As part of our mission to support safe and responsible travel, Modern Adventure requires all guests and staff members participating in our experiences to be fully vaccinated (including booster protocols if applicable) for COVID-19 with an authorized vaccine. We will require proof of vaccination prior to your trip’s departure for all destinations and group experiences. In addition, it may be a requirement to provide a negative COVID-19 test result prior to your departure and your return to your home country. By booking a Modern Adventure you are agreeing to these terms and to providing proof of vaccination.

The ability to provide a negative test result or comply with the vaccination requirements is the responsibility of the guest. Any cancellation due to non-compliance of these requirements will result in your booking being non-refundable or transferable.

Our Traveler Vaccination Policy is subject to change and any exceptions to this policy are granted at the sole discretion of Modern Adventure.

Please note that all of our travelers must adhere to all country-specific, regional and local protocols, and travel requirements.

For more information about our COVID policies, please click here.

If you are on prescription medication, you should ask your doctor for a letter detailing your condition and prescribed drugs. This prevents possible issues at customs and helps the local doctor if you need to buy medication while traveling. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, we recommend you bring an extra pair and a copy of the prescription in case of emergency.

Nepal's weather is dominated by annual monsoon rains in June. The dry season runs from October thru mid-May and is one of two preferred seasons for trekking in Nepal.

In November and early December you can expect mostly clear skies, with average temperatures in Kathmandu in the upper 70s during the day, the mid-50s at night.

On our trek, as we gain elevation, the temperature will drop significantly: plan on daytime temperatures in the low to mid-50s, with overnight temperatures below freezing.

As we approach Everest Base Camp itself, and at elevations above 15,000 feet, daytime temperatures in the upper 30s are most common, with nighttime lows in the low 20s.

On our trek, we can expect some rain, sun, wind (gusts in the 30-50mph range are not uncommon), snow, clouds and fog—often on the same day! We live by the adage, "prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and you'll likely end up with some of both.”

We’ll be trekking in remote areas with minimal access to services. We'll cover 70+ miles, hiking 5 to 8 hours a day with elevation gains between 500 and 2,500 feet, sticking mostly to established trails.

This trek is accessible for most age levels who maintain good physical fitness, have previous multi-day hiking experience, and recognize the inherent unpredictability and demands of hiking at altitude in remote areas.

We recommend you should be capable of hiking at a minimum pace of 1 to 2 miles per hour, carrying a daypack, for up to 8 hours a day.

Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure. Training should include walking, hiking or breaking-in boots you intend to wear, and practicing hiking or camping in a variety of conditions (nice weather, rain etc.). Pre-trip physical conditioning is important to creating a fun and positive experience for yourself, and for the group as a whole.

We strongly discourage guests from arriving without doing pre-trip physical conditioning.

Traveling at high altitudes can be hazardous, because the pressure in the atmosphere decreases as you gain elevation. On our trek we will spend the majority of time above 10,000 feet; Everest Base Camp is the highest point we'll reach at 18,372 feet.

A number of changes must take place for our bodies to operate with decreased oxygen, including: increasing the depth of our breaths; increasing the pressure in the pulmonary arteries; forcing blood into portions of our lungs that are normally not used at sea level; and manufacturing additional oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

Acclimatization is the body's natural means of combating altitude sickness, and the rate of acclimatization depends on the altitude, rate of ascent, and individual health.

Acclimatization generally takes 2 to 3 days. Our itinerary to Everest Base Camp includes scheduled acclimatization stops on Days 5 and 9. On these days we will pause to 'hike high, and sleep low,' which supports the body's natural acclimatization.

Our guides are professionals trained in Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which is a factor at elevations over 10,000 feet. Most people will experience mild AMS during the acclimatization process, with symptoms (dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, nausea) starting 12 to 24 hours after arrival at altitude. Mild AMS typically does not interfere with normal activity and symptoms generally subside as the body acclimatizes.

When trekking, it is essential that you communicate any symptoms of illness immediately to our guides.

Our expedition guides will have a medical kit and rescue supplies available, but we always recommend that you carry a personal first-aid kit and any personal medication.

We make safety a priority on all our adventures, however, incidents and injuries that require evacuation do occur from time to time. Since this adventure takes place in very remote \ locations, it can be difficult and expensive to plan evacuations. It is each guest’s responsibility to be covered by medical, travel and evacuation insurance, or be prepared to cover the cost yourself, for expenses related to an emergency medical evacuation (see Travel Insurance, below).

In the event of an emergency in which family or friends need to contact you, the Modern Adventure Emergency Line can be used at all hours by calling +1 (503) 374-9055.

Kathmandu has cell service, and you will have Wifi access at our hotels.

While trekking in the mountains, guests will have no cell service and limited Internet connectivity in Namche Bazaar only. The Himalayas are a magnificent and inspirational destination, and we value completely disconnecting from civilization. We discourage guests from bringing their own satellite phones or similar devices.

See the Gear & Packing section for a detailed list of recommended clothing and gear to bring with you. In terms of luggage we recommend the following luggage:

• 1 daypack to carry your camera, water bottles, extra layers for the day, for a total weight of no more than 15 pounds.

• 1 soft duffel bag (no wheels or hard-case) between 40 liters and 60 liters in size. This is for your sleeping bag, personal items, and all clothing required for the trek. This bag will be ported for you, and the maximum weight (fully loaded) should be no more than 28 pounds.

• 1 duffel bag or hard suitcase for non-trek items to leave behind in Kathmandu (you will not have access to this bag once we depart Kathmandu). This bag will be transferred and waiting for you when we return to Kathmandu at the end of our trek.

The local currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR), worth approximately 116 NPR to US$1.

Indian rupees (INR) are widely accepted in Nepal, as are US dollars. Note that ATMs are available in Kathmandu, but are not common in smaller towns and villages. Some restaurants and shops accept credit cards; however Nepal is still a cash-centric country, and you will want some Nepalese or Indian rupees, or small-denomination US notes handy.

Please note that tipping our local experts, drivers and Himalayan trekking guides is customary. To show your appreciation for good service, we recommend tipping your trekking team of twelve, city guides, and drivers US$600 per person, which will be split up amongst the team. Your Modern Adventure trip Leader will collect all gratuities and ensure that they are shared appropriately. 

In Nepal electricity is supplied at 230 volts with socket types C (two round pins), D (three round pins in triangular pattern), and M (three round pins), all of which are different from North America (which operates at 120V, A and B type sockets). For guests traveling from the US, you will need a power-plug adapter as well as a voltage converter before plugging in appliances and electrical devices.