go guide Day 2 : Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu Day 4 : …...Himalayasgo guide don't leave home without it Everest Base Camp - 17 days updated on 21-07-2014 UK020 7371 1113 [email protected]

Everest Base Camp - 17 daysgo guidedon't leave home without it

A World Of Discovery

Everest Base Camp - 17 days updated on 21-07-2014

www.onthegotours.comUK020 7371 1113 [email protected] AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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Rise to the challenge & follow in thefootsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary with thisadventurous trek to Everest Base Camp.Take in Sherpa villages, monasteries,magnificent glaciers & the world's mostmajestic mountains.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Valley -

Patan Durbar Square, SwayambhunathPagoda, BodhnathBuddhist stupa and various other templesand shrines

• Namche Bazaar, gateway to allHimalayan expeditions

• Everest Region - Ngozumpa glacier,rhododendron forests, mountain villages

• Everest Base Camp• Spectacular views of Everest from Kala

Patter

What's Included• 16 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners

including dinner at a Nepali culturalevening.

• 4 nights - basic 3 hotels, 12 nights basicmountain lodges (2-4 passengers perroom and shared facilities)

• Arrival and departure airport transfer day1 and day 17

• Return flight - Kathmandu to Lukla• Touring of Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley• Everest Region trek with porter and guide• Everest National park fees and entrance

fees• Services of local English speaking guide

for Kathmandu sightseeing• All relevant transfers and transportation

What's Not Included• International flights, domestic departure

taxes and visa• Tipping - refer the 'Tipping' paragraph

in the Go Guide for a recommendedguideline.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : KathmanduWelcome to Nepal and the start of your Everestadventure! Arrive Kathmandu and included transferto your hotel. This evening have a welcome drinkand attend a briefing about your trek. Overnight -Kathmandu

Day 2 : Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu is Nepal’s biggest and mostcosmopolitan city and a very important point onthe caravan routes between Tibet and India. Today

we explore this amazing city and the surroundingKathmandu Valley.We visit Swayambhunath Pagoda and the ancient5th century Bodhnath (Boudha), one of the world’slargest stupas and the most important Buddhistmonument outside Tibet. Bodhnath is a beautifullive worship site where the spinning of prayerwheels, prostrating pilgrims and collective chantsare just some of the practices that can bewitnessed.Our last port of call is Patan Durbar Square, whichis home to more than 50 temples and shrinesand although it's smaller than Durbar Square inthe centre of Kathmandu it is architecturally morerefined and less commercialised. This evening weenjoy dinner whilst watching a traditional Nepalidance performance. Overnight - Kathmandu (B,D)

Day 3 : LuklaKathmandu – Lukla – Phakdingma. This morningwe take the scenic flight to Lukla, gateway to theEverest region, flying over the beautiful Langtangand Jugal ranges that surround the Kathmandubasin and the Rolwaling Himal. After lunch at theriverside village of Ghat, we begin our expeditionwith a series of short trekking days to ensurewe acclimatise. Following the banks of the DudhKoshi river we begin our gradual ascent toPhakdingma where we spend the night. Overnight- Phakdingma (Lodge) (B, L, D)

Day 4 : Namche Bazaar

Phakdingma – Namche. Crossing the river on alarge suspension bridge we head over to Jorsale

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and continue trekking along the river today. Thetrail passes over streams with wooden bridges andclimbs out of the valley to Monjo where we enterthe Everest National Park. Continuing on, we makea final steep ascent over 1000ft to reach NamcheBazaar, our resting place for the night. NamcheBazaar is the gateway to the Himalayas and afamous trading place for Tibetans. Overnight -Namche Bazaar (B, L, D)

Day 5 : KhumjungNamche Bazaar – Khumjung. Today we set off ona steep one-hour climb to the Shyangboche airstripwhich serves the famous Hotel Everest View,before following the trail down to the KhumjungVillage at the foot of the Sacred Mountain Khumbila.The panoramic mountain views en route today aresuperb! Sir Edmond Hillary founded the KumjungSchool in 1960, which provides excellent primaryeducation for the children in the area. Overnight -Khumjung (Lodge) (B, L, D)

