THAME LEGENDARY - Yeti Mountain Home

Thame Legendary
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Thame Legendary
Yeti Mountain Home Comfort Trek
12 nights
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Trip Dossier
13 days
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Thame Legendary
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Introduction
Trip Details
Flying directly in to the high Khumbu, relish fantastic trekking
under the eyes of many of the world’s highest mountains including
Sagamartha, Mother Goddess of the Earth (Everest) herself.
Thame Legendary takes us from the tiny airstrip at Lukla through
the bustling Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar then climbs gently
from the madding crowds of the main trail up to mystical Thame.
Thame – the ethereal monastery swathed in mists; towering rock
faces; glistening mountain spires; juncture of ancient trading
routes to Tibet and beyond - the cozy homesteads are home to
many of Nepal’s greatest mountaineers, inspiring Sherpa artists
and many, many smiling faces. We spend a few days exploring
these rich, vibrant valleys. Stretch out and trek high or wander
freely, the choice is yours.
A great short trek to get up into high places, explore ethereal
mountain monasteries and rich local traditions. This trek gives
chance to stretch out and relish some fabulous Himalayan
hiking but still plenty of time to relax and explore. A trip rich in
experience and legend both along the trail and Thame, home to
some of Everest’s greatest climbers, artists and perhaps even the
elusive Yeti!
About YMH
Yeti Mountain Homes are a group of luxury lodges situated in the
Khumbu / Everest region of Nepal. They are owned by a local
family offering the full warmth of a traditional Sherpa welcome
with the comfort of the best boutique hotels: crisp linen sheets,
en-suites with hot showers, cosy lounges with log fires and wellstocked bars; local and international cuisine from our talented
chefs…. Yeti Mountain Home lodges offer a high-class, high
mountain experience beyond compare. On the Thame Legendary
trek you’ll stay at Yeti Mountain Home lodges in Lukla, Phakding,
Monjo, Namche and Thame. Have a look at our website www.
yetimountainhome.com for more details on each lodge.
Trip Duration:
13 days / 12 nights
including 11 days’ trekking
Trekking Grade:
REFRESHING
In a nutshell:
inspiring…. magical mountains,
ethereal villages, living legends….
perfect for mixed ability groups,
trek hard and high or soft and
steady
Services:
All accommodation, meals and
internal travel included
Best time to travel
Spring: Spring (March-June):
come and visit when the
rhododendrons and alpine
flowers are in full bloom. Expect
clear skies and sunshine in the
mornings with some light cloud
cover later in the day.
Autumn / winter: Autumn / Winter
(October-January): at this time
of year the weather is normally
stable. Expect crisp sunny days
and cold evenings. Note that
October is usually very busy and
trails can feel quite crowded.
Trip Group Size: From two to
twelve of you.
Trip Grading: Who is this trip suitable for?
The Thame Legendary trip is designed for people
who want a taste of the high mountain experience, to
be amongst the Sherpa community, to stretch out into
wild, magical scenery. It’s a great trek for people of
with some hiking experience and enjoy the challenge
of moderate days out on the hill. And if you want to
explore more there are plenty of chances to head up
higher too. This is a REFRESHING grade trek: most
trek days are 4-5 hours long; we have steady gains
in altitude, carefully paced to allow us to acclimatise;
the paths and tracks are a mix of wide, relatively even
and well-marked main trails to some more alpine style
footpaths on the higher hills. We ask that you have
a reasonable level of fitness, but you don’t need to
be an experienced trekker to enjoy this trip. Your trek
leaders will ensure we take a comfortable pace on the
trail and you’ll have Sherpa support every step of the
way. If you’re comfortable going on day walks in the
hills in your home country (eg the Lake District, UK) or
maybe you swim, cycle, run or take an exercise class
a couple of times a week you should find this trek well
within your means. The best preparation for this trek
is regular hill walking – getting used to continuous
moderate exertion on all types of trails; feeling super
comfortable with your gear and knowing how you feel
as weather, gradients and weariness change. Having
a hot shower and many other creature comforts to look
forward to makes each day’s trekking even more of
a joy! (And you can always indulge in a massage or
other spa treatment at our Namche and Lukla lodges
to relax any tired or achy muscles)
Thame Legendary
What’s included: All accommodation;
meals, all transfers; all in-country transport; permits
and Park fees; Kathmandu sightseeing; English
speaking guide; one porter/ two clients; all staff
insurances; drinking water on trek; a Yeti Mountain
Home trek bag; Khumbu and Kathmandu maps;
What’s not included: Your insurance
(medical, travel, evacuation); Nepal visa; tips for
staff; personal equipment and gear; other personal
expenses; emergency evacuation; money for
souvenirs; drinks; any massage treatments
Extensions and extra days: You may
like to extend your stay in Nepal at either end of
the trip. If you are coming from the Americas or
have flights that arrive late evening, you may like
to add on an extra day at the start of the trip to rest
up and work through any jet lag. It’s also a good
time to do any extra shopping for trekking clothing
or equipment. Nepal offers many wonderful sights
and activities besides trekking: you may wish to
spend some time with yoga practice at a Buddhist
monastery centre in the Kathmandu valley; jungle
safaris in the Chitwan National Park where we have
a spa resort, Kasara; lakeside walks, paragliding
and mountain biking around the peaceful
resort of Pokhara; rafting and bunjee jumping at
The Last Resort a few hours from the capital –
something for everyone. Please contact us (info@
yetimountainhome.com) and we’d be happy to talk
through some options for you.
A Typical Day on the Thame
Legendary trek
Wake up to a hot drink brought to your room by
our lovely Sherpa team. Pack your bags and get
ready for the day then potter down to a leisurely
breakfast. The porters will arrive as you’re
breakfasting to carry your trek bag up to our next
overnight stop. We’ll walk for an hour or so before
taking a break and of course there are lots of
wonderful views, people and interesting things and
photo opp stops along the way too. We usually
take a lunch along the route then continue on
the trail to reach our next lodge so you have time
enough to relax for a while. In Namche and Lukla
the masseur is on hand for appointments: you may
like to book in for a treatment. Or you might feel like
exploring the local village and hills maybe with your
guide or maybe by yourself. We re-group again
for drinks around the fire. We finish the day with a
three course meal – local style or Western there’s
plenty of variety and lots of taste! We tend to drift
off to bed fairly early although a quick peak outside
at the night sky, particularly higher up where the
heavens are really ablaze with stars, can be a late
night treat before sleep.
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Short Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu! Meet at the group hotel for
briefing, drinks and dinner (D)
Day 2: Take the short mountain flight to Lukla (2,850m).
Check in at YMH Lukla. Afternoon visits to a local school;
Buddhist monastery and the Pasang Lamu Foundation
hospital or take a short hike to a nearby hamlet (B, L, D YMH
Lukla)
Day 3: Trek to Monjo (2840m). Descending through the
rhododendrons we follow the Dudh Khosi river to Phakding
where we’ll have lunch. Criss-crossing glacial river our trail
takes us to Monjo and the gateway to Sagarmartha National
Park. Around 5hrs trekking (BLD YMH Monjo).
