FAQs for Green Horizon Tours

Who is Green Horizon Tours & Travels, and what destinations do you operate in?

Green Horizon started because a few of us who loved the mountains wanted to show people the right way. Not the rushed way, not the cookie-cutter way — the real way. We’re based in Nepal and have been running trips here for over 15 years. Nepal is our home base, but we also take people into Bhutan and Tibet, two places that need proper handling because of how their entry systems work. We know these regions well — not just the popular trails everyone goes on, but the lesser-known routes, the villages most tourists fly right past, the viewpoints nobody puts on Instagram yet. That local knowledge is honestly what sets us apart more than anything else.

Why trek with Green Horizon Tours & Travels?

Look, there are a lot of trekking companies in Nepal. We know that. But most of them are running the same routes, the same schedules, with guides who’ve memorized a script. That’s not what we do. We’ve been on these trails for over 15 years — not as outsiders looking in, but as locals who grew up here, who know the families running the teahouses, who’ve watched the mountains in every season. When you book with us, you’re not getting a tour package. You’re getting people who actually give a damn about your experience. That sounds like something every company says. The difference is we mean it, and our travelers come back year after year because they feel that.

How long has Green Horizon Tours been in business?

Fifteen years this year, and the truth is, it still feels like we’re learning something new every season. We started small — just a handful of people with a deep love for the Himalayas and a belief that travelers deserved better than generic itineraries. Word spread slowly at first, then faster. A lot of our clients today found us through someone who traveled with us three or four years ago. That kind of referral means more to us than any advertisement. We’ve seen a lot of changes in this industry over the years — the good and the bad — and through all of it, we’ve just tried to keep doing things the right way. Fifteen years in, that hasn’t changed.

How can I book a tour or trek with Green Horizon Tours & Travels?

Just reach out — seriously, that’s it. Drop us a message through the contact form on the website, send an email, or WhatsApp us directly. We try to reply within 24 hours, usually faster. From there, we just have a conversation. We’ll ask where you want to go, when you’re thinking of traveling, who’s coming with you, and what kind of experience you’re after. Some people come to us knowing exactly what they want. Others just have a rough feeling — “I want mountains, I want it to feel real” — and we help figure out the rest from there. Once we’ve put something together that feels right, we walk you through everything before anything gets confirmed. Spring and autumn fill up fast, so if you’re thinking about those seasons, earlier is always better.

What payment methods do you accept?

We work with bank transfers, credit and debit cards, and a couple of online payment options that are reliable for international travelers. When you confirm a booking, we ask for a deposit to lock everything in — that’s when we start securing your permits, accommodation, and guides. The remaining amount is settled before the trip kicks off. Every payment gets a proper receipt, no grey areas. If your circumstances make the standard setup tricky — maybe you’re booking months out and want to split things differently — just talk to us. We’ve worked with travelers from all over the world, and we’re flexible when there’s a genuine reason to be.

What types of tours and treks do you offer?

Trekking is what we’re known for and honestly what we love most — Everest Base Camp, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, some really remote routes that don’t show up on the first page of Google. But we do a lot more than trekking. Luxury tours for people who want the Himalayan experience without sleeping in a sleeping bag. Family trips are built around what actually works when you’ve got kids in tow. Solo travel for people who want to explore without having to figure everything out alone. Cultural tours, wildlife trips into Chitwan or Bardia, pilgrimage routes, rafting, and paragliding over Pokhara. The range is pretty wide. And if something you’re imagining doesn’t fit neatly into any category, tell us anyway — we’ve put together some unusual trips over the years, and those are often the most memorable ones.

Do you provide airport pickup and drop-off services?

Yes, always. Arriving somewhere new after a long flight is already disorienting enough — the last thing you need is to be standing outside the airport trying to figure out transport. We have someone there to meet you, help with your bags, and get you to your hotel without any stress. Same on the way out — we make sure you’re dropped off with enough time, no matter what hour your flight leaves. It’s included in most of our packages as standard. If, for some reason, it’s not part of your specific booking, just ask, and we’ll sort it. Send us your flight details ahead of time and we’ll take care of the rest.

What are the physical difficulty levels of your treks?

