Trekking is one of the most popular activities in Nepal and one of the best ways to see the country. Choose from classic routes like the Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Sanctuary, or try walking in the foothills from village to village. It is not recommended to trek alone and there are organised tours and guides based in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Visitors should ensure that if they have any medical condition or have not exercised for a while they should see their doctor before planning a trip. Do not underestimate the Himalayas and make sure you train properly with an exercise programme before your trek. Walking in the mountains is not a race and everyone needs time to adapt to the thinner air and altitude. Get fit before you go and you will enjoy it a lot more.
As part of the trek there are usually porters to carry equipment and bags and there are now regulations on maximum loads that can be carried. Some trekking companies use yaks as porterage. As a trekker you will need to ensure you have the correct equipment including shoes, water bottle, warm clothing and sleeping bag and as light a weight as possible (usually 9kg). The sirdar is the head porter and the chief guide who will manage the portering team and the trekking sherpas. He will set the pace for the day and is usually highly experienced in the mountains. He will also decide who should descend if anyone gets ill. Cooking sherpas are also essential members of the team if you are camping.
Trekkers either camp or stay in tea houses and in an environment where there is no electricity or running water the hospitality is often overwhelming as is the creative cooking from the sherpas over open fires. There is nothing quite like waking up on a morning to fresh air and the sun rising over the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas with a mug of sherpa tea in your hand.
There are no refuse collectors in the mountains and no flush toilets. Do not litter the tracks, and ensure any trash is carried with you in a nappy sack and disposed of at the end of the day. When in camp make sure you are scrupulous with hand washing and use an antibacterial spray to avoid gut infections.
At the end of a trek it is customary to thank your sherpa team and to offer a tip if you valued their service. Any unwanted clothing or equipment is much appreciated as many sherpas do not have the high quality gear of westerners. It really doesn’t matter how dirty your unwanted items are as they will all end up being washed in the rivers and recycled.
One last word of advice- don’t get between a yak and the edge of the mountain as the yak stops for no one and you are likely to fall off the edge. Always stay on the inside track as the yaks usually win.
