Climate Change Trek Question & Answer Section
- A) How do I join and prepare for this trip?
- B) Who are the leaders, sherpas, and staff?
- C) Who are the members?
- D) What the cost includes.
- E) Details of the itinerary, route, and weather.
- F) What qualifications, experience, fitness, & training do I need?
- G) Personal & team equipment and what I need to bring.
- H) Flying from home country, welcome to Kathmandu.
- What is the best way to purchase my international air ticket?
- What day do I need to arrive and what day may I leave the expedition?
- Will someone be there to meet me at the airport?
- Will my hotel be booked in advance & will someone take me to my hotel?
- Must I pay for my hotels & meals in Kathmandu?
- Will there be a day of orientation in Kathmandu, to meet the members, leaders, & check my equipment?
- Bringing equipment and supplies as checked luggage on my international flight.
- How do I ship extra cargo from my home country?
- 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"
Everest Basecamp Trek Nepal International Expedition 2007
Care of: Everest Parivar Expedition
Murari Sharma
Halchok, Shoyambhu
Kathmandu, Nepal
tel: 01-4283382
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?
- How much are the prices for boots, clothing, shoes, mattresses, and climbing equipment in Kathmandu?
- Do you provide secure facilities to store my excess baggage & valuables in Kathmandu?
- Packing my bags in Kathmandu which I will take with me to basecamp.
- Can I use my credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal?
- How shall I organize my visa?
- Is it possible to stay in Everest Basecamp for extra days with friends, family, or colleagues who are climbing Everest?
- I) Insurance and safety.
- J) Where do we stay and what shall we eat?
- K) Communications and electronics for Everest Basecamp.
- L) Important Climate Change Reading
