Travel And Trekking Agencies In Nepal

  • Updated on Feb 17, 2024
  • Nirajan Chaulagain
  • 3149 views

There are hundreds of travel and trekking agencies in Nepal; some are well-known and recognized. It doesn't mean that all the well-known agencies are the best and the new agencies are not great agencies. Why are there so many travel and trekking agency websites listed? The first thing we have to clear up is that the Nepali economy depends on tourism, which has good revenue for the government and is also a good income source for local people, directly or indirectly. Nepal is an agricultural country, but tourism is another big source of foreign currency.

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Travel And Trekking Agencies In Nepal

Do you guys know who the father of travel agencies is?

Thomas Cook was the father of the Travel Agency, which he established in 1841.

Let me go back to the question about the Travel Trek websites. Well, it's a bitter fact that not all travel websites are proper travel and trekking companies. Even if the travel or trekking agency is registered, some of those agencies have 2-3-4 websites. It sounds crazy, but it's a fishing business with unfair competition. It's a business to grab people from different links.

Suppose Rugged Trails Nepal has one name and its own website is www.ruggedtrailsnepal.com, but if there is a nice keyword, then people register those as companies' websites. So generally, most of the companies cover different websites' names. The most important thing is that there are many websites, but they are not registered as travel/trekking agencies under the government rules. You have to be aware of those kinds of agencies. The website looks nice, but it doesn't cost a lot to design a website these days.

You might have been searching for the best travel or trekking agency in Nepal.

Well, all of the travel and trekking agencies are the best, and they do their best job because they are customer service businesses. If we check before the 1998 Nepal tourism year, there were very few tour operators in Nepal. On those days, there were very few trekking routes, destinations, and people involved. But, to be honest, they were well-trained people, and they preserve and maintain the tourism industry in Nepal. They used to do research and discover places and things that were still ongoing.
Travel agencies want to see their clients happy, and all of them try their best to provide the best they can. Sometimes unexpectedly, things go wrong, and one review on TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet made a big thing.

Why is the trek/tour itinerary the same but the price is different?

These are the interesting questions that we always have to hear, so let's find out why they're different. Even the trip days, places, and services look the same, but the price will be different, like the 14-day Everest Base Camp trekking.
First, let's not forget the value of your holiday. You might have saved money long ago to visit Nepal. Whether you join local agencies or hire a guide and porter, it's up to you how you are enjoying your vacations. The price is different because of the hotels, services, time, information, care, guides, and other teams.
While traveling, the most important thing is the person who is with you as a guide, porter, or anyone else. Their company is the most important because you will forget their height and stone name while traveling. Their time with you, their expression, how to chit-chat, or their knowledge are in various parts. We believe and keep telling our guides to improve their nature of traveling in a different way. Guides are not just to show the way, to tell the mountain's name, or to only charm by smiling. They must have a general knowledge of politics, cultures, lifestyle, movies, international events, and news so they can have a nice conversation. If you are paying less than your budget, then expect just a guide who will show you the way, the mountain height, and the distance, but nothing besides that. They know their cultures, but they can't give details because they can't speak English well. Obviously, they will be familiar with the places and trails because they have been doing the same job for a long time.

Your insurance policy might cover the less expensive Everest Base Camp trek cost!  How?  Connect with Rugged Trails experts to learn more details.

Cheap prices matter in services such as food too; while trekking, you will not get enough food, or you will be forced to eat less or what guides will provide. It happens because if you have joined budget or cheaper price trips, they try to make a margin on every single thing. You won't get proper food, hotels, guides, or information. Imagine how much the companies are paying to guide and porter while being with you. Their daily income will be less than 10 USD because of the cheap trip price, and here they can't save their salary, and guides will trick on food and hotels because they have to earn money. It's normal to do this because, while doing work, if they don't get well paid, they have to do it. His family depends on his work; he has been walking with you in the high mountains.
I hope you guys get it If you choose the standard price, you will get a good guide, food, services, and everything else. It doesn't mean that if you pay a lot, you will get the best value among other lower-budget people. The value will be the same, but the services will be different, and don't forget that your holiday is helping in some way.

