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After a trek, how much should you tip your guide and porter? That depends on a number of variables, including your trip plans—solo or in a group, for a week or a month—and, most crucially, the quality of the service you received. Here is a quick guide to assist you.

How Tipping Works

In Nepal, there is no set amount to tip for guided excursions or treks. Nevertheless, leaving a tip is customary and a pleasant way to express gratitude if the service is deserving. After all, the porters and guides have transported you and your possessions through mountain passes and served as your only means of survival (and occasionally, source of fun) in isolated locations. The individuals who will make sure you have a special experience are also your guide and porters.

How Much to Tip?

Theoretically, you should only give the guides and porters what you feel they deserve if they have given you good service. In reality, most trekkers are unsure of how much to donate and are worried about doing so inadvertently. In the event that you are unsure of how much to tip, we have included some fair guidelines below.

Note that these amounts only apply to the collective giving of your group, not to individual contributions.

The aforementioned statistics are based on the supposition that you are trekking with a respectable organization that pays its workers and porters good, living wages and offers insurance to them. Otherwise, the porter and guide could need to rely on your gratuities to survive. If you hired a porter or guide for less than the going rate for a day, or if your hike was extremely inexpensive, you should tip more. Feel free to give more if the service is exceptional. Give less if not.

The distance of your walk will also affect how much you tip. Follow the aforementioned advice if you’re only traveling for a few days; if you’re organizing a month-long excursion, $200–$250 USD should be enough. In addition, if you’re traveling alone, you could tend to the lower end of the spectrum.

Last but not least, it’s important to remember that not all guides are paid equally. One can earn up to $50-$100 USD per day for those who are fluent in a particular language, have extensive expertise, are globally certified in wilderness survival, etc. In those circumstances, you might want to offer a bit more—around 15% of their annual pay for the time that you are trekking.

Preferred currency

Either US dollars or Nepali Rupees (NPR) may be used as gratuities. When you are in Pokhara or Kathmandu, take out rupees from the ATM. It’s possible that ATMs in Nepal can be picky, and you might need to try a few before finding one that works. Alternately, you could go to a bank to exchange cash or traveler’s checks.

When to Offer a Tipping

On the final night of the walk, after supper, tips are typically offered. Each trekker can contribute a little more to their personal porter and/or guide, especially if a unique connection was made, if you’re trekking in a group. You should all chip in money to offer to the entire team.

When In Doubt

Although these recommendations are a wonderful place to start, you shouldn’t feel obligated to follow them. Feel free to switch it up, for instance, if you get along better with your porter than your guide or if your porter is the one who carries your kit bag and helps you over rocks. Your guide and porter deserve to be appreciated for their hard work, excellent service, and contribution to your personal trek experience.

Ask your travel advisor any further questions you may have prior to your trip. At the end of the day, you’ll want to make sure you have enough money for a well-earned beer in addition to tips.

The majority of treks in Nepal are “teahouse treks,” meaning that each night you wind up at a straightforward lodge with straightforward rooms and a meal. The nicest part of teahouse hiking is that you only need to bring a very small amount of equipment. (below picture)

When you trek “teahouse style,” you spend each night in a lodge. The majority of the primary trekking routes in Nepal are teahouse treks, allowing trekkers to pack as little kit as possible.

A teahouse can be anything from a huge, well-built lodge with common rooms that is comfortable and well-built (like those in the SoluKhumbu) to a little bamboo hut that is tucked inside a forest on a high slope.

What The majority of teahouses are simple stone and timber structures or huts with a kitchen, a communal dining room, a restroom, and a number of simple bedrooms with typically two single beds and a table. Teahouses differ slightly from region to region. The majority of teahouses in Nepal are designed primarily for trekkers, however in some of the more outlying areas, some may also serve as the family’s residence.is a Teahouse?

Expect the accommodations to be straightforward but tidy, and budget a little bit more for an attached bathroom. A thick blanket will be provided in your room, which you can use as your main blanket for the night or as a second layer over your sleeping bag if it’s cold outside. The majority of hikers forego taking showers while on their hike, but some teahouses do provide hot bucket showers for a modest price.

