Trekking in Nepal

Health essentials

Everest Expedition

Nepal Trekking introduction
Trekking is simply walking; it is not mountaineering or climbing. You walk mostly on reasonable trails and will only occasionally encounter snow. We trek to enjoy, so the walking days are not long and we stop frequently, most days involve 3-6 hours actual walking, so you don't need to be an athlete. 

Fitness
Fitness required varies from trek to trek but for standard departures you should be at least moderately fit, used to some regular exercise. It is most important that you know you enjoy walking in the great outdoors but you certainly don't need to be an experienced hiker. For some people this is their first real trek. The older you are the more important prior fitness and training is, see the last paragraph of Trekking reality.

Teahouse trekking services
Teahouse trekking means staying and eating in local lodges. We stay in single rooms where possible, but often you will have to share. Rooms are basic, normally just a bed with a pillow, no blankets. A few have electric lights and all have a spacious dining room-lounge. 

We eat at teahouses and, although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, the menu is not extensive. They offer a variety of potato, rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There are also snacks available such as basic biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks and in some areas you will find fresh fruit in season.

Camping (expedition-style) services
Camping means sleeping in tents, normally we provide a two person tent for one client, and large three person tents for a couple.

On the trek we provide 3 tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelette, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread.

Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads.

After a day on the trail dinner is a hearty 3 course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert.

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at most meals.

We use as much fresh produce as possible and our cooks and kitchen crew maintain good standards of cleanliness and food preparation hygiene. Special dietary requirements can be catered for.

Leader
Your crew and the leader are the most important people (second to you!). Our operation is small and personal, run by a handful of special people who enjoy taking care of people. Most of our trips are lead by western leaders because they are more experienced interfaces, can better relate to your expectations and have a more thorough medical background. They are backed up by our irreplaceable local staff, many of whom speak English and enjoy showing you around their cultures and country.

Teahouse group sizes
The normal maximum group size is 8 clients (if a couple book last we will take 9). Mostly the minimum number is two (!), there may be more information on the individual trip itinerary sheet.

Expedition-style group sizes
The normal maximum group size is 10 clients (if a couple book last we will take 11). Mostly the minimum number is three (!), there may be more information on the individual trip itinerary sheet.

Nepal visa
You are responsible for obtaining your visa for Nepal, the easiest way is at the airport on arrival in Kathmandu. This costs US$30 cash or equivalent in Euros and other major currencies. They DON'T take credit cards. Bring one passport photo, although they can take them there. For more detail read our Visa info page.

Seasons
Nepal has cool, clear winters, pleasant moist springs, hot wet summers and fantastic mostly clear autumns.

Spring - the rhododendron season - March-April-May
Spring dances ever higher, painting the rhododendron hillsides. The arriving warmth generates staggering cloud formations and the occasional pre-monsoon downpour (everyone dives into the nearest house to wait the squalls out over tea). Some days are staggeringly fine, others the views cloud in around lunchtime or in the afternoon, great for reading and relaxing and just when you begin to worry about tomorrow, mostly the evenings turn sparklingly clear. This is the second traditional trekking season, and definitely less crowded but still a great time to trek.

March and April are often drier than May, but May has the advantage of more alpine flowers. 

The monsoon (summer) June-July-August-September
In late May and early June at low altitude the heat stifles. Clouds billow ever higher cumulating in crescendos of rain. The downpours are usually brief leaving plenty of time to admire more than just the forces of nature. Kathmandu is sticky, with rain as a relief and, in the Terai, elephants rather than jeeps are used for crossing the swollen rivers. The jungle is lush, vibrant and tropical. In the high rain-shadow areas it is surprisingly pleasant, balmy with only occasional showers. It is a time for wandering among the flower carpets and vivid colours while the locals are absorbed in the traditional cycles of agriculture. Tibet and Ladakh are barely affected by the monsoon.

The harvest - mid-September to mid-October
The monsoon dwindles in late September but a few tail-end clouds and showers (or short-lived snow at altitude) must be expected. Locals and trekkers simply take cover in the nearest teahouse and wait the afternoon shower out. There's also a chance that the monsoon may not quite have ended, staging a dramatic return for a few weeks. The middle hills are either hot and sweaty under the fierce sun or perpetually grey and cloudy, while higher up it's pleasant with cool but mostly frost-free nights. If you skip the lower country, this is a particularly pleasant and under-trekked season. At this time the whole country changes from a lush, verdant green into the harvest colours.

