Every trekking company feels they are best in the trekking business, but there are distinctive features that define any trekking company. As a traveler or trekker, there are some of the main factors in how to choose a trekking company for your next trekking adventure.
Although your budget, the place you wish to trek, and interest do make the difference other factors play a key role as well. It is crucial to choose the right trekking company for your next expedition.
How To Choose a Trekking Company – Don’t worry we are here to guide you through.
- License, registration, and affiliation
The most important thing to look forward to before you look at how to choose the trekking company is to go through their official license and registration. The trekking agency must be legally recognized in the country.
It is important that the company is registered and falls under the Nepal Tourism Board. Moreover, check on their website better to know in detail about their legal standpoint. If they provide trekking and climbing facilities they should be registered under the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) respectively.
Similarly, the companies that practice responsible tourism must also fall under the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP). Be rest assured about every aspect of the legalities before booking a trek.
- Value of price
In the case of any trekking company, the value of pricing is an absolute key. Until and unless you get the absolute value for the price you paid, it ain’t worth it to choose the particular trekking agency.
Although the price seems to be similar in every trekking agency, it is about the reviews, the added benefits along with the services that comes along which makes the difference. Always try and inquire with the trekking company.
It is far better to meet the agents from the trekking company before actually starting the trek. This provides you with an idea of how they deal with things and the seriousness of the service. Trek Nepal is one such brilliant trekking agency providing quality service.
- Safety procedure and experience
Experience is key in trekking. If you are traveling to a tougher destination it is important to know whether your trekking agency and team are qualified or not. The most important point on how to choose a trekking agency should revolve around this.
The safety procedure during the time of emergency is also critical. Whether you have the airlift service at the top of the mountain if got stuck, what about the rescue operation in tough scenarios, all of it plays a key role.
Check for all the reviews and comments on their website which will provide you major idea about their safety standard and experience. Your trekking company needs to be proactive on issues rather than reactive to what comes next.
- The practice of responsible tourism
This is a new concept in the field of trekking. However it wont be a mistake to say that this is a critical point in selecting the right trekking agency. Over a long period, the environment is taken for granted while trekking, climbing, or hiking.
But things have changed in recent times. Responsible tourism needs to be practiced where we respect the environment, protect it from over-plastic use, and believe in reuse and recycling. Not only this but the people in the environment but be taken care too.
The Trek Nepal on this term tends to help the local communities to get business, improve the lifestyle of the local village, etc. This has brought major changes in the lives of people from the remote area.
- Customized Itinerary
A trekking agency with whom you will be spending weeks and sometimes months should be lenient towards you. Having said that it should be able to customize their packages based on what you need.
A customized trekking package allows you to understand the tour properly. This also allows the trekkers or guests to be included in the mix of planning. On how to choose a trekking company try and choose the one that understands you.
By this, we mean change in the cost of the trek based on many people, special services to the guests during unseen circumstances, etc. This allows the belief and trust of the guests to get higher and better.
- Higher transparency and trustworthy
Transparency is the key when we talk about any trekking agency. You will need to be open about what services you will provide and what not. In the case of cost as well, there should be clear communication.
Meanwhile, no hidden cost should be used during the trek which could affect the trekkers financially. Similarly, when we talk about trust, any trekking agency that has better rates and reviews must be trusted.
In like manner, we can also interact with the past trekkers who have traveled from that particular agency. This allows the new-coming trekkers to understand the value of the trekking agency. The Trek Nepal has a clean record on it which makes it easier to gain trust.
- Co-ordination and associaton
When you are spending more than 10 days with an unknown organization mainly depended upon the guide and porter it is important they have better coordination. The team composition of the trekker and the other agency members must be good.
Guides should know every trek route which could make the journey easier. Similarly, the porter should be physically capable of carrying the goods to the destination. Nobody knows how the mountains will behave so knowing them inside out is the key.
During the tough situation at the mountains, a guide should know what to do and what not to do. Whether you will be enjoying your overall journey or not will be highly depended upon the guide and porter. A trekking agency can only push you into the ring of fire.
Conclusion
It is straightforward to find trekking agencies in modern times. But knowing how to choose a trekking agency that fits you is the key. You will need to understand the value, legal aspects, and also the result.
On the tourist or trekker front, you should be well-mannered and behaved. Poor habits during the trek will only cause issues. Always respect the locals and culture of the place and you will have a brilliant trekking experience.