Insider advice: If you’re concerned about hygiene, carry a light sleeping sack or bed liner from home or buy one in Pokhara or Kathmandu. Given that most teahouses have quite thin walls, it is always a good idea to pack some earplugs.)

Teahouse Etiquette

Everything at your teahouse, with the exception of personal snacks and drinks, which you typically pay for yourself, will be taken care of if your lodging and meals are included as part of a package trek. Almost always, the price of your accommodation is very reasonable (about $5/night), and the proprietors primarily rely on sales of food and beverages to support their operations. Due to this, you must consume all of your meals at the teahouse where you are staying.

Meals at Your Teahouse

Nearly all of the teahouses provide a similar set menu that includes dhal bhat, momos, pasta, pizza, and other rice and noodle meals. It’s essential to check in advance to see what’s fresh and accessible because some meals (like momos) take longer to prepare than others. It’s a good idea to order whatever is in season to avoid getting sick while hiking. The majority of trekkers, tour operators, and porters choose dhal bhat since it is typically reliable, healthful, and widely accessible wherever you go.

Generally speaking, the higher you go on your trek, the more expensive meals will continue to be. For instance, expect to pay more for dhal bhat in GorakShep (high in the mountains, near to Everest Basecamp) than you would in Lukla (easily accessible due to its airport and lower height).

Wi-Fi & Electricity

Nowadays, the dining halls of many teahouses in Nepal contain charging stations and wifi. However, due to outdated routers, connection availability and speed are at best sporadic and become slower the more users who are connected. Better internet access can be found in teahouses in the SoluKhumbu (particularly in Namche Bazaar), but don’t hold your breath for much elsewhere in Nepal.

You can typically spend $2.50 (Rs. 250) at teahouses to charge your electronics. However, power interruptions are rather common, so make sure to charge when you can!

In Nepal, having a knowledgeable guide is crucial, especially while traveling at a high altitude. Continue reading to find out more about the advantages of hiring locals, discover what to anticipate, and get to know some of the best trekking and tour guides in the nation.

Travel with a Guide in Nepal

Whether you’re trekking through the mountains, touring the city, going on a wildlife safari through the jungle, or rafting down a rapid river in Nepal, guides are in charge of making sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip. However, a lot of tourists might not be aware of how a guide can make or break your trip.

There are several benefits to hiring a guide over traveling or trekking alone in Nepal, from safety to social and cultural advantages. Even if you like autonomous travel, hiring a guide doesn’t always entail joining a group tour (unless that’s what you’re searching for); guides can enhance particular experiences on your own personalized journey, whether it be mountain biking, trekking, or cultural immersion.

Why use a native guide?

• Obtain local knowledge

Your tour guide has a plethora of information and experience to impart, whether it be in the form of personal anecdotes or help identifying local flora and wildlife. A local guide can translate talks, knows the ins and outs of historical sites and trekking paths (even those that aren’t well-marked), and is essential for helping you become friends with the locals, whether they be Sherpa, Newar, Gurung, or one of Nepal’s numerous ethnic groups.

• Encourage the local economy

By hiring a guide, you’re creating a job, and when local guides are adequately paid, they frequently give back to their communities, fostering the general development of the nation.

• Travel in Comfort & Safety

You can genuinely enjoy your trip when you have the reassurance that someone is watching out for your interests and is always one step ahead. In Nepal, where you walk in areas with high passes and safety hazards necessitating expert decision-making and potential evacuation, native guides are extremely crucial for trekking.

Additionally, you’ll make a lifelong buddy in Nepal!

Types of Guides in Nepal

There are culture and tour guides, trekking, yoga-trekking, peak-climbing, birdwatching, safari, rafting, kayaking, paragliding guides/instructors, and mountain biking guides in Nepal. There are different linguistic and subject-matter experts among these guides.

Regardless of the activities you’ll be engaging in together, a fantastic guide ought to possess a few characteristics. Every traveler is made to feel at ease and assured by the ideal guide, who is passionate about what they do and kind to others. They should be knowledgeable about emergency procedures, adaptable and willing to change your itinerary if necessary, ecologically sensitive, and full of interesting anecdotes and knowledge to impart.

