PDA

View Full Version : Ganesh Himal trek


canis
12th August 2008, 03:08 AM
Hello...
I am looking at doing a trek in the Ganesh Himal and can't find a lot of info on what are the best times to go (we are thinking of March or April) and whether the climate will be hazy at these times. I have a 'tentative itinerary' from an agent which I can't seem to make head or tail of as I can't find any online maps. Does anyone have any advice or knowledge of trekking in this region before I head to Stanfords for a decent map?

The tentative itinerary is as follows:

Ganesh Himal Trek-18 days-(max.4500m) 14 days trekking 4 days kathmandu

A trek up the old, little–travelled trade rute on the left bank of the Trisuli River. This path runs high above the river, among terraces giving a real impression of being “away from it all”. views of Langtang (7 245 m), and Gosaikund are always eith woth us. Here we enter the world of Ganesh Himal with its multiple snow peaks, and visit the remote lake of Juke Swor Kunda. A heavily–forested area that sustains a huge vareity of fauna, including the red panda, Himalayan black bear, and , high up above the tree line, snow leopards.

Tentative Program

1. Receive at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
2. Free day in Kathmandu.
3. Kathmandu – Trisuli Bazar by bus
4. Trisuli Bazar – Jarka Kalleri (1 800m)
5. Jarka Kalleri – Danda Gaun
6. Danda Gaun – Gogane Gaun (2 000m)
7. Gogane Ganun - Hakku Gaun
8. Hakku Gaun – Nesim (2 300m)
9. Nesim – Ghatlang
10. Ghatlang – Mailung Khola (3 200 m)
11. Mailung Khola – Somthang (Khurpudanda Pass 3 739 m)
12. Somthang – Phegon (Juke Swor Kunda 4 500 m)
13. Phegon – Sathi Gaun
14. Sathi Gaun – Salmi
15. Salmi – Deurali School
16. Deurali School – Trisuli Bazar – Kathmandu by minibus
17. Free day in Kathmandu for shopping.
18. Airport transfer or own destination.

Many thanks,

canis

Sharon
13th August 2008, 05:00 AM
I did a variation on this in the Spring 2004. May was a little late and the monsoon came early that year. The mornings were clear and a bit of a shower in the afternoon clearing up for the evenings. You should be fine in April.

Oli
14th August 2008, 04:49 AM
... to Stanfords for a decent map?

If you do that then I would recommend this (http://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/ganesh-himal-203072/) rather than this (http://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/ganesh-himal-73291/). I don't (yet) have either one, but trust me I know a bit about these maps ;)

canis
15th February 2009, 12:58 AM
Thanks to Sharon and Oli for the advice.

The departure date of our trek now approaches - we are doing a similar itinerary to the one I originally posted, but a bit of a longer trek.

I have a few last queries to clear up which I wondered if any of you can help with?

Skirts
- Seeing as we're going on a less touristy trekking route, should I get a trekking skirt to wear? I don't want to offend any of the local people but I don't really want to wear a long skirt which I might find it hard to hike in. If so, would a wrap around over trousers be the best option?

Tipping
- We have booked our trek through a Nepali agency so we have paid a flat fee. Although I know tipping amount will vary according to how good service is, I was wondering what basic amounts are? I don't know how much the porters and guide will be paid, although the company we're going with has close links with Porters Progress, so hopefully their wages are reasonable.

Thanks to anyone who can help!:)

Escher
15th February 2009, 01:25 PM
There is some good information in these threads:-

http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19210 http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15719&page=2 http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9306.

Are you averse to just wearing trousers? That's what I would suggest. March is a good time to trek, April is starting to get hazy but is quite ok. May and June is when the haze really gets bad.

Tipping: typically 10-20% of the cost of the trek (to be split up and given individually to all the staff).

canis
17th February 2009, 10:41 PM
Thanks Escher - v useful advice - I'm not adverse to wearing trousers at all but just a little befuddled by the info on different websites!

I presume it is the done thing to tip in Nepali Rupees or do people prefer US Dollars?

Escher
18th February 2009, 12:05 AM
Well I have only had to pay a tip the once (I've trekked independently the rest of the time) and we did with rupees. It would seem to me to be the best idea. But if dollars is all you have they will quite happily have what you can give.

Oli
18th February 2009, 01:05 AM
There is a good thread on tipping here (http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19522). Escher, perhaps add this to the FAQ thread...?

mtnbiker
18th February 2009, 08:31 AM
About the tip.....some Nepali's prefer to get US dollars or Euros b/c they can hang on to them until the exchange rate goes up and then cash out. I'd ask first though, b/c to exchange it they will need a Nepali passport for ID at the banks. So maybe have both Rupees and dollars available.

canis
23rd February 2009, 12:01 AM
Thanks all for the advice peeps - also checked with the Nepali company we had booked with re. tipping and their advice came out similar so all good.

cheers!

yakshaver
23rd February 2009, 11:33 PM
Thanks Escher - v useful advice - I'm not adverse to wearing trousers at all but just a little befuddled by the info on different websites!

I presume it is the done thing to tip in Nepali Rupees or do people prefer US Dollars?


You should be ok with long trousers. Normal trekking pants will not offend anyone. It is either the shorts, or the leotard type that can offend local sensibilities. Even so, you'll not be in Taliban country. Still, it is mindful and practical to go with the long trekking pants.

njadhikari
7th March 2009, 09:42 AM
hi there
which is you wrote your itineary look like not very good itineary so here i am sending u all deatils as uner.
Day 01 : Kathmandu - To Betrawati (5 hours bus drive). North of Kathmandu via Trishuli Bazar

Day 02 : Betrawati - Kispang (aprx. hight 1600m.); 5 hours walk.

Day 03 : Kispang - Thulo Chaur (aprx. hight 2200m.); 5 hours walk.

Day 04 : Thulo Chaur - Gonga (aprx. hight 2900m.); 3-4 hours walk.

Day 05 : Gonga - Rupchet (aprx. hight 3635m.); this is the base camp of Shing La Top; 4 hours walk.

Day 06 : Rupchet - Shing La Top (aprx. hight 4100m.) - Kharka (aprx. hight 2500m.); 7 hours walk.

Day 07 : Forest Camp - Pangsang-la Bangyang (aprx. hight 4100m.) 6 hours walk.

Day 08 : Pangsang-la BangyangTipling (Aprx hight 2000)

Day 09 : Tipling - Borang (aprx. hight 1700m.); 6 hours walk

Day 10 : Borang - Jharlang (aprx. hight 1700m.) 6 hours walk

Day 11 : Jharlang - Kintang Phedi (aprx. hight 800m.); 6 hours walk.

Day 12 : Kintang Phedi - Jemrung (Aprx. Hight 1800m.) 7 hours walk

Day 13 : Jemrung - Dhading Bensi (aprx.hight 700m.) - 4 hours walk

Day 14 : Dhading bensi - bus drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara or Chitwan (about 3-4 hours)