Trekking in Nepal is the end and be all of my bucket list, but this trip requires serious planning and, once you’re there, several contingency plans to make sure you stay on good or at least adequate terms with your travel partners.
Good, broken-in shoes are a must, but what else do you need or need to know when trekking in Nepal?
1. Sit down often. I like to power through no matter how dark the clouds in my head get, but you must remember that it does you and your partners a world of physical and mental good to take break every 30 minutes. Sit down, stretch, hydrate and reset your stopwatch. Every 30 minutes! More often if you’re having trouble acclimatizing! Don’t ignore what your body is telling you. You won’t know how beneficial it is until you pass a group that’s two seconds away from strangling each other.
2. You might have a state-of-the-art camera, but rethink bringing it, no matter how good the zoom lens is. One of my photographer friends was quite disappointed to realize that our friend with just her iPhone took many more and simply gorgeous photos. Sometimes the pure beauty of the place shines through even the crappiest of cameras.
3. This is just a pet peeve of mine, but for good reason: If you have a guide, learn his name, offer him some food, and treat him like part of the group. Safety is not an issue, but a little bit of friendliness and cultural awareness goes a long way. And greet everyone with a “Namaste”!
4. For a little extra comfort, sleep with the clothes you want to wear the next day in your sleeping bag so they’ll be not-freezing in the morning. You’ll have to sacrifice your personal hygiene for the duration of the trip, but just remember that everyone looks disheveled. Everyone is there for the trek and seeing the sights. Brush up for pictures or selfies, but comfort will be key. The temps drop to freezing or below in the night.
What do you suggest for a successful trek?
