New to Nepal as well.

[Kean]

i posted this in the thread (new to nepal) but in case it gets lost i repeated it...it might be in the wrong subject for which i apologise!!!

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Hi we are in the same boat as the starters of this thread except we are already in india....we are inexperienced trekkers so will want a guide so to clarify could someone answer these quiestions?

a) do you need to fly to lukla to to everest base camp?
b) where do you hire guides from? katmandu or in lukla? if KTM does he then come with you on flight??? je ne comprendre pas!! (basic questions hey ha ha)
c) how much does it cost to stay in these refuges and how much is food there?

we are on a backpacker budget so want to do it as cheaply as possible but want to be sensible too and i agree with the comment on injecting cash into economy.

also is it easy to arrange with this curfew/business?

thanks a lot

kean

[Sharon]

You don't need to fly to Lukla to do the base camp hike. You can come in from Jiri and this adds about 10 days on the trek You will also encounter Maists along this stretch and be required to pay their "fee" of about $70 US.
Hiring a guide from Kathmandu allows you to get to know him and he organizes flight, etc. He does come on the fight with you. His fare is paid by you and is considerably cheaper than your fare. There is a double fee structure in Nepal and one for the locals and one for the tourists. I don't mind paying for my guide and porter on the flight as I have no weight problem with luggage and the most common reason for flights crashing in overweight.

The guide will get your park permit etc. I budget about $15 US a day in the Everst region. You'll easily go higher adding in beer, cokes etc. Depends on your appetite as well. I also have extra cash to buy the guides, porters dinner beer, chang etc. While their food in included in their pay thy are trying to take home as much money as they can. My porter usually send most of his money to his parents.
I'm homesick just typing this..

[Kean]

ok cool thanks for that!!

do you have any emails of cheaper guides??? becaus ei have quotes from no doubtly good guides but they are saying $45 dollars a day...this for 18 days or 14 days is a lot of money.

thanks a lot

kean