Terms and Condition

Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Sherpa Expedition Teams, one of Nepal's most trusted and longest-serving adventure travel companies. We are a government-registered trekking and expedition operator, licensed by the Nepal Tourism Board, and we have been guiding travelers through the Himalayas since 1977.

Before you confirm a booking with us, please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. They exist to protect both you and our company, and to make sure every journey starts with complete clarity on both sides. By making a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to everything outlined below. If anything is unclear, our team is always happy to explain before you commit.

Booking and Confirmation

To reserve your place on any trek, tour, or expedition with Sherpa Expedition Teams, we need two things from you at the time of booking:

A clear photocopy or scanned copy of your valid passport. We use this for permit applications, official documentation, and travel logistics.

A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total trip cost. Your booking is confirmed only once we have received this deposit and acknowledged it in writing.

The remaining 70% of the trip cost is payable in full upon your arrival in Kathmandu, before your trek, tour, or expedition begins. No trip departs until full payment has been received.

Cancellation Policy

Plans change, and we understand that. If you need to cancel, the following charges apply based on when we receive your written cancellation notice, calculated against your total trip cost:

• 12 months or more before departure: 30% of the total trip cost is retained. This equals the non-refundable booking deposit.
• 6 months before departure: 50% of the total trip cost is retained.
• 25 days before departure: 70% of the total trip cost is retained.
• 15 days before departure: 90% of the total trip cost is retained.
• 7 days or fewer before departure: no refund is issued and the full trip cost is retained.
• Please note that the 30% deposit remains non-refundable at every stage, no matter when you cancel.

If Sherpa Expedition Teams ever has to cancel your trip for a reason within our control, we will notify you as quickly as possible and issue a full refund of every payment you have made to us, without delay.

Postpone Instead of Cancelling

Before you cancel, consider postponing. It is far more cost-effective, and it lets the value of your payment carry forward to a future adventure with us. A postponement fee of USD 150 is deducted from your deposit, and the remaining amount is credited toward your rescheduled trip. To use this option, send us written notice at least 30 days before your original departure date.

Trip Postponement

If you would like to reschedule rather than cancel, notify us in writing at least 30 days before your scheduled departure. A postponement fee of USD 150 applies, and all remaining funds are credited toward your new travel dates. We will do our best to secure the dates you prefer, subject to availability.

Payment Methods

You can pay for your booking in either of two ways.

Bank transfer. Payments can be made directly to our company account:

Account Name: Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd.

Bank: Himalayan Bank Ltd. 

Account Type: Foreign Currency (USD) 

Account Number: 12007443030026 SWIFT Code: HIMANPKA 

Branch: Sorahkhutte Branch, Kathmandu, Nepal

All bank transfer charges and international transaction fees are the client's responsibility. Your payment is confirmed once the funds are received and verified in our account. Please send us your transfer receipt so we can track and acknowledge your payment promptly.

Credit card. We accept credit card payments through our secure online payment platform. A 4% processing fee applies to all credit card transactions. This fee covers payment gateway costs and is non-negotiable.

Risks, Liability, and Limitations

Sherpa Expedition Teams operates in full compliance with the rules and standards set by Nepal's tourism authorities, and we take every reasonable precaution to keep our clients safe throughout their journey.

That said, adventure travel in the mountains carries inherent risks that no company can fully eliminate. Sherpa Expedition Teams cannot be held liable for losses, delays, additional costs, injuries, accidents, or other adverse outcomes arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control. These include government-imposed travel restrictions or policy changes; natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, avalanches, or extreme weather; political unrest or civil disturbance; flight delays, cancellations, or diversions; medical emergencies, personal illness, or injury; mechanical failure of vehicles or equipment; and any other force majeure event.

In any of these situations, additional expenses such as accommodation, meals, alternative transport, or rebooking fees are the client's responsibility. We strongly urge every client to arrange comprehensive travel insurance before departure that adequately covers the risks of adventure travel in Nepal.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for everyone joining a trip with Sherpa Expedition Teams. No client may begin a trek, tour, or expedition without valid proof of insurance coverage.

