Welcome, Arrival, and Start of the 09-day Rara Lake Trek
When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will be there to greet you. They will be holding a sign with your name on it and will welcome you with a traditional marigold garland or Khada. Afterward, they will drive you to your hotel in a private car. Please ensure you arrive in Kathmandu at least one day before your trek, allowing sufficient time to prepare and review the details. On the first day, we'll fly to Nepalgunj after purchasing some gear and equipment in Kathmandu.
Lodging
Our package includes eleven nights in comfortable teahouses (standard twin-sharing rooms) along the path and one night in a Pokhara hotel with toilets, hot water, and laundry facilities. Rooms at lower elevations may have restrooms attached. Most Teahouses provide charging connections and Wi-Fi; however, these services may cost extra in some places. Our 9-day Rara Lake Trek does not include accommodation or meals for those staying in Kathmandu.
Food
We provide three standard meals throughout the trek. The menu changes depending on how high you are; at higher altitudes, there will be fewer alternatives. We suggest different teas, garlic soup, and fresh veggies because it's crucial to stay hydrated at high elevations. For your
health, we suggest that you stay away from dairy, meat, and drinks that have alcohol or caffeine in them. This bundle does not include hot, cold, or alcoholic drinks.
Baggage
We will assign one porter to carry the luggage of two trekkers during the trek. The total weight limit for the porter is 20 kg, which means each trekker has a 10 kg luggage allowance. Hence, team up with a fellow traveler and pack your things in a duffel bag of over sixty liters. We expect you to only carry a
small personal backpack for your essentials, like a camera, water, snacks, and valuables. You can leave any extra bags at your hotel or at our Kathmandu office for free.
Important Things and Facilities
Water
You can buy a water bottle from shops along the trail or get boiled/filtered water at lodges. It is advised to bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up with boiled water. Avoid drinking untreated tap, well, or river water. For safety, please use a water purifying tablet, or you can
buy one in the shops along the trail.
Communication
We will provide you with a SIM card in Kathmandu and teach you how to get data and recharge cash on it, but mobile signals may be weak at higher altitudes. For your safety, our lead guide keeps daily contact with all trekking teams via mobile. We fully prepare ourselves to handle emergencies. emergencies, and our guides are trained to assist whenever needed. Additionally, we use walkie-talkies and satellite phones in areas with no network to ensure constant communication.
Travel Essentials
Visa
Except for citizens of India, all foreigners need a visa to enter Nepal. The Kathmandu International Airport can provide visas upon arrival for most nationalities. You will need a password that is valid for at least 6 months, one passport-sized photo, and cash for the visa fee (US $50 for a 30-day visa).
Travel insurance
Having comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for this trek. Your policy must cover medical expenses and emergency helicopter rescue up to an altitude of 4,500 meters. Before the trek begins, you will need to provide us with a copy of your insurance policy.
Currency Exchange
The Nepali Rupee (NPR) is the country's official currency; one US dollar is equivalent to around 130 NPR. In Kathmandu, you may find banks and an approved money exchange center where you can exchange major foreign currencies. ATMs are widely available to withdraw NPR, but
extra service fees may apply. Make sure your notes are new and undamaged, as old or torn bills may be refused. Only the 100 INR note from India is legally accepted in Nepal. Before traveling to trekking regions, it's best to exchange money in Kathmandu, as there are few exchange options in remote areas.
Extra Expense
While our package covers most of your expenses during the trek, you will need to budget for some personal items like meals and accommodation in Kathmandu, visa fees, snacks, hot showers, personal equipment, tips for the crew, etc. We recommend you budget approximately $30 USD per day for these personal expenses during the trek.
Trek Season and the Weather
The Annapurna Circuit Trek is open from March to May and September to November, and it is a safe season for trekking. Spring (March–May) is ideal, with clear skies and blooming rhododendrons and views of Mt. Manaslu. Daytime temperatures range from 18 °C to 24 °C, dropping to -4 °C at night. Autumn (September–November) also offers stable weather and beautiful mountain views, with temperatures from 15 to 25°C and nighttime lows around -6 °C. Snow increases from December, making Throng La Pass difficult to cross.
Typical Day on the Hike
Around 7 AM, you get a big breakfast to start your day. The normal trekking day lasts 4 to 6 hours, with a lunch break along the way. You can rest or explore in the evenings and then have supper and a briefing on the next day's plans.
