Himalaya Discovery

The scene upon arrival at Kathmandu airport is getting increasingly chaotic. Often there will be people insisting to take your luggage for you who, in return, will expect a heavy tip. We advise you not give your luggage to anybody except for the person wearing an Adventure Company t-shirt and holding an Adventure Company placard. You may also like to ensure that you have some small change with you (1-2 GBP) in case of getting lured into the help offered by the touts.

Stories of bad water and food followed by amoebic dysentery abound when Nepal is mentioned.  Take sensible precautions.  There are lots of remedies for diarrhoea and ways to avoid it - the Group Leader is there to give you advise.  Always drink a lot of bottled or treated water to avoid dehydration. Remember the old adage: “if you can’t cook it, boil it, or peel it...don’t eat it!!”

A course of anti-malaria tablets is recommended. However, as always, consult your doctor and avoid getting bitten where possible.  Wear loose light-coloured clothing and use mosquito repellents containing the compound 'Deet' on exposed areas of skin and on clothing.

The optional flight to Everest is approximately one hour long, but does depend on the weather. Flight departures are in the morning every day. Please check your individual itinerary for which day the flight is possible and once on tour ask your tour leader to book this for you.

Yes, the area is great areas for vegetarian dining, with menus often tending to prioritise vegetarian meals over meat based ones.

The local currency is the Nepalese rupee or Chinese Yuan. The ideal currency to take is US dollars as these can be easily changed. For reasons of security it is wise to bring a mix of travellers' cheques and cash, in a mix of small and large denominations. You will be able to change money in the larger towns and cities either in banks or hotels. Opportunities to change money outside these places are limited.

For anyone looking to relax at the end of a long day with a cold beer, its ok, alcohol is available throughout the country, wine can be expensive though.

Due to the fact that every trip is made up of a group of people who don’t know everyone else, our group adventures are ready made for people booking on their own. Around 50% of all bookers are people travelling on their own. You’ll find everyone gets to know each other very quickly.

We also offer 60 dedicated solo departures; trips which on particular dates are exclusive for people booking on their own.

Yes, just let us know your chosen trip and we can organise a private departure. Prices may vary  depending on the size of the group and the dates of departure.

No, it is not a package with charter flights and accommodation, whereas if there is spare capacity the price is reduced to ensure it fills up.

With small group adventures flights and ground arrangements are reserved separately, due to the flexibility involved. On most trips we have a contract with a preferred airline and an allocation of flights at a special rate. However from between 1-3 months before departure, depending on the airline, we have to hand back our unused allocation. Therefore we have to buy airline tickets on the open market, which can result in flight supplements.

This point is even more prevalent for family trips, where demand for flights is high during the school holidays. Therefore reserving places late is likely to include high flight supplements.

Speak to a Travel Consultant for more information, but the rule of thumb is it’s best to reserve your place earlier.  

You'll generally stay in a twin room with private facilities. Sometimes you'll stay in larger, more comfortable hotels or occasionally rustic accommodation with basic facilities. We use a variety of accommodation on most trips; chosen for their value for money, location and atmosphere. This all adds to the experience and as a result a little comfort is sometimes sacrificed. Accommodation commences on the first night of the "without flights" itinerary until check-out on the day of departure. Please note accommodation on all trips are subject to change.

The local guides undergo extensive training in all aspects of travel in the region. They are full-time professionals and are selected for their empathy and knowledge of the area you are visiting.

All of our trips are designed to be accessible to anyone with a good level of fitness. If you are concerned we recommend looking at The Collection trips, which generally have a more relaxed feel. If you are travelling on one of our southern Africa tours and are aged 65 or over, you will need to provide a medical certificate signed by your doctor.

Children must be 12 years old or above for this optional excursion. The hot air balloon ride is done VERY early in the morning - you set off at around 5 or 6 am and this will be dependent on local conditions.

Yes you can do this on every trip.

Accommodation is clean and simple. You'll mainly stay in small, locally-run, 2-3 star hotels and guesthouses, which reflect the character of the area. We also try and incorporate unique accommodation experiences, such as a night with a local tribe, or sleeping under the stars in the desert.

There are also camping options on several of our trekking and wildlife trips, for which all equipment is provided, but it might be necessary to bring personal gear such as sleeping bags.

Collection trips are a selection of classic adventures to well-known destinations, which offer greater style and comfort. You'll stay in places selected for their heritage, rustic chic, stunning locations or added comfort.

The average group size is between 6-12, although groups can be larger or smaller than this. Generally they will be of all ages and from all walks of life. However, you will have similar interests and the shared experiences on the itinerary soon bring everyone together.

Due to the fact that every trip is made up of a group of people who don't know everyone else, our group adventures are ready made for people booking on their own. Around 50% of all bookers are travelling by themselves and you'll find that everyone gets to know each other very quickly.

On top of this we also offer 60 dedicated solo departures; trips which on particular dates are exclusively for people booking on their own. These trips have an extra social element, as everyone is in the same situation.

Yes, just let us know your chosen trip and we can organise a private departure. Prices may vary from those given on the website, depending on the size of the group and date of departure.

The food is very fresh and tasty. If you like felafel, olives and goat's cheese, you'll be in heaven. If you are a bit more conservative then don't worry, there is always plenty of bread and plainer things to eat, such as omelette or grilled chicken. Nothing is very spicy.

See your Trip Notes, these have a detailed packing list. On most international flights you're restricted to twenty kilograms baggage and we recommend you always pack light. Generally hard suitcases are not suitable.

Everything listed within the itinerary is included; accommodation, on-tour transport, the services of a group leader and local guides, entrance fees, excursions and activities, as well as a number of meals. See your Trip Notes for full details. Transfers to and from the airport in-country are also included for those on Group Flights, as well as a mandatory ATOL Protection Charge of £2.50 which protects your booking. 

Generally anything not listed in the itinerary. This includes optional tours and excursions, some meals, visas, vaccinations, excess baggage charges, porterage at hotels, insurance, international and entry/departure taxes overseas, and things of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, room service charges, phone calls, etc. As well as any new government taxes or price increases for hotels, transportation and airfares implemented after the tour programme for this brochure was costed.