However, you should know that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on the site and the services we are able to offer. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. World Expeditions is proudly the first to offer fully-supported commercial treks along the entire length of the Nepal section of the GHT (1700 km), traversing the country from east to west and offering an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, cultures and experiences. The Nepal section of the Great Himalaya Trail was officially opened in 2011 and covers a staggering 1,700 kilometers – separated into ten sections. All porters that we employ receive a good working wage that is regulated by the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal and the Labor Union of Nepal, paying as per their guidelines, which are unionized. Your approach and the reasons that you presented completely chnaged my ideas. You can collect the application form required to obtain your visa on arrival, from your reservation consultant or at the Kathmandu Airport on arrival. When you stay in guest houses, the majority of the time you’ll be eating dal bhat for dinner. You have to bring backpacking food from home, store it in resupply bags in Kathmandu or Pokhara, then take a bus or a plane back to the city when you need to resupply. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. To get to Eastern Nepal, we took a 25-hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Taplejung. Electricity in Nepal is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The urge to stay in the city, have hot showers, use WiFi, and eat at nice restaurants was too much. Alternatively, you can start with a blank canvas and create a new and exciting itinerary from scratch! The Great Himalaya Trail has 2 options in the far west - 1) From Gamgadhi to Simikot and the Yari Valley 2) Cross country from Rara Lake to Kolti and Chainpur and on to the Mahakali Nadi (river) in India. Porters are provided with a wind and waterproof jacket and over-trousers, woolen socks and gloves, leather or canvas shoes, sunglasses and a warm cap, and carry a maximum of 30kgs. The price will be closer to $20 for an overnight ride. There is an increasing number of both trekkers and agents that are trying to squeeze trekking itineraries into an ever decreasing number of days. The abundance of trails is because most locals walk everywhere they need to go. This stage of the GHT is undoubtedly the most challenging. Both must be organized via a trekking agency. Late spring conditions ie April and May, are generally hot at low elevations and as the clouds build up to the next monsoon, daily afternoon rainstorms are common. World Expeditions is one of the world’s leading adventure travel companies offering ground breaking itineraries on every continent. Sometimes the GPS is useless. I’ve hiked about 5000 miles worth of trails in my lifetime, and this hike was by far the most challenging. The Great Himalaya Trail is comprised of 10 varying sections from Kachenjunga on Nepal’s eastern border to Humla on its western border with Tibet. I’ve heard so many guides gone wrong stories about Nepal. Heather Hawkins recounts her experience walking the Great Himalaya Trail and how Nepal captured her heart ... Trekkers carry a full pack on our Walls of Jerusalem self guided walks | Aran Price. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. This simple yet effective initative harnesses the collective power of tourists to keep wilderness trails clean and to educate local communities about the negative impact of litter on their environment and tourism economy. Mornings are usually clear with cloud build-up occasionally bringing afternoon rain. The worst was the trekkers who hired a guide to take them over the technical passes after Makalu Base Camp. Nepal is closer to the equator than the USA though, so it’s not the same weather as 14,000 feet in Colorado for example. Backpacking food is simply not available in Nepal. Also get it at the Nepal Tourism Board office. In the footsteps of Tilman, we trace the popular pilgrim trail to Panch Pokhari Lakes, make a crossing of the remote and heavily glaciated Tilman Pass (5308m), and then witness the rebuilding and rejuvenation that is underway in the Langtang Valley. Additionally, they typically have packaged cookies, chips, soda, and cigarettes. Everything is a challenge from logistics, food resupplies, navigation, cultural and language barriers, local transportation to the trail, and personal health. Huma enables those with adventurous spirits to challenge themselves and make a difference for a cause close to their heart. Read trekking agency reviews online. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. It is a mecca for mountaineers, humanitarians, trekkers and passionate adventure ... Trekkers taking the opportunity to capture some amazing photos | Stephanie Pirrie. Generally, the spring and autumn are the best times to hike in Nepal. On the low route, expect to spend about $10/ day for food and accommodations. IMPORTANT NOTE: Nepalese traders do not like TORN notes. When you walk the GHT with us, you are supporting both the local industry and environmental sustainability; matters of utmost importance along the GHT where remote communities remain relatively unchanged today. It’s filling, but difficult to eat more calories than you’re burning. You can choose not to allow some types of cookies. There are spectacular displays of rhododendrons and wildflowers at this time of year. Three of them are between Makalu Base Camp and the Everest region. Weather changes rapidly from morning to night, when you gain or lose a lot of elevation, and according to whatever the season is. With both guided and supported self-guided options available, our unique itineraries draw upon some of Canada's most inspiring parks, trails and landscapes from coast to coast. Then other months I was above, like when I had to replace gear or hire a guide for Manaslu. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. At the time of printing the cost is as follows; Although the preferred payment is USD, AUD, CAD and GBP will also be accepted very readily. Local chef making some yummy momo's | Sally Imber. Dr Anderson lives with his wife in a small town near the Lakes District in the north of England. In the spring, there was all sorts of baby farm animals in the villages: ducks, chicks, goats, kittens. It’s not anything too appealing to eat, but at least it’s an option if you’re running low on food. More gear and clothing than usual is required. Like I said before, you simply cannot consume enough calories from local food to be able to push for 12-hour hiking days in a healthy way. Meat will be available sometimes, typically chicken, yak, or buffalo. Sometimes it’s carried up the mountain without refrigeration in order to reach the guest house. You will find visa application forms and detailed instructions in your pre departure information kit and the up to date prices for visas obtained in your home country. In Nepali the local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). This is basically a meal of rice, lentil soup, and curried vegetables. The original concept of the trail was to establish a single long distance trekking trail from the east end to the west end of Nepal that includes a total of roughly 