Prepare for the journey.

Choose the right journey

Start with your available time, walking or climbing experience, and the kind of terrain you enjoy. A trek, a climbing peak and a major expedition require different skills and preparation.

Send the team a short account of your recent trips, highest overnight altitude and any technical climbing experience. For climbing routes, explain your experience with crampons, fixed ropes and glacier travel so the discussion can be specific.

Dates, travel and flexibility

Use each itinerary as an outline for discussion. Weather, local access and transport can change the order or timing of a programme. Agree the arrival date, departure date and any contingency time before buying flights.

Ask which transfers are included and what happens if a flight or road journey is delayed. Keep copies of your itinerary and the team's contact details available offline.

Equipment and packing

Request the equipment list for your exact route. Trekking equipment and technical climbing equipment are different, and the list should match the season, altitude and accommodation.

• Use footwear you have already worn on long walks.
• Plan layers for changing conditions and protection from rain, snow and sun.
• Confirm sleeping equipment, baggage limits, charging arrangements and drinking-water provision.
• For climbing, agree which technical items are personal equipment and which are supplied.

Ask about hire equipment before travelling, including availability and fit. Bring essential personal items in your hand luggage where airline rules allow.

Health, altitude and experience

Discuss relevant health concerns and your planned itinerary with a qualified travel-health professional. Tell the trip team about any arrangements they need to consider.

Allow the agreed acclimatisation and rest days to do their job. Report concerns promptly to your guide and be prepared for the programme to change. A summit or viewpoint is an objective; the return journey is part of the plan.

Documents and insurance

Check current passport, visa and entry requirements for your nationality and the countries on your route. Restricted areas and some mountain objectives need additional permissions. Ask the team which permits it arranges and what documents you must supply.

Check directly with your insurer that the policy covers your actual activity, route and maximum altitude, including any rescue or evacuation arrangements you need. Keep the policy details and emergency contact instructions with you.

Read your government's current travel advice before booking and again before departure. Rules and access conditions can change after an itinerary is published.

Agree the quotation

Ask for an itemised quotation and check it against the itinerary. The final agreement should explain accommodation, meals, transport, permits, guides, equipment and the support specific to your activity.

• Confirm the total group size and any shared services.
• For expeditions, agree the climbing support, oxygen arrangements, camp services and any summit-related charges in writing.
• Clarify personal expenses, tips, cancellation terms and costs caused by changes or delays.
• For wildlife and cultural visits, agree the activities and any date-dependent events rather than assuming they run every day.

Send your questions to [email protected]. A clear conversation before you travel helps the team plan the right journey.

Keep advice current.

Check official travel advice for Nepal, or your own government's advice for the countries on your route. Confirm entry and access arrangements with the team.