Important trekking related information and queries while trekking in Nepal Himalaya:
01: What is Trekking?
Trekking, the word at first comes for a long walking journey which is similar to hiking but includes more days of few days to a week or more from moderate-adventurous to challenging walks on trekking in the Himalayan countries involves much down and uphill climb with descending with few gradual walking paths.
02: How do I spend a day on daily Trekking?
Trekking depends upon your chosen areas if it’s on mainstream trekking routes like Annapurna-Everest and Langtang you will be spending overnights in the comfort of nice and cozy local lodges with views of Mountains where all meals served on route trekking in lodge or guest house.
If the treks involve remote areas like Kanchenjunga-Makalu-Dolpo or other ‘off the beaten tracks’ camping is involved spending nights in tents with complete camping facilities of different kitchen units of cook-kitchen staff followed by guides and porters.
A normal day on trek starts with tea and biscuits around 6 a.m. followed by breakfast and then packing your bags for the day walks where larger bags are carried by our porters or pack animals (Yaks & Mules).
While you carry your light day pack with necessary items for the day as the trek starts following our lead guide to a lunch stop for an hour or more, and then walking to our designated overnight halt in lodge or camping.
During the walk you will be walking on winding gradual trail with ups and downhill slopes past traditional and cultural local remote farm villages along with the views of snow-capped peaks, includes walking into the cool alpine forest covered with rhododendron-magnolia-hemlock-oaks-pines and fir tree lines. Walking for 5-6 hrs as per day to day itinerary mentioned in your program.
03: Who leads the trip and are they well trained and experienced?
No doubt about it, all our guides are expert and professional in this line of job with more than decades of experience leading world-wide customers showing the wonders of Himalaya with full knowledge in flora-fauna, local culture and history with traditional life of the villagers including eco-tourism and responsible tourism caring, preserving and respecting local culture and saving the pristine environment from destruction.
All our guides and field staff well trained with medical knowledge and can help you when an emergency situation arises with proper care and assurance and will treat you with medical know-how if its serious they are well equipped to call for helicopter services for emergency evacuation.
04: How is the meal on Teahouse trek?
The meals that we serve on route lodge will be hygienic as our cook and kitchen are well versed in hygiene and eco-tourism in lodges we have cooked to supervise and to maintain the food quality as well.
Food can vary depending upon the season and places according to its availability during the right season. Normally, the food menu has Nepali Dal Bhat (rice & lentil soup) with mild vegetable curry, fried rice, noodles, soups of great variation. In some places, Continental foods like Hash Brown Potato, Bread, Pan Cakes, Boiled Vegetables, Stew, Pizza, Cinnamon rolls, cakes, and pies, etc. But, as you go higher the food menu is very limited due to the harsh cold climate and the altitude.
05: How is the meal on the Camping expedition?
On most of the treks in and around the Himalayan region we do camping with individual Kitchen Unit and kitchen staff backed by our expert guides, cooks and porters with all necessary camping gear with foam dining or mess tents includes portable tables and chairs and all food in camp are hygienic, with all rubbish taken care and all our staff are well versed in eco-trek system and disciplined to care of the environments and its surrounding, all meals are cooked in portable kerosene oil stoves and no campfires.
Morning bed tea depends upon the season and duration of your trek normally around 6 a.m. followed by warm washing water. (Good for washing, hands, and face only), soon breakfast is served with porridge-muesli-granule-cornflakes includes powdered milk, sugar, honey. Bread and toast with eggs (till our fresh supply of loaf bread last, brought from the bakery in Kathmandu) most of the days breakfast on the trek will be chapatti or pancakes with eggs varieties as per clients choice day by day either omelets-fried eggs-boiled or scramble eggs followed by tea, coffee and drinking chocolates. On the table, at mealtime, we serve honey-jam-peanut butter-ketchup to go along with each meal as per the client’s choice.
Lunch is served after 3-4 hours of morning walk (depending upon the availability of clean freshwater and a nice spot. Lemon or Orange cordial or squash drink as a refresher, lunch will be either boiled or fried rice-chapatti- Tibetan breads-noodles fried with boiled or curry vegetables (depending upon season) followed with some canned foods to go along, tuna-sardine and baked beans, we also serve yak cheese dry salami along with green vegetables and salad, followed by another round of teas (black or lemon tea).
