Naar Phu Valley Trek, Thorung La Pass – 18 days

Nepal has become a popular travel destination in South Asia, known for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and adventures, including the majestic Himalayas and Mount Everest (8,848m). Visitors can enjoy trekking, spiritual journeys, and cultural experiences.

To accommodate tourists, many airlines offer flights to Kathmandu from around the world, particularly from the Middle East and Asia. Major cities like London, Paris, and Frankfurt have direct flights, as do Middle Eastern hubs like Doha. In Asia, direct connections are available from Osaka, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong, while neighboring countries like Pakistan and India provide flights from cities such as Karachi, Mumbai, and Delhi. Northern cities like Paro, Dhaka, and Lhasa also serve as transit points, enhancing accessibility to Nepal.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) occurs due to the lower oxygen levels and cooler temperatures found at high altitudes, typically starting around 3,000 meters, and can lead to serious health issues. To prevent AMS while trekking, it is crucial to ascend gradually, allowing the body sufficient time to acclimatize to the altitude. If you begin to experience early symptoms such as headaches, breathlessness, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, swelling in the face, hands, and feet, or a loss of appetite, it is important to descend to a lower elevation immediately and seek medical attention.

Nepals diverse altitude allows for the classification of its climate into three distinct zones: the high mountains, the mid-mountains, and the Terai plains. The mountainous regions, including popular trekking destinations like Everest, Langtang, and Annapurna, maintain cool temperatures year-round.
The mid-mountain areas, such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, experience cooler weather for most of the year, with warmer conditions occurring primarily from June to August and May to July. These cities generally have milder temperatures compared to other urban centers in the region during the summer months.
In the Terai region, which encompasses Lumbini, Chitwan, and Janakpur, summers (March to July) can be quite hot, while winters (December to February) are characterized by cold temperatures.
For trekking enthusiasts, the optimal months to visit are from September to November and February to May, as these periods offer pleasant daytime weather and stable nighttime temperatures.
Overall, the weather conditions in Nepal vary significantly by region and season, making it essential for travelers to plan their activities accordingly.

Tipping: cultural trekking journey in Nepal.

In Nepali culture, it is customary to express gratitude through tipping at the conclusion of your trip, acknowledging the efforts of the entire team that supported you. The recommended tip is approximately 10% of the total trip cost per traveler.

Below is a breakdown based on the roles within the team:

1.Cultural guide for the day sightseeing.
For groups of 2 to 4 participants, the suggested tip ranges from $5 to $10 per person.
For groups of 5 or more, the tip should be $10 or more per participant.

2. For trips lasting one week or less, if the group consists of 2 to 4 individuals for trekking and cultural sites, the recommended tip for the Trek/Cultural Guide is $30 to $40 per week per participant, while for Porters/Sherpas/Cooks, it is $20 to $30 per week per participant. For groups of 5 to 10 or more, the suggested tip for the Trek/Cultural Guide increases to $50 to $60 per week per participant, and for Porters/Sherpas/Cooks, it is $30 to $40 per week per participant.

3. For trips extending from 8 days to 2 weeks, if the group includes 2 to 4 participants for trekking and cultural sites, the recommended tip for the Trek/Cultural Guide is $50 to $60 per week per participant, and for Porters/Sherpas/Cooks, it is $40 to $60 per week per participant. For groups of 5 to 10 or more, the suggested tip for the Trek/Cultural Guide rises to $80 to $100 per week per participant, while for Porters/Sherpas/Cooks, it is $50 to $70 per week per participant.

4. For climbing guides, it is customary to provide a tip for each summit attempt, which is $80 to $100 per participant for groups of 2 to 4, and $100 or more per participant for groups of 5 or more.

These guidelines help acknowledge the efforts of your guides and support team.

Nepal can be visited all year round. However, the rainy season is not recommended for treks. The best times are spring, when the flowers bloom, and autumn, when the weather is clear and dry. During the cold season, short hikes in low and medium altitude are possible.

Here are these three main seasons:

The cold season (October to March)
This is the ideal season for traveling. The sky, generally clear, allows you to see the mountains well. If the air is sometimes cool, the sun warms the atmosphere and gives a very beautiful light to the landscapes.

The hot season (April to early June)
The rhododendrons have just bloomed and nature is very beautiful. But the landscapes are often drowned in heat haze. The cloud mass prevents you from seeing the Himalayan peaks. The first storms break out and announce the monsoon. May is the hottest month.

Monsoon season (June to September)
The rains are violent and cause floods and landslides. These rains do not last all day and often fall at night. The sun makes an appearance every day. This is the season when everything blooms and rice fields color the landscape.

The best time to go trekking is during the cold season and the beginning of the hot season. The Kathmandu Valley can be visited throughout the year.

The city of Kathmandu offers hotels of all categories, from luxury to simple. The classification corresponds to the standards in force in the country.

During the trek, accommodation will be in a "Lodge/Guest House". Depending on the itinerary, the comfort varies, from rudimentary to very acceptable. If most of the Lodges offer "Hot Shower", this does not necessarily imply that the water will be hot when you need it... A supplement may be requested to obtain it. It is almost always possible to recharge the batteries of your various devices; here too, the service is often chargeable.

If you have opted for a camping trek, you will sleep in a tent. The kitchen team will occasionally be able to provide you with a little hot water. For the batteries, if a Lodge is nearby, you will certainly be able to recharge them in exchange for a few rupees.

Our advice: avoid hot showers if the water must be heated with wood; do not participate in deforestation which is already a major problem in most regions of Nepal.

