- Can I leave my luggage at the apartment during the trek?
- Yes — Tiny Living guests get free luggage storage in our locked store-room for the duration of the trek between your pre-trek and post-trek apartment stays. Useful for the suitcase, the city clothes, the laptop, and anything else you do not want at 4,500m. We tag and label your bag; it sits in the store-room until you return.
- How many nights do I need in Kathmandu before the trek?
- For most permit-required treks (EBC, Annapurna, Manaslu), allow 2 nights pre-trek: one for arrival recovery and gear-shopping, one for permits + final preparation. For Langtang and Poon Hill (shorter treks with simpler permits), 1 pre-trek night is enough. After the trek, allow 1 post-trek night minimum — many trekkers prefer 2 to actually rest.
- Where do I get my TIMS card and trekking permits?
- TIMS card is issued at the Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikutimandap — a 10-minute walk from the Tiny Living apartments. Conservation Area Entry Permits (ACAP, Langtang, Manaslu, Sagarmatha) are issued at the same office. Restricted Area Permits (Mustang, Dolpo, Tsum, Nar-Phu) are issued at the Department of Immigration in Kalikasthan, also walking distance. Bring your passport, two passport photos, your trek insurance certificate and the fee in USD or NPR.
- Should I base in Kathmandu or in Pokhara for the Annapurna trek?
- Both work. Kathmandu is the international entry point — most trekkers fly into Kathmandu, do their permits, then continue to Pokhara for the trek start. Some prefer to skip Kathmandu, fly direct to Pokhara, and do permits in Pokhara. Our recommendation: use Kathmandu as the international arrival/departure base (permits + gear shopping + cultural day), and Pokhara as the immediate trek bookend if you want to. The bus/flight between them is straightforward — covered in our Kathmandu to Pokhara transit guide.
- How do I get to Thamel for gear shopping?
- 12-minute walk from the apartment, through quiet side streets. Thamel is the gear-shopping district of Asia — down jackets (from NPR 3,500 / USD 26), sleeping bags (rental NPR 200/day, purchase NPR 4,000–15,000), trekking poles (NPR 1,200 a pair), boots, microspikes, head torches. North Face / Mountain Hardwear / Black Diamond knock-offs are honest copies and entirely fine for the trek — the originals at the same price are imported via Singapore.
- Do I need a guide for the trek in 2026?
- As of 2026: registered guide mandatory for all restricted-area treks (Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Manaslu, Nar-Phu, Tsum, Tibet border treks) and for the Sagarmatha National Park (EBC region). Optional but recommended for Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, and Langtang. We can recommend trusted local guides on WhatsApp at no referral fee — message the host.
- What about the airport on departure if I have an early Lukla flight?
- Lukla flights depart Kathmandu domestic from 06:00 in peak season, and during the busy Oct–Nov window many flights operate from Manthali / Ramechhap airport (4–5 hours drive east). For the 06:00 Kathmandu departure, we arrange the airport pickup taxi for 04:45 with the smart-lock code active. For the Manthali alternate, we coordinate the inter-city transfer the night before. Either way, the smart-lock check-out and pickup logistics work for any flight time.
- Is there a place to dry my trek clothes when I get back?
- Yes — washing machine in every apartment, clothesline on the balcony or rooftop. Even at altitude-dried hiking-clothes pace, your gear will be clean and dry by the next morning. For the down jacket that needs proper down-cleaning, we have a contact at a Lazimpat dry-cleaner who handles outdoor gear properly — NPR 1,500 for a full clean.
- Can I leave my apartment booked while I am on the trek to come back to the same room?
- You can — at a 50% holding rate while empty. Most trekkers prefer the simpler version: check out for the trek, leave luggage with us free, and re-check-in to the same building (often the same apartment if the calendar allows) on return. This way you only pay for nights you actually sleep here. We coordinate via WhatsApp during the trek.
- What is the best post-trek meal in Kathmandu?
- The traditional answer is dal bhat one more time (your trek-buddies will thank you). The actual answer: Fire and Ice Pizzeria in Thamel for wood-fired pizza, then Sam’s Bar for the trekker-tradition drink. After 12 days of lodge food, fresh tomato and basil tastes incredible. The kitchen at the apartment lets you do simpler — fruit, salad, a real coffee — for the morning after.
