For mountaineering guides, their rate goes up too. It is difficult to convert your NPR back to foreign currency, and you will not be able to exchange NPR once back in your own country. The Great Himalaya Trail is a network of existing wonder treks and tremendous trails which together form one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world. As you walk through the Himalaya, our leaders offer the right amount of support and guidance to ensure you have a memorable expedition. For more in depth information on this topic, read my article Trekking in Nepal Costs & Budget. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Whether you’ve had the pleasure of trekking with him already or not yet, meet our friendly Nepal guide Sanjay and find out about his ... Kshamawati Higher Secondary School Hostel. Learn more about our ground breaking Responsible Tourism initiatives, including our award winning Community Project Travel Program. The Kanchenjunga Exploratory is the first stage of the Great Himalaya Trail and passes through stunning mountain scenery under the immense north face of Kanchenjunga before turning towards the west where we cross the Nango La. Sometimes the air is so thin, you can only walk for a few minutes between breaks. I would encourage you to stay in local guest houses as often as possible. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. There will be menus with lots of options. Whether you prefer cycling or walking, 2-star or 4-star, small groups or self guided, land, river or sea – UTracks can help you to explore Europe exactly the way you want. Begin your adventure to the far east of Nepal and trek to the base camp of Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain. Everything is a challenge from logistics, food resupplies, navigation, cultural and language barriers, local transportation to the trail, and personal health. Check the most up to date information before going. There are many money change shops in Thamel and around Kathmandu where you will also be able to change money, however, note that many places will not allow you to change currency back. Food costs on a Nepal trek: are meal inclusions worth it? Here are eight things to consider to make ... Trekking barren landscapes in Patagonia | Richard I'Anson. There are lots of Nepali domestic airlines, but you can browse Yeti Airlines to get a feel for flight routes and prices. Generally, the spring and autumn are the best times to hike in Nepal. There is an increasing number of both trekkers and agents that are trying to squeeze trekking itineraries into an ever decreasing number of days. He also enjoys trail running, cycling and open-water swimming. Australian Walking Holidays specialises in small group guided walking adventures. Usually when we resupplied we didn’t go back to the trail for a week or more. Sometimes the weather does not allow you to hike the high route. If you’re not trekking in a region, then you won’t need the permit. The 5th great Himalayan trail will take you along the restricted part of the Annapurna region. We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. If you have about $10,000 to spare and you want someone to show you the way, cook all of your food, and haul your gear for you, that is most certainly an option. Your safety is our number one concern. Soaking up a daily-changing landscape of spectacular views of the Himalaya, you’ll trek along winding mountain trails that lead to remote villages and rarely-visited valleys and ascend high passes between the snowcapped faces of the world’s highest peaks. Become one of the very few trekkers to enter the Everest region via the Amphua Labtsa Pass, one of the most challenging passes in the Himalaya. The parts of the low route I hiked were harder than the parts of the high route I hiked. Bir is a very popular guide with all groups he is involved with. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. A #10 can of freeze-dried cheddar cheese. In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about planning and executing your own trek across Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail. Heather Hawkins recounts her experience walking the Great Himalaya Trail and how Nepal captured her heart ... Trekkers carry a full pack on our Walls of Jerusalem self guided walks | Aran Price. Our trekking season in Nepal extends from mid-September to May. See how much difference 5kgs can make to ... Mountaineer expert Soren Kruse Ledet shares tips on how to best approach mountain peaks and ways to cope in overwhelming situations, Street views in Kathmandu | Peter Bonifacio. This is what we deemed our end point. Mornings are usually clear with cloud build-up bringing occasional afternoon rainstorms. If you want to do the technical passes, you need guides and mountaineering equipment. Be flexible when flying in Nepal. Traditional villages, high passes, stunning scenery, amazing diversity, and beautiful mountains; the Annapurna has it all. First of all, if you’ve never navigated with a map and compass before or don’t know how to use a GPS, don’t hike the Great Himalaya Trail. For distance estimations, trail