As an alternative to our full service package, Annapurna Foothills Treks offers you customized service package which allow you to reduce services (and costs) that you feel you don’t need. A full service package takes care of everything from the time of your arrival in Nepal, and every step of the way until your departure. A full service package includes all your meals and accommodation as well as guide and porter services.
A customized service package means that you pays for your accommodation and food yourself for the entire trip. You decide what type of support staff you require during their trek; a professional guide, porter-guide and/or porter. For example, you might choose to go with a porter-guide who is less qualified and therefore less expensive. You pay a daily rate for the services of the support staff you hire. That rate includes the employee’s daily wage, insurance, transportation, and equipment.
Be aware that some companies may offer cheaper rates by unfair means. Annapurna Foothills Treks ensures that guides, porter-guides and porters get fair pay for their seasonal work and are properly insured.
Annapurna Foothills Treks will provide you a guide, porter-guide and/or porter from our reliable, well trained staff according to your requirements. In order for you to decide what will work for you will need to understand the difference between guide, guide/porter and porter:
Trekking Guides (Full-fledged guide, trained and licensed by Government of Nepal, Ministry of Tourism) Annapurna Foothills Trekking Guides can communicate easily in English. Our guides are experienced and dedicated to their job. They not only show the trail but they are able to tell you many things about the mountains, the culture, the history and the religions of Nepal. They are your link to the local people. Your guide knows how to organize a rescue and is trained in First Aid and AMS. In case of emergency your guide will run for help even in the middle of the night.
NOTE: Trekking Guides will not carry any of your luggage.
Porter-guides (guide trainee) will help carry luggage of two clients up to 12-15 kgs. Annapurna Foothills Treks porter- guides speak quite good English to understand your interests and needs. Porter-guides are familiar with the trail. They are friendly and trustworthy and will do their best to share their knowledge of the mountains and facilitate communication with the local people. They are not trained in First Aid or AMS, but will do their best to help you in case of an emergency.
Porter carry luggage of two clients maximum. Porters don’t speak much English but they are helpful and sincere. Porters are mostly strong people from mountain villages who are used to carrying heavy loads. The lodge owners often give them cheap accommodation in a shed or in the dining room, so that they can save their earnings.
For safety reasons, Annapurna Foothills Treks highly recommends hiring a trekking guide or at least porter - guide for trekking in the remote parts of Nepal. Having a qualified guide and a porter at your side is the best way to ensure your safety. Their local knowledge is invaluable. They will do everything from recommending the best places to stay and eat, to assisting you in case of accident or emergency. They will find an alternate route if the trails are blocked by snow or landslides.
Customized Service Package Price Includes:
- Service cost of support staff: Cost per day X number of trekking days
- Agency service charges and all applicable Government taxes
- Local Ground Transportation charge to and from trek if applicable
- Domestic airfare and Local Airport Tax if applicable
- Return transportation for support staff
- National Park Fees, Permits and official documentation
Customized Service Package Price Excludes:
- Airport Transfers for Domestic and International flights
- Your food and accommodation for entire trip
- Personal Insurance for your travel to Nepal.
- Emergency Rescue/Evacuation
- Tips for your Guide, Porter etc (Tipping is customary)
NOTE: Annapurna Foothills Treks customized packages include your transportation to and from your trek, whether by road or by air, because your transportation bookings need to be done well in advance, before your arrival in Nepal. AFT also includes trekking permits in the package since most clients can find better things to do in Kathmandu than to experience the bureaucracy of our government offices while waiting for official permits.
Annapurna Foothills Treks will try to provide you a guide, porter-guide, or porter close to the region you are trekking in to minimize the expense of staff transportation. The daily fee for support staff is different according to the area and in each case includes salary, meals, accommodation, equipment and insurance.
Everest Region, Manasulu Circuit, Mustang &Tsum Valley
Guide: US$ 45 per day
Porter: US$ 35 per day
Annapurna Region, Langtang Region and Helambu Region
Guide: US$ 40 per day
Porter- Guide (Guide Trainee) US$ 35 per day
Porter: US$ 30 per day
