Finally on the trek!
After handling the official paperwork and making the final purchases (we’ll cover gear and shopping in a separate article, as it’s a broader topic), we finally set off into the mountains. Nepal has a wide variety of treks, ranging in difficulty and with different approaches to the trek starting points. In principle, we can fly on a domestic flight, or get closer by bus, or even by some kind of off-road vehicle. There are no railways in Nepal.
Even when traveling by off-road vehicle, we can expect some surprises along the way. The roads are mostly of poor quality, located in difficult and steep terrain, and suffer from frequent landslides, which are common after two monsoon seasons each year. Sometimes we need to wait for a quick fix, and other times we might have to carry ourselves and our gear over an obstacle and continue on foot or use transport from the other side.
Trekking day
Accommodation on the trek is usually in small hotels or tea houses called lodges. These are run by locals and typically have a restaurant. The menu is fairly varied, with meat available in the lower parts of the trek, while vegetarian food is mostly served at higher altitudes. The national dish is Dhal Bhat, which you can find almost everywhere. It consists of endless variations of rice, potatoes, lentil soup, and, when available, local vegetables.
Other popular menu items include soups, pasta, and often a more or less successful attempt at Nepali pizza. Sleeping is mostly in your own sleeping bags, but unless it's the edge of the winter season, you don’t need to go overboard with the warmth of your sleeping bag, as temperatures usually don’t drop below freezing at night.
On the trek, mornings start early. The wake-up call and breakfast are around 6 a.m., usually consisting of various porridges or eggs with unleavened chapati flatbreads, coffee, or tea. During the day, there are usually several opportunities to stop at villages or huts and refresh yourself with soup or drinks, ranging from various teas to the popular Coca-Cola or tasty Nepali beer. Supplies are mostly carried into the villages by porters, so expect prices to increase as you gain altitude.
Water on the trek is not drinkable for safety reasons; either tea or bottled 'mineral water' is consumed, although it’s actually more like distilled water, and I highly recommend enriching it with a vitamin or mineral effervescent tablet. Trekking days typically end in the afternoon, around 3-4 p.m., at the target village, where we stay with the locals again. Rooms are mostly double-occupancy, without much comfort. Electricity is usually available in the restaurant or at the host’s home. They may charge a small fee for charging, and the same goes for showers. In some places, there is also slow and sometimes unreliable internet.
What to watch out for
On the trek, we are not at risk from animals, with a few exceptions in certain regions where yaks are used as transport (e.g., Everest). Here, you should be cautious and stand aside when a caravan is passing on the slope above the trail, definitely not on the side near the valley. A yak could accidentally push you into the valley. There are also many stray dogs in Nepal, but they mostly ignore you and are not accustomed to much interaction with people. It is therefore not advisable to provoke them unnecessarily.
The local people in the mountainous regions are very kind, smiling, and helpful. These areas are predominantly Buddhist, home to ethnic groups such as Tibetans, Sherpas, and Gurungs. It’s definitely appropriate to return a smile and greet them with a friendly "Namaste" or, in Tibetan areas, "Tashi Delek." Similarly, in the cities, you don’t need to fear anything; foreigners are welcomed and respected by the Nepali people, who will approach you in a friendly and accommodating manner.
What we need to be particularly cautious of during the trek is altitude sickness. I write about it in more detail in a separate article, but one thing that will definitely benefit you on the trek is to drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic, of course). Alcohol acts as a toxin in the body and unnecessarily slows down your body's ability to acclimatize to the altitude. Also, avoid ascending too quickly; a trek is not a race. The golden rule on a trek is the Sherpa saying "bistare, bistare" (slowly, slowly).
In case of any health complications like headaches, swelling of limbs, or difficulty breathing, you should immediately inform the group leader, who will assess the situation and decide on the next steps. I don’t want to cause unnecessary alarm, but neglecting altitude sickness and masking symptoms with medication can have serious consequences.
Another thing not to underestimate is vaccinations.
On the trek, we’ll be in various places, and not everywhere maintains the highest standards of hygiene. After all, we’re in the mountains of Asia. It’s definitely worth getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, and it wouldn’t hurt to refresh your Tetanus vaccine, or even consider getting a Typhoid vaccine. After all, we might find some other "souvenirs" to take home!
Insurance, rescue
Although Nepal is a very safe country, we must not forget that we are moving through mountainous terrain, which carries certain risks. In Nepal, it is extremely advisable to have insurance, and I personally recommend something like Alpenverein. It covers all costs for potential rescues and medical care worldwide up to 6000 meters above sea level. Nepal has a relatively developed air rescue service, although it’s not quite like mountain rescue services as we know them, but more like commercial helicopter companies, which are happy to charge insurance companies significant amounts. However, if the weather is good, they will fly to your aid without problems. Medical care in Kathmandu for foreigners is of very high quality.
Finally, our guides have professional international mountain training, which includes first aid in the mountains, emergency evacuation, navigation, and many other skills.
Trekking in Nepal is, in any case, an unforgettable experience, whether you are a mountain lover, an enthusiast of interesting cultures, or a follower of Eastern philosophies. We would be happy to accompany you on this lifetime adventure.
Michal Gabriž.