Food
The national dish is "daal bhaat": a good portion of rice (bhaat) served with a lentil soup (daal), a vegetable curry (tarkaari), a few cooked green leaves (saag), sometimes meat (be careful, lots of bone fragments), all accompanied by "homemade" condiments (achaar) sometimes very spicy.
"Daal bhaat" is always delicious; however, you can quickly get tired of it. And yet many Nepalese eat only that all their lives and twice a day!For variety, you can find noodles (chowmein), noodle soups (thupka) or momo (meat or vegetable ravioli) almost everywhere.
Don't forget to specify that you don't want chillies or try the magic phrase: "piro nahaalnos".

Drinks
Tap water is not drinkable, so drink bottled mineral water (refillable in Kathmandu, Pokhara and on some routes). Beer, coke, fanta are available almost everywhere.Try Nepalese tea (nepali chiya), a mixture of tea, milk, sugar and spices (which varies depending on who prepares it). Otherwise, black tea and, increasingly, coffee (specify with or without sugar) are also served.
Local alcohols are chang (made from fermented barley), raksi (rice, millet, barley alcohol, ... similar to Japanese sake) and tumba (fermented millet to which hot water is added and which is drunk through a straw).

The judicious choice of the type of circuit is the first criterion for the success of your trip. Wanting to walk for a long time and reach high altitudes at all costs can quickly turn into a nightmare if the body does not follow!

We classify our itineraries as follows:
visit the cultural sites of the Kathmandu Valley ()
short easy trek with very little elevation gain ()
easy trek with little elevation gain ()
longer trek with elevation gain ()
sustained trek with passage of pass (es) at high altitude ()

Nepal is located at the latitude of Cairo, which means that being at an altitude of 4000m in Nepal is in no way comparable to 4000m in the Alps. You have to subtract about 1500m from the Himalayan altitude to find the alpine environment.

Documents and Visa Fee:
Check the validity of your passport
Obtain a visa by applying at the Nepalese embassy in your home country or upon arrival at Kathmandu airport.

Nepalese visa fee for tourist;
15 days - $30
30 days - $50
90 days - $125

Note: for additional information, please visit at www.immigration.gov.np

Health
Visit your doctor and dentist.
No vaccinations are required. However, check the validity of your vaccinations against diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis as well as hepatitis A and B.
We leave it you to decide whether you need to take preventive anti-malarial treatment.
Refine your physical preparation.

Insurance
We strongly urge you to take out the following insurance:
Cancellation.
Loss of luggage.
Medical repatriation assistance covering search costs and guaranteeing the possible use of a helicopter in the event of an accident in the mountain;
check…
The amount guaranteed by their insurance policy, the price of a helicopter evacuation being at least $3000 (us dollar).
That the contract does not contain a restrictive clause beyond a certain altitude; if you go off the hiking trails, pay close attention to the distinction made in the contracts between actual rescue and search operation. Payment
At the time of the final reservation, an advance of 25% is required.
The balance will be paid upon your arrival in Kathmandu.

Upper body
Wind proof Jacket / vests (Gore-Tex is perfect)
Fleece Sweatshirt
Down Jacket
T-shirts (long & short sleeve)
Hat/Cap or Scarf
2 pairs of gloves (light & warm each)
Sunglasses with a high protection
High protection sun cream (+50)
1 Rain cape or poncho

Low body
Light pants
Shorts and hiking pants
Pairs of sock (few set)
Underwear
Thermal set for night
Swimsuit
Quick dry towel

Shoes
Trekking shoes (Gore-Tex)
Light shoes or sandals
Crampons (useful during the trek, in case of snow on the passes).

Bedding
1 Down sleeping bag (comfort temperature, -10°/-15°C)
1 Sleeping bag sheet
1 Pillowcase (comfort and hygiene)

Luggage
Prepare two pieces of luggage (one cabin and one hold)
One backpack (30-40 liters) for the trek. This backpack will be used as cabin luggage for the international flight.
Two large bags or suitcases can be taken during the flight (30kg or more depending on the airline)
For the trek, you will need to prepare 10kg for the porter and 2 clients for one porter. The rest of your belongings will stay at the hotel in Kathmandu and will be collected upon your return.

Extra equipment
Headlamp with spare batteries
Sun cream (high protection +50)
1.5lt water bottle or Flask camelbak
Water purifying tablets
Pocket Tissues paper
Toilet Papier
Hand Gel
Pocket knife
Mini-toiletries bag
Camera (photography or video)
Books, card game, or other activity to keep you busy at the end of the day.
Personal Pharmacy

The Nepalese team that accompanies you on your trek is made up of the following:

The guide
Is the “captain” of the whole group (clients and staff).
He chooses where to stay during the trek.
Decides to slow down, speed up or stop progress for 1⁄2 or 1 day if the physical of some (clients and staffs) so requires.
Take the necessary measures if weather conditions make this necessary (wait or change of itinerary).

The Sherpa
He walks with you and sets the pace.
If the group consists of more than 5 participants, there will be 2 Sherpas, one walking in front and the other who adapts to the pace of the other participants.
During the stage, he helps with the meal service; when camping, he participates in up/dismantling the tents.

The porter
He carries a load of about 25 kg: 2 client bags of maximum 10kg each + his personal belongings.
During the day, the porter walks at his own pace; he knows the goal of the day and must arrive there by the latest, at the same time as the clients.
If the trek takes place in a campsite, additional porters are hired to carry the camping equipment and food.
The costs of food and accommodation are the responsibility of the porter.

The kitchen if you have opted for a camping trek, a kitchen team is necessary; it includes;
the chef.
the sous-chef, who carries the cookware (an impressive but “relatively” light load).
the helpers carry the stove, kerosene and some of the food.

Additional Advice
a good dose of reading will certainly help you to better approach Nepal and treks in the Himalayas.