Plan your trek to Base Camp Everest
Accommodation
We stay in private rooms where possible, but often you will have to share. Facilities in tea houses are limited but good enough to offer you a comfortable stay and hygienic meals. A few have electric lights and all have a spacious dining room-lounge. We will accommodate you and your group in a local lodge available each day. We send a porter ahead of us to book the required rooms for the group (rooms cannot be booked in advance). Please remember that some of them are very basic and a sense of adventure is necessary.
Airport transfers
You need to confirm your International flight details to us so that we can arrange to meet you at the Airport. You just pass through Customs and come out of the Terminal building where you will see a member of our team standing with a placard that states either 'Private Himalaya' or your own name.
Best time to go
The best season to trek in the Himalaya region is autumn (from mid-September till November's end), and spring (from the beginning of March until mid-May). Temperatures will drop considerably as you trek higher every day. The nights are cold (between -10 °C to 5°C but the days are sunny and hot (between 10°C to 20°C). The mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up during the afternoon, disappearing at night. Trekking during the monsoon and winter is not recommended, as the visibility during monsoon is limited, upper parts and high passes could be covered with snow during winter. March, April, October and November are the most favored months.
Communication
There are a couple of telephone facilities in the Everest region up to Namche Bazaar. Cell phones work fine in most of the main trekking areas. If it is crucial for you to keep in contact with your family or others, we can provide you a mobile satellite phone (rental charge on request).
Equipment
You are responsible for bringing personal gear and equipment while communal equipment (tents, food, cooking items, etc.) is provided. During the trek, your main luggage will be carried by porter or yaks. Please keep your luggage as light as possible around 12 to 15 kgs. You simply carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sun-screen, spare jacket etc. You can leave your valuable items at your hotel while trekking. Many hotels have a locker system and provide a deposit slip for the valuables kept under the hotel's safekeeping. Below is a suggested equipment list: -
Clothing
1 x Waterproof Jacket
1 x Down Jacket
1 x Fleece or soft shell Jacket
2 x Long Sleeve Shirt (light-weight), not cotton
2 x Short Sleeve Shirt, (light-weight), not cotton
1 x Waterproof Breathable Pants
2 x Trekking trousers
1 x Shorts
1 x Long Thermal Underwear, briefs Sport Bra (women)
Brimmed Hat, for sun protection
Fleece or Knitted Hat, for warmth
Warm Waterproof Gloves.
Footwear
1 x Hiking Boots with spare laces
1 x Trainers (to wear at camp)
3 x Socks, thick, wool or synthetic
3 x Sock Liners, tight, thin, synthetic, worn under socks to prevent blisters
Accessories
1 ½ - 2 litre Water Bladder, Platypus type (recommended) or 2 x 1 litre water bottle
Sunglasses
Towel, small/quick-dry
Pee Bottle, to avoid leaving tent at night (highly recommended)
Backpack Cover, waterproof (optional)
Equipment
Sleeping Bag, four seasons or -10 deg C
Head lamp, with extra batteries
Trekking Poles
Duffel bag, for porters to carry your equipment
Daypack, for you to carry your personal gear
Other
Personal Toiletries (toothbrush, paste etc)
Personal Prescriptions (malaria tablets etc)
Sunscreen/Lip Balm
Insect Repellent, containing DEET
First Aid Kit Hand Sanitizer/Wet Wipes
Camera
For climbing: down-jacket, plastic boots, crampons, ice-axe, headlight, harness, jumar, carabineers, belay device, prussiks are also required
Festivals
Losar is celebrated in the month of February by the Sherpas. 'Losar' means New Year in Tibetan. Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and prosperity at monasteries. People exchange various goods and gifts among them. Families organize feasts and perform dances.
Dumje is celebrated to mark the birthday of Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava).The celebration takes place in June and lasts for six days. It is celebrated in a big way in the villages of Namche, Thame and Khumjung.
Mani Rimdu is a festival that celebrates the victory of Buddhism over the ancient animistic religion of Bon. This festival is celebrated in the monasteries of Thyangboche, Chiwang and Thami. At Thangboche the celebration takes place during the November - December full moon.
Foreign Office Advice
We recommend that you check British Foreign & Commonwealth Office's "Know before you go!" web site to prepare for your journeys overseas: www.fco.gov.uk . Note that FCO Travel Advice is also available by phoning 0845 850 2829.
Health
If you have ever suffered from altitude sickness, or have a heart or breathing complaint, we highly recommend you consult your doctor about your suitability for trekking in Himalaya before booking. We suggest that you take some pain-killing pills with you and enough medicine for cold, diarrhoea, nausea and fever. Some nasal ointment and throat-moistening pills will greatly be of help for those who are sensitive to chilly or freezing weather conditions. Age is no barrier to take an unforgettable Everest Tour.
