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FAQ
About Trekking |
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What is a
trek? |
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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? |
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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? |
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Lodge or Tea house Treks |
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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 |
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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? |
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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. |
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On tented camping trek |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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! |
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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! |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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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Trekking in
Nepal |
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