Day 4: Trek Monjo to Namche Bazaar (3,440m). After
passing through the Gateway, down to the village of Jorsale
we leave the river side and head steadily uphill through the
pine forests to emerge at the high mountain town of Namche
Bazaar. 4 to 5hrs’ trekking. In the afternoon we rest and
acclimatize with a brief orientation walk around the town.
(BLD YMH Namche)
Day 5: Around Namche (3440m): a day to acclimatise and
get to know the bustling Sherpa capital. We head slowly
up to a fabulous view point to absorb the splendour of
Everest and the majestic peaks around then back to visit to
the fascinating Sherpa Museum. Afternoon free (BLD YMH
Namche)
Day 6: Trek to Thame (3800m). Turning away from the main
Everest trail we head out past Namche’s gompa to join
a high alpine trail contouring Nepali flat style along and
gently up through pine forest and meadows to the hamlet of
Thamo. From here it’s another couple of hours to the ethereal
Thame village. Around 5 hours trekking (BLD YMH Thame)
Day 7 and 8: Thame day hikes and exploration: there are
many options for these two days – continuing up the valley
towards the Nangpa La, the yak traders’ route; hiking up to
a small peak or exploring the monastery and village… talk
with your guide and decide. (BLD YMH Thame)
Day 9: Trek to Monjo via Namche: we return down the valley
to Namche for lunch and a last visit to the bazaars. From
here it’s down, down, down to the Dudh Kohsi then up and
out of the National Park to our evening stop at YMH Monjo.
Around 5-6 hours trekking (BLD YMH Monjo)
Day 10: Our last full day in the mountains. We swing back
and forth across the river for a couple of hours to reach
Phakding where we’ll take a short break. There’s a sting
in the tail as we make the short ascent to Lukla and a
celebratory evening (2,850m) 4-5 hrs trekking (BLD YMH
Lukla)
Day 11: A short flight back to Kathmandu. Check in at
our hotel. Free afternoon then dinner at one of the city’s
restaurants (BLD hotel)
Day 12: A half day of sightseeing and then some time to
shop, relax or explore on your own. A final farewell dinner at
Le Sherpa, our acclaimed Lazimpat restaurant (BLD hotel)
Day 13: Departure from Kathmandu. We transfer you to the
international airport or to the start of your extension trip (B)
*BB = Bed & Breakfast
/
AP= Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The price is based on 4 person
/
YMH= Yeti Mountain Home
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Detailed
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Welcome to Nepal! On
arrival in Kathmandu you’ll
be met at the airport by our
representative (they’ll have a
YMH signboard and be waiting
outside) There’s a short drive
to the Gokarna Forest Resort,
our peaceful haven on the
outskirts of Kathmandu. This
is your hotel base before and
after trek. We’ll meet the group
and our guide for pre-dinner
drinks and a trip briefing in the
early evening then move on to
dinner in one of the Gokarna’s
delightful restaurants. (D)
Gokarna Forest Resort is
located inside the serene
temperate Gokarna Forest, the
former private Royal hunting
grounds of the Kings of Nepal.
A winding road climbs leads
through the forest up to the
main complex, comprising a
mix of subtly majestic Malla
period architecture, Rana
period lodges, and sanctuaries
harmoniously blending with
nature. Further on exotic
Forest View cottage rooms
are set beside a century old
restored Hunter’s lodge. A
quiet peaceful haven set
between ancient towering
trees with glimpses of the
Itinerary second fairway in the
valley below make the perfect
getaway for a few days of golf,
relaxation and rejuvenation
at the Spa, enchanting forest
walks, and time close to nature.
Day 2: Flight to Lukla (2850m)
We make an early start to take
a spectacular, short mountain
flight to Lukla, the start point
for our trek. Watch out for the
Langtang and Jugal ranges
then the Rolwaling Himal,
Gaurisankar and Menlumtse
before getting your first
glimpse of Everest on the flight.
Our staff will meet us at the
airport to escort us (and bring
our luggage) through this long
winding one-street town to our
lodge. Check in, refresh and
enjoy lunch. When the sun
shines (and it very often does
here!) we’ll take lunch on the
terrace with views over the
gateway to the Khumbu. In the
afternoon we visit a school, the
Buddhist monastery (gompa),
the Pasang Lamu Foundation
hospital and take a short walk
round the locale. For anyone
who’d like to stretch out a bit
more we can direct you on a
walk up to a nearby hamlet.
(BLD)
Day 3: Trek to Monjo (2840m)
4-5 hours trekking
Our trekking crew meet us at
the YMH Lukla after breakfast.
We’ll spend a little time on
introductions, getting to know
each other and sorting the
bags out before setting off. The
trek start proper, the Khumbu
‘gateway’, is just meters from
our lodge gate. Passing
through the whitewashed
archway we head gently
downhill on pitched stone trails
through low rhododendron
forest, past small ‘garden’
farms and old and new hamlets
to the banks of the foaming
Dudh Koshi river. There will be
plenty of short stops to meet
the locals, take photographs
and just soak up the scenery
and the clear mountain air
as we meander along, the
undulating trail glimpsing
views of 6000m snow-capped
peaks high above. Passing
the enormous mani stone at
Thado Kosi we meander up
through the many chortens
and prayer wheels of Sano
and along to our destination
of YMH Phakding in time for
lunch. After soaking up the
sun on the terrace we continue
on to the village of Monjo.
The gently undulating trail
follows the right bank of the
Dudh Koshi through Phakding
village before the first of
several river crossings today
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on wire suspension bridges.
Continuing through pine forest
and small villages we come to
a break in the trees to catch
sight of the mighty Thamserku
(6623m) towering way above.
A couple more hours of
woodland trails and swaying
bridges brings us to the small
village of Monjo. Our lodge
for the night is located above
the village with spectacular
views of Thamserku and
KusumKangri. Gather again
for pre-dinner drinks round the
fire followed by evening meal.
(B,L,D YMH Monjo)
Day 4 Monjo to Namche
(3440m) 4-5 hours trekking
A short walk from our lodge
brings us to the gateway to
the Sagamartha National
Park. We stop to have a look
at the interesting 3D map and
information boards whilst our
guide sorts out our permits
and entry. From here we’ve
another 40 minutes or so
along the sides of the Dudh
Khosi before crossing the
Bhote Khosi, raging in form a
side valley, and beginning our
climb to the Sherpa capital of
Namche Bazaar. The trail zigzags up away from the river,
gradually ascending to the tree
line opening out into a high
mountain bowl and the vibrant
village of Namche. We pass
through the many tiny shops
and colourful stalls picking our
way slowly up hand cut stone
steps to our wonderful Yeti
Mountain Home Lodge. This
is our first night above 3000m
so it’s important to take it easy
and let your body adjust. Relax
with a tea or coffee and maybe
even take a massage in our
spa. (B,L,D YMH Namche)
Day 5 Around Namche
Today it’s important to gain
a little height to help our
bodies’ acclimatize. And to
see some magnificent views!
