| What is a trek? |
| A trek is a walking from place to place in the villages, hilly regions, foothills and mountains. Depending on regions, the trekking can be through villages, forested ridges, along deep gorges and canons, hillside trails and also across the snow passes. Trekking is full of ascents and descents. A trek is not necessarily more arduous or uncomfortable than center-based sojourns; we believe they are more interesting and rewarding. Trekking fascinates different people for different interests. Most are drawn to the healthy exercise and magnificent mountain scenery, both of which are fully guaranteed. Others are just happy to see the simplicity in life and culture of mountain village people. plan holidays particularly appeals to those who are seeking unspoiled areas and an opportunity to experience the indigenous culture, history and traditions of a region. For some- certainly not for everyone, the lure of trekking is the desire to take on a strenuous, testing high-altitude route. |
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| How long is the trek and how far each day walking? |
Generally the trek duration depends on your interest and region of trekking route. Your trek can last anywhere from 2-3 days to an entire month or longer if you wish. We can accommodate day hikes, cultural visits to local villages, and relaxing rest days on your trek. The decision is up to you. We can not exactly tell you how far you have to walk everyday, in terms of distance but it is best answered in terms of hours rather than kilometers, as altitude and terrain dictate mileage. Walking time, including rests, ranges from four to eight hours but there is no hard and fast rule. |
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| Accommodation during trekking? |
| Lodge or Tea house Treks |
| Where acceptable lodge or teahouses facilities exist, we normally use them. Teahouses are a way of life for almost all trekkers. They are the combination of guesthouse, restaurant, and social hang out. We encourage all trekkers along the Everest, Langtang, and Annapurna treks to try our tea house treks. Our many years of experience along these routes have helped us find the friendliest, cleanest, and most enjoyable teahouses with the best views. Most teahouses have running water. Many have hot water available for bathing. But we discourage our groups from using water heated by wood fires due to lack of firewood in most villages. Deforestation is a big environmental concern in Nepal. These are also great way help support local villages. |
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Tented camping treks |
| In remote terrain, we camp in tents. Even if you've never camped before, you don't need to worry: the tents we provide are roomy, the sleeping pads/mattresses are comfortable. On all of our treks there is a bathroom tent and a dining tent with tables and camp stools, providing a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to eat and chat with fellow trekkers during the evening. |
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| Type and quality of food served during trek? |
On teahouse/lodge trek
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| If you are on a teahouse trek you will eat breakfast and dinner at your teahouse. We will stop for lunch at one of the various trailside restaurants. These teahouses. And snacks are always easy to find. Almost every teahouse serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat (rice and curried lentils). All teahouses we stay at have a variety of different foods on the menu including noodles, rice, potatoes, vegetables and soup. Some have Nepalese versions of western food such as pizza and French-fries too. The choice is yours. Sodas and beer are available at most of the teahouses and of course Nepalese milk tea is served every where. |
On tented camping trek |
| If you are on a camping trek, there will be a kitchen team with all foodstuffs. The full meal typically includes fresh fruit, tinned meat, cheese, rice chapatis or biscuits, cooked vegetables, and tea or coffee |
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Is the food hygienic? |
We are very much conscious about hygienity of food served to our clients during trekking. This is why we do our best to choose teahouses and restaurants with clean and sanitary kitchens during lodge trekking. Nowadays, the chefs of teahouses and trailside restaurants are aware of trekkers’ concern over higienity of food and so they use chlorine or iodine or potash treated water for cooking. They cater Nepali and continental menu. But consumption of meat is not recommended during trekking.
During tented camping trek, there will be a team of kitchen crew with all foodstuffs. The kitchen chef sets a menu for everyday meals, that includes tea, coffee, biscuits, soup, main course, desert etc. For cooking, they use boiled and medicated water. You can share the ideas with kitchen chef or yourself join the crew or to prepare the food of your taste and interest. |
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| Where do we get water during the trip? |
| There is piped water supply in Langtang, Annapurna and Everest regions. Remote areas depend on natural spring water for drinking. All teahouses have boiled and medicated water for trekkers. Your guide will provide you with all the water you need during your trek. We discourage the purchase of bottled water while on the trail. The plastic bottles are difficult to dispose off and have become an environmental problem. In a camping trek, we boil water in the morning and you will have enough boiled water in your bottle. |
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| Is the water safe to drink? |
| Your guide will be in charge of all your water need. He will make sure all water is boiled and treated with iodine. Iodine is 100% effective in killing the bacteria in water. |
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| Equipment and clothing during trekking? |
| Choosing the right equipment is very important. You want to have enough clothes to stay warm or cool yet not over pack. Usually you will have warm days and cold nights. Most gear can be purchased in Kathmandu or Pokhara at one of the many outdoor gear shops the proper footwear depends on the trek. Shorter treks can be done in comfortable running shoes while longer ones require sturdy but lightweight hiking boots. Shoes and boots are best purchased before arriving in Nepal. Proper fit is a must for boots. Newly purchased boots can cause blisters to your feet. For the detailed list of clothing and gears, please click on the checklist. |
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| What happens if there is an emergency? |
| plan holidays prides on being prepared for any emergency situation. Our guides are trained in first aid and can deal with most of the basic ailments that occur during a trek. But if a serious emergency occurs, then outside help is needed. Every client should have his or her own insurance before coming to Nepal. If an emergency occurs, plan holidays will initially cover the cost of an evacuation until your insurance company can deliver payment. |
