FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please note that the following questions are applicable in a more general sense to all the treks/tours offered via Equity Global Treks (Brown Gal Trekker, LLC). If you have questions that are not answered below or in the Trip Notes, please contact us and we will respond shortly.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TREK IN PERU, NEPAL ETC.?
Since we have specific departure dates for our treks/tours, this means the ideal time has been chosen for the trek/tour. We make sure to choose trek dates that afford you with the ideal weather situation and safe hiking conditions. However, mountain weather is at best unpredictable so we cannot guarantee the conditions during your actual time of travel. In general, our treks occur during spring, summer and fall seasons.
SHOULD I BUY INSURANCE?
Travel insurance with medical and emergency evacuation coverage are required for all the trekking tours. Insurance is recommended for the safari trips. For your convenience, Equity Global Treks has partnered with Global Rescue to ensure you have insurance that appropriately covers high altitude trekking. You can book your insurance via the Global Rescue website.
HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT VISA?
The State Department's website is the go to source for checking on the latest status of visa requirements for the country you are visiting. Normally, it is required that your passport does not expire for at least 6 months at the time of entry and that you have a few blank pages in your passport. Please note for all the treks/tours, you will be responsible for obtaining your visa to enter the country so it is best to check as early as possible.
HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT THE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COUNTRY I'M VISITING?
Please check the Center for Disease Control website for up to date vaccination/health requirements for the country you are visiting.
WHAT GEAR DO I NEED FOR MY TREK?
A detailed gear list specific to each trek/tour will be emailed to you upon booking your trip with us.
SHOULD I BRING CASH, DEBIT/CREDIT CARD OR TRAVELER'S CHECKS?
A combination of cash, debit and credit card would be best. Traveler's checks are more of a hassle as you will need to go to a local bank in the country you are traveling to during business hours.
HOW DO I STAY IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS?
Internet is highly common these days and so it is easy to stay connected with friends/family. Make sure to bring a cell phone/tablet that would connect you to wifi. Accommodations are mostly in a hostel or simple guesthouse which most often provides wifi connection. It is also possible to buy a sim card at your destination if you wish to be able to use data, voice and text features. You can also check with your cell phone carrier if international roaming is included. For instance, T-Mobile's Simple Plan includes a list of over 100 countries where international roaming is free which includes unlimited data and incoming SMS/text messages.
WHAT IS THE GUIDELINE FOR TIPPING?
It varies depending on the country although it truly comes down to the client's satisfaction. Guides, assistant guides, porters, cooks, drivers are among the people that you will typically tip on your trip.
WHAT CUSTOMS/LOCAL PRACTICES SHOULD I BE AWARE OF?
For every trek/tour, any relevant local customs will be noted for the participants under the Trip Notes section.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH THE LANGUAGE?
With a guided tour/trek, there should not be an issue with communicating in English; however, in the country itself, English can be limited especially in the mountain regions.
WHAT ARE THE BEST WEBSITES/MEANS OF BUYING FLIGHTS?
To save on flights, booking by using miles with any of the major airlines is the way to go. The second best option is to book your flight through Peak Explorations if the minimum number of people for a group discount is met. Some recommended online flight search engines include Kayak and SkyScanner.
OTHER TRAVEL TIPS/ADVISE I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
Contact your credit card company to advise them of your travel plans so that you are able to use your card without any hassles.
Register your name with the U.S. embassy before departure.
Bring at least 3 copies of your passports with you.
Leave an itinerary with a trusted loved one.
WHAT IF I HAVE OTHER SPECIFI TRAVEL QUESTIONS? Email us at bgt@browngaltrekker.com