What is trekking

Trekking, the word was first used by British mountaineers which means walking at one’s pace through well-established village trails enjoying close contact with people in remote mountain villages where lifestyle is unchanged since many generations.

The first trekker in Nepal was Bill Tilman, who trekked in Annapurna, Helambu and Everest regions having permission from the Maharaja (Rana Prime Minister) in 1949.

Types of trekking

Encounters Nepal offers two types of trekking in Nepal: fully organized trekking called ‘camping’ and ‘teahouse/lodge’ trekking.

Teahouse (Lodge) Trekking

Trekkers are independent upon many teahouses and locally available inns along the trails. Trekking in this way minimizes the costs and is less affected by diverse weather conditions.

A guide will lead trekker/s in the regions where there is access to local inns. A porter can also be arranged if necessary.

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Fully Organized (Camping) Trekking

Trekkers are fully dependant upon their locally hired staff and is quite a large outfit since not only the trekkers’ personal gear needs to be carried but also the group equipment and food. Trekkers will sleep in tents and their staff will prepare meals as per in the menu provided in advance. Trekkers are independent to choose western, continental, Tibetan or Nepali cuisine.

A fully organized trekking has an experienced guide, Sherpa, cook, kitchen helper and porters (three for every single trekker).

This kind of trekking rewards an enjoyable experience for a visit to more remote regions where no teahouses or local infrastructures are available.

Eco-friendly trekking

It is realized that eco tourism activities have been expanding over the past two decades. It is a matter of global importance regarding the environment. We are pleased to announce that our step in the field of eco tourism will be a milestone for betterment of natural habitat and its resources. Unlike the others, we inspire and encourage the local people to preserve the nature. Our guides are conscious about to protect the environment in the following ways:

Trek grading system

Easy
Trekkers without previous experience are offered a diverse range of easy treks. The easy trek involves no difficult climbing or ascents to high altitudes and is usually less than a week suitable for everyone. However, it is not loss of height means loss of interest while lower altitude treks often provide colourful horizons of a whole series of mountain ranges. The easy treks are considered of full access of teahouses and less than 3500m.

Examples:

Annapurna Panorama Trek
Ghorepani-Poonhill-Ghandruk Trek
Royal Trek
Panchase Trek
Sikles Trek
Kakani-Nagarkot-Dhulikhel Trek
Sundarijal-Nagarkot Trek

 Medium
Medium treks are more challenging than easy and are suitable for any trekker looking for something a bit more energetic. They are longer about ten days walking up and down climb to higher altitudes. At this altitude, you will be rewarded with close-up views of bigger mountains. The medium treks are considered of full access of teahouses and less than 4000m.

Examples:

Everest Panorama Trek
Sanctuary Trek: Annapurna Base Camp
Jomsom-Muktinath Trek
Langtang Valley Trek
Helambu Classic Trek

Medium-hard
Trekkers with some previous mountain walking experience should only undertake medium-hard treks. These treks ascend to altitudes up to 5000m and involve some steep climbing, although it is never necessary to use ropes. Treks at this level can he arranged for periods of 7-20 days.

Examples:

Everest Classic Trek: Jiri-EBC
Lukla to Everest Base Camp Trek
Gokyo Valley-Chola Pass Trek
Arun Valley (Salpa Pass) Trek
Rolwaling Valley Trek
Annapurna Classic Trek: Annapurna Circuit (Anti clock)
Mardi Himal Trek
Langtang Classic Trek: Langtang-Gosainkunda-Shivapuri
Gosainkunda (Frozen Lake) Trek
Jugal Himal (Panchpokhari) Trek
Ganesh Himal Trek
Lo-Manthang Trek (Upper Mustang): The forbidden Kingdom
Makalu Base Camp Trek
Rara Lake Trek

Hard
Hard treks are suitable only for real adventure seekers. Some steep ascents to high altitudes with the possibility of rope climbing are involved in this category. Trekkers will need stamina to complete one of these wilderness treks as it lasts for 20-28 days. All expeditions are based on camps and will lead more than snow line, 5000m.

Examples:

Dhaulagiri Classic Trek: Dhaulagiri Circuit
Across Ganja~La Pass Trek
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Upper Dolpo and Shey Gompa Trek
Lower Dolpo Trek
Humla to Mt. Kailash / Manasarovar Trek

Wilderness treks
These are the most challenging treks with some technical climbing to the peaks above 6000m. One must have an experience of 5000m levels trek to perform these types of treks. All treks are based on camps with full excess of climbing gears. 

