Trekking in Nepal
Nepal’s stunning natural beauty and relatively isolated trekking trails make the country a veritable paradise for trekkers. Here, trekking is a most delightful way to explore the beauty of inner Himalayan regions, indigenous culture and life – style of the local people. You will trek through low altitude rice paddy terraces to high altitude passes against the backdrop of towering snow-capped mountains, typical villages, monasteries, hidden valleys, along ice-fed gushing rivers etc. The trails are clean & unspoiled and the wilderness still pristine in its natural beauty. In Nepal we offer short, low altitude treks to challenging ones, depending on the regions and seasons.
Trekking Season
Trekking is possible throughout the year, any season depending on where the trekkers are going. However, the monsoon season affects the trekking, but there are some areas in Nepal where monsoon is least affected the trekking activities. October through May is far better for trekking all over Nepal. During this season, most of the trekkers plan for their treks. The unfavorable season for trekking is from May to September, but the area behind Himalayas like Mustang or Dolpo would be very nice place for trekking even in this season.
Trek Grades
Easy treks: involve up to 6 hours of walking a day, on good trails with plenty of time for sightseeing. Altitudes generally do not exceed 3500 meters. Anyone who enjoys regular exercise and is in good physical condition would easily cope with these treks.
Moderate treks: involve walking for 6 to 8 hours a day in more remote country, reaching altitudes of approximately 4500 meters. A reasonable level of fitness is required as there would be much ascent and descent with the occasional difficult day. A hill walking background is advisable.
Challenging treks: are harder, suitable for regular hill walkers as they are generally more demanding and may involve 7 or 8-hours walking each day, with altitudes up to 5500 meters. Trekkers should be physically fit and must have appropriate preparation is essential. Some days may involve crossing a pass with up to 10 hours walking a day.
TYPES OF TREKS
TEA HOUSE TREK On the more popular treks in Nepal, local villagers have owned teahouse lodges on the trails. They are readily available in the Everest, Langtang and the entire Annapurna regions. These locally owned teahouses offer modest accommodation and reasonable standard of food to the trekkers all along the trails. Our guide and porters take care of leading the trek and carrying the luggage throughout the trek.
FULL BOARDED CAMPING TREK This trek is assisted by our crew that includes a guide, a Sirdar (headman), cook and kitchen helpers, porters, Yaks, horses or mules are used for carrying all camping gear. It is the responsibilities of all our crew members to perform all the camp works that include fixing the tents, serving the food, leaving all the sites clean and to guide the route. Food available on the trek would be a mixture of Western and Asian dishes with variety of choices.
TEA HOUSE AND CAMPING On a few of our teahouse treks the crossing of high passes necessitates camping for a couple of nights. We provide full camping services for these nights and include four season sleeping bags.
NORMAL & SPECIAL TREKKING PERMITS
A normal trekking permit called TIMS is required for the most frequently visited regions such as Annapurna, Everest and Langtang along with National Parks and Conservation area permits.
A special trekking permit is required for trekking into Nepal’s remote areas such as Kanchanjunga, Upper Dolpo, Lower Dolpo, Simikot-Yari, Humla, Upper Mustang, Manaslu etc. These areas are government- controlled and technically very difficult and challenging. The special permit fee differs according to the designated remote areas and on daily basis. A group of minimum 2 people is required to apply for special permit to visit these remote areas.
ALTITUDE & ACCLIMATIZATION
Proper acclimatization is very important and our routes are planned specifically to allow a gradual gain in altitude with many of our treks having extra days to allow for acclimatization. By slowly gaining height we reap the benefits of a gradual gain in fitness and acclimatization. We offer advice about acclimatization and with the sensible approach we take on all of our treks, anyone who is fit and healthy should have a few problems. On our climbing trips in Nepal and trekking trips in Tibet we carry a portable altitude chamber as an extra safety precaution
A TYPICAL DAY ON THE CAMPING TREK
Our day on trek begins soon after dawn (and sometimes before) with early morning tea or coffee followed by a bowl of water for washing. After packing kit bags breakfast will be ready. The morning walk usually takes 3 to 4 hours and you are free to walk at your own pace, exploring villages and admiring the scenery before stopping for lunch. After lunch we walk for around 3 hours to arrive in camp by 3 or 4 pm. Now there is time to relax. The three course evening meal is served in the mess tent at around 7pm followed by hot chocolate, tea and coffee. Normally we go to bed around 9pm, looking forward to tomorrow’s new adventure.
Group Size
Group sizes are kept small, to reduce the impact on the environment and to enable us to provide a more personal service. The maximum Group size on most of our treks/tours is 12 and the minimum group size is 2.