Everest Basecamp Trek Nepal 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.
- What personal equipment should I bring?
- Where should I purchase my equipment?
- 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?
- What sort of equipment will the organizers bring?
- How much cash should I bring?
- Can I use my credit, bank, cash, ATM card in Nepal?
- 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, 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"
Everest Basecamp Trek Nepal International Expedition 2007
Care of: Everest Parivar Expedition
Murari Sharma
Shoyambhu, Halchok
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.
- Do you provide secure facilities to store my excess baggage & valuables in Kathmandu?
- Do I need to bring my own snack energy food?
- Should I plan to take Diamox, Acetylzolamide for this expedition?
- What medicines do I need to bring?
- Packing my bags in Kathmandu which I will take with me to basecamp.
- What is the best photo or video camera to use?
- Can I have prescription spectacles or glacier glasses made inexpensively in Kathmandu?
- What paperwork and information do I need to provide before arrival?
- H) Flying from home country, welcome to Kathmandu.
- I) Insurance and safety.
- J) Where do we stay and what shall we eat?
- K) Communications and electronics for Everest Basecamp.
