Trekking in Nepal

Trekking in Nepal -The word  came into existence when the term was first used by British mountaineers to insinuate one walking at one’s own pace at a relaxed trot through well-established village trails enjoying close contact with people in remote mountain villages where lifestyles remain unchanged since time immemorial.

The first trekker to walk Nepal’s mountains was Bill Tillman, who trekked in the Annapurna base camp trek, Langtang trekking and Everest base camp trek regions having gotten permission from the Maharaja (Rana Prime Minister) in 1949…& since that time, trekking has been known to be the ‘king of all forms of adventure’ ever conceived…till date.

Encounters Nepal has gone the mile to escort backpackers to some of the most enthralling trekking zones across Nepal & over the borders of Bhutan, Tibet & India for over a decade. As a pure adventure operator, the company offers two types of trekking in Nepal: fully organized trekking called ‘camping’ and ‘teahouse/lodge’ trekking.

Teahouse (Lodge) Trekking

Trekkers are dependent 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. It also offers some comfort on some of the harshest terrain on earth.All of our treks are accompanied by local guides who lead trekker/s in the regions where there is access to local inns. A porter is also arranged if & when necessary to carry equipment relevant to the trip.

Fully Organized (Camping) Trekking

Trekkers are fully dependant on locally hired staff which makes up a pretty large outfit since not only the trekkers’ personal gear needs to be carried but also the group equipment and food. Trekkers crash out in tents for the night and their staff will prepare meals as per the menu provided in advance after consulting the group. Trekkers have a choice to choose whatever cuisines suit their palates; it can be western, continental, Tibetan or the local Nepali cuisine.

A fully organized trek has an experienced guide, Sherpa, a cook, kitchen helper and porters (three x one for every single trekker).Camping treks, however expensive they may be, has its own unique rewards offering a truly enjoyable experiences for visits to more remote regions where no teahouses or local infrastructures are available. Entry into some of Nepal’s most remote but extremely beautiful regions can only be done by fully organized camping treks; there are no other options.

Eco-Friendly Trekking

Eco tourism activities have expanded hugely over the past two decades. It has now become an issue of global proportions with regards to the sensitivity of the environment we move in. ENCOUNTERS NEPAL has stayed the course in the field of eco tourism creating milestones for the development & preservation of natural habitats and its resources. Unlike the others, we inspire and encourage the local people to preserve nature & love the earth they were born into. Our guides are extremely conscious when it comes to protecting the environment in more ways than one.

We have initiated several awareness programs that relate to the importance of eco tourism as noted below:

* Minimizing negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment,

* Generating economic benefits for host communities, organizations and authorities Managing natural areas with conservation purposes,

* Increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists,

* Developing the efficiency and fairness of the current concept of protected areas for protection of biological and cultural diversity

* We are associated with Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP). KEEP is working in the field of environmental protection. KEEP organizes training programs for trekking guides also. Our guides are trained by KEEP which enhances their knowledge to preserve the natural and cultural heritages of areas trekked around

All Treks have a grading system that is deemed as:

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, easy treks do not mean less height or a loss of viewing better landscapes; while lower altitude treks often provide colourful horizons of a whole series of mountain ranges; easy treks are considered more convenient due to full access in accommodations at teahouses and at altitudes less than 3500m.

Medium

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

Medium-hard

Trekkers with some previous mountain climbing 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 or even more.

Hard

Hard treks are suitable only for real adventure seekers who are experienced in the physical aspects of mountain crafts. 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 go above the tree-lines where the snow-line is fully evident up to altitudes above 5000m. One needs to be fully fit for ventures of this kind & the rewards are phenomenal.

Wilderness treks

These are the most challenging treks with some technical climbing to peaks above 6000m. One must have experience of climbing above 5000m levels to perform these types of treks. All treks are based in camps & must be well organized for the operation to be successful without injuries to any of the trekkers & the crew.

Wilderness Treks are for trekkers who wish to explore the unseen and unspoiled regions of Nepal; for this a wilderness trek is definitely the perfect choice if you have it in you to go all the way. These treks take you to remote regions where you can explore the rugged beauty of high mountain passes, spell binding glaciers, hidden valleys, quaint villages and diverse eco-systems. The flora & fauna in these areas are distinct & unique & well protected by conservations laws relevant in the country. Wilderness treks are a literal quest into discovering the unknown from the known & a lot of trekkers tend to discover themselves in these harsh beautiful environments which result into the opening of new avenues that generally change the course of their lives.

These treks can be organized through fully supported camping treks and require special permits to travel to within Nepal.

Defining the differences between hiking and trekking:

Encounters Nepal, in the course of its operations over the years, has sometimes discovered that visitors tend to be confused in making choices between Hiking & Trekking; in order to give our guests insights into the differences, we now seek to enlighten our guests into a clear understanding on these dissimilar adventure issues that will help you make a decision that suits your wishes to the holidays of a lifetime. Hiking is an outdoor activity of walking in natural environments often on pre-charted paths that are called hiking trails where the terrain is comfortable & in most cases at lower altitudes, while trekking is a longer journey on non-designated paths which could last several days or even more and could be demanding. Trekking usually takes places in areas of great natural beauty, usually in high altitude mountain areas without any means of transport. It is more intense than hiking due to fluctuations in the elevations as you hike the trails.

Hiking is an initial part of trekking and relatively easier than trekking, which still involves going uphill and downhill on rural hilly tracks in areas below 3000 meters. Hiking in Nepal still offer a glimpse of high mountain views, while trekking takes you through the low land village to high Mountain Passes up to almost 5,600 meters.

So ultimately, in a nutshell, you hike your way into a trek as you hike the paths, you come across rural settings with beautiful vistas set in the backdrops of mountains…till you finally get there as you plod on…& you are then into your trek…& on the mountains…so your hike & trek is more or less the same; but gets different once you reach the wild…& that’s when you enter the world of…ENCOUNTERS NEPAL…WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!!!

-High altitude sickness information
-Trekking gears.
-Click for permit information.
-Domestic Air Fare.
-Why Trekking in Nepal?