Late May: Gokyo,Jomson, or Langtang?

[jimmye]

Hey everyone,

Im currently trying to plan a 2 week trek for around the 20th of May and any help is very appreciated!!

At the moment we're deciding between Lukla - Gokyo, Jomson or a Lagtang trek. Given whether, views, culture, etc what would you recommend? We're leaning towards a tea-house trek however camping is an option. Also, are these treks possible without a guide if you have the right info and maps?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
James

[yakshaver]

Hey everyone,

Im currently trying to plan a 2 week trek for around the 20th of May and any help is very appreciated!!

At the moment we're deciding between Lukla - Gokyo, Jomson or a Lagtang trek. Given whether, views, culture, etc what would you recommend? We're leaning towards a tea-house trek however camping is an option. Also, are these treks possible without a guide if you have the right info and maps?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
James

Hi James,

In two weeks of trekking (I assume this is the actual time you have for the trek...) you can do either the a) Lukla Gokyo trek, or b)Langtang and Helambu (Langtang by itself takes about a week), or c) part of the Annapurna Circuit (the part where the road is still not built), which would start from Besisahar (Kundi more likely) and go along the Marsyangdi valley, up Thorung la, and down to Muktinath and Jomsom.
You could then fly out at Jomsom. (this will take about 11-12 days, including the acclimatisation time). You can then chill out in Pokhara or even go to Chitwan for a couple of days.

Again, you can just do Langtang (7 or 8 days) and then go to Chitwan for 3-4 days.

If this is your first trek in Nepal I would suggest version c) part of the AC. This is because there are attempts to build a road along the Marsyangdi, and in a few years time it may no longer be the beautiful transhimalayan valley that it is now. In other words, use this opportunity while you have it, to see do this exceptional trek, and cross the famous Thorung La.
You may be able to do Gokyo at a later time, as I think the danger of road construction in Khumbu is quite low...

Just a suggestion.

All these treks can be done without a guide/porter.
However, if it is your first time in Nepal, I suggest you hire a guide & porter or at least a porter-guide. You will find that trudging up beyond 3500m with your back pack is less fun than you expected, as the altitude is no respecter of fitness or age...
And a good guide will enhance the whole trekking experience - they usually know theirs stuff, can look after logistics pretty well, and know what tourists require.
It is a personal preference of course, but many people reluctant to employ help initially (aren't we all a bit aprehensive about involving someone else in our little ''trekking party''?) were quite happy that they did, and reported very positively on the interactions with the guide & porter or porters.

I trek with the same guide for 10 years now, even in the situation where I have I am trekking in the same area for the third time... You can't really get lost on the major trails, but you can come accross complications such as altitude, or advice&decisions on conditions (say about the ABC part where avalanches do happen9 etc. Plus, the local knowledge which a good guide will have in terms of culture etc.
Again, this is a personal choice, but my recommendation for a first timer is to employ a guide or at least a porter-guide.

[jimmye]

Thanks Yakshaver!

Very appreciated.

[Per]

Just be aware that there are enormous cultural differences within Nepal. The difference between some people in Nepal is as large as say between Libya and Scandinavia.

Go with the wrong guide and you will find all doors to getting close to people shut while the info the guide feeds you may be highly prejudiced.

I would not even consider going to Khumbu or Manang with a guide, unless he is local he will be as much a foreigner as you are. If you can find some one local it comes into a different light. Then, you might find yourself visiting relatives along the trail and have a splendid time.

There is also good reason to be aware of commision systems. Often the guide gets something for bringing you to a lodge. This varies, but it is not always good for the locals if you come with a guide. They may earn less.

People speak English all along the trails, the lodges are good, route finding is utterly easy. There is little point in going with a guide. It becomes a different matter if you leave the tea house routes. Then, a guide may be necessary to find the trail and food and shelter for the night.

There is also the critical factor of recruiting a guide. You might find that you have committed yourself to spending you whole trek with someone you do not really like. There are a lot of hasslers around. And, if it is your first time it might be a good idea to first hike on your own until you have a decent orientation.

[kolobar]

I agree with Per regarding cultural differences but I dont agree about their consequences.
I was in Khumbu with a guide who was chettri which is probably as much of a cultural difference as it could be in Nepal. But he was a very good guide, very professional, very knowledgable and his relations with locals were very good. He was not pushing for certain lodges but accepted suggestions of his clients.
The fact is that good guides (regardless of a caste) spend a lot of time in the area of trekking and become familiar with locals and also they know what kind of treatmant their clients expect very well.
On the other hand I have seen local guides (probably "guides" - i.e. without license) from Namche who are praying for possible clients to make some money regardless of clients wishes and intentions.
My impression is that agencies are employing as much good guides as they can get and it is practically immpossible to hire one independently. Guys who offer their (independent) services to clients directly should be too busy during main season if they were any good.
Of course I dont claim that every guide employed by an agency is a good guide by default.
In general I also agree that a guide is not necessary for any popular teahouse trek. Arranging accomodation and route finding is simple enough, there are plenty good maps and guidebooks for basic orientation and planning, cultural informations are easy to obtain from locals, lodge owners for instance who as a rule speak good english.
I agree with Yakshaver about porters - it can make a trek much more comfortable.
Just a remark about initial question. Late May is a risky time considering that views will be obscured more than during main season due to rising humidity. But with some luck you can enjoy the views as well (especially if you are able to get out of bed for sunrise). I would only advice against Jomsom trek due to increasing traffic in Kali Gandaki valley. In 2 weeks you can comfortably trek Annapurna Circuit to Jomsom and fly out to Pokhara as Yakshaver suggested. Regarding cultural insight I would put AC first, Langtang second and EBC third. With all those lodges on any of these treks camping is not a way to go.

[Per]

it is practically immpossible to hire one independently.

Well, finding one in the streets in Kathmandu would be next to impossible. There are some independents in business, from what I understand they depend on recommendations from previous clients.

The agencies function is in a sense to match clients to guides. The problem is that they take a hefty commision for the job.

On the other hand if there is an objective need for a guide (you cannot find the way without) you can most often find one locally. We spent a day unsucessfully looking for the way up from Kyangin Gompa to Ganja La. In late afternoon we camped by a Kharka and struck a deal with one of the men that he would take us to the crest for a price.

http://www.lowdin.nu/Treks/Langtang/Film0266.jpg

We paid well, perhaps double the going rater for porters, but it was well spent money.




Just a remark about initial question. Late May is a risky time considering that views will be obscured more than during main season due to rising humidity.

And dust, all of India is covered with a cloud of dust and haze that builds up until the monsoon breaks. But, once one gets close to the mountains, i.e., to Namche or Manang and even Pokhara, it does not really matter. Once, it starts to rain it becomes much fresher and the air more clear.