Accommodation on Gokyo Trek

Tea house hotels are plentiful within the infamous Everest Region of Nepal, with a range of quality available to you depending on your preference and needs. At lower elevations, you can choose more fully equipped tea houses with electricity, Wi-Fi, and ensuite bathrooms with hot showers and toilets. There are also more rustic, basic tea houses available, especially at higher elevations, that have simple rooms (a room will have two beds) and basic services. Bathrooms might be shared and have a squat-style toilet. If you are solo and trekking in peak season, you may need to share a room as per availability in the higher altitude areas. At these tea houses, you can pay a small fee for services such as Wi-Fi and hot showers.

 

Food on Gokyo Trek

Food in the Everest Region of Nepal is delicious and plentiful. Along the well-loved and well-traveled route to Everest Base Camp, there are many tea houses offering a range of options to suit your preferences.

Breakfast: You can enjoy local chapati bread or Tibetan bread with curry or go for more familiar eggs, porridge, muesli, or pancakes. This trek is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, but if you have any other dietary restrictions, you can let us know, and your guide will communicate with the kitchen staff.

Lunch & Dinner: You can choose from a variety of local dishes, including Dal Bhat (rice, vegetable curry, and lentil soup with unlimited refills!), fried rice or noodles, Mo Mo (local dumplings), Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup), spring rolls, or western dishes like burgers, pasta, pizza, and potatoes.

 

Telephone

Most tea houses have phone service and mobile reception; however, due to the nature of being in the mountains, it can be unpredictable. If you would like, you can purchase a data SIM card in Kathmandu before you depart. NCELL is a recommended provider that offers 3G internet services in the Everest region.

 

Internet

Many tea houses have Wi-Fi to purchase for around 3-5 dollars per hour, which is paid in local Nepali rupees. Please be aware that internet services may not be completely reliable due to weather and other issues.

 

Battery Charging

Despite trekking deep into the Himalayas, most of the tea houses have either electricity or solar power. Depending on the tea house, you might be able to charge your devices in your rooms. Otherwise, you can pay a few dollars (paid in local rupees) to charge your battery in the main dining hall. Carrying a power bank is recommended during your trek in the Everest region.

 

Transportation

All transportation fees and arrangements are included in your trekking package when you book with us. To commence your journey, you will catch a stunningly scenic domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (30 minutes).

 

Porter

Our tailor-made packages do not include a porter, so you can make the decision based on your own needs and preferences. Although not necessary, having a porter can make a massive difference in the enjoyment of your trek. If you are new to trekking at high altitudes, then we would recommend having a porter in the Everest region carry your bag. One porter carries the bags of two people (around 20kg) so that you can carry a small daypack. If you are undecided, we would be happy to discuss porters in more detail when you book your trek.

 

Travel Insurance

It is one of the most important things you’ll need overseas, particularly when trekking in Nepal. A policy that covers loss and theft, medical and hospitalization, evacuation from high altitude, and adventure activity coverage are among the basics you’ll need. A wide variety of policies are available, so make sure to shop for the best possible options. You need to have a policy that’s specific to the maximum height on your trek, bearing in mind that a number of companies place restrictions on that score—look closely at the fine print so that you’re sure to get the right coverage, especially in the event of an emergency such as altitude sickness—helicopter evacuations are horrendously expensive.

Also note that most medical treatment and facilities in Nepal, such as hospitals, require payment upfront or approval from your insurance company, so it’s wise to choose a policy that pays the bills directly rather than lumping the burden on you and leaving it till later for the insurer to reimburse you.

 

Nepalese Currency and Payment

The currency of Nepal is the rupee. The ideal currencies for exchange are those of the USA, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and Singapore, as well as the Euro, any of which can be readily exchanged in either Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Credit and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in major tourist-class hotels, restaurants, airlines, and larger stores in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Pokhara, etc. A surcharge of 3.5% is typically levied on all purchases or payments.

ATMs are also very common in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with Thamel being a particular area of focus for their use. Some ATMs only allow a daily maximum of Rs 10, 000 to be withdrawn, while others allow for as much as Rs 35, 000. A charge of USD $4 is usually applied per transaction, on top of which your own bank may also apply a fee of its own.

 

Can I get an on-arrival visa in Nepal?

On arrival in Nepal, you can obtain the requisite visa at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, or you can choose the alternative of applying for it at the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your home country before departure. The visa is also available at land-based points of entry such as Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, Bhairawa, Belhiya, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, and Mahendranagar. The Kodari Pass is the access point from Tibet where the visa can be obtained.

While you can use different modes of payment at the visa fee counter, we advise you to bring cash in the following currencies: US dollars, euros, Swiss francs, pound sterling, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Hong Kong dollars, Singapore dollars, and Japanese yen. Credit card payments are also available nowadays.

As per a recent update, the visa fee costs you the following amounts:

Multiple entries for 15 days—USD 30 or equivalent

Multiple entries for 30 days—USD 50 or equivalent

Multiple entries for 90 days—USD 125 or equivalent

You should also have a minimum of six months of validity remaining on your passport.

Visa extensions are available from the offices of Nepal Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

For more details, please go through the Nepal Immigration website.