Tipping

[Jenny]

I'm off to Nepal for the first time on Saturday, and plan to do the ABC trek. I've hired a guide & porter independently, for 11 days trekking plus the guide is coming to Pokhara with me from KTM (I believe) - can anyone advise how much I should be tipping them? It's hard to know what's fair...
Thanks

[James]

This past December, I tipped my guide and porter a $150 US each for a three week trek with Island Peak. While I have no idea how this compares, it was what I could afford and I felt it could provide real econmic support in what is a tight tourist market.

I believe that the rule is that the guide should be paid more. However, in my case, my guide and I had some disagreements and I adjusted accordingly. I also had the sense that my guide would receive (take) a portion of my porter's tip. While I don't fully understand the financial relationship between agency, guide and porter, I have the strong sense that the guy doing all the heavy lifting gets the worst deal.

[yakshaver]

I guess a rule of thumb is to tip about 10-20 % of the agreed original price. It should depend on how happy you were with the experience, professionalism, etc. You should not tip the people you were unhappy with. You should tip everyone individually. Don't give to the guide with the instruction to share with the porter. Give everyone indivudually and thank them personally. I guess a porter is paid about half of what the guide is paid, but I tip them equally, usually. I had a situation where I did not tip a porter who abandoned us after a couple of days into the ABC trek, at Chomrong. Lukily my son and I only had about 12 kg of stuff, and the guide was happy enough to play porter-guide. Needless to say he got double the tip.

[Unregistered]

It is a complicated problem and there is no easy answer. I was on a World Expeditions trip and their policy is that everyone from the sirdar, to guide, kitchen crew and porters receives the same amount. They seemed ok with that, but other companies reacted in horror at the suggestion.

You can never please everyone no matter what you do, but the gesture is always appreciated.

[yakshaver]

It is much simpler if you go on a local Nepali organised trek, than with the likes of World Expeditions etc. It is even easier if you have an independently hired guide and porter, as you have direct control, and you give as much as you feel it's ok to give as a tip. Jenny should not have much of a problem.

[Unregistered]

One thing to bear in mind is that the average Nepali income is only a few hundred dollars a year and not everyone can be a porter etc. If porters can earn in a few weeks what their hardworking neighbouring farmers can only dream of in a year than this can have a negative effect on their local society and traditional ways of life. The yankee dollar can have have positive effects of course though when distributed with consideration. There is enough greed in the world without exporting that too to Nepal.

[Unregistered]

I think that it's sound of poony tourist.

One thing to bear in mind is that the average Nepali income is only a few hundred dollars a year and not everyone can be a porter etc. If porters can earn in a few weeks what their hardworking neighbouring farmers can only dream of in a year than this can have a negative effect on their local society and traditional ways of life. The yankee dollar can have have positive effects of course though when distributed with consideration. There is enough greed in the world without exporting that too to Nepal.

[alpinetourguide]

Dear All
the word 'tip' is very importent in tourism. it defer the happiness of tourist and services from the professionals. if you are happy with him/her you can give any amount from your kind heart.
but you have to give that to hard worker not to :D (cheater.)

[yakshaver]

Good point Alpinetourguide! If you are happy about the service, and you sensed the guide & porters have given that little bit extra, reward this. This is the type of reinforcement which will increase the standard of customer service.