Are you an adventure lover? Do you love to do trekking in Nepal? If yes, then this blog is highly dedicated to you and all the adventure lovers. But before that, atleast you need to know some questions before Nepal Trekking. As this blog is emphasized on tips for trekking in Nepal,it can be a great help for your upcoming Nepal Trekking Tour. Are you excited? If so, let’s begin the blog now!
The landlocked Himalayan country of Nepal is an enchanting place for diverse reasons. Located in the Himalayas and as well as in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, it has a unique identity with religious harmony in the world. So, the land of best Himalayas, Nepal is home to unique and exotic cultures alongside the majestic Himalayas.
Trekking is what attracts thousands of visitors to Nepal every day and throughout the year. Trekking in Nepal is indeed one of the topmost revenue earners for its economy, mountaineering, adventure sports and jungle safari being the other main draws besides trekking.
Nepal’s captivating terrains, awe-inspiring mountains and peaks besides its lush green forests are too good to resist for the trekkers from all over the world. This country has been offering a plethora of opportunities for the adventurous to test as well as satiate their hunger to gear up to tackle these lofty mountains.
At least a dozen trek routes are frequented in Nepal by the trekkers every year. While each one of them is considered unique and wonderful in their own rights, the two regions- the Annapurna region and the Everest region – are the most inviting ones as highly sought after by the trekkers.
Technically, the southeast ridge on the Nepali side of the Himalayan Mountains is easier to climb. It is the main reason that most climbers prefer to trek to the Everest(you may read: Where is mount Everest located?) through Nepal only. It is here where trekking in Nepal is enjoyed both in terms of encountering the challenges as well as savouring the weather which remains at its most fickle. By virtue of these two compelling attractions, trekkers must take some tips for trekking in Nepal seriously to have the best take away from their adventure tours.
But before going headlong into tackling the treacherous and also exciting terrain of Nepal for the adventure lovers, a clear comprehension of dos and don’ts and the various types of hazards the trekkers encounter is an essential element to known and understand.
Let’s explain to you the essential tips for trekking in Nepal to make it easier and also more enjoyable one for you—the trekkers. Read on.
Trekking Or Hiking
Be clear in the first place itself. Both are vastly different, as different as the weather in any given two days in Nepal. While trekking is spread over a few days at a stretch with the intermediary breaks, hiking is essentially a single-day affair. The longer haul and multiple types of terrains and weather combine to make trekking in Nepal an altogether unique experience for the adrenaline-driven people.
Top 12 Best Tips For Trekking In Nepal
Perhaps, you are an experienced trekker or a newbie; you aim to fulfil this unique adventure with peace and determination to achieve the target. How will you be able to do that and whether any universal or all-size-fit formula applicable or there is an ardent need to judge other factors as well? Simply, you should focus on some of the most notable tips for trekking in Nepal to attain success:
Deciding Your Route Choice
First and foremost, it is important to choose which area or route of trekking will you adopt and whether you have any strategy for the same or not. While enchanting Everest base camp trekking is an ultimate test of one’s endurance and will power, the Annapurna Circuit is by no means a walk in the park. Relatively, the Everest base camp trek is more popular and therefore trekkers will have better as well as easy availability of help to emotional support on the way.
You should Remain Prepared and Ready with Weather-Proof Plan
Having settled which route to take was the first step. Now it is high time you plan out the length of your trekking in Nepal. While doing so, the factor for the fickleness of weather you have to face in your rendezvous remains crucial. Include at least 3 days for contingency to draw the utmost from the adventure. Remember this important caveat that weather in the mountainous country of Nepal is highly unpredictable.
The delay factor might as well start from the very flight stage. The domestic flights to Lukla, Pokhara and or any other areas of Nepal might usually get affected due to weather changes. Chances are that you or your accomplices might get sick and or need some time to recuperate. Even if you are the luckiest one to take off as per the schedule or you stay fit, it always pays to spend a few extra days before you embark on trekking in Nepal. Be practical and make an assessment of every single factor.
Size Your Team
How will you be travelling? Solo? Couple? Family? Or as a Group? It is a crucial aspect to focus at. This will decide what needs to be taken, how much to be taken, who is to shoulder what etc., and much more. If you are on your own, double-check on all the essentials as well as the trek gear. See every single aspect minutely and reconfirm whether everything is in order or not. Any mishap on the way can otherwise prove to be a catastrophic experience which you must avoid.
You are out there in a wild and uninhabited place with only a guide and a porter to boot. You can’t afford to fix such issues there to deviate your mind, lowdown your energy and or punch your plan for a downwards escalation. It will only keep your morale low. That is why sizing the team and focusing on specific requirements accordingly does matter the most.
Timing Your Trek
Nevertheless, timing your trek is also one of the most important tips for trekking in Nepal. Selecting the ideal season will ease the travails of trekking. The spring and autumn periods between February to May and September to November months respectively are good for trekking in Nepal. The weather is normally dry during these two periods thus facilitate a wholesome enjoyment of trekking so you enjoy it to the maximum level. For details you may go through: Trekking Seasons in Nepal.
