Useful Information
Pokhara Extension Activities:
With time in Pokhara, we have various adventure and scenic activities programs from Para-Gliding, Kayaking,
Kayak Clinic, boating, short hike, cultural tours to Zip Flyer, Ultra Light Flights on small single engine aircraft.
Trip Safety
Your safety is our paramount concern while trekking with Wild Stone Adventure. Your Leader has full authority to amend any part of the itinenary due to safety reason. Every effort will be made to keep up with the above itinerary however it is the adventure in remote himalayan zone we cannot guarantee it! Wether condition, physical condition of trekkers and unexpected natural disasters can force to alter the itinerary.Your Leader will forward you with the alternatives so please be prepared to be flexible.
Arrival
Upon your arrive at Tribhuban International Airport (TIA), you can use the prepaid taxi run by the Airport Management Committee for about $10 to transfer to your hotel. Else you can also book our arrival transfer facilitie so that our representative will greet you and transport you to your Hotel. The rest of the day depends on your interest and condition, you can either take a rest or visit our office.The next day you will be formally introduced to your Guide, brief about the trek and you can enjoy sightseeing tour of the city's most influential cultural and historical landmarks.
Accommodation
Accomodation in Kathmandu isnot included in the basic price. You can either book on your own or we can assist to book on your behalf. We will be happy to suggest on the best hotel and area of the city.
Whilst trekking we provide accommodation in lodges and teahouses and is of a basic standard. Rooms may be twin or multi share with basic shared toilet facilities. Hot showers and Laundry facilities are available in some places for a small charge.
Transportation
Wild Stone Adventure use high quality private transportation to get in and off the trekking put in point and put out point.On longer routes, we use private or tourist buses, which provide a slightly higher degree of comfort and safety.For air transportation Wild Stone uses modern, comfortable and most - reliable airline operator.In trekking region, transportation mean is hiking and in some cases Yaks / horses / mules / donkeys are used for baggage carriage. In this trekking route, hiking is the major mean of transportation while your baggage will be carried by porters and/or animals.
Meals
Annapurna Base Camp trekking basic cost exludes meals. This would cost roughly around $20 per day depending upon your appetite. We provide total freedom for the meals during your trip period. Although your guide will help with menu selection and ensure that you get the best value meals possible. You should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive due to the extreme locations. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks and in some areas you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy bottled mineral water from local lodges and shops en route or you can also ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat with water purification pills.
Trekking Group
For Annapurna Base Camp trekking, there will be one leader (5 trekkers:1 leader)and the required number of sherpa porter(2 trekkers:1 porter).As you will be travelling in the group you will be exposed to all the pleasure of travelling in group. We can run annapurna base camp for any group size but generally we have maximum of ten people, we we found this to be best group size for the optimal success.
Group Leader and Support Staffs
All our trips are accompanied out by one of our local group Leaders. The aim of the group leader is make your annapurna base camp trek successsful, enjoyable, memorable and hassle free. Our leader will provide informationa on the culture, geography, ecosystem, flora and fauna of the place your are travelling. They will also offer suggestions for the optional activities and thing to do, recommend great places and introduce you to the local people. Our leader will also assist you to learn the local language.
All our outdoor guides are licensed from the Government of Nepal. Beside the license they have numbers of certificates including Wilderness First Aid, certificate from Kathmandu Education Projects, certificate from Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management, and Eco friendly guiding certificates.
Trip Grade
Our Annapurna Base Camp trekking is a moderate trek suitable for passionate hiker. Walking in the higher altitude with a day pack is physically demanding than in a lower elevation, however if you are physically fit, self confidence and have stronger determination, you can accomplish this trek successfully.
No previous experience required, you should be physically fit and enjoy walking in high altitudes.
Physical Preparation
For the Annapurna Base Camp Trekking the general rule is you will need to be very fit and the more preparation you have done for it, the more you will enjoy it. You will be walking at very high altitudes with your day pack, with the possibility of extreme variations in temperature. We recommend you to undertake regular aerobic exercise in the weeks before you travel, particularly if you are not in the habit of regular exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming or riding a bike are all good ways to boost your fitness, which will allow you to enjoy the trip to its fullest.
Best Season
Autumn (September - December) and Spring (March-May) are the best seasons for the annapurna base camp trekking. The weather is excellent and offers tantalizing mountain views, but the nights are cold and can fall to freezing in higher elevations. Winter (Dec - Feb) is also good for annapurna base camp, only issue is cold and might be problem in the snow at higher elevation. Monsoon (June -August) can be the perfect time to capture the beauty of flowers and lush vegetation in higher valleys. The trekking routes are crowded during spring and autumn but during monsoon and winter the routes are not packed and you could enjoy the best of nature.
