Nepal offers some the best trekking and mountain scenery in the world. The three most popular treks:
Annapuranas
Langtang
Everest base camp,
They area all set up as tea-house trek. Teahouses trekking is an environmental conservative way of experience the Himalayas. For a tea-house trek you don't need a guide, porter, food, tent or much gear. This puts the least amount of pressure on the ecosystem, because villager live in the area have created a small lodge system to accommodate thousands of visitor each year.
In fact you are not trekking in Nepal but rather high altitude hiking. You
won't be sleeping in a tent (unless you want to)
Season and weather
October to December are the best months. The monsoon has ended and sky's are clear blue. December is good too but getting to be cold. A few of the lodges may offer some heating but most are like shacks with wind blowing through the cracks!
By mid-March it is getting warm and can start trekking, some cloudy days can be the norm. The clouds continue into the summer. The warm months are ideal for high altitude treks, but the lower levels maybe wet and humid.
Which trek?
The three main treks are:
Annapurnas ( Manang, Jomsen-Muktanth, ABC)
Langtang
Everest base camp
Manang, From Besishar up to Manang and back again. This can take 10 days or so
Around Annapurannas, Besishar over Thongrala pass and back down to Jomson and Beni
Poon Hill, A short trek can include Chomrong.
Jomson Mukniath, a short trek can start from Beni
ABC, Annapurana base camp, long dark hike to finally reach the base camp
Which trek is the best ?
MSP pick Manang trek.The Annapurnas is the best, but there are different parts. Most people will get tired with one part trek, unless you are super energy. A short trek is to Poon Hill or even better Chomrong that can 2-3 days.
Guide or not a guide?
A guide is definitely not necessary. This is because the trekking area are heavily populated and it is not difficult to find the way to the next town. Just follow the path. They are so many locals you can just ask them if in doubt. Guides will try to seperate you for locals.
Guides have a darker side, because for $3 a day you are entrusting your life to someone. You may pay $40 a day but this down with agent and Nepal is a corrupt country, so you are likely to receive on a cheap guide, that could cost you your life.
Many tourists have died from altitude sickness on the Annapurna's because of incompetent guides. This is because of corruption the guides will try to rush their clients
too much. They know you will return early and they will still get paid
for a full trip.
Guides will also supplement (with bakshesh) their income by taking you to their preferred guest house that gives them the best rates, since you've paid already.
So guide contribute the commercialization of a conservation area, destruction of the habitat all because they are too lazy or frightened to do it on their own.
How much does it cost?
It is cheap. It won't cost more than $10/ per day even less. Rooms are 60-150 Rs. 150Rs is with attach hot water and bath. Some guesthouse are very nice, while others are just basic. You can bargin for meals as well. $150Rs with meals is not uncommon. Food is cheap anyways. Dal Bhat, is rice, vegetables and Dal is usually Rs100, Veg noodles 60Rs. Water can be expensive, 40-80Rs depending on how high up you are. Remember to bargain. Boiled water should be 10-20Rs per liter. You can bring purifying drops.
Trekking permit is 2000Rs. One one entry so don't forget anything.
Isn't it dangerous to trek alone?
Normally yes out in the wild. In
the case of the popular 'treks' in Nepal you aren't really trekking
but 'high altitude hiking." If you want to hike with others you will
soon find friends. If you go at your own pace you can enjoy and meet
many people along the way. Every night the lodges are filled in season. You'll wish you where alone. This is another reason not to bring a guide
or porter, it just means more crowds and 2 more beds are need as well
as food.
The biggest danger is altitude sickness. Around 2700m you must rest for 1-3 days, Once you feel completely 'normal' then you can continue. Again at 3000-3200m you must acclimatize for 1-2 days.
The first signs of altitude is problems is stomach cramps, difficulty sleeping, anxiety. You brain will turn off your stomach and adjust your breathing when your asleep. because it perceives a problem (lack of oxygen.) So remember not eat to much. Many people thing they have a bacterial infection and start popping antibiotics. They are usually with a guide who has pushed them into eating three meals a day. There stomach cramps up and turns into diarrhea. Avoid too much hard food such as rice and dal. Even though you feel tired avoid the immediate temptation to eat in order to gain energy. Body must rest.
What to pack for the trek?
Remember NOT to pack anything unneccessary, such as an heavy ipod, chargers or any other other junk.
* You can rent or buy most things in Nepal cheap! Except foot wear *
1) Backpack, the one you
already own. or you can rent.
2) Flash light or torch
3) Sleeping bag, down, warm as possible. Prefer your own.
4) 2 x T-Shirts
5) 2 x Underwear, 4 pair socks
6) 1-2 Llight weight trekking pant. You can buy cheap knock-offs in Nepal, with the zip-off pant legs incase it's hot in the lower altitudes.
7) Fleece jacket, can be bought cheap in Nepal or rented
8) Gortex outer shell wind breaker
9) Fleece hat
10) Sunglasses
11) Sunscreen, lip balm
13) Toilet and bath items, also the hand sanitizer is useful you can use it for a wash if you miss a shower.
14) Light weight towel
15) Laundry powde, or liquidl
16) Camera, prefer SLR because of good battery life, power may be available
though bring charger or extra batteries. such l-ion.
17) Book to read.
18) Trek MAP, local maps is all you need. Many different ones are for sale in local
towns.
--lip balm (a 'healative' like Blistex; Chapstick's only a preventive): very dry air up there. For use on your nostrils too.
--water purification method (filter or iodine drops/tabs)
--light to medium gloves for the big pass day
--round-pin adapter plug if using a battery charger (buy at a town supermarket beforehand for 10 rupees)
--plenty of memcard storage if using a digital camera
--small bags of laundry powder are available for purchase along the way. Avoid the orangish homemade solid bars, stewed from animal parts: they (& your clothes will) smell like, well, stewed animal parts.
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