On reaching at overnight camp after a day walks, late afternoon tea-coffee-drinking chocolate with biscuits. Dinner is served around 6.30-7 p.m. in our cozy dining tents with lights either gas or kerosene lamp. Warm soup (vegetable with chicken flavor from the packet, with popcorn or papadam followed by the main course either fried noodles with eggs and vegetables, fried rice or boiled rice or even Palau rice sometimes, with curry or boiled vegetables of different varieties-cutlets-momo (vegetables or meat dumplings) in the end deserts is served, custard pudding, rice pudding, canned or fresh fruits-fritters, sometime when the cooks have enough time fresh baked cakes and pies ending with Tea-coffee-drinking chocolates.
Each day the meal menu changes to give varieties of choice and taste, so the client won’t be bored with the same type of meals.
Every meal is cooked in kerosene stoves, as we are one of the founding members of the eco-trekking and tourism.
06: How is the standard of Teahouse on treks? Can I have my own single room?
There a few standards of Tea-House or lodge on route trekking depending upon your choice and budget around Everest you can find luxury or deluxe resorts and lodges in few areas, whereas in many places with overnights in the simple and basic standard lodge with views of mountains from your rooms.
Most of the lodge with twin sharing rooms with separate common bath and restrooms with large and warm dining, few places where you can find rooms with attached toilet and bathrooms, higher up due to harsh weather and terrain, much of the facilities are limited but serves you with the excellent food menu.
You can book for single rooms on route trekking where available higher up with minimum chances, especially in high peak trekking season.
07: How are the arrangements for safe drinking water on treks?
On every treks whether, on lodge or camping treks, we serve you with boiled and cooled drinking water which is safe, where purify tablets and process does not work 100 % in Himalayan hard water, due to high mineral contains like manganese-bi-carbonate and iron.
People can buy bottled water (but it is an expense and as well not good for eco-tourism wise as it creates rubbish with the plastic bottles).
In some areas of trekking like in the Annapurna region, there is a safe drinking water health post run by ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) where you can fill well-filtered drinking waters in your bottles which is quite cheaper than in the lodge on the route.
08: Do you offer Money Worth and Best Value Trips without Any Hidden / Extra Cost?
Every company has its own policy dealing with wide-world customers regarding the price cost of the trip, with more people in the group is much better for the company and as well for trekking members as the trip cost will be much lower than with few persons in the group.
Yes, we do offer you with money worth of best services in all our holiday programs with no hidden cost, except extra cost arise, in few situation and places like on restricted areas Upper Mustang-Upper Dolpo and so on, where special permit required at an extra cost depending on the area of the chosen destination.
09: How do I Book a Trip with your company?
At first sending the advance trip payment to our company in our Bank account provided where you must fill forms with detail of your passport with expire dates, most important the trip of your choice and then sending a transfer minimum of 65 % advance trip payment, which is non-refundable to secure your booking well in advance.
On receiving your details of the following document like a passport with scanned or photo-copy, along with booking forms, then we will send you a full confirmation letter with a deposit as well a receipt of advance trip payment.
You can contact us for direct transfer to deposit in our bank account and as well with Credit Card payment, we do accept Visa / Master Card or any other safe and widely used Credit Card with extra 04 % surcharge as levy charge.
Payment for Booking:
You can make the payment either by wire transfer or credit card.
Pay to:
Sherpa Mountaineering Trek & Expedition Pvt. Ltd
Current Paying Bank: Himalayan Bank Limited
Account Type: Foreign Currency (USD)
Branch: Thamel
Bank Street Address: Chabil / Bouddha- Kathmandu Nepal
SWIFT CODE:
Bank service charges related to submitting a deposit are solely the responsibility of a client:
If you prefer payment through credit card, please download, print and complete the PDF from http://www.sherpamountaineering.com with credit-card.pdf and mail it as an attachment to us with your passport and credit card (both sides)
For credit card payments, 3.5% extra will be levied as a credit card processing fee.
