No. The pace is slow and can be managed by anyone who is at least somewhat physically active. During the day, we take several breaks for rest, tea, and food. The key requirement is being able to walk for several hours a day. Daily elevation gains are up to 1,000 meters.

No structured training is required, but it is true that good physical fitness enhances the trekking experience. The pace is usually adjusted to the slower participants, and the trek is not a race. If you enjoy hiking, you will definitely enjoy trekking in the Himalayas. However, if you want to do everything for a conscientious preparation, occasional slow endurance running and hiking certainly won’t hurt.

In the history of TREKFELLOWS, it has never happened that someone failed to complete a trek due to poor fitness or without a serious health reason.

Altitude sickness, or AMS (acute mountain sickness), is the most common form of altitude-related illness. It affects hikers, climbers, or skiers who ascend too quickly to high altitudes, usually above 2,500–3,000 meters (8,200–9,800 feet) above sea level. It occurs due to hypoxia in the body and mainly presents as headache, loss of appetite, and stomach discomfort. If proper acclimatization principles are followed, it usually resolves on its own.

It should not be underestimated, but there’s no need to dramatize it. It is relatively common in high mountains. Our mountain guides know how to manage it. The key is slow acclimatization and following basic acclimatization principles. You can find more about AMS in this  article.

On our treks, there is usually a Slovak mountain guide with an international UIMLA license, paired with a certified Nepali guide. If the trek’s goal is a peak above 6,000 meters (19,700 feet), the local guide also holds a certificate authorizing them to lead clients in this terrain. For all of us, this work is a lifelong passion—we do it professionally, with joy, and with the utmost focus on safety.

Nepal is an exceptionally safe country. Nepali people are generally extremely kind and helpful, with contagious smiles. It’s unheard of for them to treat you poorly as a guest from abroad. The crime rate is remarkably low. On the treks, there is virtually no danger from animals. Security forces or the army also do not cause any problems.

We are prepared for any health complications that may arise with clients. In Nepal, helicopter evacuation works very well, and we can arrange it promptly. Our local partners have their own fleet of helicopters available if needed. Rescue operations always take priority, and the local helicopters can even perform rescues from altitudes of 6,000 meters.

Such rescues, as well as any subsequent hospital stay, can be smoothly handled directly with your insurance company. Insurance appropriate to the specific trek is mandatory on our treks.

If you are healthy and don’t have any serious mobility limitations, we see no reason why trekking in Nepal wouldn’t be suitable even for experienced older hikers. On our treks, we commonly meet people of older age, and we’ve had several clients over 70. If you believe in yourself, we believe in you—you can do it with us.

Of course. Most of our clients come as individuals. Any worries about being with strangers are unfounded—our clients love the mountains and enjoy sharing the journey and adventures with others. You meet for the first time at the airport, and after two weeks, you have friends for life. Trekking in this way is very enriching. We create a community and build new, meaningful friendships.

A stay in the high mountains is not ideal for people with severe physical or mental disabilities that require the presence of specialized professionals. It is also not suitable for people unaccustomed to basic physical activity, with a very sedentary lifestyle, or for those who have a reduced ability to be friendly and open to other cultures and ways of life.

Additionally, we do not recommend group trekking for people with significantly low empathy, an inability to communicate within a group, or conflict-prone personalities. However, we can arrange a customized trek, without the need to share the experience in a group. Feel free to contact us, and we will plan a tailor-made trek with a local guide and handle everything for you.

Some of our treks are organized with porters, and some are not. For each trek, this is explicitly stated. On most of our treks, participants carry a backpack weighing around 12 kg, which is manageable for an average hiker. However, there is always the option to hire a local porter, who usually carries up to 25 kg. The cost of a porter can be shared among several participants.

The maximum number of participants on our treks is usually between 9 and 10. We do not organize larger groups, as we do not believe it is sustainable for maintaining quality communication and safety in bigger groups. Therefore, our treks generally have an intimate and friendly character. The minimum group size is determined by economic factors and ranges from 4 to 6 participants, depending on the specific trek.

