Biking Tour

Index of notes:

Emergency Contact - Emergency Funds - Additional Expenditures - Tipping - Weather and Unpredictables - Meals - Group Leaders and Guides - Arrival - What to bring - Checklist - Visas - Laundry - Share Your Trip - Respectful Dress - Money, Dough, Loot & Booty - Departure Tax - Communications - Expect the Unexpected - Health & Fitness - Travel Insurance - Your Travel Buddies - Responsible Travel - The law and "the man"

Emergency Contact

In the event of a genuine crisis or emergency, Visit Beyond’s Nepal Office can be reached on Tel: +977 1 4700563 or 977-9851039480 (Hari Dharel). For further contact details please use the following page: http://www.visitbeyond.com/top-menu/contact-us

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Emergency Funds

We advise that you keep 20000 Nepalese Rupees for unforeseen incidents and circumstances beyond our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest, etc.)

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Additional Expenditures

Take into account your personal spending habits when deciding how much money to bring. How much will you drink and party? How many souvenirs to you intend to bring? How many gifts? Remember to include tips in your calculations.

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Tipping

Visit Beyond employs local guides who greatly appreciate recognition of services rendered. Tipping about NPR 200 per day (if you are happy with the service) is appropriate, but not compulsory. We suggest NPR 100 per day for porters (if applicable). For drivers who render services for several days in a row, 100 NPR per day is appropriate. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Restaurants and hotels often levy a 10% service charge on the bill. If there is no 10% extra on the bill then a small tip is normal.

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Weather and Unpredictables

Nepal has the widest altitude range of any country on earth. Each altitude has its own weather, from tropical heat to arctic cold. During the spring and autumn trekking seasons, the weather is generally stable and even the high passes may be free of snow and relatively easy to traverse at times.

Some trekkers who have encountered an easy day at altitude may spread the word that boots and warm clothing are not required. This is incorrect. Sudden storms occur at any time, dumping snow on the passes without warning. At that point anyone poorly equipped will not be able to proceed and may even be stranded for a number of days, risking their life and the lives of others. You are heading into the world’s highest mountain range. Take that fact seriously and be prepared for changes of temperature and weather!

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Meals

As every meal is provided, Visit Beyond gives you the opportunity to try authentic Nepalese food. You will enjoy the variety of food the cook prepares!

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Group Leaders and Guides

Visit Beyond will often provide experienced, local, English-speaking guides who know the destination and region well. Kindly note that it is sometimes necessary to change the guide at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Your guide is there for you. He will offer recommendations, history, useful phrases and more. We encourage you to ask questions. At Visit Beyond, we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit.

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Arrival

If you have booked an arrival package then you can expect a Visit Beyond representative waiting for you with your name on a signboard at the Kathmandu airport. If you cannot find your agent at the airport, please call Visit Beyond office in Nepal, +977 1 4700563 or take a cab to the Visit Beyond office or your hotel in Thamel. We will refund the transportation charge. Visit Beyond does not offer refunds for missed transfers due to a change in flight or delays.

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What to bring

Pack according to the tour you have chosen. If you’re going trekking, bring appropriate shoes; if you’re going diving, bring your suit, etc. Visit Beyond encourages you to pack only necessities. Although there are some tours and trips in which you can leave your luggage behind for a day’s excursion, we generally require you to carry your own gear. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to pack using a backpack with straps and back support in addition to a smaller daypack. We strongly discourage traditional luggage!

Responsible travel (see below) dictates that we respect local cultures. Bring a camera and take pictures and video, but never intrude on people’s lives.

See our checklist below for more specifics.

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Checklist

This checklist is intended as a reference guide; it is not a complete packing list. Always keep in mind weight restrictions according to your airline of choice.

Travel documents: Passport and visas, travel insurance documents, tickets, Visit Beyond vouchers (if any).

Money: Cash, credit card, money pouch.

Day pack: First-aid kit, medication/prescriptions (consider carrying a doctor’s letter if you require a large amount of medication), sunscreen, refillable water bottle and purification tablets, flashlight, insect repellent, hat and sunglasses, traveler’s diarrhea tablets, prescription glasses, contact lenses and solution, phrasebook.

Large pack: Alarm clock, international outlet adapter, swimsuit, lightweight towel, earplugs and eye mask, comfortable walking shoes, raincoat, umbrella, waterproof jacket, outdoor sandals with good grip, waterproof bags for the rainy season, appropriate clothes for temples and religious sites. And, of course, your camera, film or memory cards and spare batteries!