narrative and more precise planning, we refer you to Robin Boustead’s book. Click here to see my Gear List for the Great Himalaya Trail. In March the cold, dry winter season begins to give way to warmer, spring conditions. It also took us one week upon arrival to prepare for the hike and one week after it was over to chill and decompress. They will point to the direction you need to go. His helpful, cheerful and efficient manner ensures the beginning and end of your Nepal adventure will be smooth, letting you focus on enjoying Kathmandu and preparing for your trek. The main appeal to the high route is the incredible scenery. If you’re sticking to the low route, you could probably go almost anytime of year. ‎The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is one of the longest and highest walking-trails in the world. Backpacking food is simply not available in Nepal. Our guides in the field are the real key to our success on the GHT. Thru-hiking in the USA is often about hiking a lot of miles in a short amount of time. This stage of the GHT is undoubtedly the most challenging. Sagarmatha National Park Permit (Everest region), $32, Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit, $20, Kanchenjunga Conservations Area Permit (I’m not confident on the price, but probably $20). More gear and clothing than usual is required. This list is good for both the high route and low route for spring and summer. Organize what you need during your resupply trips to the city. We also both lost 20-25 pounds/ 9-11 kilos of weight from strenuous hiking without access to high calorie food. They had guides, a cook, and porters. Our ability to pioneer this challenging trek underscores our superb logistics and crew in Nepal and embodies the essence of World Expeditions' travel philosophy. The jungles are dense and full of plants that cause painful allergic reactions. However, there’s hundreds of trails across the Himalaya and it’s unlikely that you’ll stick to the exact route that either of them hiked. A lot of our navigation process was simply asking locals which way to go. Interview with Graham Wrigley, Chairman of the Himalayan Trust UK, to talk about the Sir Edmund Hillary Memorial Lectures, charity work & more. The term is also used to refer to a subset of those trails spanning the width of Nepal. Plus, you have to be flexible with your hiking plans. There are no exact statistics, but it’s estimated that less than 50 people have ever completed the hike. Sometimes you’ll have to go between the two because of weather, dangerous passes, or not wanting to hire guides. Local food is not calorie dense, so you lose a lot of weight. The Great Himalaya Trail is a network of existing treks and trails which together form one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world. Unsure if meal inclusions on a Himalaya trek are worth it? I averaged about $1000/ month during my thru-hike. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. Bring an extra backpack loaded with your resupply food, and store it at your guest house in Kathmandu. There were occasions where one of us was mentally checked out and the other person had to take the lead. Mornings are usually clear with cloud build-up occasionally bringing afternoon rain. Some people do start their thru-hike in the autumn. If there is coffee available it’s almost always instant. I’m not going to though because I have an ebook you can buy called Tea House Treks of Nepal. World Expeditions is one of the world’s leading adventure travel companies offering ground breaking itineraries on every continent. Runoff from toilets sometimes drains into water sources. Check my Nepal archives for the posts I wrote during my thru-hike. Late spring conditions, in May, are generally hot at low elevations and as the clouds build up to the next monsoon, which generally begins in June, daily afternoon rainstorms are common. There will be times it’s so full that people are riding on the roof. In most villages along the Great Himalaya Trail, you can expect typical Nepali meals of dal bhat. Regardless, if the idea of hiking the Great Himalaya Trail has taken hold of you as it once took hold of me, read on. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. We are privileged to have such an effective administrator and negotiator on the team, not to mention Uma's delightful manner when liaising with travellers. The Epic Trail Is Back For Its 10th Anniversary. Some months I was way under this number. