When to Trek in Nepal

There are two major factors to weigh as you decide when to go to Nepal : crowds and weather. As a general rule, the better the weather, the more people come to Nepal to go trekking. During the high tourist season in October and November, flights and hotels are fully booked and hotels and trails in the hills can be horrendously busy.

During autumn the nights are cold in the mountains, but the bright sun makes for pleasant day temperatures - in the high 20s° C, falling to 5° C at night, between 1000 metres and 3500 metres. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 20° C down to -10° C. Mornings are usually clear with clouds building up during the afternoon, disappearing at night to reveal spectacular starry skies. During winter it is about 10 degrees colder.

Early December usually has a lull, but this is also a good trekking season. The Christmas period is cold, but this is the holiday season in Japan and Australia and these nationalities dominate flights and hotels. High passes, especially Thorung La on the Around Annapurna trek and Laurabina Pass on the Gosainkund trek are usually closed from late November to March. February is still cold, though less so as the spring trekking season of March and April approaches. The Middle Hills, especially around Pokhara, are full of dust and haze in April and May, but the high country is usually clear. Trekking tapers off in the heat of May except at high elevations.

The monsoon is a good time to visit Kathmandu , but there are few trekkers among those who come. A monsoon trek is possible if you are willing to put up with the rain, leeches, slippery trails and lousy mountain views. Flights operate throughout the monsoon to Lukla, Jumla and Jomsom, so it is possible to fly in and trek above the leech line.

Many of the new treks to recently opened restricted areas are good summer treks. Mustang and Simikot are partially in the Himalayan rain shadow, so trekking conditions are good throughout the monsoon season. Most of the restricted area treks are impossible during the winter season.

SECTION 1: Health matters and Equipment:

Health Matters Preparations:

Early in your planning it is advisable to have a medical check up explaining to your physician the altitude you hope to reach. He can also advise on immunizations. Maleria suppressant tablets are also well worth asking your physician about. The most preparations you can make before coming to Nepal is to get fit a condition as possible. Your feet should also be in good hard shape.

On the Trail:

Trekkers do occasionally suffer from coughs, colds and minor stomach upsets in the hills. Blisters are fairly common and should be covered as soon as first noticed with moleskin or plaster. Your Sherpa staff will boil the water used for preparing hot drinks and also boil water in the evening for carrying on the trial the next day, your own supply of purifications tablets or iodine crystal solutions for use in your canteen will provide an additional safeguard and supply of current drugs should reduce trouble of this nature to a minimum. Please note that iodine base preparations kill amebic cysts while most other purifications methods do not.

Equipments:

For simplification we have made two equipment list, one for autumn and spring trekkers and an additional one for those trekking either in winter conditions or at high altitude. Everyone should use the autumn spring list and winter or high altitude trekkers should include items on the winter list as well.

Autumn and Spring equipment list:

Footwear:

1) Hiking Boots: Weight must depend on season and trek difficult. Boots must be well broken in and waterproofed.

2) Training type shoes: For wearing on trek and/or camp use.

Clothes:

1. Two wool shirts or sweaters
2. Two cotton shirts (long & short sleeves)
3. One pair cotton pants or knickers
4. One pair wool pants or knickers
5. Shorts or half length skirt/culottes for women (skirts are much more comfortable as well as being culturally acceptable in Nepal )
6. Three pairs of regular underwear
7. Long underwear - thermal or wool
8. Wind and raingear with hood (make sure some are sealed)
9. Sun hat with brim
10. Wool hat or balaclava
11. Wool socks or boot wear
12. Cotton socks for general use
13. Towel

Accessories:

1. Personal first and kit (aspirins moleskin antiseptic cream tape, band - aids and sun cream)
2. Toilet kit
3. Flashlight and extra batteries
4. Sunglasses and spare pair
5. Repair kit (needle and thread tape sewing awl, shoe, repair boot, screws wrench and small scissors)
6. Water bottle (wide mouth-with at least one quart capacity)
7. Swim suit
8. Notebook & pens, pencils
9. Plastic bags for reading materials, film etc.
10. Large plastic bags useful for cloths, sleeping bags and rainproof, stuff sack liners
11. Pocket knife
12. Light weight day pack
13. Duffle bag

Optional Accessories:

1. Camera & film (bring plenty)
2. Binoculars
3. Umbrella (can be purchased in Kathmandu )
4. Clothes pins, safety pins, other small essentials

Equipment list for winter treks & high altitude (in addition to the autumn - spring list):

1. Down jacket with hood
2. Over pants - down or synthetic pile fabric
3. High altitude goggles and spare pair
4. Over mitts - down or fiberfill
5. Heavy weight boots
6. Extra water bottle for water
7. Knee high gaiters
8. Down booties for in camp wearing
9. Wind pants

Please sort and divide your trekking equipment into three categories: wear on the trail, carry in day pack and duffel bag items. You will not generally have access to your duffel bag on the trial as it will be carried by porters. Therefore, you must try to anticipate all of your daytime needs and carry these items with you in your day pack. Ideally, when you get off the plane, bus or land rover and start walking, you should have only two pieces of baggage, your personal light weight pack which you carry yourself and a duffel bag which you handover to your Sherpa. Your day pack should be large enough to accommodate your water bottle, camera, personal first aid kit sun cream, sweater or down jacket, rain parka and possibly a pair of trousers. Your duffel bag should not weight 33 lbs (15 kgs). This weight does not include your sleeping bag, and other equipment supplied to you by Rath Nepal and the allowance should be more than ample of your needs. Porters to carry additional heavy equipment, such as movie camera, tripods and scientific and collecting instruments have to be engaged in addition to the regular porters and you will be charged for this extra service. Please inform us in advance of your personal porter requirements.

Conclusion:

Please ensure yourself against sickness, accident, helicopter evacuation, hospitalization and the like as you would normally do before embarking on adventurous vacations. We cannot ensure our clients ourselves and we accept no responsibility for damages or expenses which may arise from mishaps to persons on Rath Nepal trips. Reservations are accepted only on this understanding and medical and evocation expenses incurred as a result of illness or accident during a Rath Nepal trip are chargeable in full to the clients involved. In fact, you will be safer on your trek in the mountains of Nepal than on the roads of many parts of western countries but to insure costs little and is a worthwhile precaution.

Part 3: After arrival in Kathmandu

If you have not arranged airport transfer upon arrival in Kathmandu airport please contact Rath Nepal as soon as you have booked into your hotel. At this first contact we shall make appointment to meet the same evening or the following day for a trek briefing.

During the briefings you will receive your trekking permit map and area fact sheet containing useful information about the part of Nepal to which you will be traveling.

Trek Information:

The maps and area fact sheets provided during the initial briefing are for your benefit and orientation. Your Sherpa leader will be able to give you additional details about the route, villages, people and specific itinerary information.

Preparations:

Check through the equipment list once more. If you discover any deficiencies it may possible to purchase of rent the items in Kathmandu . Ask about the shops at the briefing.

The morning of your departure for trek Rath Nepal will send transport to your hotel at an agreed time to take you to the appropriate road head or to the domestic airport. It will usually be start walking within an hour of arrival at the trek starting point. Wear your hiking clothes and keep your permit handy. Bring your personal clothing ready packed in a duffel bag destined for the porter's baskets as well as your day pack filled with the day's necessities (lunch, filled water bottle, sweater, sun cream and camera).