As most of you know, Parker and I can talk for days about trekking and gear. If anyone has any more questions about any of our treks or other adventures, please feel free to contact us. We have compiled some info. for our trekking buddies and travellers on their way to Nepal. Below we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about our Everest Region and Annapurna treks.
Parker and I prefer to trek independently but three are advantages to both. However, unless you are attempting to summit Mt. Everest or other 20,000 footers, the majority of treks in Nepal are easy to do independently. The routes are roads for the Nepali and are well travelled. There are many guide books available. Usually there is only one road and you are either going up or down. The Nepali are extremely friendly and are more than happy to point the way.
Independent means not guided. We recommend that no one treks solo if possible as a precaution. You will literally run into hundreds/thousands of trekkers. It’s easy to find many people with the same schedule. We trek independently because we enjoy the freedom of having our own schedule. Another benefit is that independent trekking cost way less than guided. More importantly, we feel that we connect with the locals more as opposed to having a guided do everything for us.
Guided: You can get a guide and/or porter for a reasonable rate in Kathmandu. There are thousands of trekking agencies. You would get the best prices when you are there in person, not on the web. Guides can take care of your accommodation, order your food, point out all the names of the mountains and give you advice on your ailments, etc. With a porter, you won’t have to carry anything but water. We met a couple of guides that we would highly recommend if anyone is interested.
Altitude must be taken seriously but do not obsess about it. It’s normal to feel fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and lack of sleep. If you do feel more persistent symptoms the best thing you can do is to descend quickly. Read up on diamox. We took them for a few days as a prophylactic and did not get sick. Many people did not take them at all and were also fine. But we were surprised to see how many people around us got sick and had to be evacuated. Take them in case you need them. Ascend slow and acclimatize properly. If you do feel altitude sickness coming on the best thing you can do is to descend as quickly as possible.
Gear: All you need to bring is a good sleeping bag, warm clothes and cash. Blankets are available at most lodges but we recommend your own bag for comfort and hygiene. Any gear can be hired in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Nepal is the fake gear mecca of trekking. You can’t find anything without the North Face logo. It’s not the real thing but still good quality. Down jackets start at $30 (USD).
Daily Cost: Nepal is very affordable. We averaged less the $15 (USD) a day. This was with lodging, three meals a day, plenty of tea and the occasional beer.
Many ask us to compare the two treks or which ask which they should do if they had to choose only one. Of course, this is very difficult to answer. In the Everest Region you have to decide if you want to walk or fly in and out of Lukla or some combination of both. We walked from Jiri and flew out of Lukla. Everest Trek is a challenge. No one goes unaffected by the altitude in some way. But there is nothing like walking on glaciers and being surrounded by 26,000 ft. mountains. We highly recommend starting in Jiri to wake up your hiking legs, start acclimatizing and see the Nepali village life.
The Annapurna Circuit is known as one of the Greatest Walks in the World. We agree. Go before the road is complete. Even with the road, it is still worth the trek. There are also a lot of side treks you can do from the Circuit. Annapurna Circuit is easier to get to logistically. The majority of trekkers go counter clockwise and start in Besi Sahar. The road is complete on the Jomson side. From Jomson you can continue walking, take a jeep or fly to your next destination.
You can’t go wrong with either trek. They are both fantastic. Trek On!
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