All set to make your way through the highest mountain range in the world? We appreciate your decision to travel to Nepal for trekking in the Himalayas. In this article, we’re going to provide major insight regarding how to make your trip most memorable.
The article consists of the top 5 tips for trekking in Nepal that you need to know beforehand. Your major priority in the trek is to enjoy your time to the fullest and take care of heath on such harsh conditions. So let’s move to the content.
1. Plan During Favorable Weather
Spring and autumn seasons are the best seasons to go trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal. During the autumn season, the mountain’s climate remains pleasant and lets you walk around more safely.
The sky remains clear, in this season, that lets you view the pristine mountains, lakes, glaciers and verdant forests without disturbance. The temperature does not get too cold and thus the chances of hypothermia decreases.
During the spring season, there are few chances of showers but overall the views are incredibly beautiful as compared to other seasons. The pleasant sound of chirping birds and the lush sight of abundant greenery will make your trip memorable.
In addition, the fragrance of blossoming flowers will make you thank yourself for trekking in this season.
During the summer season, most of the Himalayan regions receive heavy rainfall. This adds more difficulty and may lead to minor injuries. You also need to protect yourself from insects, leeches, and bugs, as they get more active at that time.
Trekking during the winter season will increase the chances of getting trapped in the Himalayas due to heavy snowfall or even an avalanche. Even if you survive that, the freezing cold temperature could cause several health risks.
Therefore, make sure you travel during the most preferred season and avoid all the health hazards that may occur due to bad weather.
2. Carry the Essentials
Trekking on the Himalayas is strenuous and thus requires higher stamina. You need to carry all the important items that are meant for trekkers at such altitudes. The packing list depends on the level of trek that you’re planning for.
For instance, if you’re planning for a low land trek, such as Poon Hill-Ghorepani, then you don’t need to carry sleeping bags. There are multiple lodging options at each rest stop and also the difficulty level is low.
However, this will not be the case when you’re planning for Makalu Base Camp Trek. A highland trek like this requires a higher set of gear and equipment to complete.
You need to carry your own sleeping arrangements, water filtration system, multiple layers of clothing are other extensive lists of items.
Just make sure you don’t carry any unnecessary items for the respective trekking routes. You need to carry all the items on your own or hire porters to do so. Thus, try to make your package as light as possible.
3. Acclimatize Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is not a minor illness that gets cured after a certain period. It is a serious condition that may even lead to death if not taken proper care on time. Thus, you need to know about this phenomenon before beginning your trek.
Get adequate knowledge about motion and altitude sickness in the Himalayas. So, if you get its symptoms, you know what causes it and what should be done to cure it.
The common symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and shortness of breath. If you start getting these signs, stop the trek immediately and avoid going upwards.
Get hydrated and do not exercise for a while. Buy Acetazolamide before your trek and take the medicine if the symptoms get worse. If you’re trekking alone, take extra precautions.
The best way to avoid getting this illness is to get acclimatized at every major inclination of your trek. Do not rush and don’t walk for more than 7 to 8 hours a day. In case you get the symptom, inform your guide or your trekking partners immediately.
4. Stay Hydrated
Hiking for more than 15 to 20 kilometers per day is not what you do on a daily basis. Unless you’re trekking for the first time ever, you know exactly how much you’ll sweat and get tired during the journey.
Thus, you need to drink more fluids to make sure you don’t run out of energy. Getting dehydrated on normal elevation is not so much of a concern than that at a higher altitude of more than 3,000m.
Most of the trekking routes in Nepal take you at a height of up to 5,000m or even 6000m. You’re already getting less oxygen at such a tough location, don’t cause your body to suffer more with dehydration.
Carry a bottle of water or a hydration bladder and drink about 4 to 5 liters of water per day. In addition, increase your intake of fluid by consuming soup, lentils and other liquid-based dishes during the trek.
Most of the trekking locations do not have a drinkable water source. You can purchase clean water at tea shops but at a much-inflated cost.
There are several sources of water, such as waterfalls, streams, and lakes, but its water can’t be drunk directly. So it is important to purify the water before drinking.
With this system, you can purify water from all sources and quench your thirst at any point of the trek.
5. Respect Local Culture
If you’re traveling to the Himalayan region of Nepal for the first time, you may not know what the word “Sherpa” actually means. Similarly, you might not be exposed to the Buddhist and Hindu religions before.
There are lots of cultural shocks that you’re going to experience during your trek in Nepal. We advise you to learn a few things about their culture and tradition before making your move.
This way, you won’t break any regulations and don’t end up offending any locals on your way.
Starting from the word Sherpa, what does it actually mean? Lots of mountaineers climb up the tall peak with the help of Sherpas. But the term Sherpa is not given to the travel guides or the porters.
Sherpa is actually an ethnic group residing in the Northern region of the country. The majority of these people take the occupation of a travel guide or a porter because they know everything about the mountains.
Similarly, when you visit some monasteries or temples on the way, always ask the locals whether taking pictures is allowed or not.
Some temples might not even allow people from religions other than Hindu and Buddhist to enter. Thus, get that information before you enter.
Final Words
Taking these things into consideration, your trip is going to be safe and adventurous. We wish you an amazing time trekking in the Himalayas and hope that you’ll return for more adventurous treks in the future.