Background and Training for a Guide

A government agency known as the National Academy for Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) issues licenses to all tour guides. They participate in theoretical and practical training courses led by corresponding tourism and health professionals. Particularly, trekking guides receive training in first aid, altitude sickness, rescue techniques, and other topics.

For tour guides, a bachelor’s degree is the required educational prerequisite; for trekking guides, it is a high school diploma. Before they can submit an application for a guiding license, trekking guides are required to work as porters for at least two years. Every two years, they must also upgrade their first aid education.

Some of our experts and tour operators have greater expectations for their guides and require them to go through yearly (or even more frequent) specialized trainings in anything from outdoor survival techniques to safe travel habits to pre-season refreshers.

The Guide’s Function During Your Trip

A guide’s role during a trip is not just to get travelers from point A to point B, but to make the entire process interesting, enriching, and engaging. As a result, in addition to taking care of ground practicalities like trekking permits, transit, lodging, and meals. Guides must be fully knowledgeable of the areas they are taking travelers to and always have safety at the front and center of their mind. After all, it will be your guide who will be able to alter your route or deal with emergencies if necessary. Your guide serves as a communication link between you and your specialist, giving frequent updates and relaying messages throughout the journey.

Fair Guides’ Pay and Benefits

The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal [TAAN] and the Workers Union, two lobbies in accord, set the minimum wage for tour guides and porters. Tour operators follow these regulations, and respectable companies frequently pay more than the minimum amount required. Along with group size and hiking region, salary is also influenced by experience, knowledge, and other factors.

Despite some highly skilled and experienced guides getting paid more, the wages are still fairly modest when compared to what western guides earn. Foreign language speakers with international wilderness survival certifications might earn $50 to $100 USD per day. Due to the intense competition, guides are eager to put extra effort and money into their own education.All of our experts are dedicated to giving their guides and porters dignified and equitable working circumstances. This includes non-mandatory benefits like insurance coverage.

How and When to Meet Your Guide

For treks, a briefing is often held the day before your trip starts, where you will meet your guide and a representative from the trekking firm. Your guide will describe the route and address any questions you may have about the journey, and the office representative will provide you a local phone number and other useful information like departure times and where to rent extra equipment.

On the day of your tour, your city guide will normally meet you (and drop you off) at your hotel for sightseeing. You might otherwise meet your guide earlier by your local representative or specialist, depending on how your tour is set up.

Ask your travel expert once you’ve booked your trip if you want to know who your guide is before you arrive in Nepal. Additionally, you can specify unique requirements, such as requesting a female hiking guide or a guide that speaks a specific language.

There are few places that appeal to adventure seekers (or adventurous married couples! ) more than Nepal. The perfect honeymoon destination is created when you combine traditional adventure sports like trekking and paragliding with the romanticism of gorgeous mountain vistas, opulent lodging, and atmospheric cultural sites.

It’s so dated to spend your honeymoon in a chain hotel! As a way to commemorate their marriage with an unforgettable journey, more and more newlyweds are choosing to embark on active honeymoons. Nepal is one of the most exciting places on earth. Here are some top recommendations for honeymooning in Nepal, from trekking to evocative historical culture to tranquil retreats.

Option 1: Trekking

There are numerous wonderful hikes that can suit your preference, depending on your time constraints and sense of adventure. Here are two choices that are particularly appealing to honeymooners.

Luxury Option

In the Everest region, you are only allowed to do a premium trek. The Everest region is a favourite destination for honeymooners, not just for the breathtaking scenery and Sherpa culture, but also because first-rate lodging is easy to find there.

In the Everest region, you are limited to luxury treks. The Everest region is a favourite choice for honeymoon destinations not only because of the breathtaking vistas and Sherpa culture, but also because there are many luxury hotels in this area.

These upscale boutique hotel businesses provide stunning lodges with superior hospitality and comfort, which are a step up from the modest tea houses that are commonplace along Nepal’s hiking paths. The best local cuisine in the Solukhumbu can be found here, along with a comfortable place to sleep, hot showers, and charmingly decorated furnishings. Since these lodges are strategically placed to take advantage of the surrounding terrain, the mountain views are no less impressive.

Helicopter flight is an excellent way to go about the Solukhumbu if money isn’t an issue. This offers breath-taking views while shortening the length of the walk.

