Other Info

Trip Facts
Maximum Altitude: 3210m
Difficulty:
Duration: 08 days
Accommodations: Tea House


The Best Trekking Season
The time without snow and without rainfall is the best time to visit the mountain trails. That said, October to early December and March to Mid-June are the best seasons for trekking in Nepal. This again depends on which area you want to visit .For example there are some very good treks that are done on relatively low altitudes and they can be done even in January (as there will be no snow there), the Poon Hill Ghorepani trek is one of them . Likewise wildflower treks and also Mustang trekking and Dolpo trekking in rain shadow zones are best done during summer days of July and August.

Trekking styles (Tea Houses or Camping Treks)
The popular trekking routes of Everest, Annapurna and Langtang have lodges at frequent stops .We can have lunch or stay for overnight in these lodges. A trek in which we use these lodges for our food and accommodation is called tea house trekking. Often these tea houses are family run inns with good basic facilities like clean bed and western and local foods but no luxury .Originally, before trekking was introduced in Nepal, there were small tea shops in the places where we have lodges now, serving tea and snacks for the local villagers travelling from one village to the other, hence the name " tea house." Unlike this, a fully supported trek in which we carry all our supplies and equipment is called camping trek or an organized trek. In such a trek our Sherpa crew will make the tents for you and our cook will prepare all the meals.

Trekking Porters and Guides
In each trekking group there will be one guide who will be in charge of all the arrangements in the trek and required number of porters. Generally one porter is provided for two/ three trekkers, he carries a load of 20 kg depending on the trial, which is enough to include all the essentials of two/three trekkers in the mountains. They carry the load in the head in our traditional way, often the rucksacks or the duffel bags are easier for them to carry. We have assistant guide and a cook too in a bigger group to look after the food and lodging things.
However there will be a big number of kitchen staffs, porters and cooks in a fully supported camping trek /organized trek. Where available we use ponies or yaks to carry the luggage’s.

A typical trek day
Your trekking day starts at around 6 am with a cup of tea or coffee at your tent /l odge. You wash your face with warm water and prepare yourself for breakfast at around 7.30. The trek starts after breakfast, you walk at your own pace, frequently stopping to enjoy good views and take photographs .You carry only a day pack containing your personal goods that you need during the day. The porters and Yaks will carry the rest. After a walk of about 3 hours we stop for lunch .It lasts for about 1.5 hours .With another session of walking for 3 to 4 hours we reach our camp/ tea house , which is often a scenic spot . You relax or walk around the camp, enjoy tea/coffee. Around 6-7 PM you will have your dinner, talk about the day's experience with other members or enjoy the Himalayan solitude yourself.

Foods on the trek
In a lodge to lodge (tea house ) trek you can expect to get mostly continental and local foods and can choose it from the a la carte menus. You can also get some Tibetan , Chinese , Nepalese and even Indian and Italian dishes on the tea houses. The food is good and well enjoyed by the trekkers. In higher altitudes near the base camps of the mountains, you get less varieties than in the lower altitudes.Wherever possible we try to offer you fresh vegetables from the village , fresh fruits etc. If you are doing high altitude treks like the Everest base camp , do not consume alcohols ( you get beers and whisky even in mountains) until you reach your destination. Alcohol consumption may increase the chances of altitude sickness. You are allowed to choose the food you like but it is wiser not to order different dishes for each persons as cooking so many dishes takes a long time. Some lodges do not have many ovens and may be they have only one cook. Making a combined order saves time , specially in lunch . You can buy bottled water in the mountains but we suggest you to bring water purifiers like iodine and avoid bottled water. Water bottles are major source of pollution in the mountains.

Equipment’s and clothing
The equipment’s and clothing list below is for a relatively longer trek involving a cold high altitude destination. If you are doing a short trek to a relatively lower altitude you may not need all these. The list below is for a guideline alone , you may have your own check list as well. Please note that most of the trekking items are easily available for buying or renting in Nepal and you are suggest not to bring unnecessary items with you.
For Head
Cap for sun protection during trek sunglasses/goggles sunscreen lotion/sun balm
For Body
T-shirts and long sleeved shirts fleece or thermal shirts for colder areas fleece jumper/sweaters Down jacket wind /water proof outer garment
For leg and hand
Casual trousers for walking Water proof trouser Thermal legging for colder areas Hand gloves For foot woollen and cotton socks Trainer or casual shoes Waterproof hiking boot Gaiter for rain and snow
Others
Rucksack /duffel bags Day sack to carry personally Personal medicines and first aid kit water bottle and iodine tablets Torch (better head torch) Camera and extra batteries toiletries and towel Large hankerchief Optional items compass , binoculars , altimeters Playing cards , books, guide book
Weather problems / Flight cancellations in the mountains
During summer months and during January and February, there are chances that the flights to Luka, Jomsom , Juphal or remote airstrips may get cancelled due to bad weather. So it is always wise if you have one extra day just in such a case so that you do not miss your international flight not reaching kathmandu in time. In case of flight cancellation in the mountains, you will have to pay for the extra expenses like your food and lodging yourself as that would not be included in the trip cost, while the company will bear that of our staffs.

Altitude sickness in the mountains
Higher altitude have lesser oxygen in the air. If you ascend the mountains quickly, your body is not adjusted to that low level of oxygen which results with symptoms of loss of appetite, nausea , bad dreams , lack of sleep etc. In serious cases vomiting and other symptoms may appear and results in immediate death. There is no medicine to cure altitude sickness.
Generally altitude sickness attacks from an altitude of 3000 m If you do not ascend much height in a single day from 3000 m onward, if you give proper attention to rest ,and if you do not consume excessive alcohol, you are unlikely to have any problem. Incase you have the symptoms of altitude sickness , the best and only treatment to do is immediately descend down .You will be perfectly ok .Each and every cases of altitude sickness is preventable, if you just inform your guide as soon as you experience some of the symptoms. However, if you neglect , altitude sickness can be fatal .In many cases people simply do not care or just hide the symptoms for the fear that their group member will find him/her unfit , or for a mistaken wish to continue together.
People of every age groups are succeptible , while people having heart and breathing problems are more vulnerable.
Our guides will be carrying "Diamox ", a medicine that does not cure altitude sickness but helps prevent it.
If you feel like you will develop a symptom of altitude sickness, you are supposed to take it before you start the trek, not after they symptom develops. If you are doing a high altitude trek, you had better check with your physician before you leave the country, if you have heart and breathing problem or not and if diamox would have any adverse effect on you. Besides, taking plenty of hot water, keeping onself relaxed, not consuming alcohol and walking slowly and taking enough rest will help to avoid altitude sickness.
In all our treks we give first priority to safety. All our trekking guides have good knowledge of altitude sickness and brief you well before the trek starts. They will frequently check if you have any symptoms and you can best help them informing in time. In serious cases after descending down to required height they will request for the company for helicopter rescue and you will be evacuated to Kathmandu. In all the longer treks we have acclimatization days, which are the days to relax and adjust the body to the new height. If you just care these points, you will enjoy and complete your trekking in Nepal successfully.