Essential info on Trekking

Essential Info on Trekking Accommodation During Trekking In Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang trekking region we offer you accommodation in a tea house (local lodge). A Tea House is a combination of a guest house, restaurant, and social hang-out. The rooms are spare with twin beds and very little additional furniture. Blankets are generally provided. Most bathrooms are shared and toilets can be either squat type or the Western version. Most of the Tea Houses have running water facilities. Many of them also have hot water for showers. But you will be charged by the hotel owner to use a hot water shower.

Meals during trekking In Tea House trekking you will usually have breakfast and dinner in the lodge; lunch will be eaten at one of the trail side restaurants. Every Tea House serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), as well as a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes, and soup. Some have Western food such as pizza, pasta, and French fries. Soft drinks, snacks, and beer are available in most of the Tea Houses and trailside restaurants

Safe Drinking Water in Trekking We suggest you drink boiled filter water. For boiled water ask to lodge people which might cost little during the whole period of trekking or bring chlorine tablets to purify the normal water available in the guest houses along the way. Several guesthouses have Euro-guard filters as well. Although mineral water is available in most places which is a better choice and there is no provision to dispose of the plastic bottles, we encourage the guests to do what they can to protect the environment.

Trekking Team (Guide, Porter) We offer you an experienced trekking guide. He is in charge of your overall trekking. This is the person you should go to with all problems, concerns, and questions. He is well-trained in all aspects of trekking, high-altitude medicine, first aid, and emergency procedure. He is selected in terms of his professionalism. Remember that trekking guides are local citizens and their English may be basic and limited to trek-related topics. About porters, they carry your luggage. They are also local citizens. Normally one porter carries 20 to 25 kg of stuff. Normally we provide one porter for two trekkers.

Equipment We suggest you bring the following equipment when you come to Nepal for trekking. The list can be adjusted according to your needs, the name of the trekking, and the time of your trekking. Please remember that during trekking your luggage will be carried out by a porter. One porter carries the luggage of two people. So if you are more than one, he will carry 12 to 15 kg of your stuff.

Checklist Hand sanitizing lotion Reading/writing material Camera & Binoculars Protein bars, chocolate, dried fruits, candies, and snack foods. Travel documents: passport, visa, travel insurance, air tickets Money: traveler's cheques/cash/credit card Spare Boot Laces Sleeping Bag Lightweight Towel Toiletries Day pack to carry your personal needs during the day Torch/flashlight – headlamp style is ideal Sunscreen and lip balm Refillable water bottle – Min 1 Litre Hat Gloves – wool or fleeced Scarf Sewing Kit Wind and waterproof Jacket & Pants Umbrella especially in summer (May to September) Comfortable trekking shoes Running shoes or sandals for evening Wool jumper/sweater/fleece. Lightweight Down jacket Fleece Jacket T-Shirts 2 or 3 – Long Sleeved Pants – lightweight long trousers (jeans are unsuitable) Socks: thick wool blend and thin cotton to be worn in combination – ensure boots fit Extra warm clothing/ thermals Medicine (Prescription drugs if you are taking daily, lip salve, aspirin, band-aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea) Note: If you don’t have good equipment and are not available in the home country, it can be bought or rented from trekking shops in Kathmandu, Nepal. The equipment is often top quality. Although daily rental charges are reasonable, a large deposit may be required.

Weather & Climate Weather and climate vary per season in Nepal. Autumn (mid-September to end-November) Autumn is the most popular time to trek. During this time, the weather is clear with mild to warm days and cold nights. However, at the higher altitude, the nights drop into freezing temperatures. In this season, the mountain views are clear.

Winter (end-November through March) It is also possible to trek during winter, from December until the end of February. Daytime temperatures will be cooler; however, the nights will often be very cold. The days are generally clear but occasional winter storms can bring snow as low as 2500m. Early October through late November is also the busiest period for trekking. But in mid-winter (January through March), trekking is more challenging in the high altitudes with semi-regular snowfall followed by more winter storms, which break the long fine periods. Mid-December to mid-February is the coldest time.

Spring and early summer (mid-March through May) During this period the mornings are usually clear but afternoon cloud build-up brings occasional showers. The days are mixed up with warmth and rain, which displays wildflowers like rhododendrons. The whole country is lush and abundant green in this season. This period instigates the second most popular and pleasant trekking season as this is rice-planting time. Late-march into April is especially beautiful. It is also a good time for climbing as the high passes are usually snow free and the mountain views are still clear in April. Up to May, the weather becomes hazy and disturbed by the clouds.

