration Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Participant Release and Acknowledgement of Risk (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Terms and Conditions of Booking (part of 4 page form),
[ ] Signed Medical Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ] 1 Passport sized photo, which is a simple, very clear picture of your face, sent as an email scan. (We simply require a picture of your face against a white background. You can take it yourself for free with your own digital camera or smart phone),
[ ] Exact photocopy of passport identification pages,
[ ] Exact photocopy of complete flight itinerary,
[ ] Proof of mountain rescue and repatriation insurance,
[ ] Proof of travel, accident, and repatriation insurance (cancellation and trip interruption insurance is advised).
Please do let us know what further questions you may have about the registration process, or anything else for that matter. Thank you.
Welcome to our team.
Please Scroll Down for More Testimonials:
Here is what Diane has to say:
It has been almost 10 years since I did my first Remote Nepal Service Trek, still one of the best things I've ever done personally and professionally. So happy to hear the trip is still thriving! Thank you, Diane
Here is what Dr Gen, Cindy, and Pablo has to say:
Thank you so much for everything you did to make our June 2018 www.RemoteNepalServiceTrek.org so successful. We felt VERY cared for, the team was AMAZING!, and it was our joy to serve 118 patients through the health clinic and the schools.
We greatly miss you and the team, and we miss Nepal. We truly do hope to be able to do this kind of trek in Nepal again.
Wishing you so very well and namaste! June 2018 www.RemoteNepalServiceTrek.org
Here is what Marie has to say:
Just a line to let you know how impressed I was to observe our guide's gentle and efficient leadership on our service trek.. Do you believe she managed to organize the transport of the delicate equipment and supplies from overseas and from Kathmandu all the way to the health post, and most impressive of all to have the health post workers provide the care under her supervision, and with the team around,... All went smoothly as everybody was involved, doing their best and with very good will, starting with the excellent staff from your office and the Sherpa team of course ..;
A beautiful example of collaboration and thinking outside the box.... You can be proud of your team !
Continued success on future service treks!
Marie
Marie and Dati Examining patient at Patle clinic. Photo Jeremy Smith. Shelley Bloom, Hamu Sherpa, Marie Serys, and Yanke Sherpa at Helping Hands Hospital.
Here are what Christine and John say:
We bought another large bag yesterday, so will be going home with all our blessings, scarves and a few Christmas gifts! Having trekked for days happily with you all, we are looking forward to sifting the photos and keep discussing the so many amazing incidents and impressions we are left with.
It is almost like there was no time at all to assimilate as we went along; what a brilliant trek on so many levels.
Keep in touch,
All the best,
Christine and John Back to top
Trek members heading to Patle Village with very good weather. John and Squash working with student teachers Lakpa and Kandu to instruct he primary students at Maidane school.
Here is what Squash! says:
Hello,
I miss you guys already! It was, however, so good to be back on another bus today. Even though it was just a short 7hr journey & nothing like as Epic as our 'fox & bus' ride.
Thank you so much everyone for making the trip such fun, I had a wonderful time and really, really enjoyed meeting & spending time with all of you.
Enjoy whatever is next & until we meet again...!
Lots of love
Squash! Xxxx Back to top
Squash giving away a blanket kindly donated by the students and teachers of Shaker Junior High to a new mother in Maidane Village. The team crossing a suspension bridge.
Here is what Grace says:
Thanks for leading a wonderful and memorable trek.
Strengths: The Sherpas were extremely helpful and warm hearted. I can quote several instances where they went the extra mile for me ie. getting warm water for me in an instant, and always with a smile. At times during the trek they provided insightful information and conversation about Nepal culture and people. Also, I really appreciated their efficiency in setting up the tents and taking them down as well as their efficient and ease of handling our bags.
In terms of the food, I truly enjoyed the Momos, chips, soups, pancakes for breakfast and of course Dhal Bhat with veggies. The food was simple, tasty, filling, and cooked with much care. A person could not ask for more!
Tents and Showers were wonderful!! I am very appreciative to all those who took the time to set up the tents and shower tents and provided the hot water. It was heavenly.
Bus ride was interesting and eventful which provided much entertainment!
The Leader and the Trek was organized at a comfortable pace. I was impressed at the Leader's ability to make adjustments to changes in plans while meeting the needs of the group. He showed much intuitiveness and good interpersonal skills. As well, all the staff were extremely knowledgeable about the terrain and gave adequate information.
Areas of Improvement: Personally, I did not observe any areas of improvement that is worth mentioning. I believe, that the Leader's ability to understand people and their needs helps overcome any negative attitudes or complaints one may have during the trek. Furthermore, I believe his strong ability for conflict resolution will enable him to handle any crisis or problem that may arise.
Sincerely,
Grace Back to top
Student at Dhorkharka School. Photo by Anne Kates. Paper and Pen distribute to school student by Anne Kate. Photo Anne Kates.
We take our member's feedback and testimonials seriously. These help us to refine and make our trips a successful, safe, and enjoyable experience for our future teams.
Remote Nepal Sherpa Village. Photo Deha
Dr. Brian Rolfson teaching Jamyang Sherpa (one of the health worker). how to check baby. Photo Deha
View of Himalayas from foot hill. Photo Deha
Hiking near Shisa Khola. Photo Dinna
Students from Charmading School. Photo Dan Mazur
Member enjoying taking picture while trek to remote Nepal trek, background Everest View. Photo Deha
John showing remote village to Kim. Photo Deha
Pharmacy at Patle Health Center, which are donated by different sponsors. Photo Dan Mazur
Member enjoying evening near camp. Photo Squash
Team members enjoying Sherpa Dance. Photo Dinna
Suspension bridge. Photo Stew
Member and Dati Sherpa at Jafre. Photo Squash
Player flag and Buddhist stupa in Jafre. Photo Deha
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