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The afternoon is free to explore
the shops and cafes of this
delightful little town. Your guide
will take you to a wonderful
viewpoint to see the ‘rockstars’
of the mountain world spread
out before you: Lhotse, Nuptse,
Everest, Ama Dablam... they
ring the deep valley sides
in a magnificent arena. You
should also be able to see the
monastery at Tengboche and
the trails to Everest. We leave
the shimmering peaks to visit
the Sherpa Cultural museum
with its treasure trove of
delights and intriguing insights
into the lives, homes and loves
of the Sherpa people.
maybe in the nunnery to join
the women devotees in their
simple homes. Thamo is also
the home Ang Rita Sherpa,
who holds the record for
scaling Mt Everest ten times
without oxygen. From Thamo
we continue our gradual
ascent up through the hamlet
of Samden. We drop down
now to cross the Bhote Koshi
river as it gushes through some
high rock steps tumbling down
falls and whirlpools. Standing
on the bridge can be quite
deafening! There’s a final half
hour climb to reach Thame
Village and our lodge. (BLD
YMH Thame)
After lunch you are free to
head down to the Namche
market to browse the shops,
chat to the locals and maybe
pick up a souvenir or two.
You may also see the Tibetan
traders who make a yearly
journey over the high passes
from the Tibetan plateau with
their yaks laden with goods to
sell at the markets. Late in the
afternoon there’s an option to
visit Namche Monastery. The
monastery is about 80 years
old and has beautiful Thanka
paintings of Tibetan deities.
You are most welcome to burn
a butter lamp for your loved
ones. (BLD YMH Namche)
Days 7 and 8 Thame day
hikes and exploration
Day 6 Trek to Thame (3440m)
Turning away from the main
Everest trail we head out past
Namche’s gompa to join a
high alpine trail contouring
Nepali flat style along and
gently up through pine forest
and meadows to the hamlet
of Thamo. This trail forms
part of the entry route to
Tibet, which passes near
the 8,012-metre peak of Cho
Oyu, first climbed in 1954. It
is also the historical route that
the Sherpa’s migrated from
eastern Tibet 800 years ago.
We’ll stop for lunch at Thamo,
There are many options for our
walk today – continuing up the
valley towards the Nangpa La,
the yak traders’ route; hiking up
to a small peak or exploring the
monastery and village… talk
with your guide and decide.
Thame is a wonderful high
mountain village, with its gentle
pastures, rambling alleys,
small artists’ community and
even a yak farm. The village
is overlooked by the 14th
century monastery 200m along
a rocky ridge. The hike up is
definitely worth doing, to touch
the ancient mani stone walls,
admire the fragile thankas
and timeless wall paintings. If
you wish to climb higher ask
your guide to take you up the
slopes of Sumdur mountain. If
you wish to stay low how about
visiting the yak farm or some
local homes or heading along
the wide valley bottom towards
the Tibet border for views of
the Nangpa La and Cho Oyu.
(BLD YMH Thame)
Day 9: Trek to Monjo via
Namche
We return down the valley,
most likely taking a slightly
different route to that of the
Thame Legendary
ascent some days earlier. Arriving in Namche we’ll have
time for a wander round the bazaars and a light lunch
before heading down through the pine forests to the valley
warmth. Look out for Damche, our stunning national bird
– a very colourful type of pheasant, sometimes found
searching for food on the forest floor. And of course don’t
forget to look around and enjoy the views from this new
and very different perspective (BLD YMH Monjo)
Day 10 Trek Monjo -Lukla (2850m)
Our last day trekking, with a bit of a sting in the tail!.
Regaining the river side we are back and forth across
the glacial torrent making our way back past Phakding.
From here it’s around a three hour walk to Lukla, with the
last hour or regaining 200m+ height – it’s uphill. On the
way we’ll have some drink stops and a chance to visit
Chaurikharka High School and Kyongma Monastery.
On reaching Lukla we could take a quick stop for a
congratulatory group photo at the ‘gateway’ arch then
we’ll check-in to our lodge for lunch and a rest. We
celebrate our success on the trail with a final dinner at
YMH lodge. (BLD YMH Lukla)
Day 11 Fly Lukla to Kathmandu 35min Flight
Wave goodbye to the Himalaya on a short, but
spectacular flight back to Kathmandu! In clear weather
this can be one of the highlights of your tour, with amazing
views of the surrounding mountains.
On arrival in Kathmandu we’ll transfer to Gokarna Resort.
Then you’ve free time to relax or head into the city. We find
most people want to simply unwind and enjoy the hotel
facilities – whatever you choose, we’ll help! (BLD hotel)
Day 12 Kathmandu
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we’ll
be met by our guide for our day trip to a few of the
Kathmandu valley’s most spectacular and important
sights and some vibrant, colourful markets. With a meld
of three ancient capitals and their associated palaces,
temples and markets Kathmandu has a lot to offer
culturally and historically. The exact itinerary may change
depending on the local conditions but we shall most
likely visit: Bhoudnath stupa; Pashupatinath, one of the
most important temples in S Asia to the Hindu God Lord
Shiva; Bhaktapur’s Durbar (Kings) Squares, a complex
of palaces and temples which was formally the social,
religious and administrative focal point of the ancient city.
Meet again for a farewell dinner at our very own Le Sherpa
restaurant: a truly lovely last night (BLD hotel)
Day 13 Final day
We’ll transfer you to the airport in good time for your
international flight or onward to your extension trip. YMH
services end after breakfast
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ARRIVING IN
KATHMANDU
We fly in over the peaceful
Kathmandu valley and take a deep
breath before confronting the chaos
of Kathmandu airport. Once outside
the airport terminal you will be met
by Yeti Mountain Home staff and
transferred to your hotel Upon arrival
at the hotel your Group Leader will
give a short Briefing on preparations
for your trip and the program for the
next few days. Your international
tickets will be collected for
reconfirmation of your onward flight
and your passport will be collected
for the issue of your trekking permit.
Your free time in Kathmandu will
normally be spent on last-minute
purchases and getting organized
for the trip. Your time in Kathmandu
after your return from your trip will be
free for sightseeing and shopping.
You also may like to think about
booking a Mountain Flight. This flight
offers spectacular views of the entire
eastern Himalayan range, including
Everest. Our office in Kathmandu
can organize this. Just ask your Tour
Leader. The cost is currently $US
190 -including airport transfers.
Please note: Kathmandu airport
can be a confusing place so we
will briefly explain the routine here.
Once you have passed through
Immigration at Kathmandu airport
please collect your baggage from
the baggage belt and proceed
directly to the Customs officers.
Once cleared go out the two sets of
doors where a Yeti Mountain Home
staff member will be waiting for you just look for our sign or your name.
Airport porters are usually very quick
to pick up your bags and head out
the Doors. Don’t worry - just keep the
porters in sight and the porter fee
will be paid by Yeti Mountain Home
staff outside the terminal.
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What Makes
Nepal So
Special?
