There are hundreds of trekking companies in Nepal, and most trekkers book from a website and a few messages. Here’s how to tell a careful operator from a risky one before you send any money.
Check the licences
- The agency: trekking agencies in Nepal need a licence from the Department of Tourism. Most also join the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), which requires that licence and lists its members on taan.org.np. Ask for the licence number and check it.
- The guide: guides need a government trekking guide licence, a photo card they should carry on the trek. Ask for your guide’s name and licence before you travel.
- Why it matters: since April 2023, foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas such as Annapurna and Langtang must trek with a licensed guide, booked through a registered agency (the Everest region has not applied the rule). See our guide rules explainer.
What a written quote should include
- The full day-by-day itinerary, with where you sleep each night
- Exactly what’s included and what isn’t: meals on the trek, porter, permits, transport, hotel nights
- The price per person for your group size, and what changes it
- Deposit, balance and refund rules
- Who pays for what if flights are delayed or you need to come down early
If any of this is vague, ask for it in writing before you pay.
Red flags
- A deposit to a personal bank account instead of a company one
- A price far below everyone else’s, with no clear list of inclusions
- No guide name until you arrive
- Being added to another group without being asked
- An itinerary that climbs fast at altitude with no rest days. Check it with our free altitude check.
- Pressure to decide on a helicopter evacuation quickly without a clear medical reason
Questions to ask before you book
- What are your Department of Tourism licence and TAAN membership numbers?
- Who will my guide be, can I see their licence, and have they walked my route recently?
- Is the trek private, or could others join my group?
- How many rest days are built in above 3,000 m?
- What happens if someone gets altitude sickness? Who decides on an evacuation, and does anyone earn commission from it?
- How are the porters paid, insured and equipped, and how much do they carry?
- Can I see the full refund rules in writing?
Where we stand
We are taking enquiries for the 2027 season. Every trek is planned by Suren, a licensed trekking guide.
Lopchan Treks doesn’t hold its own Department of Tourism licence yet. Before you pay, we give you the licensed operator’s name, licence and TAAN numbers in writing, so you can check them on taan.org.np. Availability and booking terms come in writing at the same time.
Our deposit, refund and safety rules are all published on our promises page, so you can hold us to the same checklist.
