About Trekking

What is Trekking?

Trekking generally refers to multi-day hiking trips through remote and rugged territories. In remote areas, people trek from one place to another for various purposes of day to day life which also includes spiritual pursuit. But for some, trekking is for fun, adventure and keeping oneself fit. And while doing so, people also get to know about various remote places, people, their culture and traditions.

Trekking can be combined with a number of other outdoor sports, such as rock climbing, mountain climbing or backpacking. As it requires going on foot through often rural areas, it offers a close view of the incredible sceneries of remote places. It also offers opportunities to interact with the local communities, to understand and appreciate the nature and environment in their pure form. Trekking is different from other forms of travel as it tends to be less-structured and weather conditions and topography influences the travel plans. Many people who trek through isolated areas have reported their experience to be much richer and unique than the travel experience they gain from organized tours to urban destinations. In fact, after a long trekking into pristine and rural areas, people tend to achieve both physical and mental fitness to such a pure state that it enriches their life for a long time.

Trekking can be done anywhere in the world. But Himalayas offer a uniquely rich experience of trekking. Since the accent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Himalayas have become dream of many trekkers and explorers. Trekking length can be long or short depending on interest and time of the participants. It can range from a week or more to expeditions that last more than a year. It also can be as athletic and adventurous based on participants’ interest.

Secrets of Himalaya works in a unique way of trekking where visitors explore great landscapes and hidden cultures in tandem with inner explorations and contemplation based on Buddhist practices. In addition, our trekking tours are also motivated towards helping rural communities in enhancing their way of life.

Is trekking for everyone?
As long as you are in good physical shape, you can do it. Although it helps, it does not require any previous hiking experience. With proper preparation, everyone can do trekking. If you are planning a trek longer than a week, you should work out or do some day hikes at home before about a month of the trek. We suggest that you trek in groups, go with guide and porters. Load your luggage on the porter, then walk and explore the mountains easily. Take a rest whenever you want to; climb up slowly with plenty of water and enough rest.

Gears and equipment while trekking
There are several things you need to make your trekking enjoyable. Often in our organized trips most of the camping equipments such as sleeping tents, dining tents, kitchen equipment and needed communication sets, first aid, and Altitude Chamber bags will be arranged buy us and you will have to bring your personal things. Trekking in lower altitudes i.e. normally below 2000m might require lightweight trekking trousers and T-shirts. On higher altitude treks, warm clothing is necessary as the mountain weather can be unpredictable and harsh. Consult with any of the outdoor stores in your hometown or in Kathmandu who will easily help you in getting the right gear for you.

The following is a rough guide to your list of things:

• Sleeping bag and liner
• Duffel / Kit bag
• Trekking Boots
• Day bags
• Down jacket/vest
• Fleece vest or jacket
• Shoes/Sandals for camp wear
• Socks
• Wind/rain jacket
• Thermal shirts
• Nightwear thermals
• Fleece/sweatpants
• T-shirts
• Trekking pants
• Wind pants
• Underwear
• Warm hat
• Neck gaiter
• Trekking poles
• Sunglasses
• Gloves
• Water bottle
• Pee container
• Flashlight/torch
• Toiletries
• Towel
• Sunscreen and lip balms/
• Moisturizer
• Sun hat
• First aid material
• Water treatment
• Money-bags
• Thermarest/Inflatable pad
• Down boots
• Snow gaiters
• Snacks and nutrition
• Books
• Camera, films and video camera

A number of outdoor stores and organizations offer classes that can help give an idea of the gear and physical ability required in trekking.

Trekking Grades

Easy: Fairly easy travel involving many optional activities. These may include short hikes of two to three hours, or optional hikes at low elevations.

Moderate: These trips are more active and involve hiking above moderate terrain at elevations less than 10,000 feet. There may be or may not always be vehicle support. The trips with long Overland travel, Wilderness camping or Kayaking fall under this category.

Strenuous: These kinds of trips include hiking on steep and rugged terrain with elevations above 10,000 feet.

Challenging: These are our most demanding trips that include trekking over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations (no vehicle support & above 10,000 ft) or with substantial altitude gains and losses. Trips to remote, extreme wilderness; mountaineering trips fall under this category.

Trekking Seasons

SEASON	MONTHS	NOTES
Autumn	September to November	Excellent season for trekking in all areas, clear mountain views.
Winter	December to February	Ideal for trekking in regions below 2500 meters altitude.
Spring	March to May	Nepal's national flower Guranse (rhododendrons in English) colors the mountains, moderate temperature makes a perfect choice for trekking in hilly regions but trekking in terai can be a little burdensome due to high temperature in the region.
Summer	June to August	Monsoon is in the period. Expect wet, warm and wild trekking during the season. This is the season to see lush green valleys with rice crops and greenest thick jungles.

