Frequently asked
Questions our travellers ask most.
Answered by the specialists who lead these trips, not by a script. If you do not find your answer, WhatsApp us. Most replies take under an hour during Kathmandu daytime.
Booking and payment
The first quote arrives within four working hours. The booking itself, when you're ready, is straightforward.
How do I book a tour with Holiday Maker Nepal?
Send an enquiry through the contact form or WhatsApp. A specialist replies within four working hours with a tailored itinerary and quote. To confirm, we collect a 25% deposit and a signed booking form; the balance is due 30 days before departure.
What payment methods do you accept?
Bank transfer in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, INR, BDT, or NPR. Major credit and debit cards via secure online link (3% gateway fee applies). UPI from Indian travellers. We do not accept cash on arrival for the booking deposit.
Is the deposit refundable?
Deposits are refundable up to 60 days before departure, less a 10% admin fee. Between 30 and 60 days, 50% of the deposit is refundable. Inside 30 days, deposits become non-refundable but can be applied to a rescheduled trip within 12 months.
Can I cancel or postpone after I have paid the balance?
Yes. Within 21 days of departure, postponement costs are minimal, usually a small re-issuance fee on the domestic flights. Cancellations inside 14 days lose the cost of any pre-paid hotels and flights, which depend on the carrier policy. Travel insurance covers most of this; we strongly recommend it.
Trip planning and customisation
Every itinerary on the site is a starting point. Most travellers customise pacing, accommodation level, and add-ons before booking.
Can I customise the itineraries on the website?
Yes, most travellers do. Common changes are slower pacing for senior travellers, hotel category upgrades (3-star to 5-star), private vehicles instead of shared, and add-ons like Chitwan jungle safari or a Pokhara extension. Quote turnaround stays the same: four working hours.
Do you arrange private departures?
All of our trekking, cultural, and pilgrimage tours are private by default. You travel with your own party only, no shared groups unless you specifically ask. Pricing tiers shift with group size, so two travellers pay slightly more per head than four.
What is the minimum group size?
Solo travellers welcome. Most pricing is built on twin-sharing, so a single-supplement surcharge applies. Group sizes scale from one to forty; the largest single trip we run regularly is around twenty-eight delegates on a corporate MICE programme.
Can you arrange Sanskrit-speaking or pandit-led pilgrimage tours?
Yes. Our pilgrimage desk works with senior pandits in Pashupatinath, Janakpur, and Muktinath. Sanskrit-aware tour leaders are available on Hindu yatra circuits, and we pre-coordinate puja items, priest meetings, and Mangla aarti slots.
Are tours suitable for senior travellers and travellers with mobility limits?
Yes, with the right pacing. We routinely run trips for travellers aged 70+ and 80+ with proper acclimatisation, helicopter alternatives for high-altitude legs (e.g. Muktinath), oxygen on standby, and ground-floor hotel rooms. Tell us up front and the itinerary is built around it.
On the trip
What to expect from departure to arrival back home: guides, transport, meals, dietary needs, and emergencies.
What is included in a typical tour package?
Airport transfers, all ground transport, accommodation per the agreed category, breakfast daily (with most lunches and dinners on trekking tours), licensed guide, all permits and entry fees, and 24-hour Kathmandu desk support. International flights, travel insurance, lunch and dinner on cultural tours, and personal expenses are usually billed separately.
Do your guides speak languages other than English?
All guides are English-speaking. Hindi, Nepali, and Newari are standard across the team. Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, Arabic, and Mandarin are available on request with sufficient lead time, usually 10 days for senior coordinator assignment.
Are vegetarian, vegan, Jain, halal, and kosher meals available?
Vegetarian is the default in much of Nepal, so it requires no extra planning. Vegan, pure-veg Jain, halal, and kosher are arranged on request. We pre-book restaurants in Kathmandu Thamel and Pokhara Lakeside that meet these standards. Tell us at booking and the dietary notes go out to every hotel and trail kitchen on the itinerary.
What if there is a medical emergency at altitude?
All our guides carry a satellite phone above 3,500 metres and are trained in altitude first response. Helicopter evacuation is on call from Kathmandu and Pokhara, with insurance billing handled directly. Travel insurance with mountain rescue cover is mandatory for trekking trips.
What about Wi-Fi and mobile signal on trek?
Kathmandu and Pokhara have full 4G and reliable hotel Wi-Fi. Trekking routes (Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu) have patchy 3G in lower villages and Wi-Fi at teahouses for a small fee. Above 4,500 metres, signal is unreliable. We provide a local SIM with data on the first day if you prefer.
Visa and entry
Visa on arrival is available for almost every passport at Kathmandu airport and major land borders.
Do I need a visa for Nepal?
Almost every passport gets visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and major land borders. Indian citizens travel visa-free under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty. SAARC citizens receive one free 30-day visa per calendar year. Twelve nationalities must apply at a Nepal embassy before travel.
How much is the Nepal visa fee?
USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days. All visas are multiple-entry by default. Carry fresh USD bills; torn or marked notes are routinely refused.
Can I get a Nepal eVisa before travel?
Nepal does not currently issue a true eVisa. The online arrival card on the Department of Immigration portal is a pre-fill of the on-arrival form, not a pre-issued visa. The visa is stamped at the immigration counter when you land.
Still wondering?
Talk to a specialist before you book.
Every traveller is different. A real human reads every enquiry and writes every reply.