What is trekking?

The word ‘trekking’ was originally conceived & used by British mountaineering expeditions in Asia and soon spread to Nepal. Trekking means to walk at one’s pace through well-established village trails, thereby enjoying close contact with nature, wide diversity of culture, religion and ethnic groups of people in remote mountain villages whose lifestyle has not been changed for generations.

Trekking trails in Nepal
Nepal’s most mountainous, hilly and ‘Terai’ (flat) regions offer some of the most spectacular trekking in the world. Treks vary from high altitude routes to simple ones within the Kathmandu Valley. These treks give you a chance to mix with local people and get and insight into their livelihood and culture. A trekking trip can be of any length you choose. Popular short treks are available around the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys, which only take one, two or three days to complete while longer treks lasting from a week to a month. It is even possible to combine a series of popular treks together and walk for months on end. Nepal undoubtedly offers some of the most spectacular and beautiful scenery in the world, with well-published photographs of Everest, Machhapuchhre, Ama Dablam and other beautiful mountains making them instantly recognizable to keen trekkers from every continent. Nepal has a virtual monopoly on the world’s tallest mountains (eight of the fourteen highest peaks are located in Nepal) and a number of the popular trekking routes offer wonderful views or visits to the base camps used by mountaineering expeditions. However, the hill country is also often breathtakingly beautiful with pretty villages, vast meadows or forests, fast flowing rivers, deep canyons and the cold and barren regions at the feet of the great mountain peaks. The views also change with the seasons, such as different stages of planting and harvesting cycles or the brilliant displays of wild flowers in spring and autumn.

When to go?
The best time to trek is from October to May. The first two months of the dry season (October and November) is the ideal period for trekking in Nepal. The air is freshly washed by the monsoon rain, mountain scenery is superb and the weather is still comfortably warm. December, January and February are still good months for trekking but the cold can be bitter at high altitudes. March and May also offer better weather when trekkers can see superb wild flowers, particularly in Nepal’s wonderful rhododendron forests. During the monsoon season (June-August) trekking is possible in the rain-shadow areas of north of the Himalaya like upper Mustang and upper Dolpo. These regions are out of reach of the rain clouds because of the high mountains and are unaffected by the monsoon.

1. Teahouse: On the more popular treks in Nepal, enterprising villagers have built teahouse lodges. They are most readily available in the Everest, Langtang and the entire Annapurna regions. The country offers a selection of teahouse treks run to a high level of service.
2. Camping: This trek is assisted by a full Sherpa crew including a Sirdar (headman), cook and other helpers. Porters, yaks, horses, or mules all the camp works, including leaving the sites clean and to guide on the route. Foods available on the trek will a mixture of Western and Asian dishes with variety of choices.
3. Back Packing: In back packing treks, the back packers carry all their gear and equipment by themselves on their back. Mostly these people follow the trading routes or regular trails and stay in the local tea houses or lodges.
4. Hiking: It is a short day walk of less then 5 hrs. A hiker returns to the same campsite or lodge for overnight stay. It does not involve overnight stay. One should carry pack food for hiking.
   
   Trail conditions
   The trails are well maintained, and many trails with uphill slopes are often paved with stones. Trekking in Nepal entails walking up and down countless times. Most treks go through the altitudes ranging from 1000m to 3000m. However, the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Circuit Trek, undoubtedly the most popular trek routes, reach over 5000m. Normally one can trek for four to seven hours a day.

   High Altitude sickness
   Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) which can turn fatal if not treated upon recognizing the symptoms. AMS is the effect of altitude on those who ascend too rapidly to elevations of 3000m. or above. Early mountain sickness results in headache, loss of appetite and sleeplessness. One can encounter such sickness no matter he/she looks physically young, strong and fit. Medicine itself can be no substitute unless patients suffering from such sickness are immediately rushed downhill. Doctor may provide primary care with some medicines and oxygen but the patient must be brought down immediately in order to escape danger. For emergency purpose, one can contact doctors at Khunde and Pheriche hospitals in Khumbu trekking region and Manang hospital while trekking to Manang region.

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