Day 6 : Phortse

Khumjung – Phortse. A steep walk takes us to theMong La pass today with spectacular views of AmaDablam and Khumbila mountains. Our camp forthe night is in the very traditional Sherpa villageof Phortse, where we're likely to spot Himalayantahr (mountain goats), musk deer and danphe, thenational bird of Nepal. Overnight - Phortse Lodge(B, L, D)

Day 7 : DingbochePhortse - Dingboche. Enjoy wonderful views ofTengboche and Ama Dablam mountain during thismorning’s ridge climb up the Imja Khola Valley tothe village of Upper Pangboche with its ancientmonastery. After lunch we continue up the glacialvalley to Dingboche, passing some of Khumbu’smost beautifully carved prayer stones. Overnight -Dingboche (Lodge) (B, L, D)

Day 8 : The Chukkung Valley

Dingboche - Chukkung Valley - Dingboche. Todaywe’ll experience one of the highlights of the trek withan excursion to the incredible Chukkung Valley,flanked by Lhotse Mountain to the north, AmaDablam to the south and the great fluted icewalls of the Amphu Laptsa Pass. We trek back toDingboche where there is the option to spend asecond night or trek on to Duglha if we’re not tootired. Overnight - Dingboche (Lodge) (B, L, D)

Day 9 : Tshola Tsho LakeDingboche - Lobuche. Continuing our journey,the trail gradually climbs to the tiny settlementof Duglha, nestled below the terminal morraineof the Khumbu Glacier. From here there’s theoption to take a side trip to a breathtakingviewpoint overlooking Tshola Tsho glacial lake witha dramatic backdrop of rugged peaks includingCholatse, Taboche and the mountains at the headof the Khumbu Valley. Back on the trail it’s a steepclimb up to Lobuche, where we can watch the sunset over Nuptse Mountain. Overnight - Lobuche(Lodge) (B, L, D)

Days 10-11 : Everest BaseCamp

Lobuche – Gorakshep – Everest Base Camp -Gorakshep - Kala Pattar – Dughla. Continuingalong the main trail to Everest, with lovely viewsof Kala Pattar en-route, we hike to Gorakshep.This is a short distance but somewhat challengingat the present altitude. Those with enough energycan follow in the footsteps of the late, greatEdmond Hillary and trek up to Everest BaseCamp, where he and Tenzig Norgay began theirimmense, record breaking, expedition to reach thehighest peak on Earth! Take in the atmosphereand witness the ‘expedition life’ of those presentday mountaineers attempting to reach the summit.Return to Gorakshep where we spend the night.

On day 13 we climb Kala Pattar for arguably themost magnificent mountain vista in the world; thewest and south face of Everest, so close you caneven see the incredible climbing route from base tosummit. Overnight - Day 10 - Gorashep (Lodge),Day 11 - Dughla (Lodge) (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Day 12 : PangbocheDughla – Pangboche – breakfast. It’s all downhillfrom now on, as we begin our descent! We stop forlunch at Pheriche before continuing on to the villageof Pangboche. Overnight - Pangboche (B, L, D)

Days 13-14 : The final descent!

Pangboche – Namche – Lukla – breakfast.Trekking back to the busy town of Namche today,we stop en route at the famous monastery atTengboche which offers stunning panoramic viewsof Everest and other Himalayan peaks. In Namcheyou can spend the evening relaxing or perhapssampling the local nightlife and enjoying a well-deserved drink or two!

We retrace our steps down the Dudh Kosi to Luklaon day 14, before a final slow climb to the airstrip.In the evening it’s time to celebrate our successand bid farewell to our fabulous trekking staff!Overnight - Day 13 - Namache (Lodge), Day 14 -Lulka (Lodge) (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Days 15-16 : KathmanduLukla – Kathmandu. Fly back to Kathmandu onday 15 and spend your final days at leisure;sightsee, shop or simply relax after your exhaustingbut momentous adventure – the choice is yours!Overnight - Kathmandu (B:2)

Day 17 : KathmanduHotel check-out and included onward transfer toKathmandu Airport.(B)

Upon ArrivalIn order for us to obtain your trekking permit, you willneed to provide our representatives in Nepal withthe following, upon arrival:

• A copy of your passport with the endorsedNepal visa (stamped at Nepal/Kathmanduairport upon arrival).

