Tour Guide
We have a team of highly experienced and multilingual guides (guides who can speak your language – major languages only). They are professionally trained and are thoroughly versed in culture and history of each place in this itinerary.
Tour Availability
We operate Nepal cultural tours for private team of your friends and family of any size, so you can enjoy your private trip without having to deal and confront with other people who have different interests and attitude. Each trip is accompanied by a tour guide and driver(s). Nepal Cultural tours of four to eight days in duration are ideal for an extension trip if you have booked any longer trekking holidays in Nepal or tours/treks in Tibet.
Accommodation
Kathmandu offers a wide range of accommodation facilities, from 5 star luxury hotels to budget-priced guest houses. Top hotels give you the high quality services. Whatever your requirements are, hotels in Nepal can meet them all. Explore Himalaya will assist you in hotel reservation. For more information, you can ask us for details.
Meals
Breakfast is included but lunch and dinner are excluded in all our tour costs. There will be one hour lunch break during city sightseeing tour. Plenty of best and quality restaurants in town serve Nepali, oriental and continental dishes. We recommend the best one depending on your taste preference. A good continental lunch or dinner at a good restaurant costs approximately USD 10-15. Full board option is also available on request.
Meeting/airport transfers
In all our packaged tours, airport pick-ups and drops are included. You need to pass on your International flight details to us for a “meeting and greeting” service at airport. You just pass on the Customs and come out of the Terminal building where you will see someone standing with a placard with either ‘Explore Himalaya’ or your name written on it. Our airport representative or tour officer will greet you and welcome you at the airport. You will then be escorted to your hotel where you will be briefed about your further activities in detail. You collect your flight tickets for reconfirmation and deliver them back later. After your trip is over you will be transferred back to the airport in time to catch your flight back home.
Cost of the trip
The cost of each trip depends on various factors such as types of accommodation, type of vehicles with or without air-conditioner, group size (i.e. number of people in your team) etc. Our costs are usually categorized into standard package (based on 3 star hotels), superior package (combination of 3-4 star hotel) and deluxe package (5 star hotels with air conditioned vehicles). However, you can always upgrade your accommodation and use air conditioned car at extra charge though you have initially booked standard or superior package. We can customize any tour to suit your best interest and budget.
Vehicle
We have a fleet of mostly Japanese made Toyota vehicles of all types and sizes, from small two-seater luxury cars to large capacity luxury tourist coaches. Size and type of vehicle depend on size of your group. We use two-seater car for 1-2 persons, micro luxury 6-seater van for 3-5 persons, 10-seater van for 6-9 persons and tourist coach or coaster for group size above 10 persons. Our drivers are specially trained to serve in the hospitality industry. The vehicles are checked carefully before assigning to your service.
Tour timings
Duration of each city tour is six hours (full day tour) or three hours (half day tours). Durations and tour highlights are mentioned in all our detailed itineraries. Relevant tips/information will be briefed to you before you embark on any of our trips. Tour usually starts after your breakfast (9 am). Your half-day tour lasts till 1 pm and till 3 pm if it is full day. Late afternoon and evening can be used to explore the town on your own.
Tipping
Tips are not mandatory. However you can tip your support team if you wish for, according to your budget and appreciation of their work. Normally, tip amounts for 5-10% of your total budget. All fees to sightseeing places stated in tour package are included in our cost.
Clothing
Clothing varies with the type of tour and season.
From April to the end of October, it is warm in Kathmandu. In Nepal clothing for traveling purpose should be comfortable and light. You can also wear longer shorts provided that it is weather- friendly. In the months of November to the end of March, days are usually warm and evenings are cool. Put on your summer clothes during the day time but in the evening and night it is advisable to carry a light jacket. Winter season starts from December to February. One must be equipped with sufficient winter wears like jackets, sweaters, trousers etc to stay protected from the cold. In accordance to Nepali weather you can have your clothes well-packed in your luggage or you can also purchase clothes of your choice and needs from the clothing stores in Nepal.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
1) Your booking will be confirmed by email once we receive your deposit of USD 500 and the signed copy of booking form and contract.
The balance is due no later than two months prior to departure. If you book a tour less than 2 months prior to departure, you must send the full payment within 7 days of confirmation by us.
2) If you cancel, the following scale of charges will apply:
DATE OF CANCELLATION – CHARGE INCURRED
2 months before departure – Loss of deposit (US$ 500)
29 days to 2 months before departure – 30% of total trip cost
10 to 28 days before departure – 60% of total trip cost
Less than 10 days before departure – 100% of total trip cost