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) of path. After completing our hike, we had to wait in Jumla for five days before we could fly out. Porters receive income protection and life insurance and have access to the same first aid care that travellers receive including emergency helicopter evacuation if required. Maybe we brought 80 in total. Some of the more difficult aspects include: There’s been lots of accomplished hikers quit the Great Himalaya Trail. The alpine areas are full of cliffs and impassable routes. Good to hear that from a fellow GHT thru-hiker. Oatmeal. I often made trail mix for us from nuts, raisins, and dried fruits I found at the grocery store. Based at our desk at the Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu, Lhakpa is always on hand to advise you on the best restaurants, local sightseeing opportunities and to assist with questions on forthcoming treks. I’m not saying you can’t, I’m just saying you should think about if you really want to. Jon has been at the cutting edge of world adventure for 33 years. This cycle challenge will be self-supported and will take the team 42 days to complete. Be the first to know about adventure travel news & deals. If you’re at a high elevation and you don’t see any farm animals roaming around, be wary to eat the meat. That sums up most of the information you need to start planning your Great Himalaya Trail thru-hike. Jon reached the summit of Everest alone and completed first ascents of extreme new routes in the Himalaya. This is what we deemed our end point. This information might be about you, your preferences, your device or used to make the site work as you expect it to. And it’s going to be logistically difficult to plan resupplies. We are one of the only trekking companies in Nepal to provide porters with three meals a day, prepared by our cooks, as well as lodging or tents, sleeping mats and blankets. His tireless commitment to trip quality and focus on responsible tourism practices has ensured that World Expeditions remains at the forefront of the Himalayan trekking scene. Newar (aka Nepal Bhasa; not to be confused with Nepali) is the native language of the Newar people and was Nepal’s official administrative language from the 14th to late 18th centuries, but is now considered by UNESCO to be an endangered language. Gotta say … brilliant. There are also factors to consider when trekking solo as a woman in Nepal. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and to bring you relevant advertisements only. He has also led many climbs and treks in Nepal, Tibet, China and Bhutan including Cho Oyu. Or sometimes they send you on the local shortcut trail, and you end up lost. The Great Himalayan Trail is a combination of different spectacular section of mountain ranges of Nepal starting with Kanchenjunga on east and Hilsa on Far West Section of Nepal. Organize what you need during your resupply trips to the city. Don’t forget to visit the rest of my blog for even more Nepal trekking information. There are lots of Nepali domestic airlines, but you can browse Yeti Airlines to get a feel for flight routes and prices. They are created especially for you, giving you complete freedom to choose what you want to see, where you want to go and when you want to do it. Winding beneath the world's highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and incredible landscapes. However, I don’t have that kind of money to spend, so I’m not going to elaborate on the possibilities of a supported hike. The afternoons were full of torrential downpours and eager leeches. A lot of our navigation process was simply asking locals which way to go. Simply Sign Up, Upload your Profile Picture and Add your distance after each run to the link provided at online registration and you'll move along the Great Himalayan Trail. The culmination of Jon's dedication to adventure was his unsupported traverse of Australia in 2001, where he completed the first unsupported walk to the geographic centre of Australia. For the Dolpa high route, it’s $500/ week. Best known as Joe Simpson's climbing partner [Touching the Void], he has developed a strong reputation as an engaging expedition leader. If you do not allow these cookies, then some or all of these features may not function properly. I’ve stayed at guest houses where dishes aren’t washed with soap, just cold water.  |, Vibrant panorama while trekking towards Renjo La Trekking in Nepal particularly in this part is … Thanks, Trevor! It seems like a lot of people get attached to the idea of hiking the entire high route. This way, you won’t have to carry as much food or go into the city as often to resupply. Ask for the next village you’re passing through. The great Himalayan trail in Nepal includes from east Nepal Mt. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. Every morning we made breakfast shakes in a water bottle. World Expeditions is a founding member of the International Porter Protection Group and has pioneered many sustainable tourism initiatives that focus on local communities.  |. A typical trip to resupply looked like us getting to a larger town along the trail and spending an entire day on the bus to Kathmandu. If you’re wondering if you really need all of these resources for navigation, you most certainly do. Occasionally winter storms can bring snow as low as 2500m. Your safety is our number one concern. There’s almost no aspect of the Great Himalaya Trail that is easy. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. If you’re sticking to the low route, you could probably go almost anytime of year. As far as having two forms of GPS maps, you also need both of them. On the high route, you will pay about $20/ day. If you’re planning on spending less time in the city than we did, you could probably get by on $800/ month. If you do not allow these cookies, you will not experience our targeted advertising across different websites or via newsletters. There’s no such thing as being ultra-light on the Great Himalaya Trail. Stunning views on the trek back to Ghunsa | Ray Mustey. As I mentioned before, it’s basically rice, dal soup, curried vegetables, and some spicy pickled vegetables for flavor. Great Himalaya Trail High Route . These cookies are set through our site by our advertising partners. For mountaineering guides, their rate goes up too. You can order the paper maps on Amazon or buy them for cheaper at a bookstore in Kathmandu. The campsites minimise our environmental footprint by using yak or cow dung to fuel heaters, kerosene to cook meals and boil water, rainwater tanks, composting and septic toilets and incinerators to burn paper and non-toxic plastic waste. In the tourist district of Kathmandu, there’s a sort of Western grocery store where you can get resupply on certain things. One day we followed snow leopard tracks and scat started on the long Range traverse, Newfoundland, Heading the. 50 hertz, I do know quite a bit about the American style of hiking Great... Find out more and change our default settings everywhere they need to go dishes aren ’ t it... Trek across Tibet and a half months we hiked up to date information before going be stored when... Most places are friendly, but in very rural regions you will not want to the. Nepalese traders do not allow these cookies allow the provision of enhance and. 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