FAQ
I’ve never been trekking in Nepal. How physically demanding is it ? There are many different styles of trek you can take. Some are only for a few days and others can go for up to 3 weeks. A good level of physical fitness makes the trek more enjoyable since it is less physically demanding on the trekker. Typically one walks for 3 to 6 hours per day. Our guide can help structure a trek that fits your fitness profile .
Is hiring a guide essential ? Hiring a guide and/or porter is an option, not a necessity. Guides offer a rich source of information for the interested observer, have pre-arranged connections for the best places to sleep, eat or stop for tea. Guides can structure a trek to your pace. They can provide advice on what to eat when you are not feeling well. Of course when you hire a guide or porter you are also helping my country by employing Nepalis .
What about drinking water ? Clean bottled water is available along the major trekking routes but this poses a problem for disposal of the empty plastic bottles and trekkers are encouraged to treat the local water. I provide my guests with fresh clean water daily by using a micro filter to purify the water .
What’s the food like on the trekking routes ? The Nepali people eat a meal of rice, lentils and vegetables twice per day. We call this dal bhat and it is available everywhere in Nepal. It is the preferred food for all Nepalis. Trekkers who prefer something else have a wide variety of meals to choose from including western favorites.
Is there an advantage to using a trekking service based in Nepal? Some advantages to using a Nepal-based trekking firm would be: 1) treks can be customized to the individual; if you are alone or in a small group of 2 to 5 people a trek can be quickly organized to suit your temperament and time schedule; 2) costs are substantially cheaper since there is no expensive overhead in the West; 3) you can pick the guide and porter of your choice; 4) treks can be organized to fit any time table; 5) all the money you spend on the trek stays in Nepal
What’s a typical day like on a trek ? Usually we start with breakfast at about 7 or 8 AM depending upon the trek for the day. We are ready to take to the trail at about 9 AM. We stop about 1030 or 1100 for tea and about 1 PM for lunch. In the afternoon we trek until 3 or 4 PM. The pace can be adjusted to suit the client.
What about altitude – could this be a problem for me ? There is no guarantee that you will not suffer some form of altitude (or mountain) sickness. It can affect anyone regardless of age, sex or physical fitness. Almost everyone can acclimatize if sufficient time is taken along the route. A guide will ensure you are properly prepared .
I would also like to do some white water rafting and mountain biking while in Nepal. Can I do that ? White water rafting is a very popular activity in Nepal. A rafting trip can be organized when you are in Nepal. Mountain bikes are available for rent in Pokhara. Paragliding is also very popular. We can arrange this for you.