Yes, visas are required for all our destinations. In Nepal, visas are purchased directly upon arrival at the airport and are hassle-free. For Pakistan, special visas (trekking & mountaineering visas) must be applied for online well in advance. India offers online visas with quick processing (a matter of days). We can assist and advise you with all visas. Other permits (trekking, expedition, or regional permits) are handled as a standard part of our service.

Yes, insurance is required for all mountainous regions. For treks where the highest point does not exceed 6,000 meters above sea level, standard alpine club insurance is sufficient. For treks with a goal above 6,000 meters, commercial insurance covering evacuation above 6,000 meters and medical care is recommended. If a climbing permit above 6,000 meters has been issued to you, standard mountain insurance is usually invalid for the entire trek. Insurance must be arranged before departing from your home country.

Yes, we can arrange a tailor-made trek for an individual or a private group. The group size, dates, and specific trek are entirely up to you. We will gladly organize everything you need—our trusted guides, porters, permits, transfers, and all formalities. Just contact us, and we will prepare a price offer for you.

For most of our treks, standard hiking gear is sufficient, with the addition of a warm down jacket and a quality sleeping bag. Both can be purchased in Kathmandu before the trek for a fraction of the price in Europe (good-quality replicas cost around 10–20% of the usual price).

For treks ending with a summit above 6,000 meters, climbing equipment (harness, crampons, helmet, etc.) is available for rent on-site and is included in the tour price (unless otherwise stated in the expedition description). A detailed recommended equipment list is sent separately for each trek. You can read more about gear and equipment in the mountains in this  article.

Food on the trek is purchased from locals at small restaurants called lodges (teahouses). It is mostly vegetarian but generally tasty. Prices are relatively modest but increase with altitude. Keep in mind that everything you eat had to be carried up there by someone. Meals mainly consist of rice, potatoes, vegetables, cheese, and eggs. Occasionally, you may find chicken or yak meat. You can read more about trek food in  this article.

In Kathmandu, you will find very high-quality restaurants offering a wide selection of excellent dishes from world cuisines.

It is not. As in most parts of the world, tap water in Nepal is not safe to drink. However, cheap bottled water is widely available. On the trek, you can also buy beer, Coca-Cola, Sprite, and other bottled drinks everywhere. The water used for tea and coffee in teahouses is boiled, so it is safe.

Accommodation on the trek in Nepal is basic and depends on local conditions. We usually stay in small  lodges (teahouses). Sleeping rooms are simply furnished, mostly double rooms with beds. You sleep in your own sleeping bag, although recently some lodges provide basic blankets of decent cleanliness. The dining area is often heated with a small stove, but rooms are not heated.

Showers are available for a small fee at most places where we stay—sometimes with a flow-through heater, sometimes with a bucket of heated water. Don’t expect the luxury of European bathrooms. In Kathmandu, we stay at the pleasant  Marshyngdi Hotel with approximately *** standard.

For Nepal, as well as for other countries where we organize treks, vaccination against Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, and typhoid is recommended but not mandatory. Hygiene standards are not always up to European levels.

The weather on treks can vary. In Nepal, the trekking seasons are spring and autumn (summer is monsoon season), and the weather is mostly good and stable. In Pakistan, Ladakh, and Tibet, summer is ideal, as the monsoon does not reach these areas. During the day, temperatures in the sun feel pleasant, often suitable for a long-sleeve shirt. At night, temperatures drop significantly, and in high altitudes, they fall below freezing.

In Nepal, mobile signal is occasionally available and varies from trek to trek. Roaming works but is expensive. Nepali SIM cards can be easily obtained in Kathmandu. Internet is available almost every day at the accommodations via Wi-Fi—sometimes free, sometimes for a fee.

In Pakistan and Ladakh, only satellite phones work on the treks. In Tibet, mobile signal is very unstable, but relatively good in cities. A VPN is necessary.

In Nepal, electronics can be charged practically every day. In places with limited power (solar panels in villages), charging is available for a fee. In rare cases, when there is insufficient sunlight, charging may not be possible.

On treks in Pakistan and Ladakh, we have a generator available, and charging is possible in the evening in the communal tent. In Tibet, charging is available at the lodges.