Travel Answers

i have recently been engaged in the thought of trekking to everest base camp. i have, however, no plan..excpt to book a flight to kathmandu and plan from there. i was wondering if this is do-able, especially at this time of year with the rainy season looming, and my arrival being around the 20th of may. i understand the trek to ebc takes about 17 days with a guided tour and can be fairly expensive.. is it possible to do a trek on my own or in a small group or with a private guide? andi what might that cost? i understand its possible to get all the gear i might need for under $200, but am unsure of total travelling time and cost of food and accomodation, and how the trip could be organized. its my birthday in a week and can think of no more beautiful way of spending it than on a trek to everest, any info is much appreciated! thanks :)

Hello there!
i wanted to know, if anybody can share experience of trekking (or maybe even pictures) in Nepal during monsoon season. My only possible time slot is the month of july. I read a lot of disturbed view which is quite likely when it rains... but how bad is it really? does it get better, lets say above 4500m?
Actually i have only this month and i m staying in india at the moment so i could save the money flighing in from europe... I always wanted to go to the himalayan region but now i struggeling a little bit because i dont know if its worth going, spending money and not seeing anything.
i hope you can help me out!
Thx in advance!

Hello. I am looking for feedback on the feasibility of several short trekking options in Nepal in mid-November 2013.

My wife and I (around 30 years old, and expect to be relatively fit in November), have five trekking days in Nepal. We are contemplating several options below and are interested in how challenging the routes are in the time we propose, and how magnificent the the routes are for scenery and landscape.

For some context, we will have spent 9 days in Tibet, before driving to Kathmandu and then flying into Lukla the next day to start the trek. So we should have decent acclimatisation already (sleeping between 3500 - 4900 metres In Tibet).

Option A: Day 1 - (from Kathmandu fly to) Lukla to overnight Monjo; Day 2 - Monjo to Namche Bazaar to o/n Mong; Day 3 - Mong to o/n Luza; Day 4 - Luza through the mountains to o/n Phurte or Namche Bazaar; Day 5 - return to o/n Lukla (fly out next morning)

Option B: Day 1 - (from Kathmandu fly to) Lukla to o/n Monjo; Day 2 - Monjo to o/n Namche Bazaar area; Day 3 - Namche Bazaar to o/n Thame; Day 4 Thame mountain route through Kongde and o/n Longde or Toktok; Day 5 - return to o/n Lukla (fly out next morning)

Option C: Day 1 - (from Kathmandu fly to) Lukla to Phakding; Day 2 - Phakding to Namche Bazaar; Day 3 and 4 - chill out around Namche Bazaar; Day 5 - return to o/n Lukla (fly out next morning)

Any feedback would be appreciated =)

Hisham and Yaz

does anyone know what the deal is with RNA ? I flew once with them from nepal to thailand but now when I go to their website it seems i cant book direct from the site...??

IS THERE ANY SHARE JEEP FROM ILAM TO GURWALI OR KHORSANITAR? IF NOT, HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO RESERVE A JEEP?

From some internet research I understand that there is a direct comfortable bus to Chitwan National Park (Sauraha) from Kathmandu, in addition to local buses.

Does that bus go via Daman? If not, how can we go via Daman with public transport, even if it involves change of bus. Where to find the bus in Kathmandu? Cost? I guess one may also trek Kathmandu-Daman but we would like to take a bus.

Secondly, while returning from Chitwan National Park to Kathmandu, I am contemplating to do the Manakamana cable car. Any suggestions how to do that? Ideally, I would like to break the Chitwan-KTM journey for that, i.e. leave Chitwan early morning, do the cable car, and reach Kathmandu by evening. Is that possible? How to get the bus from Chitwan (Sauraha) to Kurintar (foot of the cable car) and then another bus from Kurintar to Kathmandu?

Looking for a companion/friend/mate/fellow traveller to visit NEPAL in mid MAY.

Anyone visiting and care to share the journey ?

I DO HAVE A WEEK HOLIDAY IN MAY.
PLANNING TO VISIT KATHMANDU,POKHARA.
AND YEAH bungy jumping on top of my mind.

ANY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK

ALSO IS IT A RIGHT MOVE TO VISIT NEPAL IN MID MAY????

regards :
Risraw

Which Sim card has coverage on Everest base camp trek?