We’re straight with people about this because there’s nothing worse than finding out halfway up a mountain that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Our easy treks work well for first-timers, families, older travelers, or anyone who wants to be in the mountains without pushing too hard — gentler terrain, shorter days, lower elevation. Moderate treks are for people who exercise regularly and are comfortable being on their feet for six or seven hours on uneven ground. And then there are the tough ones — Everest Base Camp, Three Passes, Manaslu — which genuinely require fitness, prior hiking experience, and a realistic mindset about hard days. If you’re unsure where you fall, just tell us a bit about your background, and we’ll be honest with you about what makes sense.

Can I customize my trek itinerary?

Yes, and half the trips we run these days are customized in some way. Some people want to go slower than the standard itinerary. Some want to add a side valley or a remote village that isn’t on the usual route. Families need shorter walking days. Solo travelers sometimes want something completely off the beaten track. We’ve had requests that started as “I don’t really know what I want, but I want it to feel different” and turned into some of the best trips we’ve ever put together. So yes — bring us your ideas, half-formed or fully formed, and we’ll build around them. That’s genuinely one of the parts of this job we enjoy most.

Do you provide guides and porters?

Both are included in our trekking packages, and both matter more than people realize before they actually get out there. Your guide isn’t just leading you along a path — they’re translating the culture, pointing out things you’d walk right past, making judgment calls when the weather turns, and genuinely looking out for you the whole way. Our guides are licensed, locally trained, English-speaking, and most of them have been with us for years. Porters take your main bag so you’re not grinding uphill under 15 kilos — trust us, that changes the whole experience. We pay our guides and porters properly, kit them out right, and make sure they’re insured. We’ve always felt strongly about that. These are the people who actually make the trip happen.

What safety measures do you have in place?

Safety isn’t a section in a brochure for us — it’s built into every decision we make when planning a trip. Our guides know how to spot altitude sickness early, before it gets serious, and they’re first-aid trained and experienced enough to act fast when needed. We never rush acclimatization days, even when clients feel fine and want to push on — that’s exactly when people get into trouble. We track weather conditions, stay in contact with ground teams, and always have a plan B for when things don’t go as expected. If a situation ever calls for pulling back or changing course, we do it. No hesitation. The summit or the destination isn’t worth more than your safety, and every guide on our team knows that.

What is included in the tour package?

Most of our packages cover the full picture — your guide, porter, accommodation throughout the trip, meals as laid out in the itinerary, all local ground transport, permit processing, and airport transfers. Some itineraries include welcome dinners, entrance fees, or cultural activities on top of that. Before you confirm anything, we send a detailed breakdown of exactly what’s in and what’s out. No vague language, no surprises once you’re on the road. If something isn’t included and you want it added, we tell you the cost upfront. We’ve been doing this long enough to know that hidden charges destroy trust, and trust is what our business actually runs on.

Are permits and trekking fees included?

For most of our packages, yes. The standard permits — TIMS card, national park fees, conservation area entry, restricted area permits where applicable — are all arranged by us and included in your cost. You won’t be queuing at a permit office or chasing down paperwork on your own. For Tibet and Bhutan specifically, the permits are more complex, and we handle those as part of the booking process. If your itinerary changes after you’ve confirmed and that affects permit costs, we’ll tell you straight away before anything extra gets charged. We’ve been burned by hidden fees ourselves as travelers — we’re not going to do that to the people who trust us.

What level of accommodation can I expect?

Depends on where you’re going and what you’ve booked. On the trekking trails, accommodation is teahouses — family-run places that are basic but genuinely warm and welcoming. A real bed, a hot meal, sometimes a wood stove in the dining room if it’s cold. It’s not luxury, but after a full day of walking, it’s exactly what you need, and there’s something about those evenings that stays with you. For city stays, we use clean, well-located hotels — mid-range as standard, with upgrades available depending on the package. Our luxury tours use proper high-end lodges and hotels, places we’ve personally stayed in and would recommend without hesitation. Whatever the level, we don’t book anywhere we haven’t vetted ourselves.

What happens if weather or altitude stops us from completing a trek?

It happens. Not on every trip, but it happens, and anyone who tells it to you who won’t is either inexperienced or not being straight with you. Mountain weather moves fast, and altitude hits people differently — fitness doesn’t protect you from it completely. When something comes up, your guide will sit down with you, explain the situation honestly, and walk through the options. Sometimes it’s an adjusted route. Sometimes it’s a rest day, and you push on the next morning. Sometimes the right call is coming down early. We build room for these situations into our itineraries because we’ve seen enough seasons to know you need it. If it ever reaches the point where evacuation is needed, we move immediately — we coordinate everything, and we stay with you until you’re safe.