The epic scale of the Everest and Annapurna
mountain ranges naturally make these the two most
popular regions for trekking in Nepal – some of these
routes, such as the Everest Base Camp Trek and the
Annapurna Circuit, are regarded as being among the
best walks in the world. Venture further afield into ‘Wild
Nepal’ and you will find pristine mountain scenery,
remote villages and a culture still relatively untouched
by tourism.
Our tours in Nepal will always spend plenty of time
in the fascinating city of Kathmandu and give you a
genuine taste of traditional Nepalese culture. If you are
lucky enough to visit during a Buddhist festival you will
be a part of an unforgettable celebration, and we also
include an exciting rafting trip down the Seti River and a
game-viewing trip to the famous Chitwan National Park
on our Nepal Tour.
BACKGROUND ON
THE REGION
Nepal is situated in the
central region of the Greater
Himalaya and it contains
more of the worlds highest
mountains than any other
country. These include
Makalu, Lhotse, Annapurna,
Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and of
course, Everest. As in Bhutan
and Sikkim, the brief but
heavy monsoon nourishes
an abundance of exotic
vegetation which cloak the hills
with bamboo and a multitude
of other plants, flowers and
trees. Pleasant rural villages
are linked by paths through
paddy-fields, forest and yakpasture, giving trekkers access
to the foothills and mountains
beyond.
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The Land
The Kingdom of Nepal lies
along the central section of the
Greater Himalaya, bordered
by Tibet to the north and India
to the east, south and west.
It encompasses many of the
world’s highest mountains,
including Mount Everest
(29,128 ft./8,878 metres) which
lies on its northern border. The
terrain and climate define three
distinct regions. The southern
lowlands (Terai Region) of
Nepal has a hot, tropical Indian
climate. The central hill areas
have a cooler sub-tropical
climate and the northern region
has an alpine climate. The
latter two areas are dissected
by deep valleys, formed by
run-off from the monsoon and
snow melt-water.
The Himalaya range runs along
the northern border of Nepal
and makes up 16% of the total
land area of the country. Some
of the country’s most rare and
beautiful animals live in this
region, including the snow
leopard and Danphe bird.
The hill region, made up of
the Mahabharat and Churia
ranges cover 65% of the land
and climb in elevation from
500-3000m. The eastern hills
receive more monsoon rain,
while in the west the rivers run
with meltwater.
The low lying terai covers 17%
of the country, and consists
of farming land, sub tropical
forest and marshes. Just under
50% of the country’s population
lives in the Terai region, and
it contains almost all of the
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industrial towns in Nepal,
including Biratnagar, Butwal,
and Bhairwara. About ninety
per cent of Nepal’s inhabited
land area is farmland and
much of this is in the form of
terraced paddy-fields, which
reach high into the Himalayan
foothills. A similar proportion of
Nepal’s 18 million population
are farmers.
History
For centuries Nepal was
divided into principalities,
with the Kirats in the east, the
Newars in Kathmandu Valley
and the Gurungs and Magars
in the mid west. The Kirats
ruled from 300BC, and were
followed by the Lichhavis
whose descendants today
are the Newars. During this
period art thrived in Nepal and
many of the beautiful wood
carvings and sculptures that
fill the country were produced.
With the end of the Lichhavi
dynasty around 1200 the Malla
Kingdom arose lasting for
around 600 years. At the end
of this period at the end of
the 18th century the disunity
in the country was halted
by the Gurkha king Prithvi
Narayan Shah who conquered
Kathmandu and united the
country into one kingdom.
Recognising the threat of
the British Raj he ordered
foreign missionaries out of the
country and for 100 years the
borders were shut to visitors.
In the mid 19th century the
Prime Minister Jung Bahadur
Rana had become absolute
ruler, with the Shah kings
remaining as figureheads. The
Rana grip on power became
hereditary until the 1950’s
when with the help of the
Indian Government the Ranas
were overthrown and the Shah
king restored to the throne at
the head of a parliamentary
government. This government
was dismissed by the king
who restored the absolute
monarchy. Throughout the 60’s,
70’s and 80’s the monarchy
fought to retain its control
over power, but as the result
of mass demonstrations and
with support from India the
king agreed, in 1989 to a
constitutional monarchy. In the
following years there was an
unsatisfactory and unstable
swing between the middle of
the road Congress Party and
the Communist party which
made continuity of policy or
progression in the country
almost impossible.
On June 1st 2001 Nepal’s
history took a violent and tragic
turn. Crown Prince Dipendra
shot 9 members of the royal
family including his father, King
Birendra and his mother Queen
Aishwarya before turning the
gun on himself. Dipendra was
made king but died due to his
injuries the following day. As a
result, King Birendra’s younger
brother Prince Gyanendra
was declared King. King
Gyanendra attempted to put
his stamp on the country as
head of state with varying
results.
During the last few years Nepal
has been destabilised by a
Maoist insurgency and this
was further exacerbated by
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the king’s attempt to impose
autocratic rule in February
2005. Conditions deteriorated
further until in Spring 2006 the
Nepalese people finally took
the initiative and the king was
forced to stand back while
democratic government was
reinstated. At the same time
a peace process was started
under UN observation and the
Maoists have been brought
into the government and have
dismantled the parallel structure
of administration that they had
established in many areas.
Elections held in early 2008
brought a constitutional
assembly into power dominated
by Maoist representatives
whose priority was to rubber
stamp the abolition of the
monarchy. In May 2008 the
Assembly formally voted
to bring to an end the last
Hindu monarchy in the world
and thereby consigned King
Gyanendra to the status of
citizen. His palace becomes a
public museum and all former
Royal institutions have lost
that part of their name. The
emergence of a democratic
republic has has brought much
needed peace and stability to
Nepal and there is considerable
optimism about Nepal’s long
term political future.
Religion
Nepal was for many years a
Hindu Kingdom, and ninety
per cent of the population
are Hindus. In the northern
mountainous areas Buddhism
becomes predominant.
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The two religions coexist,
and many Hindu temples
share the same complex as
Buddhist shrines. Hindu and
Buddhist worshippers may
likewise regard the same god
with different names while
performing religious rites.
At the same time there are
localised and minor religions,
such as the animism of the
Tharus and the ancestor
worship of the Kirats that have
in turn influenced the two
major religions to produce a
unique vibrant and generally
peaceful synthesis of beliefs
in modern Kathmandu. In the
capital the main Hindu temple
is the Pashupatinath complex,
the main Buddhist stupas
are at Swayambhunath and
Boudhanath.
People
The deep valleys and high
ridge lines throughout Nepal
account for the emergence
of isolated ethnic groups.
They can be distinguished
geographically. The sherpas
are of Tibeto-Burman stock
and occupy the higher regions
of central and eastern Nepal.
They are mostly Buddhist, with
some Bons. In the mid hills
there are a variety of ethnic
groups, including the Kirats
who live in eastern Nepal.
They are traditionally ancestor
worshippers, but now are
mainly Hindu, and ruled the
Kathmandu Valley and their
eastern Kingdom for 1000
years from the 7th century AD.
The Gurkhas are part of this
group of peoples.