Has anyone used them before. Their websit elooks great and is clearly very experineced on the South Side. Anygood? http://dev.jagged-globe.co.uk/

I am still not sure what to do about a cell phone in Nepal. I don't know whether to try to get international service from my carrier in the U.S. or to rent a phone from Ncell with service for the time I am in Nepal. Any Suggestions or advice on this issue?

I need a very quiet guesthouse in Pokara for 2 adults and 3 yr old child, starting tomorrow night April 15 for a week or so till I find a house to rent. I had reservations at Fullmoon Guesthouse ( Zero for integrity! ) but they called a few days ago to say they are cancelled because they found someone to stay longer than us.

Hello Fellow VTians :),

Tomorrow i and my family leaving for Nepal for 6 days. Really excited :). I need some guidance for locations and time of the day to take good pictures of Annapurna range at Pokhara. When i google Pokhara there are just so many beautiful pictures with full reflection of mountain range most probably on Phewa lake.

Another place i need similar guidance is Nagarkot. i am a morning person so if you will suggest anything i will surely try to do it.

Thanks a lot in advance :)

Best,
Som

Is Phaplu airport currently closed for renovations.
Does anyone know when it will open.
We want to fly to Phaplu on 28th April, this month to do trek to base camp.
Would really appreciate your response

We are a small group of physicians. One of us was born, brought up and went to med school in Nepal. We are looking for a few more adventurous physicians to join us for trekking the himalayas and volunteer in a medical camp.

The motto of medical camp is to serve the Himalayan mountain tribes who has no access to the public health services. The purpose of this activity is to show the gratuity to the locals who are helpless while living in this naturally rich part of the world.

We are planning to trek in the month of November 2013. Contact me at lasport296@gmail.com for more details.

Hey I'm going to Kathmandu on the 7th of April. I would like to also do a bit of trekking while I'm there (probably about 10days). Would anyone be around and would like to join?
Ilona

Basically I need to stay somewhere outside the US for 3 months and not spend too much money. I have heard that Nepal is exceedingly inexpensive. I have heard that westerner backpacker types can survive comfortably on as little as 800 dollars a month.

I am about to make a real decision to go there so I just wanted to get some input before I put my money down on the decision.

I am not interested in sightseeing or doing any tourist activities during those 3 months. I just need somewhere to *wait* before I can go back to the US. I would explain why that is but I don't want to write a really long story.

I have looked on the internet for apartments in Nepal but have found a huge discrepancy between the prices people are claiming and what I am seeing online. However, the same was true with Thailand but when I actually went to Thailand I found that the prices people quoted were pretty accurate. The problem was that usually the cheapest apartments are the ones not listed online. I am wondering if this will be the case with Nepal as well...

I have been contemplating to visit Nepal since long (first time) and looks like that the time has arrived. Like last two travels (first: SEA and second: Egypt), I will travel with family and independently, i.e. without joining a group.

Based on expert responses here and research on other travel forums, I am thinking of making this loop in around 25 days in April/May:

KTM - Chitwan National Park - Bharatpur (or any other nearby city where I get Lukla flight) - Lukla - Namche Bazaar - Jiri (trek from Namche) - KTM

Is this doable?

especially with the family? I am especially concerned about Namche-Jiri part. we would like to do tea-house trekking.

would we require any permits for this trek?

Is Namche a good place for Everest views? we can stay there for a couple of days to explore the surroundings.

Can we get a flight easily from a city nearby Chitwan Park, e.g. Bharatpur, to Lukla? which airlines? or do we would need to trackback to KTM?

family: son (1 year), daughter (3 years), wifey and self (~30).

Good thing is that we have a direct flight from our hometown (3-4 hours) and no visa hassles.

Previously, I have traveled extensively to Pakistani Northern areas including Pakistan share of Himalayas. We are familiar with long bus drives on mountains and on not-so-safe-looking roads (e.g. Karakoram Highway, Lowari Tunnel, etc). So that must not be a problem as such imo (?).

