Top Tips For Nepal Trekking Holidays
When it comes to a trekking holiday in Nepal you have to consider many things before you go, planning accordingly will make your trip much more successful. After my recent Upper Mustang Trek, here are some tips I think can help all of you out there planning to visit Nepal in the future.
Get A Guide or Go It Alone
One of the first things people think about when trekking in Nepal is if they should do it by themselves or book with a trekking company. My best advice is to go with your feeling, you know if you have zero experience or have struggled in the past that you definitely need a guide. Annapurna and Everest Base Camp have tons of people trekking along the route so doing it with out a guide is certainly possible. There is no choice if you’re planning on a trek which has restricted permits and a guide is mandatory, this is usually the case in remote areas such as the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek. The trekking companies are the pros, they sort out all logistics, make sure you’re safe and also allow you to get more of an insight into the Nepalese way of life.
Do Your Research
If you choose to book with a trekking company make sure you do it right. It is super simple to just find the cheapest option and go with that, but more often that not it pays dividends to go with a reputable trekking company. These reputable places will be online and you can find reviews from past clients, this will give you the knowledge you need and you’ll know exactly what to expect. A few days researching can make all the difference for your holiday. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable; is the guide English speaking? Will there be a porter? What equipment do they provide?
Pack Properly
Don’t fall in to the trap of stuffing big bulky coats in to your suitcase, the best advice for dealing with the extreme weather of the Himalayas is to bring lots and lots of layers. Be clever, pack properly and light because if you don’t have a porter you’re going to be carrying that pack. If you’re coming from a hot country and don’t have these clothes in the wardrobe there are plenty of shops where you can hire some gear – I find this to be a good solution.