The Kathmandu Valley is
inhabited by commercially and
artistically minded Newars,
who practice a mixture of
Hinduism and Buddhism
and whose ancestors are
responsible for the creation
of Kathmandu, Pathan and
Bhaktapur. Other groups
included the Gurungs of the
central Nepal hills, the Khas
of western Nepal whose own
language, Nepali, is the official
language of the country.
Tharus are the main ethnic
group on the Terai. They have
their own animist religion and
are immune to malaria. In total
there are thirty five different
tribal groups, and thirty four
languages or dialects. The
official language, Nepali is
derived from Sanskrit and is
similar to Hindi. It is written in
script known as Devanagari.
Economy
Per capita GDP is just U$260
per year, making Nepal one
of the poorest countries in the
world. GDP growth averaged
around 5 percent during
the 1990s but the political
instability of the last 5 years
has seen this drop to an
average of around 3 percent.
Agriculture is the mainstay
of the economy, providing a
livelihood for three-quarters of
the population and accounting
for 40% of GDP. Industrial
activity mainly involves the
processing of agricultural
produce including jute,
sugarcane, tobacco, and grain,
and the manufacture of carpets,
clothing and leather goods.
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CITIES
KATHMANDU
Altitude: 1370m
Population: 1,081,845
Kathmandu is the capital of
Nepal and the Kathmandu
Valley is the political and
cultural heart of the Kingdom.
Founded in the 8th century
AD by King Gunakamadeva
at the join of the Bagmati and
Bishnumati rivers the founding
point is the Kashta (wood)
Mandap (temple), built where
two old trade routes crossed,
and now the oldest building
in the city. The unification of
the Valley in the 15th century
by Jayasthiti Malla made
Kathmandu the administrative
centre of the area, and it grew
from there. The europhile first
minister of Kathmandu in the
19th century, Jung Bahadur
Rana, built many classical
looking buildings and palaces
in the city, in contrast to those
of Newari style that existed
before. The urban sprawl that
makes up modern Kathmandu
is in fact two cities, Pathan
and Kathmandu. Kathmandu
in turn is divided into two area,
the Old City is between the
main north south running road
(Kantipath) and the Bishnumati
to the west (also running
north south), while to the east
of Kantipath is the New City.
Kantipath runs away to the
south across the Bagmati river
to Pathan, now incorporated
into greater Kathmandu.
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Everest Region Temperature
TRIP
ORGANISATION
Your Group Leader will meet
you at Kathmandu airport and
accompany you on the bus to
your hotel where your pre-trip
briefing will be given. After this
Briefing she/he will generally
be available at breakfast each
morning at the hotel and at
pre-arranged times each day
should you need assistance
with anything.
On the morning of your
departure for your trek or tour
please ensure that you have
deposited your valuables in
the hotel safe and received a
receipt. Before breakfast you
should bring all your baggage
down to the hotel lobby. If you
wish to store anything in our
safe storage in the hotel in
Kathmandu
timing for your next destination.
Your trek Kit bag will then be
taken and tied up with other
gear into a load Which heads
off early with the porters and
will not be available to you until
the next lodge that evening.
You are usually on the trail by
8.30 am latest and, following
a good morning’s walk. There
will be plenty of time for photo
stop and hot lemon tea stops.
You will get to your next lodge
by 12.30 pm or latest 1 pm –
lunch at the lodge and in the
afternoon you will be taken
by your tour leader for a visit
to the local village and the
monastery.
After your explore of the
surrounding area and villages
you can go and have a lovely
hot shower and get ready for
the HAPPY HOUR at 6 pm – 7
pm .
while you are out of Kathmandu
please ensure that it is clearly
labeled with your name and
the name of your trip and put it
in a separate pile to that being
taken with you.
Happy Hour you get a free soft
drink or a local rum paunch
or a can of beer with hips of
snacks. Its also a lovely to time
to recap on your memories
of the day with your fellow
trekkers.
Daily trek
routine
Dinner is usually served around
7 pm. Remember to bring
your water bottle to the dining
tent so it can be filled by the
kitchen staff during inner.
You will be woken with a
beautiful cup of tea or fresh
coffee brought to your rooms at
around 6 – 7 am.
Breakfast will be ready at the
dinning hall, After breakfast
you will be briefed by your tour
leader about the route and the
Trekking evenings afford some
of the best memories of your
trek, whether it is sitting around
talking, playing cards, chatting
with the staff or joining in some
singing and dancing with the
local people, it is always a very
special time.
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TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Joining in Kathmandu
People joining in Kathmandu (LAND
ONLY PASSENGERS) should
contact the Yeti Mountain Home
representative in Kathmandu for
information about joining your group.
Pasang Sherpa
Phone: +977 1 4438570
Mobile: +977 9813905863
Email: [email protected]
Skype Id: yetimountainhome
Changes in Travel Arrangements and
Unscheduled Delays
Should you voluntarily decide to alter your travel
arrangements after commencement of your trip, Yeti
Mountain Home is not responsible for any additional charges
involved. Our staff will assist you if possible but you are
responsible for organizing these arrangements yourself.
Delays may occur due to weather or transport difficulties and
Yeti Mountain Home will do its best to rectify the situation.
Please understand that in this part of the world delays and
waiting are commonplace and whilst we do our best to keep
to schedule it is not always possible. We are sure you will
appreciate this and accept it as part of the whole
Accommodation
SHOPPING
Yeti Mountain Home uses several excellent
5 Star hotels and on arrival in Kathmandu
you will be transferred to one of these.
Services at all our hotels include restaurants, shops, postal and room service,
security boxes and laundry services.
There are a number of specialized
handicrafts produced in Nepal – pottery
from Bhaktapur, distinctive weaving from
various regions of Nepal, hand-knitted
woolen sweaters, Tibetan rugs and carpets,
jewelry and brassware. These and a variety
of goods from many other parts of the
Himalaya are available in the bazaars. In
particular Kathmandu has a number of
excellent bookshops dealing specifically on
Himalayan climbing, history and culture.
CULTURAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Nepal has only been opened to the West
since 1950 and despite the veneer of
westernization it is still a very traditional
and religious society. As guests we must
respect this and respond sensitively. Whilst
the Nepalese will never rebuke you for
unknowingly offending them it is always
desirable to try to respect as many of their
customs and beliefs as you can.
The Thamel area of Kathmandu offers a
wide range of shops specializing in trekking
and climbing equipment, should you
need to rent or purchase some last minute
items for your trek. They also have Credit
cards widely accepted but some add the
commission charges to the cost of your
purchase. There are ATM available in al
major cities of Nepal.