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• Your insurance details, including insurersname, policy number and emergencytelephone number.

• 3 passport size photos for the Everest BaseCamp Trek

• Full details of your international flight forreconfirmation

Trek Information• Area covered: Everest Region and Base

Camp• Grade: Strenuous• Daily walking duration: 4 - 7 hours• Altitude: Max. 5545 m• Average group size: 2-8

TippingTipping is not a natural part of many Westerncultures and many of us feel uncomfortable orunsure about when and how much to tip. Howeverin the Himalayas, tipping is an important part oflocal incomes and it's handy to always keep asupply of small notes for tipping.

As a guide we recommend you allocate thefollowing amount for the duration of your tour tocover tips for luggage handlers, drivers, porters andlocal guides - approximately: USD$100-120 in localcurrency.

Local drivers for arrival/departure transfers - approxUSD$2.00Local sightseeing guide for a full day of touring -approx USD$5.00Local driver for a full day of touring - approx USD$5.00Porter for the duration of the trek - approx USD$35-40Trekking guide for the duration of the trek - approxUSD$45-50

Health & FitnessNepal offers some of the best trekking in the world,with stunning scenery and magnificent mountainranges. You don’t need to be an athlete toundertake either of our Himalayan treks; you simplyrequire a good level of fitness, gained from regularexercise and a sense of adventure! Greater fitnesswill allow you to adjust with ease, leaving you toenjoy yourself and your surroundings. We suggestyou begin a fitness program at least 3 monthsbefore departure. Take part in regular activitiessuch as cycling, swimming, jogging, tennis, walkingand bush walking.

Everest Base Camp and Everest & Gokyo Lakesare challenging treks, reaching heights of 5400m,and trekking for up to 7 hours a day. Everyonecan walk at a steady pace and there is plenty oftime during the day to cover the distances andthe physical exertion, though strenuous, is notsustained. There will be plenty of time to rest.

Altitude Sickness - Our treks are designed toensure there is plenty of time for adequateacclimatisation and cases of mountain sickness arerare. Altitude sickness is not related to your levelof fitness; it occurs as a result of failure to adaptto high altitudes (usually over 2000 metres) and

can affect anyone. The common symptoms areheadaches, nausea, irregular breathing, insomniaand the swelling of fingers and glands. Treatment isto descend to a lower altitude as quickly as possiblewhich normally results in rapid improvement andrecovery.

A helping hand - While you are trekking the porterswill carry your bag and all the heavy gear, you’lljust need to carry a small day pack for your water,camera and essentials.

Trekking LodgesWhilst trekking, accommodation options are limitedso please do not expect the Ritz! We usesimple family run lodges, with a large sociablecentral dining area and a cosy wood burning fire.Rooms are usually on a twin share basis andwe recommend you use your own sleeping bag.Lodges have shared bathroom facilities and youwon't always have access to a shower. Lodgesoften charge between Rs.200-700 (dependingupon the altitude), for a bucket of hot water, whichcan then be mixed with the cold water to washyourself with.

If you need to charge the battery of your camera ormobile phone etc, the lodges will do this for you fora small fee of approx. Rs. 50-200 per full charge.

It is important to understand that when you aretrekking you will be away from “civilization” andthe comforts of home. Trekking is adventuretravel! Despite the lack of facilities, these lodgescertainly have a rustic charm. Most are blessed withspectacular views and being family run operations,offer a great insight into the daily life of theHimalayan people.

Meals & WaterAll of your meals are included whilst you’re trekking.Meals at the lodges are normally vegetarian andstaple foods include rice, vegetable curry, dal soup,noodles, pasta, dumplings, fries and stew. Desertis not provided, although it's usually possible topurchase chocolate bars, biscuits and sweets at thelodges. At each meal you'll be given a cup of tea orcoffee and you can purchase additional drinks fromthe lodges of porters.

