An easy trekking

This is an easy cultural trek with a maximum altitude of 3490m/11,448 ft at Tharepati, suitable for all travelers with normal health conditions. We require walking 5-6 hour daily and some days are shorter. Porters or pack animals will carry all gear and camp supplies (if you are taking camping trip), leaving trekkers free to carry only a light daypack. No technical climbing or other special abilities are required for this trip.

Helambu trekking route does not involve any significant altitude gain that involves the risks of altitude sickness but at the altitude above 3,000 m (9,840 ft), there is likely that one experiences some mild symptoms of altitude sickness that includes headache, dizziness, disorientation, breathlessness etc. But we are spending just a night at that high altitude and so the symptoms should go away the next day as we descend to the lower altitude. However, we want to prepare ourselves at our end. It’s advisable to start some power exercises like jogging, cycling, swimming or aerobics several weeks ahead of the trip.

Camping or lodge accommodation?

Its up to you to decide whether you would like a tented camping trip or sleep in local lodges, popularly known as “Tea Houses”. While camping allows you to enjoy trekking in true sense, it’s also a costly arrangement as a good number of support staff (Guide, Cook, Cook Helpers, Sherpa and Porters) has to be hired and we have to bring camping and kitchen gears and food supplies and fuels, being transported all the way from Kathmandu all along. We try to use local produces as far as possible, though.

Using lodge accommodation available along the trekking route makes the trip relatively easier and cheaper. You will sleep in the local lodges and eat your meals in the dining hall of those lodges. The lodges or guesthouses are primitive and are provided with dorm style rooms with futon or foam mattress and quilt or blankets. You will you use sharing squat toilet. Hot shower, if exists in the lodge is a luxury and is not included in the room rent. The guesthouses are managed by families. Staying in guesthouses gives opportunity to know the locals and fellow international trekkers like you.

Helambu trekking route is abundant with guesthouses and lodges and if you are in trekking in small numbers, its advisable to consider guesthouse option for your accommodation.

Meals during trekking.

Our trekking cost includes standard breakfast, lunch and three course dinners, followed by tea or coffee. Meals are cooked by the family of the lodge owner. 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 (extra cost) and in some areas you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy packaged water (bottled mineral water) from local lodge and shop en route or you can also ask your guide to fill up your water bottle with boiled water and treat with water purification pills. Some lodges charge extra for filling up bottle for the cost of boiling the water.

If you are on a camping trip, you will have your own cook with kitchen aides to cook 3 hot meals for you daily. Kitchen staff maintains high level of hygiene and are trained to cook western foods as well as local delicacies. Water that we use for cooking and washing are properly medicated.
Besides, you are advised to bring some extra food supplements that includes energy bars, vitamins etc.

Guide and support staff.

You will have local English speaking certified Guide, accompanying you as from Kathmandu. All Highland Asia Guides are trained by KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) on first aid, environment, conservation and biodiversity. As required by law, all our trekking guides are licensed by Tourism Department’s academy. Most importantly, they are professional, helpful and always willing to provide you with personalized care and services.

Your guide escorts you along the trail, selects the lodge for accommodation and help you choosing your meal and deals with local bureaucracy whenever required. As you pay all trekking charges in advance, the guide will take care of the bills. We provide one porter for each two trekkers and he carries 25 kilograms. Porters are locally hired at the village where your trek begins from, if not hired from Kathmandu. The guide and porters will have good clothing and boots to survive the harsh weather of the mountains.

If you are on a camping trek, there will be a cook and kitchen aides to prepare your meals and a Sherpa Sirdar to set up and breakdown your camps. A number of porters or pack animals will be hired to transport the gears and supplies from trail head till the finish point. For your personal gears and clothing, we will provide one porter for each two trekkers with limitation of 15 kg/33 pounds of pack per porter, in compliance with the standards set by International Porters Progress Group (http://ippg.net/) and we strongly stand on porters rights and discourage any forms of exploitation.

A typical trekking day

Each morning after packing our bags and having a good breakfast, we set off on the day's walk. All we need to carry is a small day pack containing water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain jacket and warm jumper, just in case. The porters will carry the rest of our gear for us.,/p>

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.

Hotels in Kathmandu, pre-trip and post trip ad ons

We can book accommodation for you in Kathmandu and also prior heading to trail head, you can spend a few days in Kathmandu, touring the temples, monasteries, Malla Palaces etc. After the trip completes, you can extend your trip to Chitwan National Park for 3 days and Pokhara 2 days.

Note on Itinerary

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed; it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Booking

When you are sure you are traveling, please don't delay in booking. The internal flights are the key factor in determining whether your trip can be realized or not. A deposit of US$200 is requested along with complete trip application form and passport copies. Balance payment is due 60 days prior to your departure. Depending on the number of applicants, we may set an early payment date. Credit card payment attracts additional fee.

Cancellation fee

• 90 days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 50 per person.
• 60-89 day's prior departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 45 days to 59 days prior departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher
• 30 days to 44 days prior departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• Less than 30 days: 100%

Nepal Visa

You can obtain Nepal visa beforehand from any Nepali embassies or consulates abroad or wait until you arrive at Kathmandu airport or any other port of entry to Nepal. You will need to complete  visa application form and attach a passport size photograph. Visa fee costs US$ 25 for 15 days and $45 for 30 days multiple entry.

Highland Asia Travel

We are an active adventure travel company, based in Minneapolis, USA with destination management offices in Kathmandu, Thimphu and Lhasa. We are BBB acredited business and an active member of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). We have set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Our managers and guides have more than 15 years of experience in organizing and leading adventure trips in the highlands of Asia. For us travel is not just a business, but a way of life.

Travel Protection Plan

While we plan and do our best to make your trip smooth and seamless, there may be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, and flight cancellation or missed connection or loss of baggage etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation or medical transportation when you get ill or involve in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. Highland Asia’s Tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses and so we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.