Trekking and travel information

 

 

Different ways of trekking

 

Nepal, being a country of the Himalayas and the Hills, has become a favorite destination for tours and trekkings among tourists. The fauna, flora and mountains not only fascinate the tourists, but also encourage them to come and feel the magic of its beauty. Every year hundreds of tourists from different nations come to Nepal to explore its natural beauty. Tourists love to perform trekking, hiking and explore adventurous places in Nepal. Specially Himalaya trekking is very popular among tourists. Trekking is a journey on foot, travelling from place to place capturing natural beauty on camera, seeing natural beauty up-close in such places where transportation is not available. Usually tourists prefer to trek rather than to travel by transportation, because during trekking one can experience the beauty of natural very close and clear. For trekking it is not necessary to have experience in climbing. Trekking is simply walking upwards and downwards; exploring new places, new culture, admiring trees, birds and flowers.

We offer treks in almost every region of Nepal. The different types of trekking that we manage to provide our tourists are:

• Fully organized camping trek
• Tea-house trekking
• Home stay treks
  

Fully organized camping trek

A fully organized camping trek is a completely managed trek in which the travelers or trekkers don't need to do anything except for exploring the natural beauty of Nepal and relax after a long walk. The camping trek is the most traditional type of trekking in Nepal. A fully organized camping trek requires a little more preparation and equipment compared to other kinds of trekking. Camping-gear such as sleeping tents, kitchen- and mess-tents, toilet tents, a dining table and chairs, mattresses, kitchen utensils and food, etc. However, the trekkers don't need to worry about this, because all these things will be carried during the trek by porters. Numbers of porters are assigned to carry these things, while Sherpa are assigned the job to look for the  right camping sites and put the tents up. The kitchen crew is assigned to cook food during trekking. This type of fully organized camping trek is expensive, but this is the best way to experience trekking in real sense.

 

Tea house trekking

This kind of trekking is possible in the Annapurna, Langtang as well as Everest region, where lodging and food-facilities are provided. Compared to the fully organized camping trek, tea house trekking is more economical and is also suitable for individuals or small groups. Individuals can directly contact with local people and are given the chance to have direct insight into Nepali culture and tradition.

Home stay treks

 

Home stay treks are a kind of trek in which trekkers are allowed to stay with local Nepali families during their trek. In some trekking regions where there are no hotels or lodges available for trekkers, home stay treks are beneficial. This kind of trekking not only helps trekkers to understand the Nepali culture and traditional values, but also helps to feel the personal warmth and love of Nepali people for their guests.

 

Health

 

With the following advice and precautions you should stay as healthy as you are at home. Most visitors return to their home-country without experiencing problems at all, apart from some travelers who might experience diarrhea. There are differences in  risks for every kind of traveler. At Mountain Leaders we deeply care about your health, so here are a few tips and some advice to increase the chance on staying healthy during your trip.

Tap water

 

Tap water is rarely safe outside the major cities, especially in the rainy season. Stream water, if you are in the countryside, is often contaminated by communities living surprisingly high in the mountains. Filtered or bottled water is usually available and safe, although you must make sure that somebody is not filling bottles from the tap and resealing it. Ice for drinks should be made from boiled water, but this rarely happens in reality. It might be better to put your glass on top of ice cubes, rather than putting them in your drink.

 

 

Climate

 

The climate in Nepal varies from cool summers and severe winters in the north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south. Nepal has four major seasons:

 

Spring: March - May
Summer: June - August
Autumn: September - November
Winter: December - February

Nepal can be visited the whole year. Nevertheless, because of high temperatures and heavy rainful in summer or ice and snow during winter, it could be recommended to visit the country in a specific time of the year, specially when trekking will be involved.

 

Trekking seasons

Trekking in Nepal can be different throughout the year, depending on where you are going. There are four seasons in Nepal, each of which has its distinct attractions to offer.

Spring (March - May): Temperature is quite moderate in this season. Varieties of wild flowers, especially rhododendrons, are in complete blossom. The mountain views are excellent. This is the second best trekking season in Nepal.

 

Summer (June - August): The summer months sometimes continue up to September; travelling in this season can be wet and warm. This is the favorite season to trek in the rain-shadow areas north of the Himalaya like Mustang, Upper Manang and Dolpo. These places are out of reach of the rain clouds because of the hugh mountains and are unaffected by the monsoon. This season is also recommended for forest researchers and botanists, as the higher valleys and meadows blossom with flowers and lush vegetation. Raincoats and insect repellents are essential to trek in this season. Because of rainfall, roads can be less easily accessible (mud can be created).

 

Autumn (Sep - Nov): Autumn is the best season for trekking in Nepal. This season offers excellent weather circumstances and breathtaking mountainviews. Temperatures will not be too hot, but also not too cold and chances on clear sky are high (which leads to the best mountainviews).

Winter (Dec - Febr): This season is noted for occasional snowfalls at higher altitude. This can cause impassable roads, therefore this season is suitable for trekkings at lower altitude; generally below 3000 m.

 

 

Accommodation and other facilities

Nepal provides every type of accommodation or facility that a tourist might ask for. This ranges from the international five star hotels to budget hotels and lodges. Similarly, one can also choose things like sightseeing from a range of different tour packages and operators. In order to have assured quality  and service, it is recommanded to use the facilities and services of government registered hotels, lodges and travel agencies. Also engaging only licensed tour guides and authorized guides or porters through a registered travel/trekking agency, is strongly advised.

 

What to wear

Except in the case of formal gatherings, informal clothes are acceptable mostly everywhere. Warm garments are required from October to March. An umbrella or raincoat is a must for the rainy season. It is respectful, especially for women, not to show too much skin by what you wear. Therefore, long trousers and long sleeves can be ideas, although shorts and singlets are more and more seen and accepted nowadays (especially in the touristic areas, like the capital city).