10: What type of physical fitness should one need to be?
In all types of travel around world-wide one needs to be in normal physical shape with a sound medical background, as for trekking in Himalaya which is within the world’s highest mountainous region where one requires to be physically fit with sound health depending upon the trekking program chosen.
We strongly recommend that you visit your Medical doctors before you depart from home countries that you are fit for the trek chosen, where doctors can provide you with some medical advice if required on the special medical and physical side.
11: Are your staff well-taken care of medical Insurance?
Yes all our office staff and as well field staff, guide and porters are well insured before leaving for the trek with medical / health insurance equipped with warm clothing as per the region of trekking/climbing destinations. Our staff is well paid as per Nepal’s standard of living cost with extra company perks and bonus in making each trek a huge success.
12: What insurance do I need to obtain?
We strongly advise and suggest that all travelers booked with us to obtain Travel and Medical Insurance, which is a must and important in all our trekking destination, as some treks lead to remote areas around Himalaya where medical facilities are less or do not exists.
All travelers should have adequate protection on tour and treks covering personal injury, death, medical expenses, and repatriation expenses by any means of transportation including Helicopter services or air ambulance in an emergency and immediate evacuation.
The insurance should also cover items or valuables if lost-missing-damaged or in theft situations.
13: What are the procedures in case of an emergency?
Our guide and field staff are well trained in Medical know-how, in such case with emergency situations, where clients need to be evacuated from the areas of trekking our staff will contact the head office and soon and immediately we will send the helicopters for safe evacuation to reach nearest medical help and hospitals to save the clients for quick recovery from further illness.
14: Worried about AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)?
Depending upon the areas of trekking from moderate-adventurous to challenging treks or climbs, our programs, and standard itineraries have enough acclimatization days at certain heights, where rest and spare days are necessary on high altitude treks.
In certain high altitude treks and climbs, we do carry portable oxygen cylinders as well Gamma or Pressure Bags to reduce the problem of AMS if arises, our staff is well trained for this type of situation where the victims will be carried or brought to a lower elevation for safety precaution. Normally in high altitude, your doctors might have prescribed some medicines like Diamox or Actemodizile for high altitude start using one tab in the morning and one in the night time before starting the trekking above 3,000 meters high keep using till return. The best treatment for high altitude drinks plenty and pee a lot taking slow pace on uphill with plenty of short rest.
With AMS symptoms descend is the only remedy or evacuation in the severe case by any means of transport or by Helicopter.
15: What Safety measure and arrangement is being made for the trek?
First of all our guides are well prepared for emergency situation and have gone numerous medical and mountain rescue training each year.
We have set the itinerary days with much rest day for acclimatization at certain heights as safety measures and precaution, carrying portable oxygen bottles and Gamma or Pressure bags when required by the victims of AMS or other illness.
We have a strong and good connection with private Helicopter companies for immediate emergency evacuation when needed.
On each trek, our guide will carry a comprehensive medical kit as well.
16: Do you have airport transfer facilities?
Yes, on all our trips when booked with us we provide transportation to and from the hotel-airport which is included in most of our trip costs.
17: Is there are Hot Shower and washing facilities on treks?
Depending upon the areas of trekking destination, like on normal mainstream trekking Everest-Annapurna and Langtang do have hot/cold shower facilities in most of the lodge and hotels, some have hot water buckets for a bathe or for washing.
As the altitude gains such facilities are minimum of higher altitude areas, in camping sometimes we carry shower tents providing you with hot water buckets as well as washing water every morning before breakfast.
18: How much weight do we carry on the trek?
All your bigger bags with much weight will be carried by our porters and pack animals like Yaks and Mules, on domestic airlines 20 kg is the maximum weight that you can carry not counting your handbags.
While on the trek you will be carrying your personal belongings in your day pack which will be at least 5 to 10 kgs maximum while other bigger bags carried by our porters.
Weight differs in the areas of trekking destination, on climbing you will be carrying much with climbing equipment and warmer high altitude gears as well.
