What to Bring for the trip? (Trekking Gears)

• Pair of trekking boots
• Pair lightweight trekking sandals
• Pairs thin walking socks
• Pairs lightweight trekking trousers must be windproof as well.
• Pair shorts
• Trekking shirts
• Fleece jumper
• Wind stopper
• Set lightweight thermals
• Down body warmer
• North Face Waterproof Jacket (Preferably)
• North Face Waterproof trousers (Preferably)
• Hat with ear covers
• Neck warmer
• Pairs ‘thinners’ gloves
• Rucksack with hydration kit and belt bag
• Personal wash kit (include fabric washing solution)
• Leki Pole (Preferably)
• Pack tissues and wet wipes and liquid detergent
• Pair sunglasses
• Camera and films
• Head torch and spare batteries
• Sleeping bag (rated -10(above) deg C during your trip)
• Towels for your daily use

But, if you can’t bring from your own, you can buy or hire in Nepal cheaper then there.

Program structure:

-Accommodation in hotel lodges

Nepal’s Accommodation in trekking areas is slowly moving to mini urbanization process. Wherever you go, the National Parks and Conservation Projects are working to enhance the living standard compared to the clean and hygienic society. So everywhere you will see breaking the rocks to build the new buildings and cemented to make clean. You will find cottage types of lodges with separate and dormitory beds rooms in every shelter with improving toilets, hot shower and sunroom with clean and wooden dining table with the big metal chimney on the middle of Dining Room to have the fire while in the evening burning fallen woods below 3500m. and the Yak Dungs over 3500m.

There have been many changes along popular trekking routes over the past few years, especially since the barrage of bestsellers about the 1996 Everest drama, which caused a renewed interest, especially in the Solu Khumbu region. Since then many new lodges have been built along all trekking paths, offering a variety of amenities.

Generally, the lodges in the trekking region are more basic. Rooms tend to be small, unheated wooden boxes with two beds, and only the more upscale versions offer electric lights fed by solar panels. Toilets are often squat-style wooden outhouses. Toilet paper is available for purchase everywhere.

-3 times meals BF, LN, DN in same lodges every day.

All our meals will be at teahouses and, although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive.

However, the menus in all lodges offer a surprising variety of foods. Most lodge owners have learned about western food preferences and offer items such as pizza, lasagna, muesli, sandwiches and even burgers. If you wish, we provide you with an opportunity to watch a lodge kitchen in action, producing an enormous number and variety of meals on a single wood-burning stove. You will definitely gain an appreciation for the effort that goes into satisfying the appetites of tourists from all over the world. But keep in mind that a lot of the ingredients for such "exotic" foods have to be carried on porters’ backs, and the further you get from original food supplies, the higher the price tag will be on some of these items.

We, Nepalese eat a meal of Dhal Bhaat (rice with lentil soup, curry, and pickles) twice daily. The ingredients vary according to local and seasonal availability, but vegetarian options are the norm. Another cheap popular local dish is the ubiquitous instant noodle soup, enhanced by local vegetables, or meat or egg, depending on availability. Eating Nepali-style will provide you with a truly local experience, guarantees fresh ingredients everywhere, and rules out disappointments. Let’s face it: Lasagna Himalaya-style will not be the true Italian version you may be accustomed to.

The Kitchens staffs you will find are trained for cooking, and guest relation, The foods will be served with according to the Lodge Management Committee approved Menu system providing Nepalese, Indian, Chinese and Continental western foods. Beers, Whisky western and Nepalese, Snickers, Mar Bars, Coca-Cola, Mineral water, Cereals and many others essentials foods will be available in every lodge. And do not forget of Garlic and RARA noodles soups will make you smelly going up to avoid high altitude sickness. For a quick fix: Tea is available everywhere and Nepali biscuits are cheap, delicious and provide a great energy boost for long uphill climbs.

Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate, and soft drinks and in some areas, you will find fresh fruit in season.

• -Staffs (A Trekking Guide and Porter number of necessary)
• -Drive Back to Kathmandu

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements

The Helambu trek usually demands 5 to 6 hours of walking each day. The trek is moderate in grade so interested people who have the ability to walk at least 5-6 hours a day with a light day pack can enjoy this trek. It is suitable for the young children and elderly people as well. All it requires is good health and average fitness level. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance your strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset. If required you can consult your doctor before you decide to sign up for the Helambu trek. Please inform us if you have pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease before booking the trek.

