Frequently Asked Questions {FAQs}
WHAT IS A TEA HOUSE TREK (TH)?
TH trek means a tea house trek. Some of the most popular trekking routes are served by lodges making it possible for you to stay at a local Tea house (a mountain thatched hut that's made of mud, brick and wood) during your trek. Tea house treks are less expensive then Camping treks and are largely suitable for small groups. Usually during busy seasons if private rooms in smaller villages are fully occupied you might have to sleep in a dormitory. Price includes accommodation in lodges, guide, porters and all meals. it would be wise not to expect it to be like the hotel u stay at in Kathmandu; but its reasonably cozy, warm & homely...u can call it luxury on a rugged trail & it can literally be a blessing in disguise because weather patterns can really be unpredictable sometimes.....especially at higher altitudes.
WHAT IS A ''FOT'' TREK?
On FOT or Fully Organized Treks your eating and sleeping arrangements will be fully organized by a support crew. FOTs are also known as CAMPING TREKS. On camping treks you will be sleeping in tents. A trekking crew consists of one sirdar, one cook and kitchen crew, Sherpa assistants and porters depending on the size of the group. Under the leadership of the sirdar (the local trek leader), the crew consists of several Sherpa assistants who will ensure you don't take the wrong path, a cook and kitchen crew to keep you well fed with delicious and nutritious meals and the porters to transport all the gear from camp to camp. Our main aim is to make the trek as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. The ratio of both Sherpa guides and kitchen crew to group members is generally 1:4 and the ratio of porters to group members is around 3:1 at the beginning of the trek, but this decreases as food is eaten and loads become smaller. For bathroom facilities we carry a toilet tent. Your camping staffs dig a deep hole in the ground for excrement and cover the hole with soil after the business is done. Camping treks are generally organised for peak climbing or when trekking in extreme remote regions of Nepal....but then the choice is yours. You can camp out on any trek of your choice.
TH trek means a tea house trek. Some of the most popular trekking routes are served by lodges making it possible for you to stay at a local Tea house (a mountain thatched hut that's made of mud, brick and wood) during your trek. Tea house treks are less expensive then Camping treks and are largely suitable for small groups. Usually during busy seasons if private rooms in smaller villages are fully occupied you might have to sleep in a dormitory. Price includes accommodation in lodges, guide, porters and all meals. it would be wise not to expect it to be like the hotel u stay at in Kathmandu; but its reasonably cozy, warm & homely...u can call it luxury on a rugged trail & it can literally be a blessing in disguise because weather patterns can really be unpredictable sometimes.....especially at higher altitudes.
WHAT IS A ''FOT'' TREK?
On FOT or Fully Organized Treks your eating and sleeping arrangements will be fully organized by a support crew. FOTs are also known as CAMPING TREKS. On camping treks you will be sleeping in tents. A trekking crew consists of one sirdar, one cook and kitchen crew, Sherpa assistants and porters depending on the size of the group. Under the leadership of the sirdar (the local trek leader), the crew consists of several Sherpa assistants who will ensure you don't take the wrong path, a cook and kitchen crew to keep you well fed with delicious and nutritious meals and the porters to transport all the gear from camp to camp. Our main aim is to make the trek as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. The ratio of both Sherpa guides and kitchen crew to group members is generally 1:4 and the ratio of porters to group members is around 3:1 at the beginning of the trek, but this decreases as food is eaten and loads become smaller. For bathroom facilities we carry a toilet tent. Your camping staffs dig a deep hole in the ground for excrement and cover the hole with soil after the business is done. Camping treks are generally organised for peak climbing or when trekking in extreme remote regions of Nepal....but then the choice is yours. You can camp out on any trek of your choice.
DO YOUR GUIDE/PORTERS SPEAK ENGLISH?
Our cultural tour guides are pretty proficient. The trekking guide (Sirdar) and his assistants speak a reasonable amount of English and are good enough to explain to you about the places, local culture or any sight that catches your eyes or is of interest to u.
HOW BIG ARE THE GROUPS?
We try to bring together a small group of like minded people to give them a memorable and insightful adventurous experience, and this is an invaluable opportunity to interact with each other in a fun-filled environment. Our travel group generally comprises of a maximum 12 members. We need a minimum of 2 participants to run our trek programs. For private trips, no minimum or maximum numbers apply.
HOW LONG DO WE WALK FOR EACH DAY?
All our trekking programs are classified into THREE different categories according to the level of altitude & terrain of the trek. Soft Adventure treks are only about a week to 10 days in duration. They generally don't go above 4000 meters and each day, you can expect to be walking for around 4 - 5 hours. While moderate to fairly challenging treks are longer treks that go right into high mountain country. Physically quite tiring, these involve approx 6-8 hours trekking along rocky ridges of high Himalayan peaks. Strenuous treks are longer treks that go far beyond the normal haunts of trekkers and tourists. Physically challenging, these may involve 7-9 hours trekking and likely to include unfavorable weather conditions and strenuous activities. It's definitely not for beginners. Basically, any trek can be challenging...u need to know your body & probably take a medical examination before doing any trek above 5000 meters and/or before doing strenuous treks.