Autumn - perfect trekking - mid-October thru early December
This is classic trekking time, famed for clear skies and fantastic fine weather. Early October through to late November is also the busiest period with the teahouse regions brimming with trekkers. This is the season to head off the beaten track, to Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Around Dhaulagiri etc.

The long fine periods are occasionally broken for day or two by a front sweeping overhead causing high cloud or cloud banks that roll up the valleys, then usually clear at altitude with the sunset. The odd stronger front brings a spot of wet weather as well but it is impossible to tell (even the locals can't) whether a front contains rain. Barring unusual conditions during this trekking season perhaps two or three periods of showers and drizzle, or short-lived snow at altitude, can be expected. In an odd year there is perpetual high cloud and less than crystal clear skies.

In the low country evenings are balmy while in the middle hills they are pleasantly chilly. Above the tree line (4000m) nights are sharp and below freezing, early morning sun is particularly welcome.

Winter - white Christmas's
At an equivalent latitude to Brisbane or Miami, frost rarely graces Kathmandu. Fresh evenings and pleasant days characterize the capital and trekking in the foothills or travelling the Indian plains becomes pleasant.

While trekking although winter, the weather is at its finest and driest; great conditions. It is the nights that are cold. In the middle hills nights are a crisp cool and clear, the high country the air is tinkling sharp and the stars have that crystal twinkle. Temperatures drop below freezing every night. Higher up after a snowfall only the Solu-Khumbu (Mt Everest region) is reliably accessible and pleasant. Mostly fine, any light snow clears quickly while the deeper powder, yak-tracked, rarely slows us. Merry White Christmas.

What you need - the basics
The major items you require are :

• good wind/rain jacket

• warm fleece jacket or jersey

• good boots, either light-weight trekking boots or light full leather boots

• good 3-5 season sleeping bag (which can be rented in Kathmandu)

• A comfortable day pack, preferably with a waistband.

• A can do, positive attitude - this is a holiday!

Acclimatization
We take acclimatization very seriously and plan plenty of time into all our itineraries.

The higher you go the less air there is. At 5500m (top of Kala Pattar and Thorung La) there is half the amount of oxygen (and nitrogen) compared to sea level. Your body takes days to adjust - time to acclimatize.

See our full guide to acclimatizing and altitude sickness.

We care for our porters and staff
For our expedition-style treks we often rely on porters to carry sometimes heavy loads, and our staff work in sometimes challenging conditions but we truly care about them. We ensure that all porters going above the tree line are given wool sox, new shoes (usually given at the beginning of the trip), wool gloves, wool hat, jacket and pant set, sunglasses, have adequate shelter and all have access to our medical knowledge and supplies. 

A typical day
One of the great joys of trekking in Nepal is to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax with the simple day to day routine of life on the trail.

Each morning after packing our bags and having a good breakfast, we set off on the day's walk. All we need to carry is a small day pack containing water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain jacket and warm jacket, just in case. The porters will carry the rest of our gear for us.

After walking for 3-4 hours we stop for lunch at around midday. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter and we usually arrive at our destination in time for afternoon tea. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent exploring the village, doing a bit of washing or simply relaxing with a good book. On some days we will arrive at our destination by lunchtime and the entire afternoon will be free.

After dinner, the evening will often be spent playing cards and reliving the day's adventures, before heading off to bed for a well-earned sleep.

Climbing trips
We will discuss what is, and what isn't included. For all trips we include climbing permits, staff insurance, fixed ropes as necessary, portering of your personal climbing equipment (plastic boots, crampons, ice axe; everything you need only for the climb). We provide all accommodation (including high altitude tents), food (you may be asked to assist with preparation if we camp above base camp) and porters to base camp. We can provide a limited number of harnesses, ropes and associated equipment, a limited number of sleeping mats and Thermarests, crampons and ice axes. You must provide or rent plastic boots, and sometimes crampons and ice axe. We don't normally use helmets, although this is your choice.