The following is a suggested schedule for a trekking honeymoon in the Everest region that includes helicopter flights:

• Day 1: Helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla (45 minutes); trek to Phakding (4 hrs), 2610m
• Day 2: Trek to Namche Bazaar (6-7 hrs), the heartland of the Sherpa people, 3440m
• Day 3: Helicopter tour: EBC, Khumbu Icefall & Gokyo Lakes; Visit the Edmund Hillary school and Everest Museum, 3440m
• Day 4: Helicopter to Kongde, 4250m
• Day 5: Trek from Kongde to Phakding (5 hrs), 2610m
• Day 6: Helicopter from Phakding to Kathmandu

Option 2: Culture & Adventure in Kathmandu

For a couple of romantic days, you don’t need to venture far from the Kathmandu Valley. If you don’t have several weeks available for a honeymoon but yet want to see the finest of Nepal, stay in and around Kathmandu. A memorable honeymoon will undoubtedly result from a week spent in and around the capital city, living in opulent accommodations and engaging in absorbing cultural activities.

For at least three nights, base yourself in Kathmandu city. If you don’t have a strict budget, stay at the lovely Dwarika’s Hotel; otherwise, choose the Patan Inn for a more moderately priced boutique hotel. Spend a couple of days exploring Kathmandu’s cultural landmarks, including the ancient Durbar Squares, which served as the royal residences of the Kathmandu Valley’s monarchs, and Buddhist temples like the Swayambhunath and Boudanath stupas.

Take a beautiful flight early one morning to catch a glimpse of Mount Everest because it would be a shame to visit Nepal without doing so. Everyone is assured a window seat, and to celebrate, you’re given a glass of champagne! A unforgettable way to begin your marriage, without a doubt. If spending money is not an issue, you might choose to take a picturesque helicopter journey instead, which would get you to Everest Base Camp before lunch.

Spend a few days on the outside of the Kathmandu Valley to take in the fresh mountain air, expansive views, and a more tranquil atmosphere. If you prefer luxurious housing, stay at Dwarika’s Resort Dhulikhel, or go to the adjacent Namo Buddha Resort in the little Buddhist pilgrimage town for high-quality accommodations and delicious meals at a lower cost. Both Dhulikhel and Namo Buddha provide interesting day hikes to ethnic Tamang settlements, stunning temples and stupas, and along ridge lines with breathtaking vistas.

Option 3: Explore Pokhara

Pokhara, the second-largest city in Nepal, serves as an alternative (or complement) to the crowded capital. It features many of romantic and opulent locations and is wonderfully picturesque and laid back.

Ask for a seat on the right side of the plane for the finest views when taking a quick 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Beautiful accommodations can be found at the Temple Tree Resort, which also features a spa and a wonderful pool.

Enjoy some peaceful pursuits while remaining in the city, like canoeing on the magnificent Fewa Lake, or something more daring, like paragliding from Sarangkot. Any decision you make will have a stunning mountain backdrop, as the Machchapucchare (Fishtail) peak rises behind the hills enclosing the lake.

Get up early in the morning to view the sunrise from Sarangkot Hill. The Annapurna hills are visible on one side, and Pokhara and its lovely lake are seen on the other.

If you’re feeling energetic, Pokhara can serve as your home base for a few quick hikes nearby. If you have up to a week, the Poon Hill and Khopra Danda treks are fantastic, but there are also shorter hikes close to Pokhara, such the Panchase trip.

 Additional honeymoon options

* A yoga or meditation retreat. Mahalaya and Pranamaya offer yoga retreats to different destinations, and the meditation retreats at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu are well-reputed.

* a multi-day trip on whitewater in a kayak or raft. Take part in a group excursion or hire a team for a personal one. On several rivers, GRG’s Adventure Kayaking offers excursions lasting up to 11 days.

* Take a safari. From Kathmandu, it is simple to reach the Chitwan National Park, which is renowned for its rhino population. You are more likely to encounter a tiger in the rough, less-visited Bardia National Park in the extreme west. There are accommodations of the highest caliber in both parks.