During the trek mineral water is readily available topurchase and the cost ranges from Rs.50-350 perlitre depending on the altitude (the higher you are,the more things cost). Alternatively you can refilla bottle at lodges and water stations by paying anominal fee of Rs.20-50 and use purification tabletsto make it safe for consumption. We recommendthat you do this to help protect the environment byreducing the use of plastic bottles and it is also morecost effective.

What to PackIt is best to pack light and to bring clothes thatcan be layered for warmth. There are plenty oftraders selling clothes and trekking equipment atvery cheap prices en route, so there is no need toworry about not packing enough! This equipmentcheck list below suggests several items you might

bring on a trek. Do not carry all of them as you willoverload your backpack.

The luggage allowance on domestic flights is 15kgsincluding your hand baggage and porters on thetrek will carry bags up to a maximum of 15kgs.

• Holdall/kitbag, max size 100litre with aseparate day pack (definitely no suitcases!)

• A high quality sleeping bag - (lodges do notalways provide adequate bedding)

• First aid kit - remember plasters fordamaged feet!

• Water purification tablets, iodine and waterbottle

• Torch, batteries and pocket knife• Sewing kit• Laundry soap• Compass and guidebook• A towel• Toiletries, sunscreen and lip balm (SPF

+15)• Wet wipes are very handy a quick freshen

up.• Camera and charger/batteries• Insect repellant• A padlock• Binoculars• Small duffel bag or suitcase (to leave

behind in Kathmandu)• Stuff bags and plastic bags

Footwear• Mountain trekking boots• Camp shoes• Socks (wool to wear with boots)• Socks (cotton to wear under wool socks)• Down booties (optional)

Clothing• A down or fibre filled jacket• Waterproof, Nylon windbreaker• Nylon wind trousers• Insulated trousers• Long thermal underwear• Thick woollen jumper/sweater• T-shirts• Sun hat and sun glasses• Woollen hat (or balaclava)• Gloves• Gaiters• Plus all of the usual essentials

InsuranceMost travel insurance does not cover for trekkingabove 2000m as standard and you may have topay a premium to cover yourself up to 5545m. YouMUST ensure that you get the correct level of cover.

Our local partnersOur Nepal and Tibet tours are operated inconjunction with a family run company calledSherpa Society. Sherpa Society Trekking &Mountaineering is one of the foremost trekkingexpedition operators in Nepal, who have beenrunning expeditions since 1973, giving them depth,extensive experience and knowledge in this area.

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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Style of TripOur Nepal and Tibet trips are semi independentin style. Local guides provide sightseeing andassistance at each port of call, the tours arenot escorted throughout by a tour leader. Onbus journeys and flights you will therefore travelwithout a guide and will be met upon arrival atyour destination and transferred to your hotel. InChitwan National Park guiding will be provided bythe lodges own expert jungle guides. The numberof passengers joining our Himalayan tours andtreks varies from week to week. On average ourgroups are small, typically between 2 - 6 travellers.Transportation is a combination of public touristbuses, internal flights and private vehicles.

What to ExpectPlease note that Nepal and Tibet are still poor,underdeveloped regions and their infrastructureand weather patterns can sometimes lead to delaysor cancellations. This may take the form of flightdelays due to low cloud in the mountains or foggyconditions in Kathmandu and Lhasa. The roadnetwork is quite congested in the cities and suffersfrom poor maintenance on some routes againcausing delays and a rough ride from time to time.

Whilst Kathmandu has a good choice of high qualityhotels, in other areas hotels and facilitiesare not as high as western standards. Powershortages, water supply issues and fuel scarcityare common problems throughout Nepal. We willalways try to offset any unforeseen problems butpatience and understanding should be includedwhen packing. Bear in mind that tourism is stillrelatively new to these beautiful Himalayan regions,things do not always run smoothly and a sense ofadventure is a must!

