Trekking in Nepal

Everest - On top of the world for 19 days

View the Flickr photoset for this this trip

Background

I was fortunate enough to get a trip to India with my work, as I was in that part of Asia I decided to extend my trip and go trekking in Nepal. It hadn’t ever been a burning passion but now the opportunity had arisen the challenge of trekking to Everest base camp was irresistible.

I planned my trek online visiting trekking sites, I looked at common trekking routes in my local library and I tried to get recommendations from people who had been on similar trips. I didn't want to go with a large tour operator as I didn't have much money. Some research quickly showed me that I could do it a lot cheaper if I went directly to a guide and paid him cash in hand. My planning only took about 2 weeks and then I was off.

My guide

My Guide was Sarba Jit Thapa, a well educated 28 year old Nepali man. Sarba was indispensable on the trip and in the planning.

He met me at the airport, booked my hotel in Kathmandu for the first night, he planned the route and itinerary he was a good companion and during the 19 days up to Everest base camp he became a friend.

Sarba is an independent trekking guide who I was recommended to by a friend who had trekked with him in the past. As Sarba works for himself and has fewer overheads it was significantly cheaper to go with him rather than with a large trekking organisation. Other advantages included being able to dictate the pace, if I wanted to stop and take photos of butterflies I could. Sarba’s English was excellent and I could ask him about all of our surroundings and the culture of the people and land as we travelled.

I found Sarba online when I visited the Lonely Planet Thorntree forums to see if there were tips from others who had been to Nepal. I found a useful post from someone recommending their guide and included an email address.
I would certainly recommend him to other trekkers, his email is: sarbajitthapa@yahoo.co.uk
Sarba now has his own website Nepal Nomad - Trekking in Nepal

Arriving in Nepal - What's Kathmandu like?

I flew to Kathmandu from India with Jet Airways, some good food in-flight with no complications I arrived at the very modern Kathmandu arrivals lounge to fill in the Visa documents. It cost $30 for the Visa and I needed a passport photo, all of which I was prepared for.

As soon as you leave the customs area in the airport you are pounced on by people wanting to give you a ride and help you with your bags. The best bet is to look like you have a destination, stride confidently and hold onto your bags. Across the road outside the airport main entrance I spotted a guy with a sign with my name on it. Hang on...there’s another guy with a sign with my name on it too...hmm this presents problems which do I go with?

As I really had no option but to go with one of them I chose the better dressed guy, he ushered me into his car and made to drive from the airport. when we were in the car he told me my friend was waiting for me outside the airport. My friend I assumed correctly was my guide Sarba.

It turned out that only taxi drivers and people with special licences were able at this time to enter into the airport because of security threats by Maoists. Therefore my guide sent the car to greet me while he himself waited just outside the airport perimeter. When we were introduced he got in the cab and presented me with a colourful flower garland for around my neck - Aloha to you too.

We whooshed off to the Tamil area of town which is the tourist 'backpack' type area. If you have been to Bangkok it looks very much like the Kosan Road, but not quite so touristy. there are cash machines, back packers walking around, lots of trekking equipment shops and restaurants and hostels. We go to the hotel where I stayed for one night before setting off.

My hotel was about $30 a night but it was 4-star. It had a pool but it was a bit chilly in October to use it.

In the hotel room I paid Sarba the money for my trek in US dollars. He had a map for me which we laid out and went through the route. I asked his advice about what I should take and then we headed out to buy our bus tickets for the 9 hour bus ride to the start of the trek in Jiri.

The route

Kathmandu - Jiri (by bus)
Jiri – Bhandar
Bhandar – Sete/lagura
Sete – Junbensi
Junbensi – Nunthala
Nunthala – Karte Pass
Karte – Chaunnkharka
Chaunnkharka – Jorsalle
Jorsalle – Nambche
Namche – Phortse
Phortse – Dingboche
Dinboche – Lobuche
Loboche – Gorekshep
Gorekshep – Pheruche
Pheruche – Tanjboche
Tanboche – Phakding
Phakding – Lukla
Lukla – Kathmandu (by plane)

When walking about on the street a young boy aged about 13 comes up to me and talks in perfect English. He wants me to test his knowledge of the worlds capital cities. I ask him everyone I know the answer to and each time without hesitation he replies. Then I start on ones I don’t know the answer to and still he is straight back with a reply which i take to be correct. Such a knowledge of the world at such a young age, I hope he gets the opportunity to see some of it.

Back at the hotel that evening I pack my bag for the trek, removing some non essential items stowing them in a separate carrier bag. This bag I take down to reception and they are more than happy to store it in a locker until I return to the hotel after my trek. This is a good tip. It means that when I come back to the hotel post trip all smelly I will have a clean shirt and trousers to change into.

I go to bed as I am meeting Sarba at 5am the next day for the start of the adventure.

Part 2 coming soon...

Any questions or experiences of Nepal to share? Leave your comments below:

Have your say:

Name:

Country:

E-mail address:

Your comments:

We may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all messages will be published.

LIFESTYLE > FASHION > MUSIC > MOVIES > GAMES > PHONE STUFF > TRAVEL > CAREERS > MONEY > FAZED DIRECTORY> SITE MAP >