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During your stay in Nepal the
following, at least, should be
observed:
l
Women and men should not wear high cut
shorts. Long, baggy shorts are acceptable to
local people and we advise women to wear
lightweight skirt or trousers. Tops that expose
the shoulders are similarly unacceptable.
l
Nudity is totally unacceptable so please wear
a swimsuit or sarong when bathing.
l
Overt public displays of affection are
discouraged.
l
When entering any Nepalese home,
monastery or temple always remove your
shoes.
l
Most Hindus cannot eat food that has been
touched by a foreigner.
l
It is extremely offensive to throw rubbish into
any cooking fire.
l
For religious reasons Nepalese people are
offended by being touched on the head and
similarly never direct the soles of your feet at a
person or a religious shrine.
l
Many Hindu temples may not be open to nonHindus, so always ask permission.
l
l
Begging is a harsh reality of life in the Third
World but it is something, which the Nepalese
believe should not be encouraged, especially
by Westerners who do not understand the
occasions when it is appropriate. Giving
money to street beggars should always
be avoided. Handing out pens, balloons
and sweets to children in the villages only
decreases their respect for us and is to be
strongly discouraged. Tourists, albeit with the
best of intentions have created this situation.
The best things to share with local people
are photographs of your country and family.
They love to look at these things as they are
relevant to their own lives.
Last but not least, remember that in Nepal
punctuality has little meaning and patience
and a sense of humor are great assets. Leave
your watch at home and take things as they
come! Once you have become accustomed
to the pace of Nepal you are likely to reassess
your frantic Western schedule!
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CONSERVATION
Nepal’s environment is extremely fragile.
Its rapidly increasing population is putting
immeasurable pressure on the country’s
environment and resources and it is our
responsibility as visitors to minimize the impact of
our presence. De-forestation is Nepal’s greatest
environmental problem and we use cooking gas
for all cooking at the lodges. We do not have
campfires and we strongly discourage trekkers
from buying wood-fuelled hot showers in lodges
along the trail. Yeti Mountain Homes have Solar
hart Solar system for heating our hot water for hot
showers.
Disposal of Rubbish
We recommend that each trekker keep a small
plastic bag in their daypack and in the lodge
to collect personal rubbish during the day. The
lodge will dispose the rubbish by burning it .
Any non-burnable or non-biodegradables - eg.
Batteries and plastic bottles - should be kept and
taken back to Kathmandu.
Washing and Toilet Facilities
We highly recommend you bring bio-degradable
soaps, shampoos and washing liquids/soaps (try
your local camping or health food shop).
During the day ensure that toilet stops are made
far off the trail and that all toilet paper is burnt or
buried. We recommend that you bring a cigarette
lighter for this purpose. Sanitary napkins and
tampons should be kept in a plastic bag during
the day and only disposed of in the toilet tent at
night.
LANGUAGE
Nepali is the national language of Nepal.
However there are also over thirty different ethnic
languages. Your Group Leader and Sirdar will
speak good English and the other staff will have
varying degrees of expertise. Nepalese people
are always very willing to help you learn their
language and it is a great ice-breaker.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
When taking photographs of local people please
ask their permission first and respect their wishes.
All you need do is hold up your camera first
and wait for a response. The old people often
do not wish to be photographed but generally
the Nepalese are very good-natured about it.
We suggest that you purchase your film before
leaving home. Film is available in Kathmandu
but it is often out of date and poorly stored.
High quality print film processing is available in
Kathmandu and is slightly cheaper than overseas.
Nepal affords unparalleled opportunity for
photography - whether it’s an instamatic or
an SLR, ensure that you are familiar with your
camera well before your trek. For people with
SLRs we recommend a zoom lens to enable you
to photograph anything from faces to mountains.
A UV and Polarizing
filter are also highly recommended. Ensure that
you have enough film - it is always better to
overestimate film stocks than miss out. For the
keen photographer a roll a day would be the
Average usage. A small camera cleaning kit is
also a good idea.
TIME & COMMUNICATION
Nepal is about 5 and 1/2 hours ahead of GMT,
4 and 1/2 hours behind Australian Eastern
Standard Time and 10 and 1/2 hours ahead of
American Eastern Standard Time.
Mail may be sent to our office representative in
Kathmandu:
Traveller’s Name
(Family Name in capital letters or underlined)
Yeti Mountain Home
Pasang Sherpa
Phone: +977 1 4438570
Mobile: +977 9813905863
Email: [email protected]
Skype Id: yetimountainhome
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Please make sure that your NAME is clearly
legible and it is indicated on the front of the
envelope that you are a member of a. trip, the
NAME OF THE TRIP and JOINING DATE. Mail to
Nepal usually takes between 7 to 10 days, but
can often take longer.
Telephone communication from Nepal is
available from either the major hotels or any
one of a number of public communications
shops. Reverse/collect calls are not possible
from Nepal. Mobile phone pre paid Sim Card
can be purchased from the airport. There is also
a roaming system, which you will be able to
connect in your phone. Fax and email services
are also readily available.
MONEY MATTERS
Your tour cost includes:
l
5 Star Hotel accommodations in Nepal on a
twin share with Breakfast Basis for the nights
listed in the trip itinerary.
l
All internal transport by private bus, jeep, and
car.
l
Gear package including kit bag & walking
poles (for use on the trek only),
l
Accommodation in good quality comfort” Yeti
Mountain lodge” on full board on trek with all
attached bathrooms and hot showers.
l
All meals including Non Vegetarian and
Vegetarian while on trekking.
l
Happy Hour from 6- 7 pm. Includes 1 drink
and snacks.
l
Porters to carry all personal and group
equipment.
l
Group Leader.
l
Emergency medical kit.
l
International and domestic airport transfers
l
Porter and staff insurance
l
Welcome dinner with drinks
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Your tour cost does not include:
w w w. ye t i m o u n t a i n h o m e . c o m | 14
re-converting your Rupees to foreign currency
on your departure. A maximum of 15% of the
total exchanged can be converted to dollars on
departure.
l
Items of a personal nature such as postage
and laundry.
l
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
l
Alcoholic beverages.
l
Airport taxes on departure from Nepal.
l
Travel Insurance.
l
Visas and visa extension costs.
l
Excess baggage
Currency
l
Helicopter Evacuation flights from the
Mountain area due to accident or High
Altitude sickness ( please note that your Travel
insurance covers Mountain Rescue Helicopter
services as they are expensive . USD 1800.00
per hour..
The unit of currency is the Rupee, which is
divided into 100 paisa. Denominations are Rs
1,000, 100, 50, 20, 10,5, 2 and 1 in notes and Rs
1, paisa 50, 25, 10 and 5 in silver.
Money to Bring with You
US$ 500 TO 700 will generally be enough for
the duration of your trek. The amount required in
Kathmandu for meals, sightseeing and transport
will generally be covered by about US$30 a day.
For shopping the amount will vary greatly from
person to person. If you are contemplating larger
items - carpets, jewelry etc - up to US$500 could
be spent.
Carry your money in traveller’s cheques, such
as American Express or Thomas Cook. Local
bank travellers cheques are very difficult to cash.
Travellers cheques are most convenient in US$.
Keep a separate record of your cheque numbers
to assist with quick replacement should you
lose them. Travelers cheques may be cashed
most easily at major hotels and it is generally
not possible to cash them out of Kathmandu.
On arrival we recommend that you wait until the
hotel to change money as the bank at the airport
is usually very crowded and the exchange rate
difference is negligible.