Weather and Climate
The Himalaya makes its own weather, which varies significantly over a few kilometers. There can be sudden storms and high winds and usually clouds in the afternoon. Annapurna base camp is likely to have a wide range of temperatures depending on the altitude and the time of day. In the mountains up to 3,500m the nights will be cold, normally around 5 degree C, and during the day temperatures sometimes rise to 25 degree C. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 20 degree C to -15 degree C.
Acclimatization
We have decade long of experience in operating at high-altitude. Every trip we run has a gradual ascent at the higher altitude with the shorter walking hours with the time to acclimitise in the afternoon. There is no way of predicting who will suffer from altitude but, for the vast majority of people, a slow ascent to height will produce minimal effects. We can provide 'Gamow Bag' as a precautionary measure as per your request on hiring basis. Acclimatizing takes time and there are no safe shortcuts. All trips to altitudes in excess of 3,000 meters carry medicines essential to the treatment of altitude illness, and our leaders are trained to administer them and to know the symptoms.
Currency Exchange
The official currency of Nepal is Nepalese Rupee (NRs)
It is best to bring a mixture of cash and travelers checks in major currencies - USD, CAD, EUR, AUD - and ensure you have a mixture of large and small denominations. Money may easily be exchanged at Kathmandu airport on arrival and banks and licensed moneychangers in cities. Credit card cash advances and ATM withdrawals are in NPR only.
Before departing on your trek, make sure you have enough Nepalese currency in small denominations as change is hard to find in the villages ( 100 rupee are easy to trade )
Extra Pocket Money
Wild Stone Adventure only offers the basic essential requirments for your trek including guide & porter, transportation to and from trek start and end point, permit for the trek and accomodation while on trek. Our price excludes meals and accomodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara providing your total flexibility to tailor as per your interest. You will need little amount of local currency for meals in Kathmandu, Pokhara and while on trek, extra snacks, soft drinks or souvenirs along the trail. Extra money dependa upon your spending habit and your appetite. Please consider your own spending habits when you count for extra pocket money.
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 as an emergency fund, to be used when circumstances beyond our control ( natural disaster, extreme weather, nepal strikes) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Travel Insurence
Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all travelers. Your travel insurance must cover accidents, injury, illness and death medical expenses, including any related to pre-existing medical conditions, emergency repatriation (including helicopter rescue and air ambulance where applicable) and personal liability.
Etiquette
When visiting and entering temples and Nepalis house you must remove your shoes. In some temples, it is forbidden to wear any leather goods. Other temples, such as those in Pashupatinath, do not allow foreigner besides hindu to enter. These are normally marked with a sign in English, and we urge you to respect such practices.
Always ask permission before taking photos inside any temples, and before photographing any local people. When permission is granted, always be sensitive when photographing people, and non-intrusive when shooting inside temples when prayers are in progress. Generally, photography is allowed outside Buddhist and Hindu temples and at religious ceremonies and festivals.
You are guest in Nepal and it is appriciated if you behave like Nepali (Local):
- Dress Respectfully (no short shorts or revealing clothes)
- Do not show affection in public.
- Do not buy antiques.
- Do not point your feet (unclean) to people and point with full hand not with one finger.
- Do not step over persons.
- Do not touch or step over offerings (red powder, flowers/rice)
- Do not use your left hand (dirty)
- Receive and give with two hands.
- Ask permission before taking people's photographs.
- Discourage begging, pay fair price
- Take off your shoes before entering a monastery or Nepali house.
- Go clockwise roung the stupas, temples etc
- Avoid touching monks / lamas.
Clothing
Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool during hiking. In many rural areas women will need to wear modest clothing even to swim. Singlets, tank tops and topless sun bathing are all unaccepted. While visiting temples,monasteriesand other religious sites men need to wear long trousers and women a long skirt.
Laundry
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels and tea houses for a small charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your ownlaundry so we suggest you bring biodegradable soap.
Tipping
Tipping is expected but not compulsory and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your trip.
Responsible Tourism
Being a responsible trek operator is at the heart of what Wild Stone Adventures is all about. The beautiful environment of the Himalaya is also an extremely fragile one. At Wild Stone Adventure , we are extremely conscious about the environment and aim to minimize the detrimental impact as much as possible.We are committed to responsible tourism and it is implemented in every trip through the following means.
- Leave no Trace
- Discourage deforestation
- Keep Water Source Clean
- Plant Saplings
- Plants Left in Their Natural Environment
- Alternative Source of Energy for Fuel
- Employ local leaders and supporting staffs
- Use local tea house and home stay
- Consume local food
- Reduce, Reuse and Recyle
Suggested reading for the Annapuran Base Camp Trek
Annapurna – Maurice Herzog
Annapurna, A women's place- Arlene Blum
Nepal Travel Guide – Lonely Planet
Trekking in Annapurna Region - Bryn Thomas
Trekking in Nepal – Antoine d’ Abbundo
Rough guide to Nepal – David Reed
Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya – Stan Armington
Mountain sickness - Peter Hackett
Pocket first Aid and Wilderness Medicine - Dr. Jim Duff & Dr. Peter Gormly
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