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I met one guy who was hiking half in spring and half in autumn. Day one of hiking on the Long Range Traverse, Newfoundland, Heading into the great outdoors for a day or week-long trek? Navigation is a challenge. As I mentioned before, it’s basically rice, dal soup, curried vegetables, and some spicy pickled vegetables for flavor. We brought so much food from home that we needed two backpacks to store it all. Good to hear that from a fellow GHT thru-hiker. Basically, avoid the low route during peak summer and peak winter. As part of our commitment to sustainable tourism we take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints behind in these fragile mountain environments. On the low route, expect to spend about $10/ day for food and accommodations. World Expeditions. Be prepared for any weather imaginable: monsoon rains, hail storms, heat and humidity, snow, blindingly bright sunshine. Want to fundraise for your favourite charity on a Charity Challenge adventure? The Great Himalaya trail spans the entire length of the Nepalese Himalaya, covering 1700km from Kanchenchunga in the East all the way to Humla and just beyond in the West. It is possible to obtain your Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu Airport, however this is not ideal as it can cause long delays to your group. You have to bring backpacking food from home, store it in resupply bags in Kathmandu or Pokhara, then take a bus or a plane back to the city when you need to resupply. This is the cheapest and most uncomfortable option. There’s no such thing as being ultra-light on the Great Himalaya Trail. Views of snow-capped mountains regularly dominate the horizon. Expect to pay anywhere from $5-10 for a bus ride that lasts all day. Don’t forget to visit the rest of my blog for even more Nepal trekking information. For example, our TIMS permits were organized by a trekking agency thus were blue to indicate that we were with guides. And just when you get to the outskirts of Kathmandu and think the ride is almost over, it takes another two hours of sitting in traffic to reach the bus station. By mid-October through to mid-December the weather is usually stable with mild to warm days, cold nights and clear views. Nepal is a country of high linguistic diversity. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us. You must bring the full spectrum of winter and summer clothes. In October 2009 he conquered Shishapangma, Tibet, becoming the first Australian to climb all 14 of the world's 8000m peaks - a feat only achieved by a select few worldwide. Trekking in the Everest Region with World Expeditions. Sorrel is best known as a television presenter on Channel Nine's Getaway and the ABC's Painting Australia, brings a vast adventure heritage with her. You’re also responsible for paying for their transportation to and from the trail. In Nepal, you have to go slow. The post-monsoon period - From early September the monsoon rain starts to decrease. The Great Himalaya Trail or the GHT, is an extremely physically taxing and psychologically draining, but rewarding ultra run, with a ‘high’ that transcends all altitudes. It’s basically 40 pages of information that explains everything you need to know to start trekking: logistics, cultural stuff, advice for female trekkers, and loads more. Kanchenjunga to the Far West and North Hilsa, Humla Border (Gateway … I wouldn’t hike the Great Himalaya Trail solo. Trekking in Nepal particularly in this part is … The monsoon creates a rainy season in Nepal, which lasts from mid-June to mid-September. When you walk the GHT with us, you are supporting both the local industry and environmental sustainability; matters of utmost importance along the GHT where remote communities remain relatively unchanged today. IMPORTANT NOTE: Nepalese traders do not like TORN notes. We offer adventures to every continent on earth. But would I do it again? Ascending in perfect conditions in the Karakoram, Pakistan | Tim Macartney-Snape. Can You Hike Solo? Sometimes maps.me app has the trail while the Himalaya maps do not and vise versa. Great Canadian Trails specialises in active holidays in Canada. While I don’t know any of them personally, I do know quite a bit about the American style of hiking. For the Dolpa high route, it’s $500/ week. World Expeditions is paying the excess baggage fee for flights to Lukla or Jomsom in Nepal. This is basically a meal of rice, lentil soup, and curried vegetables. | Ayla Rowe. The Great Himalaya Trail follows a network of already established treks and trails which when combined together have formed one of the highest walking routes in the world. Generally, I stuck to the low route when there were guide mandatory regions. During the monsoon in Nepal it is possible to trek in Tibet, the Indian Himalayan regions of Kulu, Garhwal & Ladakh, Central Asia and Pakistan, places that are at their best during this time. Based at our desk at the Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu, Lhakpa is always on hand to advise you on the best restaurants, local sightseeing opportunities and to assist with questions on forthcoming treks. Over the course of four and a half months we hiked 800 miles across Nepal. Travel, fundraise and meet life-long friends on one of Huma's meaningful and unique challenges around the world. Weather changes rapidly from morning to night, when you gain or lose a lot of elevation, and according to whatever the season is. Our series of eco-campsites in the Everest and Annapurna regions contribute to the local economy by providing employment and yearly rent and by bringing trekkers into nearby villages to purchase handicrafts. If you love our current itineraries but want to customise it privately as a couple, a