When receiving Nepalese currency always check
that none of the notes are TORN as locals will not
accept them. Also try to ensure when exchanging
money that a proportion of your local currency is
in small denominations, as in the smaller villages
locals are sometimes unable to change 50.100
and 500 Rs notes.
Please Note: When exchanging money at
banks or hotels always ensure that you are given
an exchange receipt, as this is essential for
You can also use ATM machines
all over Kathmandu Valley
Tipping
Tipping is a completely personal and optional
matter. But for those who wish to tip and/or
consider the service exceptional the following is
recommended as a guideline:
In Kathmandu 50 Rs for bellboys, waiters and
porters is appropriate. At the end of a trek, if
your group thinks that the staff has done an
outstanding job, a group tip would be greatly
appreciated. Your Group Leader will advise you in
more detail regarding this matter. However, as an
over all guide we offer the following suggestion –
USD130 each per person is sufficient –
Security
All passports and air tickets will be held by
our office in Kathmandu as they are needed to
reconfirm your ongoing flights. Valuables, excess
cash and travellers cheques should be left in
the hotel safe during your trek.(Ensure it is all
together - eg in an envelope and labeled) Whilst
on the trek your money and camera should be
kept with you at all times. Do not leave them lying
around unattended in camp or along the trail.
Theft is not a major problem in Nepal but it is a
poor country and temptation should be avoided.
Airport Taxes
These are your responsibility and are not included
in your tour costs. The departure tax from Nepal
is currently 1700 Rs (USD 26) Please check
with your travel agent weather your airport tax
from Katmandu is included on your International
Ticket.
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DOCUMENTATION
MEDICAL MATTERS
Visas
Any passenger undertaking this trip is
required to provide us with a medical
questionnaire completed by your
physician. This form is included with these
notes. Please have it completed and
returned to us not less than 3 months prior
to departure. If you book within 3 months
this form should be returned within 2
weeks of booking.
All nationalities require a visa for Nepal. It is your
responsibility to obtain your own visa. Please visit this
website for Nepal Visa information:
www.nepalimmigration.gov.np
NOTE - If you are planning to stay on in Nepal and need to extend
your visa you will need an extra 2 passport photos.
Trekking Permits /Passport Photos
As regulations change frequently in Nepal it is strongly
advised to always carry 2 spare passport photos
with you, in case more than the specified number
are required. Also please ensure that you have these
passport photos on you at the time of the group
briefing at the hotel on arrival. It causes delays if you
need to go to your main baggage to get them for your
trekking permit.
Travel Insurance
Yeti Mountain Home INSISTS you take out a personal
insurance policy to cover you against sickness,
accident, and loss of baggage, cancellation and in the
unlikely event that you need emergency evacuation by
plane or helicopter due to illness or accident. We offer
an excellent policy (see enclosed brochure), which
will cover this or send us a photocopy of your own
policy prior to departure. Please check to see whether
your own policy covers evacuation due to unforeseen
bad weather. Tickets and vouchers will not be issued
without this proven insurance cover.
Baggage
We are only allowed a 15 kg baggage allowance per
person for the flight to all airports like Lukla, Jomsom,
which includes both main and hand baggage, when
flying out of Lukla or Jomsom and other mountain
airstrip. We suggest you wear all your heavy clothes
and boots and keep your baggage to a minimum.
Please note:
On all our trips a day in the field is deemed to equal a day in
Kathmandu. Thus, if you are scheduled to have three nights in
Kathmandu at the end of your trek and you are delayed a day in
Lukla, you will then have only two nights accommodation available
in Kathmandu. The extra night on the trek cancels out the night in
Kathmandu.
Vaccinations
For entry into NEPAL there are no statutory
vaccinations. However, we advise
vaccination against typhoid, tetanus and
hepatitis. An injection against cholera is
officially no longer considered necessary
unless an outbreak has been reported in
the area you may be travelling - you should
check with your doctor or medical centre
for current information. We also strongly
suggest that you are inoculated against
meningococcal meningitis.
We believe that there is no
Malaria risk in Kathmandu
For Malaria: You don’t need to take any
Malaria Tablets on this trip to Everest
Trekking and visiting Kathmandu. You only
need to take Malaria Tablets if you are
visiting the CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK
which lies on the southern belt of Nepal.
It is your responsibility to bring sufficient
quantities of any specific medications
you require. Consult your doctor before
departure so that he/she knows the
conditions under which you will be taking
the medication. Advise us of any side
effects of any medication you take and
of any dietary requirements related to
taking them and be sure to let your Group
Leader know of any drugs to which you are
allergic. On most trips you will be isolated
from modern medical facilities, so attention
to medical matters is vital.
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Immunisations
At least 6 weeks prior to departure you will
need to consult your doctor to work out
an immunisation schedule relevant to your
destination country. For the Himalayas, you
should be immunised against the following:
Special
Precautions
Certificate
Required
Yellow Fever
No
1
Cholera
Yes
2
Typhoid &
Polio
Yes
-
Tetanus
Yes
Malaria
3
Only if u are
visiting the Chitwan
Hepatitis
4
-
Meningitis
5
Rabies
6
Food & Drink
7
Other
8
National Park.
-
1. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is
required of travellers coming from infected
areas (not from the UK).
2. Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973,
a cholera vaccination certificate is not a
condition of entry to Nepal. However, cholera
is a risk in this country and precautions are
essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought
before deciding whether these precautions
should include vaccination, as medical
opinion is divided over its effectiveness.
3. There is no malaria risk in the Kathmandu
Valley or in the region in which you will be
travelling. The risk, mainly in the benign vivax
form, exists throughout the year in rural areas
of the Terai districts of Dhanukha, Mahotari,
Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Rupendehi,
Kapilvastu and especially along the Indian
border. The malignant falciparum form
resistant to chloroquine has been reported.
4. Hepatitis A, B and E occurs. You should seek
specialist advice from your doctor concerning
immunisation.
5. Meningitis has been reported in some areas
and you should seek specialist advice from
your doctor about this risk.
6. Rabies is present. If you are bitten, seek medical
advice without delay.
7. All water should be regarded as being potentially
contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing
teeth or making ice should have first been boiled
or otherwise sterilised. Milk is not pasteurised
and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk
is available and is advised, but make sure that
it is reconstituted with sterilised water. Avoid
dairy products, which are likely to have been
made from un-boiled milk. Only eat well-cooked
meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork,
salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk.
Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
8. There has been a sharp rise in visceral
leishmaniasis, and trachoma is fairly common.
Personal Medical Kit
We suggest that each passenger bring:
l
Sunburn cream, one to block out the sun and
one to apply should you become burnt.
l
Lip-eze to cope with dry or cracking lips.
l
Band-Aid strips.
l
Insect repellent.
l
Staminate, or a similar powder preparation.
Good for adding to your water bottle as a
refreshing drink and for fluid-replacing purposes.
l
Moleskin or leucoplast for blisters/tender skin
(cont.....)
l
Throat lozenges or a bag of glucose sweets.
l
Antiseptic Solution, such as iodine.
l
A general antibiotic treatment such as Bactrim,
antacid tablets, antidiarrheal such as Imodium,
indigestion preparations.
l
Cold and Flu suppressant.
l
Aspirin or equivalent headache remedy.
l
Deep Heat Muscle Rub
l
A pair of nails scissors.
l
4”crepe bandage
l
Elasticized knee and/or ankle support is a great
help to people who Experience strain in those
areas.