At minimum, your policy must cover medical treatment and hospitalization, emergency helicopter evacuation and rescue, personal accident and injury, trip cancellation or curtailment, loss, theft, or damage to personal belongings and equipment, and disruption caused by natural disasters.

We place particular emphasis on emergency evacuation coverage. Helicopter rescue in remote mountain regions is extremely expensive and is the single most likely scenario where your insurance will be needed. Make sure your policy covers evacuation from high altitude.

Last-Minute Bookings

Sherpa Expedition Teams welcomes last-minute travel plans and can accept bookings up to three days before departure, subject to the availability of permits, accommodation, and staff.

Please note that last-minute bookings for trips to Tibet or Bhutan may not be possible, because government travel permits for those regions take additional time to process. If your itinerary includes either destination, contact us as early as you can.

Flight Delays and Cancellations

Flights to and from remote mountain destinations, including Lukla, Jomsom, Dolpo, and Jumla, are frequently delayed or cancelled due to unpredictable weather and limited flight windows. These disruptions are a normal part of mountain travel in Nepal and are entirely outside our control.

We strongly recommend carrying extra funds to cover additional nights of accommodation and meals if flights are disrupted. Sherpa Expedition Teams will provide every possible assistance with rebooking and rearranging logistics, but we cannot be held financially responsible for costs arising from flight delays or cancellations.

Incomplete Trips

If a trek, tour, or expedition is cut short for reasons on the client's side, such as personal illness, injury, voluntary withdrawal, or inability to meet the fitness requirements, Sherpa Expedition Teams is unable to refund the unused portion of the trip. We encourage every client to assess their health and fitness honestly before booking, and to seek medical advice if they have any doubts.

Unexpected Circumstances and Force Majeure

If a trip is disrupted, postponed, or cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances entirely beyond our control, such as natural disasters, political emergencies, pandemics, or government-imposed border closures, Sherpa Expedition Teams will make every effort to arrange a suitable alternative itinerary for affected clients.

In these cases, payments already made are not forfeited. We will work with each affected client to find the best possible alternative, which may differ from the original itinerary given the nature of the circumstances. We appreciate your patience and understanding in situations that are as difficult for us as they are for you.

Price Adjustments

All prices published by Sherpa Expedition Teams are set in good faith and reflect costs at the time of publication. We reserve the right to adjust prices in response to significant external factors beyond our control, including major currency exchange fluctuations, changes to government permit fees or taxes, and significant inflation in operational costs.

If a price adjustment affects a confirmed booking, we will inform you as early as possible and explain the change with full transparency. Our commitment is to keep pricing fair, honest, and clearly explained at all times.

Client Conduct and Legal Compliance

Every client traveling with Sherpa Expedition Teams is expected to behave respectfully and lawfully throughout the journey, and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations of Nepal and any other country visited during the trip.

If a client engages in illegal activity during a trip and is expelled from Nepal or removed from the expedition as a result, Sherpa Expedition Teams accepts no responsibility for any associated costs, losses, or consequences, and no refund will be issued.

Third-Party and Agent Bookings

These Terms and Conditions apply only to bookings made directly with Sherpa Expedition Teams. If your trip was arranged through a third-party travel agent, tour operator, or booking platform, that provider's terms and conditions govern your booking. Please review them carefully before confirming your reservation through any external party.

Agreement and Acknowledgement

By proceeding with a booking, whether through payment of a deposit, completion of a booking form, or written confirmation of your intent to travel, you acknowledge that you have read and fully understood these Terms and Conditions and agree to be bound by them in their entirety.

If any part of these terms raises questions, please contact our team before booking. We would much rather clarify things now than let a misunderstanding arise later.

A Final Word

For nearly five decades, Sherpa Expedition Teams has built its reputation on honesty, transparency, and genuine care for our clients. These terms are not meant to create distance between us. They exist to create clarity, so that the only thing on your mind when your journey begins is the extraordinary adventure ahead.

We look forward to welcoming you to Nepal and sharing the Himalayas with you in a way you will remember for the rest of your life.