Types of Trekking

There are various ways of trekking: teahouse trekking, back packing, and organized trekking through operators. In teahouse trekking, you eat and sleep on village lodges and teahouses. Teahouse trekking is popular in areas where you can easily find a place to eat and sleep. Backpack trekking is popular in areas where you have to camp individually or in groups. In more remote and restricted areas; organized form of trekking are popular. In such treks, the tour operator arranges permits, ticketing, camping gears, guides, Sherpas, porters as well as food, communication and safety matters. Self-Arranged Trekking can also be done by contacting the local porters and guides etc… but due to poor communication and remoteness, such arrangements can be unreliable and sometimes a big hassle. The Himalayan people of Tibetan origin known as Bhotias and Sherpas are considered the favorites in trekking in Himalayas. However, people of all origin in the Himalayas are familiar with trekking profession as. Organized trekking are relatively more expensive than back packing but it is a favorite choice for first time trekkers in Nepal and for people opting security and comfort as their priority.

Organized Camping Treks

On this type of trekking, the crew consists of a Sirdar (Guide/leader), a cook and numbers of kitchen crew, Sherpa assistants and porters depending on the size of the group. Sirdar and his Sherpa assistants speak English and will explain you things you see and observe and will act as interpreters while in the rural communities. Under the leadership of the Sirdar, Sherpa assistants will ensure that you take the right path, and are safe and comfortable while doing so. They will make sure your tents are set up while you reach at the camp. The cook and kitchen crew will make sure you are well fed with delicious and nutritious meals. The porters will carry your camping gears and luggage from camp to camp. Also horses, mules and Yaks depending on places are used to carry gears. These people are well trained in issues of mountain safety, environmental issues and on camping essentials. In addition to seeing fascinating places and communities, some of the best moments of the trek include interaction with your trekking crew.

A Typical Day - Organized Camping Treks

A typical day begins with a wake up call; a hot cup of tea brought to your tent at about 6am, followed by a bowl of hot water for washing. You then pack your bags, have breakfast, and after a briefing about the day from Sirdar/Leader, set off on the morning's walk. You walk with a small day pack containing water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain jacket and a warm jumper etc…, just in case. The porters will carry the rest of your gear for you. After walking for 3-4 hours we stop for lunch at around midday. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter and we arrive at camp in time for afternoon tea. However some days require longer walk. The remaining of the day can be spent exploring the nearby villages, communities as well as washing or simply relaxing with a good book. Dinner is usually served between 6-7pm. After the dinner, the evening will often be spent talking about the day, playing cards and singing and dancing before you take your good night’s sleep.

Food

The well trained cook will make sure you get delicious and nutritious meals with a variety of local and Western dishes. The breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch consists of a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. The dinner consists of three course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at all meals. We provide as much fresh produce as possible and your special dietary requirements will also be taken care of. The crew will maintain the best health and hygiene standards in the kitchen as well as in general. All foods are well cooked and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. Boiled water is served for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing.

Safety and communication

Our team is all well trained on Mountain safety issues and will make sure the guests remain healthy and enjoy the trip. They will also be ready to act in case of emergencies and evacuation. The beginning of the trek will comprise of introducing the crew and the group on the general trip arrangement, preparation, mountain safety, communication, and evacuation issues. In addition to excellent gears, in the remote areas, satellite phones will be used for communication. The group will be supplied with Medical Kit and Portable Altitude Chambers (PAC) as well as oxygen to support in case of altitude illnesses. During trip, Sirdar/guide and Sherpas will follow you all along to make sure you are safe and sound at all times. In case of emergencies, the team in Kathmandu and field will act fast to deliver rescue operations.

AMS - Acute Mountain Sickness

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) also called altitude sickness is caused by ascending too fast in areas above 2500m and can be fatal if the symptoms such as nausea, headache and vomiting are ignored. The oxygen level in these areas is half the amount at the sea level. Your body needs time to adjust to that level of oxygen in the air. For treks below an altitude of about 3000m, altitude sickness is generally not a problem. In order to prevent AMS, you need to slowly ascend up, giving your body enough time to adjust to the new oxygen level. It is safe to spend 2-3 nights between 2000m/6562ft and 3000m/10,000ft before going higher. For areas above 3000m, it is advisable to spend a night at every 300m/1000ft gain and a rest day at every 900-1000m/3000ft. You have to identify the symptoms, and only ascend if you are relatively symptom-free.

Mentioned below are some normal symptoms at higher altitude which you do not need to be concerned.

mild headache generally not lasting more than a day
Periods of sleeplessness or the need for more sleep than normal, often 10 hours or more
some loss of appetite
wild dreams at around 2500-3800m in altitude
momentary shortness of breath, day and night – you can take a diamox
periodic breathing that wakes you occasionally
running nose
increased urination
many trekkers have to go once during the night (a sign that your body is acclimatizing)

You could catch one of the following symptoms (mild) in case of altitude sickness, usually not all of them.

