Trekking

General information about Nepal

Cultural considerations

Nepal has only been opened to the West since 1950 and despite the influence of western nations,  it is still a very traditional and religious society. Visitors should respect this and respond sensitively Whilst the people of Nepal will never rebuke you for unknowingly offending them, it is always desirable to try to respect as many of their customs and beliefs as you can.


During your visit in Nepal, we recommend you to observe the following aspects. Long and baggy shorts are acceptable. Women are encouraged to wear lightweight skirts or trousers. Hot pants and mini  skirts  tops which expose the chest, breasts and shoulder are unacceptable.  Public display of physical affection is also not acceptable. Nudity is totally unacceptable.


When entering a Nepalese house or temple always remove shoes at the door. Some Hindu temples may not be open to non -Hindus, so always seek permission. Begging is a harsh reality in most of the third world countries & Nepal is no exception. Try to avoid giving money to street beggars. Don't give balloons, candy and money to  village children as it encourages them to beg.


 Language


Nepali is the national language of Nepal. There are, however, over 30 different ethnic languages. Your group leader or sirdar will usually speak good English. Nepalese people are always very willing to help you learn their language and it certainly breaks the ice.


 Photography 


Nepal offers unparalleled opportunities for photography. Whenever taking photographs of the locals, please seek their permission first and respect their wishes. Old people often do not wish to be photographed but generally the Nepalese are very good natured about it. Films and high quality film processing are available in Kathmandu and are cheaper than overseas. 


Trip Organization


Our tour officer will meet you at Kathmandu airport and accompany you by bus or car to your hotel, where your pre-trek briefing will be given. After the briefing he/she will be available for any queries of general information.


On the morning of your trek departure, please ensure that you have deposited your valuable things at hotel reception. Bring all your baggage down to the hotel lobby, where it will be divided into two piles, one for the trek and the other for safe storage at the hotel. All bags must be clearly labeled with your name and address.


Daily trek routing


You will be woken up with a cup of tea brought to your tent at around 6 a.m. followed by a small bowl of warm water for you to wash. Before breakfast, you should pack up your gear, bearing in mind that your sleeping bag will also have to fit in it the  duffels bag. Roll up your mattress and put it in a porter's kit bag and ensure your tent is free of rubbish and personal belongings.


Your duffel bag will be taken by your Sherpa and tied up with other gear into a load, which heads off early with the porters and will be available to you at the end of the day at the next camp. We usually hit the trail by 7.30 a.m. and step for lunch around 12 o' clock. Lunch usually takes about one and a half hours to allow sufficient time to serve meals to the group members and staff. The afternoon walk is slightly shorter and we camp by 4-5 p.m. please keep in mind that these timings are general condition as weather, availability of suitable camp sites and water supply may affect them at any time. The evening meal is served around 6.30 p.m. inside the dining tent furnished with a pressurized lantern, table and camp chairs /stools. After dinner the leader /Sirder will brief trekkers on the next day 's trek and you can then retire to your comfortable sleeping tents. Every camp is provided with a simple but hygienic toilet- tent. Food during the trek is plentiful, healthy, wholesome and varied. Enough staple products are carried for the entire trip. Fresh supplies of vegetables, fruits and meat will be bought en route. 


School and Collage Group


Explore Alpine Adventure, which specializes in trekking, handles school and Collage Groups to the Himalayan at the affordable prices. The itineraries of this Company are designed to provide a real insight in the culture, religious and environmental aspects of the Himalayan but just as importantly, they are fun, expose to a Explore Alpine Adventure. Student will quickly discover the rich rewards of Exploring the globe.    


Trekking Equipment


We provide  two-men tents, sleeping bags (a good idea to bring  your own), inner sheers, thermal foam mattresses  and other items such as a mess tent, a toilet tent, folding chairs and tables, you should bring personal items such as : 


 Foot gear


Boots, Socks-nylon thermal (3), socks- light cotton.


 Clothing


Down field jacket, wool shirt or sweater, nylon wind pants, long underwear, nylon windbreaker, warm-up pants, hiking shorts for men, poncho, wool hat (or balaclava), underwear, down filled pants, Sun hat gloves, gaiters, cotton or corduroys pants (optional), T-shirt cotton for men (2 changes),blouse for women (2 changes).


 Other Equipment


Large duffel bag with lock, rucksacks, water bottle, small duffel bag or suitcase for your city clothes, goggles or sunglasses, flashlight, batteries & bulbs and sun-cream for lips.


 Additional Equipment for comfort


Insect repellent, toilet articles, shampoo, laundry soap, small knife, length of parachute cord, soap, toothpaste, medical first and kit, sewing kit, and an umbrella.


Trekking permit


A valid permit is required for all treks, which will be issued upon your arrival, (we will secure the permit for you, but for this we require one clear working day and two passport size photographs) in case you are undertaking a white water rafting trip before or after you trek, you will need to bring  two additional passport size photographs.


 Food and water


Our trek staff has been trained to take maximum care with hygiene. Water is properly boiled before preparing tea or coffee food on the trek is wholesome and freshly prepared for each meal. Only rarely do we supplement it with canned food, which is used more on longer treks. You are advised not to drink water from tea  shops. Water is supplied by our camp staff, who will refill your water bottles during breakfast and dinner  time.


Money and valuables (security)


Always carry Nepalese rupees in small bills on your trek, the amount depending on the atria and duration of the trek. A guideline for this will be mentioned during our trek briefing. Money will be required only for purchase of soft /hard drinks and souvenirs along the way. Most of your money and valuables should be kept in a safe deposit box in your hotel in Kathmandu or in our office.


 Altitude


For treks going above 3500 m. acclimatization is necessary. Our trekking schedules have been carefully designed to minimize the effect or altitude. We ascend slowly and ensure an adequate number of rest days to enable safe acclimatization en route. It is still possible for mountain sickness to occur so a close watch is kept throughout the trip by your tour - leader or Sirdar. The symptoms include bad headaches, nausea, lethargy and some times  breathlessness. If you or any of the group members, display any of these symptoms, please make sure you inform your tour-leader or Sirdar immediately. It is essential that you keep your fluid intake high (at least 4 liters of liquid per day) Your tour-leader can advice more exactly regarding the altitude and most of the problems on the trail. If you wish to know more about the AMS (acute mountain sickness)a pamphlet is provided free of charge by HRA (Himalayan rescue association) in Kathmandu.


First aid kit                 


We provide a first aid kit on our group trek but we suggest that you bring  along  the  following  Supplementary  items:


Pain relief pills for high altitude and headaches, also - anti diarrhea tablets blister pads, sterile plain and crepe bandages, a tube of antiseptic cream, decongestants/ antihistamines, throat lozenges and  paracetimol or aspirin also personal medicines as prescribed by your physician.


Disposal of Rubbish


We recommend that each trekker keeps a small bag for rubbish during the course of the trip. Each morning a small fire will be made for burnable rubbish. Any non burnable or non biodegradable rubbish should be stored and brought back to Kathmandu and disposed of at the head office camping /store house.


Insurance


Your insurance policy should cover helicopter evacuation expenses in the eventuality of a serious accident. The fee for such an evacuation can be  about  U.S. Dollar 2000. per rescue. This insurance should also cover you for possible evacuation from an air field due to bad weather conditions.