Trip Preparations, Journey Himalayas, Mountaineering, Travel Destinations, India Adventure

When you arrive in Nepal, you will feel like you are on top of the world. In fact, you virtually are. After first exploring some of Nepal’s lowland Terai area in search of exotic wildlife, you then fly into the Everest area to commence a trek amongst some of the greatest mountains on our planet, staying each night in lodges operated by local people. This trek, one of the most popular walks in the world, can leave you with a mystical, almost spiritual feeling. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet the many different groups of people who have, for decades, been offering visitors a warm welcome to the Himalaya. The people, the history, and the culture - they can all have a profound affect upon you. Watch out – it’s infectious. You will want to come back again and again.

There are various factor to consider, both mental and physical, in preparation for the trip. : -

Physical conditioning of the cardiovascular system with aerobic exercise.

Background reading, maps etc.

Passport, visas, restricted area permits, travel and evacuation insurance, etc. Each country in this region has a different set of visa requirements and travel restrictions that keep changing. Often the visas and permits must be acquired in your home country, well before the travel dates. After reaching your destination, it is extremely difficult to acquire them.

You are the final judge of what you may need, but it is no good to be burdened with baggage. On a typical trek day it can be very warm during the day, yet below freezing at night. Often, washing can be difficult since only cold water is available; drying of clothes could take several days.

Clothing and Personal Gear

When planning what to take, do consider the following:

Clothing must be cool and loose fitting, easy to wash and dry, so what walking becomes easy.

Clothing made of materials that wick sweet easily like polypro or capelin.

Several layers of warm clothing are preferable to one thick layer.

Very good quality rain gear.

Excellent quality medium to lightweight trekking boots that are well broken in.

Sun protection like sun cream, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglass, lip balm, moisturizers.

Medical kit, toilet kit, a flashlight (torch).

Delays and Emergencies

Unless some unforeseen natural disaster takes place you should experience no delays during your trek. However there are two situations which can occur which could force you to alter the trek program:

Illness or injury of one of the party members could require that he turns back or that a sherpa goes for help. Flight delays caused by weather or logistical complications can alter the date you start or end your trek (Everest region treks only).

In the event of illness or injury, the sardar will arrange to either send someone for assistance or transport the ill person to a hospital, airstrip, or roadhead for evacuation to Kathmandu. The sardar has complete authority and responsibility in such a situation, and it will be upto each individual trekker in the party to decide whether the situation requires that he assist the evacuation or whether the situation is well enough under control that he can continue on with the trek. The only guideline in such situations is common sense. In the Everest region Himalayan Journeys has facilities and staff at Namche Bazaar and at Lukla. Any injured or ill trekker who is evacuated to either of these places can be assumed to be under capable care, and those who wish to continue their trek should do so.

Flight delays can present a more complicated problem, as these often involve extra time and expense. If a flight is delayed at the start of the trek, we will attempt to adjust the trekking schedule so that you have the full trek you arranged. If your time is limited so that you must shorten your trek, a new schedule may be worked out. If the delay amounts to several days, our staff will discuss the possibility of an alternate destination, which is not dependent on flights - usually a trek to Pokhara. Note that any additional expenses such as taxis to the airport and hotel accommodation in Kathmandu are your responsibility. Himalayan journeys cannot provide any facilities in the event of delayed or cancelled flights from Kathmandu at the start of the trek.

At the end of the trek, if a flight is delayed, we shall continue to provide tent accommodation and food at Lukla for as long as it takes for us to get you on a flight back to Kathmandu. Please remember that the chance of flight delays is very real because you are flying to remote mountain airstrips where landings can be effected only visually; this means that if clouds block the runway approach, landing is impossible. Do not schedule your onward flights too closely to your return flight from Lukla.

Nepal's hill country is a delightful place to visit, and more trekkers are coming each year. Such growth is good for the economy of the country and helps contribute to the development of the hill regions. There are some effects of trekking which, if allowed to go unchecked, will deteriorate the life in the hills of Nepal and make it unattractive to other trekkers and a poor environment for the local people. We therefore ask that you follow a few simple suggestions:-

Don't pollute. Pick up papers, film wrappers and other junk. The Sherpas will clean up the camp, but you should be careful with what you leave along the trail.

Burn or bury all your toilet paper. The sherpas have boxes of matches, which they will give you if you ask. Burning used toilet paper helps it decompose much more rapidly and leaves a more sanitary and less trashy looking camp.

Don't pass out balloons, candy and money to village children. It encourages them to beg.

Don't tempt people into thievery by leaving cameras, watches and other valuable items around the camp. Keep all your personal belongings in your tent at night - this also means that you should not leave laundry hanging outside at night.

Don't make campfires. Wood is scarce in Nepal.

Don't endanger the lives of other trekkers, Sherpas or porters by trying to continue the trek if snow, landslides or some other unforeseen problem makes the route dangerous.

Do enjoy the hill country and people of Nepal and try to learn from them. You have the opportunity to learn about a unique culture and tradition.

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