Tipping and gratitude in Nepal

As in other part of world tipping is quite common in service industry in Nepal too. It is additional expenses you want to give to the service provider when you are pleased and satisfy with their services. Like other country; in Nepal also tips are taken as a token of love and as a gesture of pleasure from the guests. Nepali people are quite friendly by nature and they are self expressive. Most of the clients return with satisfaction and promise to come back again. Because of the friendly nature of guides, local people and hotel crews, your travel become quite enjoyable. Because of all these factors the service providers get good tips from the clients.

Though, tips are not mandatory and nobody can force you to tip the people but your guide or Sherpa or porter expect some tips from you at the end of trip. The service providers never ask for the tips because it is the only clients who decide whether to thank with tips or no to tip them. But in most instances the service providers hope for tips from the clients though they do not ask for it verbally. Usually tips are given to those persons who are directly involved in your service. To name mostly your guide, Sherpa and porters during the trek and tour in Nepal, driver and other attendants who assist you carrying your luggage and other stuffs are supposed to get little tips as well.

How much shall I give as tips?
Though there is no specification of the amount for tips, tipping small amount of money would disappoint the receiver rather than appreciation. Therefore, it is not compulsory that to give at least Rupees 100 which is less than USD 1 for bell boy or cleaning lady in hotels. The amount of tips may depend on the nature and kind of services. Some guests do give tips about 10% of their total travel package while going for adventure trekking holidays in Nepal.

For an example, if you go for 5 days trekking then we recommend you to give at least € 5.00 per day which is equals to € 20.00 to the guide. Please throw away minimum of € 100.00 for your guide and € 90.00 for porter if your trek is more than two weeks in high altitute and going through 5000m mountain passes in Himalaya of Nepal. However, it is your intuition to give or not to give the tip. Thanks for reading.