Meals & Drinking Water
On all treks we provide standard breakfast, lunch and three course dinner, tea or coffee will also be included with each meal. Your guide will help with menu selection and ensure that you get the best value meals possible. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive. Most teahouses offer a variety of 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 will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks and in some areas you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy bottled mineral water from local lodges and shops en route or you can also ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat with water purification pills.
Passports & Visas
It is important to remember that for any Private Himalaya holiday you will need a passport (normally with 6 months remaining validity at the completion of the trip). If you don't have a passport, apply for one in good time. If you do have a passport, check the expiry date. British Citizens can find more about passport applications at ips.gov.uk.
Visas - visitors can obtain a multi-entry tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu Airport which usually costs around US$40. Just make sure you have one passport size photo with you which they require, but don't worry if you forget as there is a photographer available in the airport who can take your picture and develop these within around 30 minutes. Alternatively you can obtain a multi-entry tourist visa before you travel from your local Nepalese Embassy.
Personal Expenses
All food is provided whilst on your trek and you only need money for table drinks (alcoholic/non alcoholic beverages), snacks while walking (a few smaller shops are available along the trail in some areas) tips, souvenirs, hot shower (available in some places). Your hotel accommodation before and after your trek is on a bed and breakfast basis only so you will need some money for additional meals in Kathmandu.
Tips are appreciated by your support team after the trip. The amount depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. As a suggestion, we advise you to allocate 5 - 10% of the total tour cost as tips.
Rescue/Evacuations
In case of a serious sickness or a casualty, which we hope will not happen, you shall be rescued by a helicopter. Since you are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in evacuation please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back in Kathmandu.
Responsible travel
The beautiful environment of the Himalayas is also an extremely fragile one. At Private Himalaya, we are extremely conscious about the environment and aim to minimize the detrimental impact on the environment as much as possible. As deforestation is one of the greatest environmental threats, we do not have camp fires and use kerosene as cooking fuel. We also discourage trekkers from using wood-fuelled hot showers in lodges along the way. Many lodges, however, now provide solar hot showers, a far more eco-friendly alternative. Garbage disposal is another major problem. Some of the busier trails are at times strewn with litter and garbage thrown by irresponsible trekking groups. Our staff members are well motivated towards eco-friendly practices. We carry the non-biodegradable garbage, apart from that which can be safely and easily burnt at the campsite. Our aim is to help protect and preserve this beautiful environment for future generations of trekkers to enjoy.
Travel insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken.
You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration. If you require travel insurance for your Private Expeditions trip and are resident in the UK, there are a number of dedicated policies available such as www.dogtag.co.uk who offer specialist insurance policies covering trekking over 5000m .
Trek grading
All trekking in the Himalaya is challenging but many of our treks are well within the capabilities of regular hill walkers. In order to help your planning we grade our treks:-
These treks are only about 10 days in duration. They generally don't go above 4000 metres and each day, you can expect to be walking for around 4 – 5 hours. They are a perfect introduction to trekking in Nepal. The activity level is fairly easy but don't expect it to be all easy going, there will still be some big hills to climb as well as the well-known 'Nepali flat' – a little bit up and a little bit down.
Longer treks going right into high mountain country, to some of the famous mountaineering Base Camps over high passes. Physically quite tiring, involves approx 6-8 hours trekking along rocky ridges of high Himalayan peaks. No previous experience is required, you should be moderately fit, used to some regular exercise and enjoy walking in the high altitude conditions.
Longer treks that go far beyond the normal haunts of trekkers and tourists, to remote areas of the country where the landscapes are wild and untamed and where the local inhabitants have seen little change in their way of life for centuries- untouched corners of an increasingly crowded planet. Physically challenging, likely to include unfavorable weather conditions and strenuous activities. Definitely not for beginners.
Trekking crew
On tea house treks you will be accompanied by a team of local crew whose aim is to make the trek as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. The crew consists of a local leader (Sirdar or Headman) and a team of porters to carry all your gear. On average, there will be a ratio of one porter to every two trekkers. Sirdar speaks reasonable amount of English, good enough to explain you about the places, local culture or any sight that catches your eyes.
We ensure that all porters and all other staff climbing in high altitude (above 14000 ft.) conditions are provided with adequate clothing and equipment. We supply high-altitude porters with crampons and ensure that the porters we hire are insured. We run all treks according to the guidelines of the International Porter Protection group (IPPG - www.ippg.net).
Typical day on the trek
Each morning after packing our bags and having a good breakfast, we set off on the day's walk. 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
Vaccinations
The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to the Himalaya. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need:-
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling
Hepatitis B, especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not receive the series as infants
Meningococcal (meningitis) if you plan to visit countries in this region that experience epidemics of meningococcal disease during December to June
Rabies, pre-exposure vaccination, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities.
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