These notes are intended to give trekkers a guide to preparation before leaving home and of pre- trek arrangements once in Kathmandu. The notes are fairly comprehensive but not exhaustive, so if in doubt about anything please ask.

 

Health

Travellers to south east Asia and Nepal should take medical advice and start their inoculation program as soon as possible.

Please ensure that your doctor understands that you will be undertaking a vigorous walking holiday, sometime at altitude and normally some way away from medical facilities. Clients with existing conditions, which might affect them whilst on trek should discuss these with their doctor and take advice accordingly.

Trekkers going above 3500m are advised to have a dental check up. Altitude seeks out weaknesses in fillings.

It is never too late to start some fitness training. Regular walking and using the stairs instead of the elevator or lift will help you enjoy your trek all the more.

 

Visa

At the time of writing the following types of visa are available on request:

Period (Duration)                                                     Fee

 

For the first visit in a visa year

15 days multiple entry                                            US$ 30

30 days multiple entry                                            US$ 50

90 days multiple entry                                            US$ 125

Visas are available through Nepalese Embassies world wide, or on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu.

Travelers staging through other SE Asian countries are advised to check on Visa requirements.

For more details, please log into https://www.immigration.gov.np/page/tourist-visa

 

Insurance

In the unlikely event of an accident or serious illness whilst in trek helicopter evacuation may be necessary. Subsequent medical treatment either in hospital or at an international clinic may be expensive. Nepal Skyline Adventures is obliged to guarantee the cost of a rescue before the helicopter will take off. Clients are required to make necessary arrangements to settle all such costs prior to leaving Nepal.

We therefore recommend that clients obtain adequate insurance covering evacuation by helicopter, subsequent medical treatment and medical repatriation before leaving their home country.

 

 

Tuning into Nepal

Nepal has inspired a wealth of literature, from accounts of epic ascent on the mountains to culture and anthropological studies of Nepal’s unique heritage. Trekkers are encouraged to do some background reading before arriving. It will help put your trekking holiday into perspective.

We provide

Camping treks:

• Sleeping tents
• Foam mattresses with insulting pads
• Support sherpa staff and required porters
• All meals on trek catered by sherpa cook
• Member’s dining tent with tables and folding light weight chairs (depending of nature of trek)
• Toilet tent.
• All kitchen equipment, cutlery, mugs, plates etc.

Lodge treks (conditions apply)

• Breakfast, lunch & dinner along with tea/coffee along with meals.
• Well boiled drinking water (3 liters per day)
• Accommodation at the best available local lodges on twin sharing basis

Clothing & equipment for trek

For short and straight forward treks upto around 3000m from September to mid November and after mid March.

 

Footwear

• Hiking boots or shoes – lightweight but with ankle support.
• Training type shoes
• Flip-flops or river sandals for use around camp/lodges, bathing or washing

Clothing

• Light rain gear
• Fleece
• Light jacket or jumper
• T-shirts & Shorts
• Trekking trousers, skirts (For Ladies, modest shorts are acceptable but cotton skirts are good whilst trekking as of course are jeans or trousers if preferred)
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sun hat

Accessories

• Personal first aid kit
• Sleeping bag
• Day pack
• Duffle bag for heavier items and change cloths
• Camera, binoculars
• Sunglasses
• Head torch and batteries
• Water bottle
• Swiss army knife or equivalent
• Small towels
• Reading material, playing cards
• Sun cream

Additional equipment for treks above 3000m.

• Gore Tex jacket and trouser
• Heavy duty fleece/down jacket
• Thermal underwear
• Woolly hat
• Warm gloves/mittens
• Anti dazzle glasses or goggles with side attachment
• Supplement food/energy bars
• High factor sun lotion

 

Additional equipment for climbing treks

• Plastic shell mountaineering boots with liners
• Crampons
• Harness
• Ice Axe
• Ascender
• Belay device
• 2 D-Shaped locking carabiners
• 2 Non-locking carabiners
• Gaiters
• Neck gaiter
• Sun glasses (High factor)
• Helmet
• Down Jackets, down/fibre pile trousers or salopettes, extra sweater, warm trousers, over mittens

Luggage

Clients should aim to have just two pieces of luggage whilst out on trek: A small day sack and duffle bag. The day sac is for your immediate needs throughout the day and would include: a water bottle, spare sweater, camera and a waterproof jacket etc. Try not to carry too much, within 5 kgs being a reasonable weight. The duffle bag is for heavier items and spare clothes; it will be carried by a porter and should not weigh over 15 kgs. If possible it should be of waterproof material and have a strong lateral zip which can be locked.  Should you have additional equipment such as tripods or large cameras then we can arrange a personal porter to remain with you throughout the day.  This will entail some additional cost.  Note that excess luggage not required whilst on trek can be stored safely at your hotel. For domestic flights the allowance can be 15 kgs to 20 kgs total including your hand luggage. Anything over will be charged by the airlines as Excess baggage, charges vary on different sectors. Please check with us the specific baggage allowance and excess baggage charges for your intended flight.