I am going to Kathmandu on 27th March for 6 days. I want to experience Casinos in Kathmandu this time. I dont know how to play. I just want to have a feel of it. Is it good idea? What all to take care of, while in casino? Which are the best casinos? Thanx in advance.
adx

One last question guys! I remember that there were heaps of trekking shops selling all kinds of equipment in both Kathmandu & Pokhara but I don't remember how much trekking poles were. Can anyone let me know as mine is too difficult to pack and very expensive to buy here at home.
By the way Rob, we have booked Tiger Residency and will ask for Laxman if at all possible! Thanks for that piece of advice, greatly appreciated! Anne

One last question guys! I remember that there were heaps of trekking shops selling all kinds of equipment in both Kathmandu & Pokhara but I don't remember how much trekking poles were. Can anyone let me know as mine is too difficult to pack and very expensive to buy here at home.
By the way Rob, we have booked Tiger Residency and will ask for Laxman if at all possible! Thanks for that piece of advice, greatly appreciated! Anne

Hi there, I am planning to go to EBC in November this year. As I'm going as a single travelling female I want to go through a reputable travel agency. There are a couple in Britain which I am looking at, Safejourneys & Nepal Uncovered. Both seem to be relatively cheap compared to some of the other sites advertising, one of them almost half the cost. I am wondering if anyone has experience of either of these companys and finally why do you think there is such a huge margin between prices from different companys when they are all offering the same trek? Your feedback will be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

Are there super markets for tourists out in Mulpani, Nepal? We have a house there for the month of April, 2013.

We intend to do the Poonhill trek in September. pokhara for poon hill treak.
We want to do something like this.Drive to nayapool from pokhara(44 KMs) to start trekking to Annapurna (Poon hill Trek). Trek to Tikhedhunga (altitude 1540m)1st night

trek to Ghorepani (2860m). Overnightr at Ghorepani.2nd night

Early morning wake walk to poonhill,to discover the view of all the mountains of Annapurna range,Dhaulagri, Fishtail mountain and sunrise. Trek back to Ghorepani. After breakfast trek to Tadapani. Overnight in Tadapani.3rd night

Trek to Ghandruk ,beautifull gurung village (3000m) Overnight in Ghandruk.4th night

Trek back from Ghandruk to Nayapul. Drive to Pokhara from nayapul.5th night.
There are 4 of us. Is it better to book before we go? or better to book when we arrive in Kathmandu ( will be there for 3 days before heading to Pokhara) What would this cost if we book when arriving in Nepal and who is a good company to deal with. We are looking at a 14 tour booked before we leave for $1100 per person. This includes above trip and 2 night in Chitwan and 2 pokhara and 3 nights in Kathmandu. Does that seem resonable.

We arrive in late May. All suggestions for long term guest houses with kitchen privileges for guests or NON luxurious fully furnished studio apartments are welcome. WIFI for our online work is necessary.
We look forward to meeting new friends!

I am doing EBC trek, flying to Kathmandu in 11 days! I am a bit of a technophobe and have just bought a nexus 7 tablet with 3G so I can regularly skype my children back home and keep a blog updated for them to follow me. I have 2 questions (1) can I get a micro sim for my iphone and where is the best place? I am with a party and we arrive 4pm in Ktm then get the plane to Lukla early the next morning. So I don't have much time to explore options on arrival (2) is there good 3G coverage for my tablet and how do I go about getting a micro data card for it? I understand there is NCell and one other? Is one provider better than another? Sorry for all questions, I'm just anxious to be able to keep in regular contact with family
Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks!

Well we are all set to head to Nepal soon but it has been quite a while since I was there and I have forgotten how much we should tip for services ie restaurants, guides, porters, people helping with bags, taxis etc). What is the general rule for tipping now days? I want to be fair and not stingy but not over the top either as I would like to share it around!

where i can found a whole travel service?

I am planning EBC this April/May and either do Island Peak or Lobuche. Which one is safer and easier?

I have no rock climbing or rope experience. Have done summits of Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro Appreciate your response

i am preparing to climb base camp in april/may 2013. I am not sure if it worth buying new gear or can i hire from Kathmandu? I need down jacket, crampons, ice axe, walking poles, gaiters, waterproof snow pants and jackets etc, how good or well stocked are the local shops in Kathmandu? appreciate feed back from people who have been there

Needing for 2 months beginning 21May. Looking for value for money. in a good location but quiet. Thanks very much!