Health RequirementsIt is recommended that you be vaccinated forTetanus and Polio, if you haven’t had a booster inthe last ten years. Food and waterborne diseasesare more common, so we recommend vaccinationsfor Typhoid (valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validityvaries). You are also advised to take anti-Malarialmedication. This information is intended as a guideonly as recommendations can change, so pleasecontact your local healthcare provider, severalweeks before travel.

Altitude SicknessAn altitude of over 3,000 meters is defined as highaltitude and seeing as most of Tibet and parts ofNepal are higher than this level, it is possible toexperience differing degrees of symptoms whichinclude headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue andshortness of breath. These symptoms will usuallydecrease in severity during acclimatization and mildcases of altitude sickness should not interfere withlight activity. It is important not over exert yourselfif travelling to altitude and drink plenty of fluids andeat carbohydrate food to keep the body properly

hydrated. Please report any symptoms of AltitudeSickness immediately to your tour leader.

Temple EtiquettePlease take particular care when visiting religiousplaces, such as temples and monasteries. Dressand behave appropriately - don’t wear shorts orsleeveless tops and do not smoke or hold hands.Shoes and hats should be removed. Within templesno carvings, statues or deities should be touched.Photography is prohibited in certain sections ofmost sacred sites and please do not attempt to bephotographed with Buddhist monks. If in doubt askyour local guide for further information.

Group SizeThe number of passengers joining our Himalayantours and treks varies from week to week. Althoughwe do not have a maximum group size, on averagethe number of passengers on our trips tends to below, typically between 2 - 6 travellers.

Luggage on Domestic FlightsThe luggage allowance on domestic flights is 15kgper person which includes hand baggage, soplease pack lightly. Extra baggage allowance canbe purchased for approximately Rs 80-100 per kg,however please do not attempt to check in anyadditional bags as these may not be sent on thesame flight with you.

Nepal Country Guide

Nepal Visa RequirementsAll nationalities must obtain a visa for Nepal. On theHighlights of Lhasa and Nepal to Tibet tours youwill need a multiple entry visa. It is possible for UK,EEC, Australia, Canada and USA passport holdersto obtain a visa upon arrival. When applying for avisa upon arrival at Kathmandu International airporta form will be provided on the plane or at airport.

• To obtain your visa upon arrival will need apassport with at least 6 months validity,

• 1 passport photo• Visa fee of approx USD $25 - $100 in CASH

(dependent on length of stay)

Please refer the Royal Nepalese Embassy websitefor the current Nepal visa costs. Note that visarequirements are subject to change and that visaprocurement is the responsibility of the traveller.

Please complete and return your booking formas soon as possible after booking, because weneed your passport details and date of birth forpermits and internal flights. Please note that ifyou're trekking, you will need to provide us withadditional passport photos and information uponarrival, in order for us to obtain your permit. Seethe 'Upon Arrival' paragraph in this the Go Guidefor details.

Nepal CurrencyNepal: GBP£1 = NPR 165 USD$1 = NPR100 AUD$1 = NPR90 (subject to fluctuation)

The Nepalese Rupee is a fully convertible currencyand there are plenty of places to exchange moneyin Kathmandu. There are also ATMs at the banksin Kathmandu and Pokhara, although as these aresometimes out of order and banks are not alwaysopen, we advise that you bring some cash with you,preferably US dollars.

Nepal Time & VoltageKathmandu (Nepal) is 5 hours 45 mins ahead ofGMT and does not observe daylight savings time.

Standard voltage is 220V.

There are multiple socket types used in Nepal andthere is no one type that is more common thanany other so pack a worldwide/international traveladaptor.

Climate in NepalJune to September is monsoon season, duringthese months it is very hot and rains almost everyday. October to November is much drier withpleasant temperatures in the daytime and goodvisibility - perfect for trekking. Winter - Decemberto February tends to be mild in the daytime butcan become very cold at night especially in themountains. January is the coldest month of theyear. March to May is very warm, with occasionalshowers. The annual temperatures peak in May justbefore the monsoons begin.

Documents

go guide Day 2 : Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu Day 4 : …...Himalayasgo guide don't leave home without it Everest Base Camp - 17 days updated on 21-07-2014 UK020 7371 1113 [email protected]