Normally 25 to 30 kgs are enough on moderate and adventurous trekking programs which is the standard weight carried by porters.
19: What is the best way to reach Nepal from USA, UK and Australia / NZ?
Depending upon the season and connection of international airlines to and from Nepal to such countries in Nepal Saudi-Quarter-Gulf-Emirates-Etihad-Turkish airlines connects travelers to Nepal from Europe as well Air India and other airlines like Jet Airlines also do connect with Nepal from India and to other parts of the world with transit-based in Indian cities of Mumbai-Calcutta and Delhi.
For Australia and New Zealand an easy connection with Thai-Dragon (Cathay Pacific Airline) Silk (Singapore Airlines) connects flight to Kathmandu – Nepal via Hong Kong-Singapore and Bangkok while for west of USA can use this route and for East of USA can travel through Europe to reach Kathmandu via respective airlines that connect with Nepal through certain transits points.
20: Do I need to be in Nepal a day earlier before the trip departure and book the air tickets well
in advance?
It is best to reach Nepal much earlier at least 2-3 days before the trip departure if it is convenient for you as per you holiday limited time duration or a day before the trek departure, earlier arrival gives you time to blend with Nepalese environment and culture and to plan much better with local shopping for the treks.
21: Can we recharge camera batteries on trek?
Yes, it is available in most of the lodge where they have small Hydroelectric power or by solar charging at extra cost, or one can carry a portable solar panel if you are trekking around remote areas of Himalaya without such facilities.
22: Do I need to take trekking poles?
As options, if needed, but it certainly helps you on long descend and wading in deep rivers/streams, walking poles helps to save your energy of a maximum of 20-40 % on walks with down and ups.
23: Can trekking gears available in Kathmandu for hire or to buy?
Yes, you can hire and buy all types of trekking equipment from Down Jackets to Sleeping bags with other necessary gear needed on treks.
If it’s too much to carry from home you can do your trekking shopping in Kathmandu or at Pokhara depending upon the areas of trekking.
24: Will my Cell phone work while on the trek in Nepal?
Yes, it works depending upon the areas of trekking, since last 2 decades, most of the villagers and guide do have cell-phones including STD / ISTD in some villages and towns Hotels and Lodge.
In some areas like deep valley and gorge area, the cell phone does not work well for some days, but normally on high and open areas it certainly works depending upon the local/international SIM used.
25: What are the weather and temperature like?
As you might know that Himalayan region is also known as Third Pole, depending upon the region of trekking normally days are warmer with sunshine on high altitude and in shade, temperatures drop to cold breeze and wind.
April to May and June to September much warm at above 2,500 meters high, where the temperature drops up to below minimum minus five to ten degrees Celsius without wind chill factor, however, the mid-morning and afternoon are pleasant.
Sometimes the Himalayan weather pattern is unpredictable with bad and unfavorable weather for a few days, normally day time is fine and pleasant higher up with much UV due to the low level of oxygen and thin air.
Get snows above 2,000 m from November to March depending upon the areas of trekking route around great Himalaya.
26: How much tipping should I keep in my budget?
Tipping is not compulsory but has become a tradition among guides and trekking staff including porters started from early mountaineering expeditions which is still active to this day with tipping or gratitude to fellow staff-guides and porters in making the trip a great success with much enjoyable time.
Most of the abroad agents have mentioned the rate of tipping in their brochure and websites and it all depends upon the number of trekkers in the group and as well the duration of trekking.
Normally you can tip from the USA $ 50 to 100 in the kitty money with other members of the trek which is to be divided among trekking staff and porters by the head guide and group leaders.
If you have enjoyed more than enough with overwhelming time with your guides and porters you can give more than mentioned figure.
27: Why it is called Trekking Peaks?
Trekking Peak in Nepal is smaller peaks of above 5,500 m to 6,400 m high, where one can climb in a day or two days with less effort and in a short time, which is also known as alpine-style climbing.
Trekking Peaks where beginners and expert mountaineers can join in this adventure; these peaks can be climbed by any basic climber or professional mountaineer with the guides and proper equipment as per the challenge and climbing grade, time and duration of the climb.