How the 10% Deposit Works When You Book a Nepal Trek

Every trek and tour on our site can be confirmed with a 10% deposit, with the balance payable when you arrive in Kathmandu. People ask us about this constantly, usually with some version of the same question: what is the catch? This post explains exactly how the system works, what the deposit covers, and what happens if your plans change. There is no catch, but there is a logic to it, and you deserve to see it before you pay anyone anything.

What do I actually pay upfront?

Ten per cent of your package price, and nothing else. Book a US$1,399 Everest Base Camp trek and your card is charged US$139.90 today. The remaining 90% is payable in Kathmandu before the trek starts, by card or cash, once you have met us, seen the office and shaken hands with your guide. To be clear about what this is: a payment schedule, not a price reduction. You pay the same total either way; you just pay most of it after you have looked us in the eye.

Why do we let you pay the balance in Kathmandu?

Because the biggest fear in booking a Nepal trek from abroad is wiring a large sum to a company you have never met, in a country you have never visited. We cannot argue you out of that fear, so we removed the reason for it. If we were running a scam, holding 10% while committing to permits, flights and guide wages would be a terrible business model. Plenty of operators ask for 30 to 50% upfront, sometimes through informal channels; we ask for 10%, through a bank.

What does the deposit cover?

The deposit is our green light to spend money on your behalf. Once it lands we:

• apply for your permits against your passport details;
• book Lukla or other domestic flight seats where your itinerary needs them;
• assign your guide and porters and block their dates;
• reserve teahouse rooms, which matters enormously for October departures.

That is also why the deposit is treated differently from the balance if you cancel: much of it converts into real, non-recoverable costs within days of booking. We walk through the whole post-booking sequence in what happens after you book a trek with us.

How is the payment processed? Is it safe?

Card payments run through our online payment gateway operated by Himalayan Bank Limited, one of Nepal's major commercial banks, established in 1993. Your card details go to a regulated financial institution, not to us; we never see or store them. You will find the secure payment link on every package page.

As for the company on the other end: The Everest Holiday Pvt. Ltd. is a government-registered Nepali company, a member of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN registration no. 1586), and holds trekking and tour operating licences valid to 2031. We have been family-run since 2016 and carry 300+ verified reviews across independent platforms. We wrote more about why paying a Nepal-registered operator directly usually beats booking through a foreign reseller in why book direct with a Nepal trekking company.

What happens if I cancel?

Honest answer, straight from our published policy on the risk-free booking page:

The sliding scale exists because of what the deposit pays for: the closer to departure you cancel, the more of it has already become permits, flight seats and committed wages. And if we cancel your trip for any reason, you receive a full 100% refund of everything paid, no questions asked.

Can I change my dates instead of cancelling?

Yes, and most people in a bind do exactly that. Rescheduling to a different date costs nothing; your deposit simply moves with you. Life happens, flights get cancelled, knees complain in training. Moving a trek is nearly always better than losing one.

Does the 10% deposit apply to every trip?

It applies to our Nepal treks and tours, which is nearly everything we sell. The exceptions are cross-border itineraries such as Kailash and Tibet, where the Chinese permit system requires substantial prepayment on our side, so those trips carry a higher advance that we quote per booking. If the trip is in Nepal, from a one-day Kathmandu hike to a 17-day Three Passes trek, the deposit is 10%.

How do I pay the balance in Kathmandu?

Three ways: by card through the same Himalayan Bank portal, by international wire transfer before you fly, or in cash at the office. Card and wire payments carry the usual bank charges, which are the payer's responsibility, so many trekkers simply bring cash for the balance; US dollars, euros and Nepali rupees all work, and there are exchange counters and ATMs throughout Thamel. You will receive a written receipt either way, and the balance is always settled before the trek begins, never on the trail.

When should I pay the deposit?

Whenever you are ready to commit, but earlier is genuinely better for peak season. The deposit is what lets us lock flights and teahouse beds before they run out, and for October departures that means booking two to three months ahead. We laid out the timing logic in how far in advance you should book a Nepal trek.

What should I do before paying any operator a deposit?

Not just us, anyone. Check the company is registered in Nepal, ask for its TAAN membership and licence numbers, confirm the payment goes through a bank rather than a personal account, and read reviews on platforms the company cannot edit. A legitimate operator will answer these questions quickly and in writing. If you want to put us through that test, message us on WhatsApp and ask for the documents; we send them the same day, and we would rather you asked than wondered.

Ready when you are: pick your trek, pay 10%, and the mountain logistics start moving the same week. The rest waits for you in Kathmandu.