5 days trekking from Nimche Bazar

[zerostress]

Hi all!
I'm just arrived =)In the last several days I've been reading through the forum and being really impressed by the amount of knowledge you people have, I decided to post my question here. I hope I don't sound too stupid :o

I'm a woman, 56 years old and not overly fit (I can hear you saying I should stay at home!). I'll be in Nepal for 2 weeks at the beginning of March, and I really wish I could do some EASY, not so strenuous but still scenic 4-5 days trek. Any suggestion?
I think I read somewhere (can't find it anymore) something about flying to Luckla, stay in Namche Bazar and have one day walks from there.

Is it a sensible option or would staying in Pokhara be better?

Thanks!

[Escher]

...(I can hear you saying I should stay at home!)...

On the contrary we would say you should go!

Either option is pretty good to be honest with you but if I had to choose I'd say flying to Lukla and heading to Namche is perfect. There are a lot of lodges around there so you could take as long as you like getting to Namche. And then after that you could head to Sanasa, or Khumjung/Khunde or follow the trail to Thame and go as far as you wish. There are great mountain views all around there, even an hour from Namche and so many lodges that you can go as far or walk as little as you like. The only thing to contend with is the hill to Namche but it wouldn't feel like the Himalaya unless there was at least one decent climb! You'll be fine, just follow your nose, take it slow and enjoy.

[zerostress]

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great!

Will it be difficult to find a seat on the plane?
I suppose I can find many guides in NB, what about going to NB from Luckla airport?

Any idea of the weather at the beginning of March? Will it be very cold?:eek:

I have the Nepal LP guidebook, not many trekking information there...Should I buy another one?

Thanks thanks again!

[Escher]

If you want to take a guide I would get a recommendation from someone here and organise it with them beforehand, I always go on my own so can't recommend anyone but several people here can. You don't really need a guide as it is nigh on impossible to get lost, especially Lukla to Namche but it is better to have a companion, but get a guide that you know you can trust and comes recommended. You can then tell them what you would like to do and they will come up with an itinerary for you.

The Trailblazer guide to Everest is good but will have much more information than you need but half the fun is reading about the place, you don't really need one if you aren't going all the way up but I always take one just to read anyway.

I've been several times in March and its my favourite time. Quieter but not dead, sometimes snowier which is good and the temperatures are rising. If you don't gop any higher than say Thame or Thangboche then lowest temperature are going to be around 0c if that. With a normal sleeping bag, a warm jacket and a hat you'll be fine. And anyway you can gorge on hot chocolate and apple pie in Namche so who cares about the cold! It isn't a wilderness trek by any means so there will be places to eat and drink and comfortably sleep all over. It only gets colder as you go higher than you are planning to.

Finally you shoulde be able to get on a flight reasonably easily in March. Just have a couple of days in reserve to deal with delays.

But beware, you'll fall in love with Nepal, it happens to everyone. ;)

[zerostress]

WOW 0°C sounds pretty scaring to me, but you're right, hot chocolate will definitely help =)
I'll follow your advice and contact a few guides recommended by people in this forum. Finding a good guide (or even a good travel companion) is no small matter. The wrong ones can easily spoil your trip, that's why I'm a solo traveller!

But beware, you'll fall in love with Nepal, it happens to everyone
I went to Nepal in 1994 (95?). I was travelling with my daughters who, at that time, were 12-14 years old. We loved the country so much that we never dared to go back for fear of being disappointed. This will be my first trip to Nepal since 1994, I hope it still is as lovely as I recall!

[Landfall38]

Namche is a good plan.

(However, Pokhara is also a VERY good idea too. It doesn't have the flight issues -- Greenline Bus is quite comfortable to Pokhara -- and as a base Pokhara is a great place. Easy to do nice trek to Gandruk etc.)

I am not sure any guide is needed, especially for the Lukla-->Namche and around Namche portions. Normally, one should not trek alone; however, you are unlikely to be alone on that section!

IF you'd like a guide, I highly recommend our friend and guide Dorjee
http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20559
(http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20559)

One thing to add to previous: the hill up to Namche can be quite tough. Don't let this put you off. I suggest you spend 2 nights on way before hill (e.g., 1 in Phakding and 1 in Monjo/Jorsale) -- gets you acclimatized better and makes "hill" day quite short.

Have fun!

[zerostress]

Thanks again!

