Nepal is one of the world’s top trekking destinations, making it an obvious favorite amongst trek enthusiasts. As such, the variation in trekking trails and numerous challenges on the way make up for memorable experiences. A significant difficulty comes before the trip begins while considering how to find the best trekking company in Nepal.
There are many trekking agencies with which you can book your trekking adventure. Since your guide, security, safety evacuation, and many other services depend entirely upon this choice, picking an appropriate travel agency is crucial. The whole trek experience depends on it, so extra carefulness is necessary.
Here are a few essential points that you must be clear about how to find the best trekking company in Nepal:
Registration, License, and Associations
One of the most important things is knowing if the agency you choose is legit with proper license and registration. Every agency must be registered with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the Nepal government, and the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) for conducting any trekking services within Nepal.
Similarly, the agency must be registered with the NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) to offer peak climbing services. Likewise, their association with other national and international tourism-related associations also offers more credentials to these companies.
Note: The entire registered trekking agency lists are provided on the official website of TAAN (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal) at https://www.taan.org.np/.
Reviews and Testimonials
The easiest way to get a basic idea about an agency is by reading the client’s testimonials on the official website. Through these testimonials, you can get the email address of the respective customer, which can be useful for contacting them. Direct communication is the most convenient way to earn extra information about agencies and their services. Moreover, you can also quickly learn about their finest treks, guides, and facilities.
Similar to this, you may read honest client reviews of the services provided by your agents on websites like TripAdvisor, trip.com, and many more.
Cost vs. Services
According to many travelers, although the services provided are somewhat equivalent, the prices between different agencies vary. Thus, we suggest you not to choose the cheapest package. It might not be the best and not have proper value for the money you have provided. Note that every agency offers free pick-up and drop-off services. Similarly, various other services are included in the trip cost. So, we advise you to take a careful look at their services and be sure not to pay extra.
Also, we suggest you take a package covering rescue operations in case of any emergency. Although trips with such packages may cost more, your safety and security are fully guaranteed. Finally, always make sure that the price specified for the package is reasonable in context to the services offered.
Operation and Experience of the Company
The longer a company has spent providing its trekking services, the more experience it has. In this case, the chances of delivering better client services are incredibly high. So, favoring older and more experienced agencies over the newly opened ones will be a better option.
However, this doesn’t mean that new trekking agencies are bad. A newly open company with well-experienced staff members and guides can also be a good choice. Nonetheless, as mentioned above, it would be more appropriate to check out their official websites. The reviews and recommendations of past clients will help you know more about a particular company’s service quality.
The Safety Standards of the Company
Trekking can be extremely strenuous, and sometimes the risk factor is high. Due to this, it is essential to consider some necessary precautions on time. Before booking any package with a trekking agency, ensure they are helpful at the time of need (especially during an emergency). Thus, a company’s safety records and security standards are vital.
It is always wise to know about the different emergency services the trekking companies provide, like emergency evacuations, helicopter rescue, insurance, and ambulance services.
Guides with Proper Experience and Certificate
Guides are the most important factor during your trip. Thus, it is crucial to make sure that they are certified and have the proper experience. The certifications and accreditation will help you make sure that the guides are well-suited to lead you on your treks. The guides’ expertise enables you to gain authentic information about the local culture, terrain, and social norms.
Likewise, ensuring they are well-insured and have all the necessary trekking gear is essential. In some cases, trekking agencies also provide guides who can speak your native language upon request. However, most have fluent English so communication won’t be a significant issue.
Besides this, you can also have a conversation with the guides. It will help you find someone who can meet your trekking expectations. At the same time, it allows you to know the guide’s communication skills and his/her personality.
Inquiry Emails
To know more about the trekking company, it is always good to send an inquiry email. The company’s responses will always help you clear up your doubts about their work ethics.
You can send such emails to multiple companies and choose the best ones per your requirements and choices. You can select your trek according to the quality of information you receive about the trip of your inquiry or any other details.
Even though there are lots of information on the internet, finding the right trekking agency is exceptionally challenging. Everything depends upon what you want and what you expect. Before looking out for any packages, always know what known desire and what you are looking for. Recognize your choices and preferences invariably.
All in all, deciding what you want and wish to avoid before the trip is significant for enhancing your trekking experience. Hopefully, this article has provided you with some knowledge on how to find the best trekking company in Nepal.