Examples:

Equipment checklist

Equipment checklist for expedition:

Personal:

• A pair of hiking/trekking boots
• A pair of slippers
• Five pairs of woolen socks and three pairs of cotton socks
• Two pairs of poly pro socks
• One light long underwear bottom
• One medium long underwear bottom
• A pair of climbing and pile pants
• Two medium poly pro shirts
• One light woolen/fleece sweater
• One pile jacket
• One down vest
• One down sweater/jacket
• A pair of light wind Gore-Tex jacket and pant
• A pair of woolen hat and Sun hat
• A pair of glacier glasses
• A pair of Gore-Tex glove shells with liner or ski gloves
• A pair of woolen gloves
• A Swiss Army knife
• A trekking pack of 3000 cubic inches capacity
• Two Sun screen lotion SPF 10 to 30 and 1 Sun screen stick SPF 10 to 30
• Books, walkman and music tapes (opt)
• An one-liter water bottle
• A pair of trekking poles (opt)
• One torch with enough sets of batteries
• Two large and strong waterproof duffel bags with lock (17x13x32 inch)
• Two rolls of toilet paper (opt)
• One trekking baggy pant (opt)

Toiletry items:
Towel, biodegradable soaps, pre-moistened novelettes, wash cloth, sunscreen, lip balm, and any additional personal items such as toothbrush, comb, etc.

Personal first aid kit box:
Be advised to check with your doctor. Suggestions: aspirin or ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol, Band aids/bandages, moleskin, scissors, tweezers, tropical antiseptic, anti-acid tablets, laxative, water purification tablets.

Other necessary items:
Photo equipment with plenty of film and spare batteries, reading/writing materials, postcards of hometown and/or photos of home and family to share with Nepalese people, safety pins, sewing kit, zip lock bags for small items, large plastic bags to line duffel and protect any down items.

Equipment checklist for climbing

Members’: Company will provide on rental basis

• A pair of double mountaineering boots
• Gaiters, sufficient rope (as per the peaks)
• Climbing harness
• Helmet 
• Figure 8/belay device
• Harness locking biner
• Standard locking biners
• Reg biners
• Jumar
• Prusik
• A pair of Crampons
• One Alpine Axe per person, 60 cm.
• Tents: Kitchen, toilet, dining and dome, mattresses, bed sheets
• Dry food for at least three days

Trekking gears of personal use

• Personal cloths like T-shirts and pants
• A pair of fleece jacket and trouser
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Sun cream, insect repellant
• Four season sleeping bag
• Four season jacket
• Backpack
• Trekking boots
• Rain poncho
• A pair of slippers
• One torch with extra sets of batteries
• Water bottle
• Trekking poles (optional)

Toiletry items:
Towel, biodegradable soaps, pre-moistened novelettes, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, etc.

Personal medical kit box:
Be advised to check with your doctor. Suggestions: aspirin, diamox for high altitude sickness, band aids/bandages, scissors, tweezers, tropical antiseptic, anti-acid tablets, water purification tablets/liquid.

Other necessary items:
Photo equipment with plenty of film and spare batteries, reading/writing materials, safety pins, sewing kit, zip lock bags for small items, large plastic bags to line duffel and protect any down items.

About our Guides

Encounters Nepal is proud to announce that we are a guide-owned company. All its founding members are well-experienced and trained guides from Nepal's ministry of tourism. The company has about twenty-five field staffs including Sirdar, guide, climbing/expedition guide, cook and field Sherpa. They all are experienced, registered, insured and trained from his majesty’s government of Nepal. Most importantly, our all guides are aware of environmental and cultural protection. They are trained for first aid courses as well.

We have an association with KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) in order to support the protection of natural habitat. KEEP also organizes first aid training courses targeted to trekking guides. All our guides are trained by KEEP for their better knowledge to preserve the natural and cultural heritages.

E-mail us to find your own/recommended guide:

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Emergencies and rescue

Encounters Nepal has an easy access to handle the rescue operations during its clients’ emergencies. At all times we kindly advise our clients to be aware of the location of possible sources of help, medical clinics, police or army posts etc. Be informed where there are working telephones or radios as you pass along the trails. Please, make sure that you are covered by a suitable travel insurance policy. This, at least, must cover the cost of a helicopter rescue, which is the only practical way of evacuating a seriously ill or injured patient from most of the trekking areas. We advise you to leave details of this policy with us while you book your trip. Besides, we register your details and intended plans with your embassy in Kathmandu, which is an extremely sensible step to take before you leave for mountains.

Trekkers might suffer from High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), regarded as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). The best way to avoid AMS is descend-descend.

This is why trekking alone is foolhardy in the extreme. The guide is the first person to handle you during your hard times. Your guide will inform us in Kathmandu to take the necessary steps.

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