Tipping is a common practice in the trekking and climbing industry as a way to show appreciation for the services provided by Guides, Porters and other staff involved for making your trip in Nepal an experience of a lifetime. Tipping is expected and it's an excellent way to show your Guides and Porters recognition of the worth of their service. While there are no fixed rules or set amounts for tipping, we hope this short explanation will help to clarify your queries about tipping while you travel in Nepal.
In Kathmandu (or any other major city), most restaurants and hotels have included the service charge in the bill, so giving a tip is unnecessary (but it is fine if you wish to.) On a Tea house trek, it is common to see a box for tips. It is a nice gesture to leave a tip to show appreciation for their service.
Why should you Tip?
When you travel with Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expedition, you will be accompanied by a team working very hard to make your trip hassle-free and enjoyable. Nepal-based trekking agencies (including Annapurna Foothills Treks) and most international companies pay their staff according to the rates set by Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN). TAAN sets their wages comparatively higher than other jobs taking into account the seasonal nature of the work, but they also take into account that these employees generally receive about 10% in tips.
Your tips are an incentive to provide excellent service. When the staff receives a tip directly from you, they feel a sense of pride in their service. Of course, there is no obligation to tip if you are disappointed with the service you receive.
Since Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expedition’s package cost provides excellent value for the money, you are still getting a bargain if you budget 10% of the trip cost to allocate in tips. You can be sure that the crew will be highly grateful to be rewarded for their efforts.
How to divide the Tips?
Below, we've provided reasonable guidelines for dividing and distributing the tips among crew members.
Designation | USD per Day | Rupees per Day |
Climbing Guide | $ 12 to $ 15 | 1200-1500 NPR |
Trekking Guide | $ 10 to $ 15 | 1000-1500 NPR |
Porters and other Staff | $ 7 to $ 10 | 700-1000 NPR |
City Tour Guide | $ 10 to $ 15 | 1000-1500 NPR |
Note: These amounts apply to what your group gives collectively, not individually.
Perfect Time for Tipping
Usually, tips are distributed on the last night of the trek after dinner. The amount for tipping depends upon the group size. If you're traveling with a particular group, you should collect the amount together, and when that’s done, you can distribute the tipping amount to your crew members.
Most Preferred Currency
Talking about currency, you can tip your Guide and Porters in Nepalese Rupees NPR), US Dollars or Euros. Before starting your trek, make sure you’ve withdrawn enough cash you need for your trekking. We suggest withdrawing money (from ATM) in Kathmandu or Pokhara because once you head towards your destination in Nepal Himalaya, it will be difficult to exchange currency as there are no banks and ATMs in most of the trekking regions of Nepal.
Please, do understand that these amounts are just suggestions, and you should adjust them based on your satisfaction with the services provided and your own budget. If your Guide and Porter provided exceptional service, went above and beyond their duties, or helped you overcome challenges, consider increasing the tip amount accordingly and vice-versa. Always communicate directly with your guide and porter to express your appreciation and present the tips personally.
