| You may not be young enough, fit enough or crazy enough to climb Mount Everest - But there's no reason you shouldn't visit the area and take a close-up look at the highest mountain on Earth. It's an unforgettable adventure, and it's a lot cheaper than you might expect - Three-weeks in the Himalayas will you cost less than a week on a Mediterranean cruise-ship! A trek to Everest Base Camp is a fairly strenuous but highly rewarding walk amid the world's most stunning scenery. The trail has a network of small and well equipped lodges providing food and accommodation for trekkers. There are also excellent camp sites and plenty of comfortable and well managed resting places. You will need to be fit to enjoy the Base Camp trek. The route is steep at times and it can get very tiring. If you are not fit - it could feel like a slog. But there are other treks you can take in the Mount Everest area - many of them less strenuous. The mountain views on all of these treks are beyond any shadow of a doubt the best in the world. And, of course there are the Sherpas! These wonderful, warm, tough and friendly people will help you every step of the way! They will carry your bags and all of the equipment you need on the trek. All you have to do is walk - and gaze in wonder at the scenery! |
| When to visit In spring and autumn the weather is generally mild and dry. These are the most popular times for trekking in Nepal. March, April and may are the most colourful months - with wild flowers in full bloom throughout the lower lying areas. September, October and November are also excellent months. During the winter, December, January and February, there is usually lots of snow, and the ice-cold winds restrict trekking to lower regions and sheltered valleys. But there are fewer trekkers at this time of year - so you feel more like a true explorer! Summer, June, July and August, is the rainy season. Most of Nepal is drenched by the Monsoon. Visibility can be restricted, and trekking can be difficult. On the plus side - you'll have the place pretty much to yourself! How to get here The best way to start your trip is by flying to Kathmandu. Most flights from Europe or the USA stopover in the middle-east. It's not hard to find flights - there are thousands of websites offering all kinds of deals - But we recommend that you book with one of our Trusted Companies. |
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| Visas You will require a visa to enter Nepal. These are usually granted for 60 days and are obtained on arrival at Kathmandu Airport. You can save time by filling in the visa-form during the flight (the flight attendants have them). You will need two additional passport photographs for the visa. The visa will cost you around $30 US. Currency You will need Nepalese Rupees as soon as you arrive. You are not allowed to bring them with you from abroad, so you will be expected to purchase them at one of the currency exchange kiosks within the airport. You will be given a receipt showing how many Rupees you have bought. You will need the receipt to re-exchange any unspent Rupees when you leave. You can also purchase Nepalese Rupees from banks, hotels and licenced money-changers. You may also be offered the "chance" to buy them (at much better rates) on the streets. This is illegal and should not be considered as an option. Visitors other than Indian nationals are required to pay for their trekking permits and hotel bills in foreign currency. Your tour-guide should advise you about this before you arrive. Credit debit cards American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in tourist shops, hotels, restaurants and agencies. Check with your credit card company for details of services available in Nepal. Travellers cheques Accepted at banks and major hotels. If trekking, it is important to bear in mind that cash is necessary at lodges, restaurants and hotels along your route. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Warning Arriving at Kathmandu can be a shock to your senses! The moment you leave the airport, you become fair game for freelance taxi-drivers and hotel-touts. They will descend upon you like a plague of starving locusts. The taxi-drivers will tug at your luggage and ask you which hotel you want. The touts will tug at your clothes and tell you that they know a better hotel and that you should go with them. This behaviour can be alarming if you are not ready for it - but don't be offended by it. Nepal is poor, and competition for your money is fierce. These people are just trying to make a living. There are two ways to avoid the taxi-drivers and the touts. One is to book your trip with a reputable company - and be met at the airport by one of their representatives. The other is to book and pay for an official airport taxi before you leave the building. You will be given a voucher - when the touts see it in your hand - they will find someone else to bother! |
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| Health A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travellers arriving from infected areas. Cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. Typhoid is common in low lying areas. Malaria is a risk in low lying areas. Neither of these should be a problem in the high mountains. All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Altitude sickness can be a hazard for trekkers, so it is important to be in good health before travelling. Good quality travel insurance with full medical cover is a must! |
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