The monsoon season delivers rain, increased humidity, and higher temperatures to the majority of Nepal starting around mid-June, reaching its peak in July and August, and ending in early September. It’s true that leeches exist, temperatures can get uncomfortable, and that the vistas of the mountains are frequently blocked by clouds. However, now is still a terrific time to go trekking, and these are our top suggestions for how to do it.

Expert Advice

• Drive as deep into the mountains as you can before beginning your walk.
• After your adventure is over, give yourself a two-day window before your flight out.
• An umbrella is perfect for lower, warmer elevations!
• A waterproof, breathable shell is required for higher altitudes.
• Start your day early as it often it only rains in the afternoon
• Start your day early as it often it only rains in the afternoon

The monsoon season in Nepal, which lasts from mid-June to early September, is perfect for trekking in isolated areas like Mustang and Dolpo as well as other portions of the nation that keep dry because they are in the rain shadow. Due to the fact that Nepal’s busiest treks are typically calm at this time of year, it’s also a terrific time of year for a cultural trek and ideal if you like to have the trails to yourself. (However, you should be cautious of leeches in low-altitude forested areas and flexible with your travel plans as journey disruptions due to bad weather might happen frequently.)

Annapurna region monsoon preparation advice

You may easily acquire ground transportation to Beni if your aircraft out of Jomsom is delayed, though you will need to switch vehicles a few times. The road occasionally becomes blocked in two locations (between Tatopani and Galeswhor), however as it is the peak travel season for Indians traveling to Muktinath, this is quickly fixed.

Tips for the Everest Region during the Monsoon

You’ll experience far less precipitation than in Nepal’s lower areas, even in the upper reaches of the Everest region. A fantastic time to visit Everest is during the monsoon season since you may avoid the crowds on one of Nepal’s busiest hiking routes. Be mindful that flights into and out of Lukla frequently have delays, so be sure to allow extra time before and after your hike to take this into account.

How to Prepare

Each day, you may anticipate 3 to 4 hours of rain, usually at the same time. There is frequently a build-up of heavy fog and clouds when hiking in the forests and lower elevations, which occasionally clears to expose the views.

Suggested Equipment

The best option for lower elevations is an umbrella because even the best waterproof shells can become too warm. Given that humidity levels are frequently high, lightweight, quick-drying clothing is preferred. Although temperatures and humidity levels are considerably more tolerable at higher elevations, it is still possible for it to rain, therefore you should have a waterproof shell.

Monsoon season transportation

The major difficulty in hiking during the monsoon is getting to the trailhead since bad visibility can cause airplane delays and cause roads to become excessively muddy or, worse, blocked by a landslide. However, there’s a considerable probability that your flight will take off; all you need to do is check ahead to make sure the roads are clear.

To avoid any problems, it’s still a good idea to account for transportation delays in your plans and leave yourself with a safety margin. Landslides that occur along Nepal’s main roadways frequently cause flights to be delayed and can stop vehicle traffic.

http://www.swayambhunath.com/shantipur/

https://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/rarebooks/downloads/History_Ancient_Medieval_Nepal.pdf

3rd March 2023: On 28 February 2023, a joint meeting was held between the Nepal Tourism Board and the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal. After a thorough discussion, they came to an ultimate agreement and decided only to allow foreign nationals to travel freely with a guide or porter.

Previously in October 2022, the officials had decided to close down the Free Individual Trekker, also known as FIT. However, the plan was ineffective as the board did not pass a joint implementation on the plan. Now, the board has given a green flag, and this new rule will be effective from April 2023 throughout Nepal.

When asked about the reason behind the new implementation of this rule, Chandra Rizal, the Vice President of the Nepal Tourism Board, added some words. He explained that the board had taken this decision due to an increase in the number of tourists who reported injuries and even death. Mr. Rizal further added that the rescue mission operated difficult while searching for the solo hikers.

“This decision will help rescue injured and sick tourists who are missing. Tourists are protected,” Rizal said. “We have taken this decision because Nepal has become infamous at the international level due to the death of tourists who went of their own accord.”

This new rule was implemented because the Tourism Board of Nepal prioritizes the safety of the travelers who visit Nepal every year.

Reference: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/trek-without-a-guide-nepal-trekking.html