The monsoon (June to mid-September) From June to early September, is the monsoon season. Generally, the morning is cloudy and cloud wisps form on random ridges and peaks. Trekking at this time of year is generally difficult and uncomfortable as the weather is hot and it rains almost every day. The trails become muddy and are often leech-infested and the mountains are usually obscured by clouds. During April and May, there is an expectation of thunderstorms, hail showers, and strong winds during the fine periods. There are, however, possibilities for summer trekking in the trans-Himalayan regions of Mustang, Dolpo, and Tibet. These regions lie in a rain shadow and therefore receive significantly less precipitation than the more southerly areas.

Washing and Toilet facilities for Tea House Trekking Most lodges provide hot showers, though sometimes a hot shower means a bucket of hot water only but the availability of hot water can ask your trekking guide. For ecological reasons please try to limit your use of hot water unless you are providing solar–heated water. Please note that at higher altitudes and in colder seasons there is a rare chance to have enough hot water for all the trekkers. If the water is frozen then ask your guide to get a warm bowl of water. Toilets are usually Asian squat style and vary in how clean they are. Normally toilets are outside the lodge but now some lodges have attached or indoor toilets. The rubbish bin in the toilet is kept for your used toilet paper.

Re-charging Batteries of Electronic Items on the Trek You can recharge your batteries with electricity or solar power sources. In Nepal 220 – 240 volt 50 MHZ (50 Cycles per Second) power is supplied. Just need to have a plug adaptor in case of socket fitting, which you can buy in Kathmandu before the trip since the plugs in Nepal might be different. You might have to pay a small amount fee/hour for recharging facilities.

Risk & Liabilities We are committed to providing the best services which will give you a once-in-a-lifetime journey in this connection, we perform our duties honestly and seriously to make your journey very smooth and pleasant. The entire program is conducted strictly under the rules and regulations of the country’s policies. All Nepal Hiking Pvt. Ltd shall not be responsible for any changes in the itinerary due to unavoidable circumstances such as govt. restriction, Land slide, road blockage, flood, and other natural calamities, political unrest, cancellation of flight, delay, sickness, or accident. Any extra cost due to those reasons incurring there of shall be borne by the clients on the sports.

Walking in a day During trekking you do walking 7-8 hours a day with lunch breaks along the trail. The maximum altitude depends upon which trek you are going. In Nepal, the maximum altitude of most of the trekking is within the range of 3500m to 5000m.

Travel Insurance Travel insurance is compulsory to participate in any of our trips. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment, loss of luggage, and personal effects. All Nepal Hiking Pvt. Ltd. shall have no liability for loss, theft, or damage to baggage or personal effects. We also let you know that Nepalese Insurance Company does not have a travel insurance policy for foreign nationals. They have this policy only for Nepalese nationals. We advise you when you come to Nepal; please bring your insurance documents.

Health & Vaccinations For trekking Nepal you don’t need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles. If you are reasonably fit, have a spirit of mountain journey and like walking, you are always qualified for any trekking in Nepal. You do not need any previous experience. However, we suggest you some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming, and hiking before you embark on a journey. We advise you to consult with your travel doctor for up-to-date medical travel information before departure. We recommend you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. We advise you to carry sufficient drugs which you are taking daily for specific health problems.

Passport and Visa All foreign nationals, except Indian citizens, need visas to enter Nepal. A Nepalese visa can be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy or consulate in your home country or it can also be obtained at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu upon your arrival. Most of our guests take Nepal Visa after they arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. To get a Nepalese visa you should bring a valid passport and two passport-size photos. The validity and visa fee are as follows: Visa Valid Fee 15 days US$ 25 30 days US$ 40 90 days US$ 100

High Altitude Sickness Altitude sickness often known as acute mountain sickness (A.M.S.) in general may occur when people ascend too quickly normally in altitudes of over 3000 m. Most people will feel some effect of altitude, shortness of breath, and possibly a light headed, which is fairly common. Acute mountain sickness is very different and normally involves a severe headache, sickness, and loss of awareness. In almost every potential case there are enough warning signs to take appropriate action. When symptoms of altitude sickness develop, please tell your trekking guide. He will advise you to deal with your problem. Generally, exertion and dehydration contribute to altitude sickness. So drink at least 3-4 liters of water every day besides tea and coffee which act as diuretics. Click here for more information about altitudes sickness (Add the link to Altitude sickness on the left banner)

Accommodation in Kathmandu We have chosen accommodation options based on the following criteria: standard of hygiene, the standard of service, location, food standards, and cost. Normally for trekkers, we give three-star level hotels in Kathmandu as well as in Pokhara (For Annapurna Trekking). All accommodation is based on twin sharing with breakfast.