General Info
Nepal is a trekker's paradise. More than 85% of the total population live in rural areas. Although transport and communications have brought about great changes in the lives of the people, many still live a simple rural life. One need not be a mountaineer or experienced walker to trek in different parts of the country.
Various tours of trekking are offered, from one to several days. When Colonel Jimmy Robes opened Mountain Travel in 1955, his travel company began the history of trekking in Nepal. The concept was similar to the expedition approach used by mountaineers, with guides, porters & tents. Since 80’s the infrastructures for trekking have developed to a very high standard. Currently, in Nepal, two kinds of trekking are popular- Teahouse or Lodge trekking and Tent Trekking.
What is Teahouse Trekking? And how it is organized?
Teahouse trekking is guided walking and very popular in the well-developed tourist regions including Annapurna, Everest and Langtang – Helambu, where western cuisine as well Nepalese food (Dalbhat) is available. Overnight accommodation is in good, clean guest houses, lodges and hotels.You also need a sleeping bag for Tea House trekking.
What is Camping Trekking, and how it is operated?
A camping trek is fully organized and supported, with a team of guides, cooks, sherpas and porters to accompany you. Our porters carry all the trekking gear, food, fuel and personal belongings. Our cooks prepare hot meals. Trekkers need only carry a small bag as required for the day. At night, tents for dining, sleeping and ablutions tents are provided and set up. Also mattresses and down-filled sleeping bags, tables and seating.
In a typical camping trek, we start the day around 6 a.m. with a cup of hot tea. You are then provided with a bowl of warm water for washing. Then trekkers enjoy breakfast before leaving camp. The trek begins around 7.30 - 8 a.m. Trekkers can set their pace for pausing and sightseeing and the walk to the lunch spot will normally take 3 hours. On arrival, you are served hot lunch. In the afternoon, after walking for another 3 to 4 hours, you arrive at the next camp around 5 p.m. Tea & snacks are served while our staff readies the camp. Dinner time is around 6/7 p.m. in the dining tent, lit with lanterns and comfortably furnished. The food is healthy, wholesome and hygienically prepared.
Essentials Trekking Equipment Checklist/Packing List for Trip in Nepal
When selecting your personal items, keep in mind the number of days you'll be trekking, the time of year and the altitude. It is ideal for keeping heavy loads to a minimum and only carry necessary equipment while on the trek. We advise our clients to bring these items:
- Head - Sun hat or scarf, Winter/woolen hat or insulating hat or wide-brimmed hat, Flash light/Headlight with extra batteries.
- Face - Sunscreen, Sunglass with UV protection, Face/body wipes, Lip balm, Moisturizer
- Hands - Lightweight gloves, Heavyweight winter gloves, hand sanitizer.
- Body - Hiking cotton shirts, Long-sleeved shirt, Hooded rain jacket, Jumper or Fleece jacket, Lightweight cotton pants, T-Shirt (bring Lightweight wool), Polypropylene underwear, Down jacket (available for buy/rent in Kathmandu), Sweater, Waterproof jacket and pants, Insulated pants Nylon windbreaker.
- Footwear - Trekking/Hiking Boots with good ankle support, Thick wool/cotton socks (take an extra pair of thick light socks), Sandals or light shoes to wear as camp shoes.
- Essential gear - Rucksack/Duffle bag/Backpack and day pack, Water purification tablets and water bottle (we also provide our LifeStraw Water Filter), Trekking pole, Sleeping bag (-15 to - 40 bag is best in high altitude trekking and we provide).
- Toiletries - Medium size drying towel or bath towel, Toilet paper, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant floss, Biodegradable bar soap, Nail clippers, Small mirror.
- Personal accessories - Money, Watch, Cell phone, Camera, Charger/power bank.
- Extra items - First aid kit (all your essentials medications), Extra passport photos and photocopies of passport, insurance paper, Notebook and pen, PP size photos in case you need to buy SIM Card, Binoculars, Swiss army knife, Energy bars or candy.
Trekking Season
Trekking is possible throughout the year, depending on the region. There are areas unaffected by the monsoon season. October through May is recommended. Less popular is from the end of May to early September, but certain areas such as Mustang or Dolpo, behind the Himalayas, remain pleasant during these months.