Teeth
Modern dentistry is unknown in the mountains of
Nepal, so have a checkup before departure. Tooth
fillings sometimes loosen in cold temperatures and
high altitudes, so have them checked.
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ALTITUDE
Equipment checklist
For treks going above 5500 m we are very careful
with acclimatization to altitude. Our trekking
schedules have been carefully designed to
minimize the effects of altitude. We ascend slowly
and ensure an adequate number of rest days to
enable safe acclimatization. It is still possible for
mountain sickness to occur, so a close watch
is kept on each group member by the Group
Leader, who is trained in recognizing early
symptoms of acute mountain sickness.
The following is an equipment checklist. It covers
what we consider Essential items but you can add
to it if you think it necessary. Generally, however
we find that trekkers tend to bring more than they
need so try to keep it to a minimum.
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LIGHTWEIGHT WALKING BOOTS (Merrell/
Appalachian or Scarpa)Be sure to wear them
in well before your trek.- Ensure they have
plenty of toe room.
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A PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES OR JOGGERS.
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RAINPROOF JACKET WITH HOOD Get a
good one that is guaranteed waterproof and
windproof, preferably thigh length. GoreTex or the new Reflex are excellent but a
little expensive. If you have one, which may
be suitable and want advice before buying
please call us.
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POLARFLEECE JACKET highly
recommended. These are excellent to wear
while walking. They are light, warm even if wet
and dry quickly. Very useful at home after the
trip also.
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A PAIR OF LIGHTWEIGHT PANTS OR LONG
SHORTS FOR DAYTIME WEAR. Jeans are not
recommended for trekking. A light skirt is an
excellent alternative to shorts for women and
culturally much more acceptable.
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1 PAIRS OF WARM TRACK PANT and Trekking
pants.
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THERMAL UNDERWEAR We recommend long
sleeved vest and long-johns.
General considerations:
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WINDPROOF/WATERPROOF OVERPANTS
1. Keep the weight and bulk down to a minimum.
Baggage allowance on most international
flights is 15kgs
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3-4 COTTON T-SHIRTS and long shirts
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LIGHTWEIGHT LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT
Especially for those prone to sunburn.
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Light Fleeces GLOVES AND FLEECE BINI
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SUNHAT If you burn easily we recommend a
scarf or something to cover your neck.
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THONGS OR SANDALS for camp.
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3-4 PAIRS OF TREKKING SCOCKS
These symptoms include bad headache, nausea,
lethargy and, in extreme cases, ataxia or loss of
co-ordination and severe breathlessness on rest.
A mild headache and breathlessness are not
uncommon at altitude but in combination with any
of the above more serious symptoms, immediate
descent is imperative. If you or your friends
display any of these symptoms please make sure
that you inform the Group Leader immediately.
It is essential at altitude that you keep your fluid
intake up and it is important that you drink at least
4 liters of liquid per day.
Your Group Leader can advise you more
thoroughly regarding altitude problems. If
you wish to know more about acute mountain
sickness a pamphlet is available free from the
Himalayan Rescue Association in Kathmandu
or refer to any of the trekking books in our
Recommended Reading list.
EQUIPMENT & BAGGAGE
CHECKLIST
2. Don’t bring a lot of clothing for cities. One or
two changes is all you will need and casual
clothing is acceptable at all hotels.
3. Minimize expense by checking what you
already own. Yeti Mountain Home provides
you, in Kathmandu walking poles and Trekking
Kit Bag 60 litres for the use on the trek.
Thame Legendary
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UNDERWEAR and SWIMSUIT
lSUNGLASSES
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2 WATER BOTTLES (each should be one liter
capacity) -we recommend Sigg or Nalgen
brands.
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DAY-PACK You need a decent sized pack to
carry items you will need during the day, such
as camera, water bottle, sweater, sunscreen.
Ensure it has comfortable and strong shoulder
and waist straps. A 25- 30 liter capacity pack
is best, especially for the summit day.
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2 EXTRA LARGE/EXTRA THICK PLASTIC
GARBAGE BAG LINERS These should
be used to line your Tenzing Himalayan
Expeditions kitbag to ensure your gear stays
absolutely dry.
SMALL PLASTIC BAGS OR STUFF SACKS
OR PILLOW CASES To separate and keep the
gear in your kitbag in order. Also good rubbish
bags each day on the trail.
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What You Carry
You should consider carrying extra warm clothing,
a rain jacket, water bottle, film and camera gear,
valuables and personal items such as sunscreen,
lipeze etc.
All group gear is carried by porters or pony.
RECOMMENDED READING
Guide books
Lonely Planet Guide, ‘Trekking in the Nepal
Himalaya’ - Stan Armington
‘Trekking in Nepal’ - Stephen Bezruchka
Insight Guides -’Nepal’
Novels
Tenzing and the Sherpa’s of Everest ( Judy and
Tashi Tenzing (2001)
‘The Snow Leopard’- Peter Matthiessen (Picador
1978)
‘Nepal’ Vol 1 & 11 - Perceval Landon, 1928
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SMALL SEWING KIT
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MONEY BELT
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TOILETRIES Try to buy bio-degradable soap
and shampoo, usually available from camping
or health food stores. Note: toilet paper is
provided on the LODGES.
‘Everest’ - Walt Unsworth (Penguin 1981)
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HEADLAMP and SPARE BATTERIES (you may
like to bring a small flashlight also)
‘Annapurna’ -Maurice Herzog (The Reprint
Society 1954)
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CIGARETTE LIGHTER - for burning toilet
paper and rubbish.
‘Annapurna : A Woman’s Place’ - Arlene Blum
1980
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PERSONAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES
‘High Mountains and Cold Seas’ -A biography of
H.W. Tilman 1982
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CAMERA and FILM and chargers
‘That Untravelled World’ - Eric Shipton 1969
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WOOL SCARF, PENKNIFE, PERSONAL DIARY,
PLAYING CARDS, GAMES, BOOK ETC.
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UMBRELLA -*Optional. Makes a great
sunshade at lunch!
‘Man of Everest’ -Tenzing Norgay Sherpa (George
G. Harrap 1955)
‘Everest : The West Ridge’ - Thomas F. Hornbein
(Allen & Unwin 1980)
‘Everest The Hard Way’ - Chris Bonnington
‘The Way of the White Cloud’ - Lama Anagarika
Govinda (Buddhism)
‘The Gurkhas’ - Byron Farewell (Penguin 1984)
‘The Kanchenjunga Adventure” - F.S.Smythe 1946
Prepared: undated :FEB 1 2013
Yeti Mountain Home
P.O. Box: 3124, Baluwatar-4, Gairidhara Kathmandu, Nepal
Telephone: 00977 1 4000711 (hunting line) Fax: 0977 1 4000712
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