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Visas

Please note it is your responsibility to arrange visas before you travel. Your travel agent can assist you. The following are the visa requirements at the time of printing: All foreign nationals (except Indians) require a visa to enter Nepal. Visas are obtainable from embassies abroad or on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport. If you are obtaining your visa at the airport then be prepared for long queues. You will need to provide one passport photo and the following fees in US dollars cash only: single entry visa valid for 15 days - US $25: Single Entry Visa for 30 days - US $40 and multiple entry visa valid for 90 days - US $100

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Laundry

Some hotels offer laundry services for an additional charge. You can find additional laundry services in all major cities. If you choose to do your own laundry, kindly use non-polluting and biodegradable soap

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Share Your Trip

Go on, show off a little! Share your pictures on our Facebook page. We occasionally hold contests for those who provide the best shots, so stay on the lookout and you could win a free trip!

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Respectful Dress

Remember that styles of dress are generally conservative throughout Asia. This is especially true outside of major cities. Visit Beyond therefore strongly recommends modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate. Avoid tank tops on the beach and never sunbathe topless. Men and women alike are often required to wear pants the cover the legs in temples and religious sites.

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Money, Dough, Loot & Booty

We recommend withdrawing money from ATMs, which are widely available throughout Nepal. This has the advantage of keeping your money safe in the bank; not vulnerable in your back pocket. Remember to bring your bank’s emergency contact details in the event that your card is stolen. In addition, notify your bank of your travels before you depart, as banks often place a temporary hold on cards due to transactions in foreign countries or other suspicious activities.

Visit Beyond does not recommend traveler’s cheques. Exchanging them can be a lengthy process and can pose difficulties due to banking hours and holidays. In addition to a commission, unfavorable exchange rates often apply to traveler’s cheques. If you insist on bringing traveler’s cheques then purchase them with a major brand and strong currency. Old cheques are rarely, if ever, accepted

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Departure Tax

There is no departure tax at Tribhuvan International Airport now. This is subject to change without notice and Visit Beyond is not liable for unexpected charges levied on departing tourists.

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Communications

The most reliable method of communication during your travels will be email. Although internet access is widely available in Nepal, we do visit areas of the country for several days at a time in which internet access is limited or unavailable. Please take this into account when planning your trip.

It is a good idea to leave your booking agent’s contact details or Visit Beyond’s contact information with friends or family in your home country in case of emergencies.

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Expect the Unexpected

Visit Beyond, as the name implies, brings you places that are beyond the well-worn tourist path. Out here, things sometimes go wrong and if they do, it is imperative that you tell your guide or tour leader immediately. They are best suited to help however they can. If this does not suffice then your guide will contact our manager.

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Health & Fitness

There are no health requirements for this trip. However, to get the most out of your trip, all travelers should be in good physical health. You should consult your doctor or physician before leaving your home country and you should honestly assess your ability to complete your vacation based on the detailed Visit Beyond trip itinerary. In general, the more you physically prepare for the trip, the more you will enjoy it. Depending on your trip, expect variable and difficult terrain and both high and extremely low temperatures. Visit Beyond and its guides reserve the right to exclude a participant without refund if said traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to himself/herself or to the group.

Small and very handy first aid kits should be readily available in your home country. We recommend you purchase a kit before departure along with any personal medication you may require. Read the trip itinerary closely and bring medicine accordingly, as many trips entail travel on long, windy roads and require that you eat authentic Nepali food. Do not rely on trip leaders or guides, as they are legally prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache medicine and antibiotics.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is obligatory to join a Visit Beyond trip. We recommend Gouda Travel Insurance for our European customers.

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Your Travel Buddies

Traveling in a group can be a very positive experience. You are likely to find that your travel buddies hail from all over the world. Therefore, you will get the double pleasure of experiencing a new part of the world and new friends to enjoy it with. In order to get the most out of your trip, each traveler must respect every member of the group, arrive on time according to the trip itinerary, and practice patience with one another. These are your responsibilities as a member of a group and we expect each member to follow them. For reasons of privacy, Visit Beyond will not provide personal information or contact details of your fellow travelers prior to departure.

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Responsible Travel

Traveling responsibly is a pillar of the Visit Beyond philosophy. To us, it means two things: respect for the environment and respect for local cultures. We practice low-impact tourism and make every effort to preserve the environment. We refuse to treat local people as mere photo-ops and insist that you engage with locals as human beings. You will have a better trip for it. Please refer to our Responsible Travel page for further details and suggestions for responsible travel.

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The law and "the man"

Visit Beyond does not tolerate illegal drugs nor do we tolerate visiting prostitutes. Both of these may be common among certain communities we visit but they are illegal nonetheless. Engaging in such activities puts you and your group at serious risk. Visit Beyond and group leaders reserve the right to immediately expel from the group anyone engaging in these activities.

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