WHEN IS IT BEST TO TRAVEL?Our cultural tour guides are pretty proficient. The trekking guide (Sirdar) and his assistants speak a reasonable amount of English and are good enough to explain to you about the places, local culture or any sight that catches your eyes or is of interest to u.
HOW BIG ARE THE GROUPS?
We try to bring together a small group of like minded people to give them a memorable and insightful adventurous experience, and this is an invaluable opportunity to interact with each other in a fun-filled environment. Our travel group generally comprises of a maximum 12 members. We need a minimum of 2 participants to run our trek programs. For private trips, no minimum or maximum numbers apply.
HOW LONG DO WE WALK FOR EACH DAY?
All our trekking programs are classified into THREE different categories according to the level of altitude & terrain of the trek. Soft Adventure treks are only about a week to 10 days in duration. They generally don't go above 4000 meters and each day, you can expect to be walking for around 4 - 5 hours. While moderate to fairly challenging treks are longer treks that go right into high mountain country. Physically quite tiring, these involve approx 6-8 hours trekking along rocky ridges of high Himalayan peaks. Strenuous treks are longer treks that go far beyond the normal haunts of trekkers and tourists. Physically challenging, these may involve 7-9 hours trekking and likely to include unfavorable weather conditions and strenuous activities. It's definitely not for beginners. Basically, any trek can be challenging...u need to know your body & probably take a medical examination before doing any trek above 5000 meters and/or before doing strenuous treks.
The Nepal Himalaya is governed by the Southerly Monsoon which brings heavy precipitation between the months of June and September, i.e. it rains a lot. There are great treks available in the rain shadow during these months but if you are planning a more popular trek it is best to avoid the monsoon months. Autumn through to Spring is the best time to fully experience Nepal.
IS TREKKING FOR ME?
If you are reasonably fit and enjoy walking you will find a trek in the brochure to suit you. Normally the shorter treks tend to be easier whilst the longer ones often require a better standard of fitness. All treks in the brochure have been graded. It is also worth remembering if we are tailoring your tour, you can choose the pace and direction of your experience.
WHERE DO WE STAY WHILE ON TREKS?
In the more popular trails (Annapurna Everest and Langtang) there are well-established Mountain lodges providing sleeping accommodation and meals. Gone are the days when trekkers had to share dormitories, almost all lodges nowadays provide private rooms and many also have solar showers and clean toilet facilities. You can of course opt for a camping trek in these regions but as many campsites are connected to lodges it is debatable whether there is real benefit being under canvas.
Trekking in more remote areas necessitates transporting in all the needs for the group tents food etc. Food is prepared by our cook team and drinking water is adequately treated.
IS THE FOOD/WATER SAFE TO EAT/DRINK?
Hygiene when trekking generally has improved considerably over the last ten years; our guides have the local knowledge to choose the lodges which maintain a high standard of hygiene. If you are under canvas all meals are prepared to high standards, fruit and vegetables are soaked in iodine before preparation. Most lodges serve boiled and filtered water, which is generally safe, we suggest a drop of iodine to be totally sure. We discourage the purchase of bottled water for the obvious environmental reasons
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING FOR THE TREK?
Often this is about getting the balance right, you need to have enough gear to be warm and comfortable but without overloading. Usually you will experience warm days and cold nights depending on altitude and the time of year. Most treks to around 3000 m. are really quite comfortable especially in springtime. Please refer to our web site for a suggested list of items to bring or e-mail us for our equipment list. It is worth remembering you can buy or hire a lot of what you will need in Kathmandu before your trek at very reasonable prices; we can also provide our own hire pack to you. Footwear is best purchased at home before your arrival to ensure they are comfortable and worn in.
WHAT IS ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
Altitude sickness often known as acute mountain sickness (A.M.S.) in general may occur when people ascend too quickly normally in altitudes of over 3000 m. We ensure minimal risk by building in rest days into our trekking itineraries. Most people will feel some affect of altitude, shortness of breath and possibly light headed, this is fairly common. Acute mountain sickness is very different and normally involves a severe headache, sickness and loss of awareness. In almost every potential case there are enough warning signs to take appropriate action. Descending to a lower altitude will generally be enough to prevent any further problems.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY?
All of our guides are trained in basic first aid and can deal with the basic ailments that may occur on trek. In the event of an emergency I will DO MY BEST to cover initial expenses of any rescue operation. It is a condition of booking that you are adequately insured for such an event as these expenses will need to be recovered from your insurance company. In the more frequented regions there are health posts, which have been established by foreign doctors and many are staffed by overseas personnel. I AM CLOSELY associated member of The Himalayan Rescue Association.
Further useful information
Respect local traditions, customs, values and sentiments to help them protect local culture and maintain local pride.
Respect privacy when taking photographs
Respect holy places
Refrain from giving money to children as it encourages begging
Respect for the local etiquette earns you respect
Let the Himalayas change you - Do not change them because you’d be going against the hand of GOD.
Protect the natural environment
Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it
Limit deforestation - make no open fires
Burn dry paper and packets in a safe place
Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants
Plants should be left to flourish in their natural environment
If you have more questions, please mail me at: info@subindra.com
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