 

First Aid Kit

Clients are requested to bring their there own kits, which might include:

• Band aid plasters
• Anti septic cream
• Aspirin/ paracetamol
• Sun cream high protection factor, sun block
• Lip slave
• Elastic bandage for “Sahib’s knee”
• Cough sweets.
• Ask your doctor to advice on a broad-spectrum cure for stomach problems.

Our guides carry a sophisticated medicine box with necessary mountain medicines prescribed by Nepal Mountain Medicine Society doctors.

 

Note: Many trekkers feel that they should try and treat locals along the way. But the generally accepted medical view is that by treating locals westerners are creating a dependency and undermining local health care efforts.  If one villager has a headache and is given an asprin then it won’t be long before the entire village goes down with a headache.

 

Whilst Packing

Please spare a thought for the litter disposal problem in Nepal. Cut out unnecessary packing and think twice about the quantities of things you pack. Batteries and plastic packaging should be taken home with you as there is no means of disposing of this type of litter in Nepal.

 

Payment

Payment instruction is included in our invoice.

 

On arrival in Kathmandu

We naturally hope that you will have chosen to stay at our preferred hotel. However, if clients have a specific choice please let us know and we’ll do the needful. For those who make their own ground arrangements, are requested to contact us as soon as you arrive so that we can advise you of the time for the pre trek meeting/briefing. Each briefing will be taken by a member of our staff who knows the area to where you are going and can advise you on what to expect and any last minute update of the trek route.

 

Valuables and Money

Please make arrangements to keep valuables or extra cash which are not required on trek in your hotel’s safe deposit. It’s better to have a budget for your personal expenses in Nepali currency, it is unlikely that you spend a large amount but tuck away safely some extra for tips at the end trek and in case you wish to purchase gifts along the way!

Guidelines on personal expenses and tips will be given during the briefing.

 

Weather

The following notes on weather patterns in Nepal are intended to give you an indication of what you might expect to experience whilst on trek.

1. End September to December. Traditionally the most popular period for trekking. After the monsoon the weather tends to settle down, skies are clear and the views are excellent. Most trekking areas will be open throughout this period but occasionally delayed monsoon affects the lower part of trekking routes until the first week of October and the Dolpo region can attract late summer snow making the passes over 5,000 m difficult until mid October.
2. December to mid January. With the approach of winter, temperatures at altitude start dropping dramatically. The weather remains fine but unless groups specifically want to trek above 3,500ms and are equipped to do so clients should be advised to aim for the following areas:

• All treks out of Pokhara including the Annapurna Sanctuary or the foothills of Lamjung Himal.
• Treks out of Gorkha including Panch Pokhari and the foothills of Ganesh Himal.
• The Helambu valley.
• Bigu Gompa and the Tingsang la.
• Lower Solu Khumbu including treks out Phap Flu.
• Arrun Valley treks including the Milke danda.

 

1. Mid January through to the end of February. Winter storms can produce a lot of snow and trekkers at this time of year would be advised to stay under 3,000m.
2. March through to mid April. Trekkers over this period should not be too ambitious. Whilst areas like Langtang/Gosainkunda, the Thorung la and the Gokyo valley may be open, treks should be planned with alternative routes in case passes and valleys are blocked. It is important that clients are aware of the possibility of re-routing.

• Khagmara la, Namu la, Baga la, Charkha la – lower Dolpo.French col and Dhampus pass round Dhaulagiri.
• Rupina la and Larkya la – Manasalu.
• Ganju la and Tillman’s col – Langtang Himal.
• Yalung la and Trashi lapcha – Rolwaling Himal.
• Cho la, Mingbo la, Amphu lapcha – Khumbu.
• Zatrala la, Mera la, Sherpani col – Makalu/Barun.
• Mirgin la, Sinion la and Yallung la – Khanchenjunga.

1. Mid April through to end May. Now is the time to go for the trekking peaks and high passes. Mustang and Tibet are open. Lower lying treks will start to become uncomfortably hot and it is best to trek in areas over 3,000m.
2. June through to end September. During this period Dolpo and Mustang are at their best. Although the onset of the monsoon can disrupt travel by road and air, the patient trekker can reap huge rewards by choosing to visit at this time of year. For those who can afford the time to accept possible delays, the Khumbu during the monsoon is one of Nepal’s best kept secrets.