[zerostress]

Hi guys! You've been so kind and knowledgeable that I trust you more than my guidebook (not so good, anyway) and I'm pestering you again.
It took me quite a while, but I finally made up my mind (for the time being, at least):I'll fly to Lukla and I will slowly walk on my own towards Namche Bazar without any guide or porter :cool:
I plan to spend one night in Phakding and one in Monjo.
I now need some more information:

1. how long will it take walking from Lukla to Phakding and then to Monjo and to Namche Bazar?
(Just give me the time required by an average trekker, I can make the trekker-slug conversion by myself, thankyou :mad: )
2. Are any permits or tickets needed? Can I get them on the spot? If not, which is the easiest way to get them and how long will it take?
3.IF IF IF I'll change my plans :confused: and go to Pokhara instead, can you give me any good idea for some easy trekking lasting 4-5 days?

Perhaps with so many questiond I should have posted a new thread, but I don't know the rules...
Anyway, thanks so much for your help. I promise I'll give you all the information you need whenever you plan a trekking in Venice!

[Per]

I think I read somewhere (can't find it anymore) something about flying to Luckla, stay in Namche Bazar and have one day walks from there.
Namche is less than two days from Lukla.
Is it a sensible option or would staying in Pokhara be better?
Pokhara, once upon a time, was a road head, where you started treks. It no longer is. A short trek you can do is Dhampus, Gandrung, Ghorepani, and then down to Nayapul (lit., new bridge). It is easy trekking, no need at all for a guide or a porter, unless you have a craving for colonial times and think that travelling with a servant is preferable.

Weighing Pokhara against Namche, it is obvious that Pokhara is a rather hot town with plenty of diesel fumes, with a vastly overrated lake, and not much trekking, whereas Namche is a lovely bazaar at really high altitude, virtually surrounded by snow capped peaks. Namche is a lot more interesting, and there are plenty of day hikes you can do. Quite fun to walk completely without luggage. Only drawback is that you have to fly there.

Have fun :)

[Petrus]

Namche is less than two days from Lukla.

Lukla - Namche is a 6-7 hour walk. Some would say it is even less than a day in reality. When I have started from Lukla, or the village a bit further up at the main trail intersection, in the morning, I have arrived Namche around 14-15:00. Last time we flew in, had a leisurely breakfast and started up at around 11, had luch in Phakding and arrived Namche at 17:00. That time we were well preacclimatized, though. It might be wise to use two days when you fly in and are not acclimatized and not trail hardened yet, but allocating three days for this 15 km stretch is defently a waste of time. Final hill or no hill.

[Per]

It might be wise to use two days when you fly in and are not acclimatized and not trail hardened yet, but allocating three days for this 15 km stretch is defently a waste of time. Final hill or no hill.

I support that. Better to use the time you have in Namche doiing day hikes, to Khumjung, Tengboche, etc.

[zerostress]

,but allocating three days for this 15 km stretch is defently a waste of time. Final hill or no hill.

lol

Makes sense.
What about tickets/permits?

[Escher]

You'll need to pay the National Park entrance fee - 1000nrps. You can get it either in Kathmandu or on the trail at Monjo. You'll also need a TIMS form, which you will have to get in KTM from the NTB office which now costs USD$20 (used to be free). You can pay an agency to get them for you if that is easier although they will pressure you to take a guide trekking so it may be easier getting them yourself. Finally a return flight to Lukla is about $200. Get an open return when you arrive in KTM and then when you get back to Lukla give it to the lodge owner of where you are staying and ask them to get you on a flight the next morning. There isn't anything else you need to pay out for as far as permits/tickets go.

[zerostress]

Thanks again and again!

Having read Escher's post I'm weighting all my stuff, and trying to keep my backpack as light as possible.
(As happened to him my backpack gets lighter every year. Unfortunately I'm getting heavier, so the total weight I carry is, more or less, always the same :( At least it's now well spread all over my body, and it doesn't concentrate on my shoulders!)
I suppose the lodges up to NB will have plenty of blankets and a light sleeping bag should be enough, am I right?

[Per]

I suppose the lodges up to NB will have plenty of blankets and a light sleeping bag should be enough, I'm I right?

Yes, a light sleeping bag is enough for Namche.

[Sujoy]

How far would it be from Namche to Thami? 3 hours? So it may be possible to make a day hike to Thami as well?