Nepal is a true paradise for trekking lovers. There are treks for all tastes and with different levels of difficulty and duration. But what should we know before starting an adventure like this? We share with you the most common concerns and doubts of our travelers interested in Nepal.
– When to travel? For most treks in Nepal, which are mainly in the Annapurna and Everest areas, the best time is spring (March to May) and autumn (October to December). During these dates the days are usually clear and sunny, with very little chance of precipitation. Between June and September is the rainy season and overcast skies, so most of these treks are not carried out. However, there are some more remote regions such as the Mustang area or the Dolpo Valley for which summer is the recommended time.
– How difficult are the treks in Nepal? The variety of trails is very wide. There are demanding treks and others very soft and suitable for everyone. The demanding treks are not especially difficult because of the route itself, but because of the number of hours of walking and above all, because of the altitude they reach, which can involve several days walking above 3,500 m.
– Is previous experience necessary? No, not for most of the treks, as they are not technical routes, but routes suitable for anyone who likes walking. Of course it is advisable to be used to the mountain and to have done 5-6 hours of walking if you want to opt for the more demanding options, such as the Everest Base Camp trek, or the complete Annapurna Tour.
– How does accommodation work? For most of the trekking the overnight stay is in shelters. The shelters are simple but comfortable, with a wood stove in the dining room and rooms for two people. The rooms have beds and there are usually blankets, but it is necessary to bring your own sleeping bag. Toilets are in some cases inside the refuge, in others outside (that is why you should bring a flashlight).
– What about meals? Breakfast and dinner are taken at the overnight shelter. Meals are taken at the shelters en route. The treks include full board. Normally lunch includes 1 course + dessert. Dinner includes: soup + main course + dessert + coffee or tea. Drinks, beers and other items for personal consumption such as chocolates, cookies or bars, can be purchased as extra in the shelters (not usually included).
– What about water? In the refuges they provide non-drinking water (free of charge), which should be used with water purification tablets or some other disinfection mechanism. Another more convenient option is to buy bottled water, which is sold in the refuges, of which there are many along the route.
– Do the lodges have showers? Many do, but the cost is not included in the price of the accommodation, although it is not very expensive. The water is usually heated with solar panels and this requires time, so it is recommended to ask the person in charge of the shelter in advance. You should bring bath gel and towel (we recommend a small one).
– Is there electricity in the shelters? Yes, there is electricity and the possibility of charging camera or cell phone batteries (although the latter is not always inside the room but in the common area). Some lodges charge for charging these items. No adapter is required.
– Is there a laundry facility? Clothes can be washed in the washbasins of the shelters but it is not very convenient for large garments because the problem is that they dry out. The warm hours of the day are spent walking, so the option is to carry the clothes hanging from the backpack during the march so that they get air and dry. If they are small items, they can be put inside the sleeping bag to dry with the heat of the body.
– Are crampons and ice axe necessary for the higher altitude treks? Crampons and ice axes are not necessary for the higher treks, that is, the Everest BC in its version with or without Gokio. They would be necessary in case you want to try to climb a mountain in the area, such as Island Peak (61.89 m), which is on the Everest route.
– What should I bring? The recommended equipment basically includes the following: A sleeping bag resisting -20ºC (can be rented at destination), goretex windbreaker jacket or similar (resisting -15ºC), down jacket, rain jacket and waterproof pants, polartec 200 fleece jacket or similar, goretex windbreaker pants or similar, thermal pants or tights and T-shirts, trekking pants, short and long sleeve T-shirts, mountaineering and trekking socks, trekking boots, rest shoes for shelters, trekking poles, headlamp with spare batteries, backpack / backpack of approx 60l (to give to the porter), backpack of approx 45 lt (to carry yourself), water bottle, mountain hat, wool or polartec hat, goretex gloves, thin polartec gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and camera and spare batteries.
– Are there baggage restrictions? Yes. Terekking involving an internal flight usually has a first restriction here, since you can take on board a piece of luggage weighing up to 15 kg + hand luggage weighing no more than 7 kg. In addition, porters can carry a maximum of 12 kg per traveler, taking into account that there is usually 1 porter for every 2 people. Of course, additional porters can be hired at extra cost.
– Are vaccinations required? At the moment there are no vaccinations required for travel to Nepal.
– Is travel insurance required? Yes, it should be taken into account that travel insurance usually has altitude restrictions. The one we include in Mundoexplora for all our travelers is one of those that covers the highest altitudes, since it covers up to 5,000 meters. However, for programs that reach higher altitudes, those who want to ensure full coverage should complement the coverage of our insurance with the coverage provided by being a member of an international mountain federation.
Now that you know everything you need to know to travel to Nepal, we encourage you to know the itineraries we offer.
In Mundoexplora we know Nepal and we have been organizing these trekkings for 15 years . Learn more about our trips to Nepal here
