First time trekker to Nepal

[Anna]

Hi,
I'm planning on heading to Nepal in December 2006 for about 3-4 weeks. I am looking at doing some trekking in the Annapurna region, possibly the Base Camp trek and the Jomsom trek. I would also like to do some volunteering work in a school, possibly in Pokhara. I will be travelling by myself and am not really sure how to go about organising my trip. I am reluctant to travel with a big travel company (not really into that and quite expensive) but don't really want to go by myself (safety as a woman traveller).
Does anyone have any advice on organising this trip and any general advice about travelling by myself in Nepal?
Anna.
PS - I'm loving reading this website - its great!:)

[Sharon]

I have been to Nepal 5 times and 3 of the trips were on my own. If you want to message me and I can send you details on my guides. You will save quite a bit of money, they will earn more and you will all have a better experience than through a company.

Nepal is a wonderful country and I am sure you will have an incredible experience! There is an Austrian woman who runs an orphanage in Kathmandu. She is always looking for english books as well as people to help read to the children so that they learn english.

[Landfall38]

Anna,

You got 2 replies within <30 min of your post!


I agree with Sharon.

Many of us can recommend specific guides -- If Sharon's suggestion does not work out, I know one well too I could recommend.

Of course, as a result of your post, you may also receive many "recommendations" from people who are actually guides -- you should look out for this.


Landfall38
3 more sleeps before leaving for KTM...!

[niyatri]

Hello Anna,
Glad to hear you are heading to Nepal for Annapurna trek (ABC) ,as well interested in volunteering work in school.
we have school in Lalitpur near Kathmandu and you can work here. And In regards to Annapurna trek ,if you are interested you can join with me .I am male from Kathmandu having experience in annapurna tre.
Looking to hear from you . please contact at niyatri@yahoo.com

[Oli]

Hi Anna,

if you are trekking Annapurna then 3-4 weeks doesn't really leave much time for volunteering, but donating a day or two to a worthy cause is very commendable. Maybe visit the Namaste Children's Orphanage in Lakeside, Pokhara...

http://www.orphanagenepal.org/

[pchang]

Hi all,

I am planning a trip to Nepal in March of 2006. Was thinking about doing the Annapurna Circuit trek but would like to get some input from those of you who have traveled through Nepal extensively. Is the Annapurna trek better than the Everest Basecamp trek?

Thanks!
Patty

[Escher]

They are both fascinating treks with wonderful scenery and people. The Everest region offers more spectacular mountain vistas whereas the Annapurna Circuit has more diverse people, culture and architecture. One trek is not better than the other they are different and equally fascinating. You won't be in the slightest bit disappointed with either region. In fact if you are like everyone I know who has visited Nepal, then you will be back soon enough to explore the other areas.

It is like comparing apples and oranges!

[Michael Sunkist]

When you get to Pokhara, walk thru town on the main drag and down by where there is a school for Thanka painting there is a trekking company run by women for women. Good place for lodging also. I forget what this company is called but it is a nice newer lodge and facility in Pokhara. It's cool for men to trek alone but I'm not too sure about women doing so. Happy trails

[Hendrik van Dingenen]

Namaste, Anna!

I hardly can be called a experienced trekker, let alone a experienced trekker concernig Nepal treks, but since I have no shame about making a fool of myself, lets go.

I think is unnecessary hire a international travel agency for trekking in Nepal. As you said, they are quite expensive and in the end they will hire local agencies, what you can do when you get there. Is possible to search in advance for some of those agencies, but you can also leave it to being see when you get there. I meet on my way to EBC lots of people who decided to hire guide and/or porters at the last minute and they were happy about the guys. In general, nepali people are very friendly and you not try to harm you. They can try to over-price the services, that's all. Nothing that a good bargaim can't solve.

When me and my brother were there, our hotel tried to make us hire a local agency. The guy offers us 820 USD/two persons budget for guide, including lodges and food (snacks and special drinks apart). No porters.

We refused because guide and porters weren't in our plans and our budget didn't allowed nothing more that we had planned. But I fond very cheap the price, even if the guy from the travel agency didn't revealed very honest. On the way I meet two trekkers traveling with guides contracted by this guy and they said there wasn't nothing to complain about. One of those trekkers were a girl traveling alone.

In Thamel there is dozens of agencies to see, if you have the pacience to stay hours talking with guys who don't want you to leave they shops before closing some deal. If you want do it, prepare youself to drink gallons of milk tea while listening to the best prices and services in town (all and every commercial establishment in Thamel offers the very pretty best prices and services in town).

I also got the impression that is possible to hire porters and guides in the local towns. At last it was possible in Jiri, contrary to what every local agency in Kathmandu told me. So I think if you decide to start without guide and/or porter, is possible to hire one and/or other on the way. No sweat.

I did meet two or three girls on the way who were traveling alone, even without guide/porter and they said they didn't got any problem, but of course that mean nothing. Anyway, it is a decision that concerns only you.

Two girls I meet just tag with other trekkers on the way. Sometimes with diferent trekkers, depending to where they where heading at the time.

Is also possible to just go to the agencies there and ask if they had an group leaving to Annapurna and ask to be included at the group, if possible.

[]'s

Hendrik

[Hendrik van Dingenen]

And yes, I agree with what the people said here about what is the best trek, even if I have no personal experience at the two, having done only the EBC. I talked to some people on the way who has done the Annapurna and ask the same question. 90% of the answears was that those trekkers are just different. You just can't compare.

I loved EBC, even if it was hard and crowed. More because I discovered that there is LOTS of places where you can do side treks that are not on the guides. I could have being there for 3 months and not get bored. Maybe will do some day, when get time and money for it. There is just so many valleys, peaks and villages to enjoy that I feeled sad to have to speed up further most of the time. Gokyo region deserves at last one week to be explored. Thami and Chokung valleys are great, even if a little to expensive, and also should deserved a little more exploration from me.

[]'s

Hendrik