Reservations and Rules
Personal trek
We can only provide a personal trek, so you will only be trekking with your group. We will never add strangers to your treks. All the treks are customizable per your schedule.
Individual to Group bookings
Our treks are organized with a minimum of 2 people, so if anyone is alone and does not have a friend or family joining them, we can organize a group trek open for all. If you prefer to join a group, we can also help you connect with other trekkers. Once you confirm your participation, we will post your group trek on our website so others can join too. Our policy is designed to transform every trek into your own personal holiday in the Himalayas.
Trust trek booking
The Everest Holiday is a registered and bonded trekking operator, ensuring a secure booking process. We are proudly members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Our Founder, Mr. Ganesh Simkhada, was a former
Director of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and former General Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). To confirm your booking, we require a 10% advance payment. Payment options include the Himalayan Bank online portal (on our website), major credit cards, bank transfers, Wise, and Western Union. After you arrive in Kathmandu, you can pay the remaining balance. Please send us your important travel documents, such as a passport copy, within one week of booking. Please make sure your passport has a minimum of 6 months of validity remaining at your arrival date in Nepal.
Last-minute booking
We recommend booking your trek in advance. However, we also offer a last-minute booking option, which requires full payment 24 hours before departure. For the last-minute booking, please contact Shreejan (Joe) at +977-9810351300 or email us at info@theeverestholiday.com.
Please note that last-minute treks may face delays due to circumstances beyond our control.
Flexible Schedule
Our trip schedule is determined by your travel date, and you can make any changes to it. If our scheduled trek dates don't work for you, please let us know, and we will be happy to arrange a trip according to your time and schedule.
Trip Extension
You can easily extend your stay with other adventures. We can arrange exciting activities for you, including a jungle safari (Chitwan and Bardiya), bungee jumping (Pokhara, Everest, Bhote Koshi, Kushma), rafting (Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Seti River), and kayaking (Trishuli).
Pokhara), paragliding (Pokhara and Kathmandu), zip flying (Kathmandu, Pokhara and Kushma), canyoning (Pokhara and Sukhuta Beach), and Hot ballooning (Pokhara), according to your interests. We can also set up sightseeing tours around the Kathmandu Valley if you're interested in culture and history.
These tours will take you to UNESCO World Heritage sites like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, Changunarayan Temple, and Pashupatinath Temple. We suggest a trip to Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, hill stations just outside of Kathmandu, around sunrise for a serene getaway. We can also set up spiritual trips for Buddhists and Hindus that take you to temples, stupas, monasteries, and meditation centers. When you're booking a trip, please have a look at our ADD-ON package for an amazing adventure during the trek.
Ecotourism practices
We ask that you join our eco-friendly hiking practice because we are very dedicated to keeping the Everest region's fragile beauty safe. At the start of our excursion, each person will obtain their own eco-waste bag. Please put all of your rubbish that can't be composted, like snack wrappers, plastic bottles, and batteries, in this bag. Don't leave anything on the trail, please. Instead, take this bag with you as we walk down, and our guides will show you where to find the public trash cans and recycling bins where you can throw it away correctly. We need your help to keep the Himalayas clean and lovely for the next generation.
TEH Family
We are a family firm that has been in the tourism business in Nepal for three generations. We believe that all of our employees and teams are family. We started as porters and now run an agency. Our professional and experienced guides and Sherpas will be with you the whole time to
make sure your trek is safe and memorable. They know how to do first aid in the bush and rock climbing and how to stay safe in the mountains. They also speak good English. They are from the upper Himalayas, so they know the area well. We take care of their insurance, food,
housing, and medical. Please treat our workers like family, and don't hesitate to ask for help or have questions at any time.
Trip conclusion
Farewell Dinner
We will celebrate our successful trek with a goodbye supper in Kathmandu after the trek. This is a great opportunity to share stories from your adventure and provide us with your feedback. We will also present you with a certificate of achievement to recognize your incredible
accomplishment.
Departure
To arrange your airport transfer, please let us know your hotel name, room number, and flight departure details. We will take you from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport so you may catch your trip home. We sincerely hope you had an amazing journey, and we hope to see you
again soon for another trip in Nepal.
Tipping culture
A common way to say thank you for good service is to give a tip. You don't have to provide tips, but it's a good idea to do so at the end of the trek, and it's ideal to give them as a collective gift. The tip should be based on the service, travel time, and cost.