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| Doctor available on the trek? |
| We can't guarantee a doctor on every trek, but we do try to encourage suitably experienced medical personnel to join our high altitude treks by offering a discount in return for looking after the medical needs of a group. In addition to trek doctors, our group leaders are trained in first aid. |
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| How much money do I need? |
| When you book a trekking program with us, we offer you a package that includes accommodations, meals, transportation, guides and transportation and all permit fees. The price of the trip depends on standard of hotels you want in cities, tents or lodges, mode of transportation and remoteness of regions you are trekking. After finalizing your entire holiday plan, we will be in a position to tell you exactly how much you need. Beside the price of trip, we will advise you how much you will need for drinks, tip and other minor expenses, which are not included in the package deal. |
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| Experience of guides? |
| Plan holidays has some of the most reliable and experienced guides in Nepal. All of our guides have spent years exploring the mountains and countryside of Nepal and India. All guides speak English and have a deep knowledge of the various trekking routes. Our guides are trained in first aid and know how to react in any situation. And most importantly our guides are friendly and enjoyable and want to share with you the true beauty of Nepal. |
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| If I am single or with my family! |
| On your interest, we do the both single guided trek/ tour and group tour. If you are alone and willing join with other people, this is always possible. On your request we will give all the details of the member and size of the groups that you’re joining. People traveling with us may be of any nationality, either sex, alone or accompanied experienced travelers or complete beginners. Groups are always small (in general 10 or less). English is the common language, and there can be a wide age-range. We apply no upper age limit, though we ask those over 70 for their doctor's confirmation of their fitness to participate. Generally speaking, we regard our trips as being for adults: unaccompanied minors are not accepted, but of course we will accept accompanied minors. Our family Trek is designed to accommodate younger children. |
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| I am a single female trekker! |
| Don’t worry. Our male guides are reliable. They maintain a respectable relationship with female trekkers and protect them from all kinds of possible harassment. On request, we can also provide you female guides and porters. Yet, to remote areas, single female trekker is not recommended to go. |
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| Private rooms and bathrooms? |
| Private rooms are available in most teahouses except for those at very high altitudes. Most bathrooms are shared. During tent trekking, you will be provided separate toilet tents. |
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| Difficulty of the trek? |
| We can absolutely assure you that you do not have to be young, very experienced, or super fit to enjoy most of our treks. Our trekkers range from 17 to 70. Previous walking experience, though useful, is not essential: the great majority of our treks could be undertaken by anyone who is in good health, enjoys outdoor life, and have spirit of adventure. Mental preparedness is essential. Many of our guests casually participate in a sport such as swimming, cycling, tennis or golf. Our treks are graded for difficulty, from 1 to 5 |
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| What we do every day in trekking? |
| A trek day begins around 6 a.m. with a mug of coffee or tea served through your tent flap. Hot water is provided for washing and shaving, followed by breakfast. Water is provided for your water containers. We strike camp and begin walking in the pleasant cool of the morning for 2-4 hours before stopping for lunch. This two-hour break offers an opportunity to write in your diary read and relax. The full meal typically includes fresh fruit, tinned meat, cheese, rice chapatis or biscuits, cooked vegetables, and tea or coffee. We usually reach our campsite by 4 p.m. and have tea and biscuits shortly afterwards. There is time to rest or explore before our evening meal at 6 p.m. This is the social event of the day. It begins with an appetizer and soup, followed by the main course and dessert with tea or coffee. The variety and quality of our "camp" food will delight you. Guests keep threatening to take our cooks home with them! As we mainly camp near villages, there is usually plenty of time to visit with the locals before or after dinner and sample their home brews. As night approaches, most people retire to their warm sleeping bags and are fast asleep by 9:30 p.m. |
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| Environmental awareness? |
While conducting tours and trekking program, protection of environment is our topmost concern and we try our best to minimize the negative impacts on surroundings. We cook food by kerosene stoves, suggest you to stay in lodges that use kerosene or fuel efficient stoves and advise you to take hot showers when the water is heated with solar energy or hydroelectricity or black coal stove etc. We try our best to minimize the consumption of local products rather than canned and bottled foods. After use, cans, bottles and biodegradable substances are separated and properly destroyed or disposed. We do not litter the campsites and do not allow any acts that deteriorate the environment. We also give information to our valuable customers on how to minimize the negative effects that their ignorance may have on Nepal. We guide and help them how to trek gently and to support positive effects at culture and environmental conservation. We are also trying to protect the fragile environment and indigenous cultures of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. We always take one extra porter to carry and manage all the garages that our groups make in their campsite. |
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| What’s different traveling or trekking with plan holidays? |
Plan Holidays is not just another company. There are many differences between Plan Holidays and others. You will come as tourist and go back as friends. We guarantee you the quality in our service and if not, we are willing to pay you back. To know more about us, please click on Must Know About Us. and Former Clients and Friends Abroad also can give you references about us and most probably information on the program that you are willing to undertake. |
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