Specific items for an serious  cost-calculation for a trekking or expedition in the Nanga Parbat region

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Well, it is not strange that such questions arise, because the first and lasting impression to an foreigner is: Everything is a question of discussion and bargain.

Mostly, this is true. Although the youngsters, brave college-students of "Business administration", or smart white collar "managers" try hard to convince you that every calculation is done in a professional way - you cannot count on this.

A typical foreigners-question about expenses of an trekking or expedition is quickly answered as an "per day rate", say: "90 US-Dollars per trekker and day" or "100 US-Dollars per mountaineer and day".

If you as an client, with a strong position in the beginning, accept such an "black box offer", you are exposing yourself to anger and trouble - what will happen, when you change your plans during travelling in the field? Will you get an refund when you shorten your duration of stay? One of your party-members gets sickness problems and the group has to be divided, will you really discuss the resulting money question in the field?

So, as with the sad subject: Problems with porters, it is YOUR duty, to insist in an detailed offer and agreement which will work without problems. For both sides. Sure, this takes some time in advance, and causes discussions with tour-operators or agencies. Mostly they will tell you they dont have an "Menu list" like an restaurant, but they will proudly claim "we have comparable prices and make a special offer to you".

When you then ask some other agencies or operators, you will get other "black box offers", but you will never know, which service is done in which way, and...are you the cash-cow for milking or the gentle sponsor for diluting fixed-costs?

To avoid problems with friends, operators and agencies, we cannot tell you here the exact self-cost-prices for certain objects or services, although we know them very well.

Instead, we will give you an "menu-list" of details, which are costs related topics, that need individual discussion and calculation. It is then your duty and responsibility to ask for an very specific individual offer for each object or service.

Rejecting your demand is NOT a sign of professional "business administration". It is then up to you to make an decision. There are many operators and agencies offering their services in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, so you are free to choose.

But you should have an important question in your mind: How are this operators or agencies linked to the locals in the visited area? Do they have personal roots in the area? Are they unknown "city-peoples" to the locals, or are they part of them?

Again: It is your, the clients duty, to ask questions and think, before you start your journey and lament afterwards bitterly!!

Specific items of an serious costs-calculation and service-agreement

• Where and how long will you stay in Islamabad or Rawalpindi ?
  Simple guesthouse without AC or TV; middle or upper class hotel in noisy Rawalpindi;
  or western styled AC, TV-equiped hotel in Islamabad?

• How will you get around in Islamabad or Rawalpindi ?
  Simple local taxi; private car on a per-day-rate with driver; public bus

• Where and what will you eat when in Islamabad or Rawalpindi?
  Local restaurant; hotel restaurant; which style and class; which cuisine

• Do you need a city-guide or will you organize yourself?
  Use your mountain guide; a taxi-driver; an agency-cityguide - or enjoy your aloneness

• Will you do the bureaucrazy alone or with an local helping-hand?
  Reconfirmation of flighttickets; Porters life-insurance; Transportation to the north

• Will you buy and select the food alone or should this be done for you?
  Type of meals; individual quantity and type of dishes; simple local dishes

• Will you buy or rent the storage boxes and cooking equipment?
  Metal containers; stoves and pots; cooking equipment

• Do you need and/or will you buy or rent certain climbing-equipment?
  Second hand market; Renting of equipment

• Do you need a tent, sleeping bag, matress? Mess-tent for cooking and rainy days?
  Own equipment; rented; bought in Pakistan

• Will you do your own cooking?
  Hiring a well trained cook; porter-cook; share your meals with the locals, porters

• Transportation to the Northern Areas and back to Islamabad?
  Public bus; hired private minibus; hired private car; flight to Gilgit or Skardu

• Overnight stay during the drive to the north or a direct drive without stop?
  Where and in which style; drivers exchange; night-drive; photo-stops

• Transportation from the KKH roadend towards Nanga Parbat?
  Hiring a jeep; by foot with porters; load per vehicle or porter

• Costs for a porter, per stage or per day?
  number of stages; restdays; returning without load; sickness; high altitude equipment;
  life-insurance; additional costs like a celebration-goat

• Education of the Guide? Costs for him during field operation, travelling, city?
  fluent in english; trained in mountaineering and first aid; fitness; recommendations