Restricted Area Permit:
For trekking in the Everest, Annapurna, Langtang and Rara lake regions, a restricted area trekking permit is not required, but you will need a National park / Conservation permit and Trekker's Information Management System (TIMS). However, the following places do require a restricted area trekking permit:
Regions/VDCs
1. Upper Mustang
a. Lomanthang Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 5)
b. Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 5)
c. Baragung Muktichetra Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 3 and Satang Village of ward no. 5)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD500 per person (for the first 10 days), USD 50 per person/Day (beyond 10 days)
2. Upper Dolpo
a. Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 4 to 6)
b. Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 7)
c. Charka Tangsong Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 6)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 500 per person (for the first 10 days), USD 50 per person/Day (beyond 10 days)
3. Gorkha Manaslu Area
Chumnubri Rural Municipality (All areas of ward nos. 1,2,3 and 4)
September – November
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 100 per person/week, USD 15 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
December – August
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 75 per person/week, USD 10 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
4. Humla
a. Simikot Rural Municipality (All areas of ward nos. 1,6 and 7)
b. Namkha Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 6)
c. Changkheli Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 3 to 5)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 50 per person/week, USD 10 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
5. Taplejung
a. Phantanglung Rural Municipality (All areas of ward nos. 6 and 7)
b. Mikwakhola Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 5)
c. Sirijunga Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 8)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/ week (for the first 4 weeks), USD 25 per person/week (beyond 4 weeks)
6. Lower Dolpa Area
a. Thulibheri municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 11)
b. Tripurasundari municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 11)
c. Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 3)
d. Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 8 and 9)
e. Jagdulla Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 6)
f. Mudkechula Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 9)
g. Kaike Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 7)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/week, USD 5 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
7. Dolakha
a. Gaurishankhar Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 9)
b. Bighu Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/week
8. Gorkha Tsum Valley Area
Sirdibas-Lokpa-Chumling-Chekampar-Nile-Chule
a. Chumnubri Rural Municipality (All areas of ward nos. 3,6 and 7)
September – November
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 40 per person/week, USD 7 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
December – August
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 30 per person/week, USD 7 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
9. Sankhuwasabha
a. Bhotkhola Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 5)
b. Makalu Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 4)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/ week (for the first 4 weeks), USD 25 per person/week (beyond 4 weeks)
10. Solukhumbu
Khumbu Pasang Lahmu Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 5)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/week (for the first 4 weeks), USD 25 per person/week (beyond 4 weeks)
11. Rasuwa
Gosaikunda Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 and some area of ward no. 2)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/week
12. Manang
a. Narpa Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 5)
b. Nasho Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 6 and 7)
September – November
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 100 per person/week, USD 15 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
December – August
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 75 per person/week, USD 15 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
13. Bajhang
a. Saipal Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 5)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 90 per person/week for the first week, USD 15 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
14. Mugu
Mugumakarmarong Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1 to 9)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 100 per person/week, USD 15 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
15. Darchula
Vyas Rural Municipality (All areas of ward no. 1)
Restricted Area Permit Fee: USD 90 per person/week, USD 15 per person/day (beyond 1 week)
Note:- In the case of Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpa Region if the royalty paid for mountain expedition is less than the fee for trekking permit then the difference amount should be paid.
Important Note: The above mentioned trekking areas must be undertaken only through Registered Trekking Agencies from Government of Nepal like our Company registration Number 136973/072/073.
An entrance fee is levied for visiting to all National Parks and Conservation Areas. There is no charge for children under 10 years.
Visa
Do you have Visas or not? If not you must have cash:
15 day Visa USD 30
1 month USD 50
3 month Visa USD 125
Per person, children below 10 are free, but everybody must have also a PP picture for the application. If you filled out the online application form then have the Ticket ready. Maybe you get the Arrival card already in the Airplane fill it out. Walk directly to the line at the very end of that hall and fill the Arrival card out there so you save some time.
The new online Visa procedure.
Please follow the link:
http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa
High Altitude Sickness:
What is High Altitude Sickness?
A mixture (syndrome) of problems like headache, Nausea, shortness of breathe, tiredness encountered at high altitude i.e. above 2800 m/8000 ft.
Trek Gradation:
It's important to match your fitness level. Find what you think will suit you best in the tables below.
Grade (Easy) Easy trekking by Himalayan standards is generally up to 2000m. There are plenty of ups and downs on well-maintained trails. This type of trip is best suited for those who lead a reasonably active life. The trek takes about 3 to 7 days, walking about 4 to 5 hours a day.
Grade (Moderate) This involves longer treks (five to ten days) on maintained trails. This type of trek includes day excursions to higher elevations, for which it's advisable to have some previous hill- walking experience. On these treks, we generally achieve an altitude between 900m to 3000m.
Grade (Moderate to Strenuous) A reasonably demanding trek at an altitude up to 4000m with side trips to higher elevations. The trails are sometimes uncharted and away from inhabited areas.
Grade (Strenuous) These treks must be fully supported. We climb to altitudes between 3500 and 5000m. & there are overnight stays at altitudes above 4000m. For this trek, trekkers should be fit & enthusiastic hill walkers prepared to tackle difficult terrain in remote areas.
Grade (Very Strenuous) This trek is best described as Alpine, and suitable is suitable for those in excellent health, capable of carrying a backpack, when required. The trek covers very remote areas, traveling over snow-covered passes at an altitudes of up to 6500m. You will need to axes and crampons. No strenuous trek should be undertaken without medical clearance.