group of friends, family, club, business or school, you have the freedom to add or remove as many elements as you like to suit the interests of your group. While the campsite locations have been handpicked for their location, our commitment to responsible travel ensures our footprint is kept to a minimum. Nepal visas have always been easy for me to get upon arrival, but requirements do change. The pre-monsoon period - In March the cold, dry winter season begins to give way to warmer, wetter spring conditions. Porters are provided with a wind and waterproof jacket and over-trousers, woolen socks and gloves, leather or canvas shoes, sunglasses and a warm cap, and carry a maximum of 30kgs. Local chef making some yummy momo's | Sally Imber. Buses in Nepal are not very efficient. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. The water of the lake is crystal clear and the area is a stunning place of natural beauty. I wouldn’t hike the Great Himalaya Trail solo. Daytime temperatures can reach 25 - 30 degrees Celsius at lower altitudes and decrease as you gain height. Views of the mountains in the middle of the day and afternoon may often be obscured. If you’re trying to stay on a hiking schedule, Nepal is not going to cooperate. However, you should know that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on the site and the services we are able to offer. Landry then skipped competing in half or full marathons and went straight … Great Panorama Treks and Expedition team is a planning Great Himalayan trail in near future, for those looking for the cutting edge of adventure travel.First Trekked a team led by Robin Boustead from February to August 2008/9 and completed in 157 days; the program was launched with a view that can help to promote entire corners of Himalayan in Nepal while assisting local communities. At night at lower altitudes, temperatures do not normally drop much, although as you approach November it does get colder and the days shorter. A typical trip to resupply looked like us getting to a larger town along the trail and spending an entire day on the bus to Kathmandu. Other officers didn’t care or notice. Winding beneath the world's highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and incredible landscapes. Sometimes they blast a rotation of Bollywood music over the speakers for 8 hours straight. This does vary depending on the specific route you’re taking. The Nepal section of the Great Himalaya Trail was officially opened in 2011 and covers a staggering 1,700 kilometers – separated into ten sections. 3 gear mistakes to avoid when going on a trek, Need excess baggage on your Lukla flight? Best known as Joe Simpson's climbing partner [Touching the Void], he has developed a strong reputation as an engaging expedition leader. TIMS permit, $20- get one for the entire Great Himalaya Trail. You can take a look at the maps online here for free. We own and operate the most comprehensive range of adventure holidays available across Tasmania's varied landscapes. The rest of the time was spent relaxing in the city during resupplies. It passes from subtropical jungles to high altitude alpine ecosystems, through villages of Buddhists, Hindus, Sherpas, Tibetan refugees, Lhomis, and Shamans, among many others. Going the distance – Trekking the full Great Himalaya Trails March 28, 2017. Now, he will be traversing the 1550 km-long Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) in Nepal. In 2015 she spent three months trekking in Nepal, impressively covering the Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp AND Langtang’s Gosaikunda trek during her visit. you must enter and depart Nepal within six months of the date of issue of the visa. A custom made itinerary is the ultimate way to see the world how YOU want. Except we hired a guide for Manaslu. The best advice I can give you is to let go of that. Local shops exist in the mountains, but you won’t find much beyond noodles, cookies, and Coke. Generally, the national park permits are $32 and the conservation area permits are $20. Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Previous treks and expeditions have focused on the Himalayas, with others in the Scandinavian Arctic and mountainous areas of Africa. Local transportation is exhausting. Domestic flights are cancelled when there’s clouds or bad weather.  |, Trekking through snow on the way towards Ghunsa Read trekking agency reviews online. It’s filling, but difficult to eat more calories than you’re burning. Additionally, they typically have packaged cookies, chips, soda, and cigarettes. As far as having two forms of GPS maps, you also need both of them. He has also led many climbs and treks in Nepal, Tibet, China and Bhutan including Cho Oyu. Every mountaineer needs to understand how to read mountain weather, taking elements such as wind, precipitation, snow and forecasted temperatures into consideration. Have to carry as much food or go into the most comprehensive Range destinations! Can start with a heavy pack significantly more difficult thru-hike exists in this world for... 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