Headache - common among trekkers, often during the evening and worsens during the night. Raising your head and shoulders while trying to sleep sometimes offers partial relief. If it does not improve, you may take a painkiller; Aspirin (Dispirin), Paracetamol, Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetamenophen (Tylenol). Never consider sleeping tablets. You could also take Diamox. Your headaches may have many causes one of which is dehydration, but if you develop it at higher elevations, you may assume it is from altitude.
Nausea (feeling sick) – it can occur without other symptoms, but often nausea will follow a bad headache. If you are better in the morning take a rest day, or if you still feel bad descend.
Dizziness (mild) - if this occurs while walking, stop out of the sun and have a rest and drink. Stay at the closest teahouse.
Lack of appetite - common at altitude due to rapid ascend
Painful cough or a dry raspy cough.

Assume that anything other than diarrhea or a sore throat could be a symptom of altitude sickness. If you have a headache from dehydration, ascending further is OK but if it is due to AMS, it can be fatal. Since it is difficult to know the difference, the best idea is to take caution and take time to acclimatize.

Basic rule: NEVER GO HIGHER WITH MILD SYMPTOMS

Serious Symptoms

Persistent, severe headache.

Persistent vomiting

Ataxia - loss of co-ordination, cannot walk in a straight line

Losing consciousness - cannot stay awake or perceive things clearly

Liquid sounds in the lungs

Persistent cough

Increased difficulty breathing

Rapid breathing or feeling breathless at rest

Coughing blood or pink goo or lots of clear fluid

Marked blueness of face and lips

High resting heart beat - over 120 beats per minute

Severe lethargy and drowsiness

Mild symptoms rapidly getting worse

Ataxia is the single most important sign for recognizing the progression from mild to severe. This is easily tested by trying to walking a straight line, heel to toe. Compare with somebody who has no symptoms. 24 hours after the onset of ataxia a coma is possible, followed by death, unless you descend.

Basic rule: IMMEDIATE AND FAST DESCENT

Trekking Responsibly

The International Eco-tourism Society stipulates Responsible Travel as follows:

Responsible Travel:
Responsible travel is travel with a purpose. When choosing destinations, accommodations, and tour operators, consider which ones work to protect the environment and benefit local cultures and communities.

Who Travels Responsibly?
Anyone can be a responsible traveler! You can get back to nature, or bathe in luxury... hike into the rainforest, or explore the city... stay close to home, or travel to the exotic location of your dreams. Responsible travel provides many options and is often very affordable.

What You Can Do While Traveling
By exploring alternative travel choices, you can have a unique trip and avoid leaving negative marks on cultures, economies, and the environment.

At the hotel: Ask about environmental policies and practices. Talk with staff about working conditions. Does the hotel support community projects?

Language: Learn a few words of the local language and use them.

Dress: Read up on local conventions and dress appropriately. In many countries, modest dress is important.

Behavior: Be respectful of local citizens’ privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, homes, or private land.

Photos: Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/video of people. Always ask first.

Environment: Respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails. Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.

Animal products: Never buy crafts or products made from protected or endangered animals.

Pay the fair price: Don’t engage in overly aggressive bargaining for souvenirs. Don’t short-change on tips for services.

Buy local: Choose locally-owned lodges, hotels, and B&Bs. Use local buses, car rental agencies, and airlines. Eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets, and attend local festivals/events.

Hire local guides: Enrich your experience and support the local economy. Ask guides if they are licensed and live locally. Are they recommended by tour operators?

Don't Be Fooled by "Green-Washing"
"Eco" is a fashionable label used widely in the tourism industry. It sounds appealing, but much of what is marketed as "eco" is simply conventional tourism with superficial changes. So it's important to check behind the labels.

Flying Responsibly
Your flight can be the most polluting aspect of your travel. It's estimated that air traffic accounts for 10% of greenhouse gases worldwide. You can help offset carbon emissions from planes (or cars) by supporting energy efficiency and renewable projects. And when possible use more environmentally friendly transport such as trains, buses, and passenger boats.

Responsible Travel Myths

Myth: I have to sacrifice quality and luxury of accommodations.
Reality: Many lodges, hotels, and B&Bs have very high standards for quality and luxury. They bring nature and culture within your reach, while still assuring your level of comfort.

Myth: It's expensive!
Reality: Responsible tours and accommodations come in a range of prices, depending on the level of comfort and convenience you desire.

Myth: It's too difficult to be a responsible traveler.
Reality: The internet makes it easy to plan and book responsible travel. When you arrive at your destination, there are simple steps you can take to make your trip environmentally and socially responsible (see "What You Can Do While Traveling" above).

Myth: It means traveling to tropical jungles.
Reality: Responsible travel often brings to mind images of exotic tropical locations, but the reality is that destinations, accommodations, and tour packages exist on every continent.

Myth: It's for backpackers.
Reality: People of all interests, ages, incomes, and backgrounds can travel responsibly, and there are plenty of family-friendly options