Another first timer

[Bob Lowndes]

Hello everyone - your guidance and reassurance please.

A friend and I (both 50ish) are planning independent 3 week trip to EBC in Sept/Oct 06. Having read up (not least postings here) emerging plan is:
1 Engage services of porter/guide to accompany us - assuming we can carry reasonable amount of stuff ourselves (recommended porterguides and contact details please)
2 Take 12-14 days to undertake trek (Lukla to EBC and back)
3 Hire/buy used sleeping bag, parka and waterproofs in Kat or Lukla - take all else (places to hire?)
4 Budget for 6-10 GB pounds per day (10-15 USD) on the trek
5 Note all comments about water purification and other safety issues

Does this sound like reasonable approach?

What footwear would you recommend - know sounds naive but have heard others say that even medium boots were too heavy.

Is it necessary to obtain national park permit before we go? If so, where do we get one?

Is it necessary to pre-book flight form Kat to Lukla and back? If so, where can this be done (I know - be patient)

Any other comments would be appreciated

Regards

Bob

[andy from uk]

if you want to reserve your air ticket to ktm/lukla/ktm and to hiring to guide and porter for Resonable prices as per your request
contact to Following to adress
skyline treks & Expedition
mr madhao
his e-mail adress:
skyline@enet.com.np
or visit www.skylinetreks.com
www.nepaltravels.biz

[Sharon]

You can message me and I'll give you my two guides contact info. Why not go to Gokyo or Chukung as well not just EBC. Check the date for the 2006 mani Rimdu festival, I feel very fortuante to have caught it last fall in tengboche. For water www.pristine.ca
Rent your gear in Thamel and the guide can assist with rentals, air ticket etc.
take an electrolyte drink mix- powerade, cytomax etc. Try the boots before, wahtever you are comfortable walking distance in. They don't need to be heavy duty but sturdy and comfortable.

[yakshaver]

Agree with Sharon, you might consider Gokyo/Chukkung etc.
You would want to have your own sleeping bag, not a hire one. In terms of parka, yes a good gore-tex one is necessary (esp. for Septmember when it may still rain), but you don't need waterproof pants.
Good sturdy boots are a must.
You can book your Lukla flights ticket when you are in KTD. You will want to spend a couple of days visiting KTM and the KTM Valley which have some amazing places to see. So you have plenty of time to book a ticket, and there are plenty of flights in season every day. Provided the weather is ok, they will fly. If the weather is not good, especially in Lukla, it does not matter if you booked your tickets 3 months ahead from overseas...
I would up the budget to 20 US per day on average (appart from the guide & porter). You can get by on 15, but I find that you want to splash out on soft drinks (very good when you expand so much effort) and other "special" stuff, and on the way back at least you want to stay at the better lodges. For example Hotel Namche, in Namche Bazaar, is 20 US per room per night just for the accomodation.

It is not necessary to obtain permit in advance. You'll pay about 1000 rupees at Monjo at the entrance into the Sagarmatha National Park. Make sure you have your passports with you - don't leave them in Kathmandu - as they will be checked by the Nat.Park and army post there.

I think hiring a guide and porter is a very good idea. Like Sharon, I can also recommend a couple of very good ones whom I employed over the years.