How do I pick the right and trusted travel company in Nepal?

As I mentioned above, none of the registered companies want to lose their business and want to see their clients unhappy. Check their legal documents, check their client's reviews, and check how they respond to you. Some companies are not listed on TripAdvisor or the Lone Planet Book, so it doesn't mean that they are not trusted. Every single day, new travel companies are in the registration process or ongoing, so some may not have listed them, and some don't want to register with them. These days, TripAdvisor is one of the best places to see the company's reviews, but we shouldn't forget that TripAdvisor is also turning into a business.

Some of our colleague's companies use fake reviews to rank higher. The interesting part is that while doing an adventure in Nepal, without hesitation, we have to accept that we are still in the third old country. Our amenities, infrastructure, and technical things are not updated; therefore, if you expect high and luxury, it will not match. In this case, we have to understand the online reviews. Some clients may write terrible or bad reviews; it's not that the company is totally bad. Think that somewhere something is missing, either from the guide, office staff, or company person, but think that there are other staff, guides, and responsible people in the company besides them. A person can be worse in a team but can't compare the whole company because there are other excellent reviews.

Talking about fake reviews, it generally happens on TripAdvisor. Nepalese are outside of Nepal, so the travel company person asks them to put reviews on TripAdvisor, and this keeps happening. A good thing is that TripAdvisor is removing those kinds of reviews. While looking for an excellent company, excellent reviews, it's a good idea because you are paying money to get the best. But I think those reviews are based on personal experience with guides, staff, and also with the places. If it's extremely good, then it doesn't mean that you will get some things and experience it in the same way. You might have a worse experience, average, or much better than that.

Most companies blame guides or staff if there are bad reviews, but let the company be honest if they are seriously open with clients. Companies have to explain everything fairly about the places, guides, porters, and the current situation. In underdeveloped countries, things keep changing, and clients are unaware of that.

Sometimes complications happen because of not being clear with clients. Promotions are important for business, but Nepal travel agencies shouldn't forget that adventure (especially trekking in Nepal) is not like McDonald's business. So check reviews, legal papers, and how they respond to you. Some companies reply to you in a professional way, while others may reply in a friendly way, like rugged trails Nepal always prefers friendly people. We want to befriend you, and we want to welcome you as a friend and send you back as a family member. If you join a friendly company, you will get to learn more and experience more about everything.

There are complications between guides and travel companies.

Companies want the business, so they might put some more cheese in, but they must share it with guides. Maybe guides were not informed of what the agencies had promised you before signing a trip. Some companies want to earn more money, so they give less salary to guides, and guides don't give the best of what they are supposed to give. On budget trips, this is the main problem because guides and staff can't save their salaries, so they expect tips from you. Companies don't tell you that guides and staff expect tips from you, and it's compulsory. If you had paid enough, then it must cover everything, but if it's a budget trip, companies have to be clear on this: tipping money feeds their family, sends their kids to school, and they save some money from tips. Rugged Trails Nepal is clear on budget trips; please read the above line because it is what it is.

We hope it helps you learn about Nepali travel and trekking agencies. Agencies have their own problems because of unfair competition, government rules, and many fake websites and travel portal sites. It's a big bitter truth message for all clients, some of our guides, or its the same case with other agencies too. Guides register their own company, but they won't share it with the companies where they have been working. It's a big issue for all agencies because guides work with various companies to collect clients. Those guides who are not honest with their companies generally give a negative message and want to dominate the company. It makes sense because, since the company trusts guides, it sends them as your guides. Think about it because companies are giving work and trusting guides; companies have invested in their training, and personal insurance. Check how honest that person is with their own company.

Rugged Trails Nepal requests that you share your travel experience with the team so we can improve and give our best in the future. It's not only with rugged trails in Nepal; it would be nice to share it with your company because it helps. You totally have the right to say everything if things don't work out well because you not only paid for the trip but also purchased flight tickets to come here. Make your holiday a lifetime experience.

We love to hear your feedback and Nepal experience shared with us; it doesn't matter if you traveled with A, B, or C companies.

Happy Holidays