To Hire Guides and Porters or Not
The local guides are the ones who know the region like the back of their palm. It is sensible to hire a local guide for easing you from the worries of finding your way on a foreign land. It is also considered an ideal option by most trekkers in Nepal to use the services of porters too to carry their belongings. Though it may add up to the total budget, it is worth it.
Care must be taken while you are enlisting the services of your operator and the support staff there. Choose an operator with the best track record. Experience helps, therefore, you shouldn’t compromise on making such selections.
Conditioning and Acclimatizing
Having frozen your plan and preparation for the trek, it is time to get to know of some ground-reality tips for trekking in Nepal. Unless you hail from any of the mountainous region anywhere in the world or even Nepal (which is mostly an unlikely possibility for you being a traveller), you are certain to find it tough to encounter the vagaries of the mountain weather.
Trekking involves high altitude climbing which has relatively lesser oxygen levels as the altitude increases. This will kick in the altitude sickness that also manifests as nausea and shortness of breath. These cannot be brushed away lightly. It’s a crucial time that you equip yourself with the compatible medicines and also you should monitor your health vitals regularly.
Don’t push yourselves too hard. Make sure that you stay hydrated all the time. Ascend gradually. Descend at the first sign of continuous symptoms. This phenomenon is purely personal and don’t compare yourself with others as to how they are faring and what steps they take. Should you emulate others and much questions are the ones that might haunt. Tolerance thresholds differ, decide them based on your own factors.
Equipment
Another major tip for trekking in Nepal is concerning the trekking equipment you use. Your trek is only as good as your gear. It is that simple. Get the best of the water and weatherproof shell jacket. Don’t forget to have several under layers of clothing and an enduring fleece as well.
The weather out there is going to be un-pardoning. A pair or two of good trekking boots and a sleeping bag too, please. Have a trekking pole handy all the time. They relieve the load off your knees by as much as 20%.
Include First Aid Kit, personal medications, vitamins, antibiotics for respiratory and stomach related infections, tissue paper, sufficient quantity of hand sanitizers, headlamp and batteries. If you are a shutterbug, pack in extra batteries for your digital camera.
To be on the safe side, carry a battery backup for your cell phone or a solar charger. Electricity services are not dependable on the way.
Personal Hygiene
Daily shower is a luxury while in trek. Have no misgivings about it. It is too risky to shower in cold water there and hot water is sparsely available. Let your personal hygiene not take a hit during the trek. Equip with the sponge bath gear. Pack in loads of deodorants, perfumes and sanitizers. Be kind on self and those around you too!
Localize
It pays to be a Roman while in Rome! Learn the basics of the culture, a little of colloquial vocabulary, a peep into the Buddhist culture, ways of life and also interactions to do in the localized connotation. It helps ease your cause. Don’t expect the porters or the locals to converse with you in English. Therefore, a little bit of localized preparation will matter the most.
Carry local currency. Don’t expect a money changer in the remote areas! Exchange your currency at Kathmandu or at any of the major exchange centres(like Pokhara, Namche Bazzar, etc) before you begin your trek. Have Nepali currency to buy your way through the trek.
Stay Safe from Yaks
The mountainous/trekking region of Nepal is high on the number of Yaks and pack animals. These strongly built animals are used by the trekkers and villagers to carry loads. They are far from being civil and are shaggier with their heavy horns, most often. Stay on the mountainside of the road if ever you encounter these Yaks or mules carrying loads. Stay Away From The Ridge.
After all, you don’t want to be “Yaked” down the valley!
Tackling Emergency
The best of the planned adventures are possible to run into difficulties. Weather being what it is in Nepal, emergencies of various hues and sizes are not unexpected so should you plan your preparation. Have a to-do list to face such eventualities. Primarily, draw the attention of your guide when faced with such situations. He will act fast and organize for the relevant rescue.
In case you or your team member gets injured, requisition the help of the porter to carry you or them. Remember, you are carrying the First Aid Kit so use that instantly. It might come handy on such occasions.
Safety at All Times
Enjoyment and fun are possible only if you are safe(you may read: Is Nepal safe for female travelers?). Don’t risk the unknown. Have a thorough knowledge of what you are attempting; what the hurdles and the efforts are, size up your preparedness for every task. Don’t hesitate to take the advice of the local guides or porters. They may seem rustic and uninitiated. But they are the locals and so are they in the know-how of the ins and outs of trekking.
Be level headed, always.
Conclusion:
Trekking in Nepal is at once a challenge and fun. Meet the challenge with proper preparedness. Study the reviews, comprehend what you are in for and speak to the experts, if possible, for wholesome information about Nepal Trekking. Put your best foot forward to face the challenge squarely and realize your dream.
Safe and happy trekking!