Fitness

This is the fairly demanding trek and so you should be reasonably fit, or know that you can get fit quickly. It isn't possible nor necessary to get truly trekking fit before the trek. I trek a daily itinerary that suits loaded porter, who carried 20 kg loads cover more distance than you might think, but not so much so as to finish you. Over the course of the first week, you'll be amazed at how your fitness improves. You can even get exercise in your city before you come, swimming, small day hiking, and physical fitness may help you to hike and climb in Nepal Himalaya.

High Altitude Sickness:

When trekking or climbing above 3000m/10,000ft it is important to take into account the effect of altitude on your body. The thinner air affects you in many ways and if you go high too fast you can kill yourself as we have seen on this year one of 53 years old Indian and 57 years Russian citizens from Pune and Moscow died suddenly in Namche as soon as they arrived.

AMS - Acute Mountain Sickness

Commonly called altitude sickness, this has the potential to affect all trekkers from 2500m and higher. Your body needs time to adjust to smaller quantities of oxygen in the air - at 5500m/18,044ft the air pressure is approximately half that of sea level, i.e. there is half the amount of oxygen (and nitrogen). This is approximately equivalent to the top of Kala Pattar or Island peak in the Everest region.

For treks below an altitude of about 3000m/10,000ft, it is not normally a problem. AMS is caused by going up high too fast and can be fatal if all the warning signals are ignored. Note that it is not the actual altitude, but the speed at which you reach higher altitudes which causes the problems.

Altitude sickness is preventable. Go up slowly, giving your body enough time to adjust. These are the 'safe' rates for the majority of trekkers: spend 2-3 nights between 2000m/6562ft and 3000m/10,000ft before going higher. From 3000m sleep an average of 300m/1000ft higher each night with a rest day every 900-1000m/3000ft. ultimately it is up to you to recognize the symptoms, and only ascend if you are relatively symptom-free. Later on............................... If you are interested.

Rescue? if in case?

I trek with limited distance every day so that my every client can take advantage of being in the Himalaya, However, Some time suddenly or Just in case of your usual disease or other accidental causes may need you to get rescued from Himalaya. So at that duration you will be fully responsible to pay the Helicopter charges as soon as you arrive in Kathmandu by yourself or asking amount from your home country or with the response from related Embassy in Kathmandu, which will be paid back by your Insurance company in your country after claiming your paid in Nepal amount with the help of Doctors certificates, Airlines Certificates and other documents given from authorized Person like Guide, Local Govt. Member or People of related fields where you get sick.

Electricity

Chisapani, Thadepaty, Kutumsang, Tarkeghyang and Shermathang and Melamchi does have hydro -electricity, You can recharge your camera batteries just in those places. After that level you will need to sleep with candles and Solar battery lights just in the Dining Room during the dinnertime and you cannot recharge the batteries.

Water and Chances of Getting sick:

However Nepal is second richest in the world for water after Brazil, The water here is just 0.3% of total water is pure. Because most of the rivers flow from the glacier and from top to bottom and hilly mountains. As you know people live on the mountain and the animals graze in the pastures and most of the manual flows together. On the other hand, you can buy the mineral water bottle but we feel very sorry to discourage you from not to buy, considering our Environment. But there is an idea, We can purify the water using some Iodine Pills or Purifying drops which can be available in drug stores in Kathmandu. We can use the water after nearly boiled which is safe.

I have a lot of different experience that people get diarrhea, vomiting during the trek because of water and food, So always I take my medication with me which can kill Guardia and bacteria in the Himalaya because sometimes the drugs you bring cannot match with Himalayan Bacteria and Germs. I use locally manufactured drugs with me but If the clients are o.k I feel very happy.

Telephone and E-mail facilities during your Trek:

You can call at your home or friends from everywhere of this trekking region by now. Those destinations have telephone facilities for the moment. However, you have chances to send and receive e-mail from Tarkeghyang or Shermathang.

Insurances of Guide and Porters.

We do our life insurance and Trekking insurance for the duration of 10 or 15 years from the reputed insurance company in Kathmandu, Nepal which covers our insurance for the duration of our trek as well.

Well, I hope above details will be quite enough for you to understand for your upcoming trip to Nepal Trekking. If you agree with my proposal please do let me know your opinion. Please do feel free to contact me if you have found any error in my sending. Also, as soon as your arrival information will be much appreciated to prepare your trip arrangement here.

Best Time to Travel

Autumn (mid Sept to mid Dec) and Spring(March to May) are the best seasons for Helambu Trek. The weather is sunny and warm, with outstanding views but the nights are cold and can fall to freezing. Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) is also good for Helambu Trek, only colder.