Adventure Third Pole

[katwmn06]

hi all! Has anyone heard of this trekking tour guide company? there est. in Kathmandu, i plan on taking a trip next year and want to know more about this company before i book, so if anyone out there has used them let me know about your experiences. thanks, kat

[James]

I have used Adventure Thirdpole in 2004 and am using them in Nov. of this year. I was very pleased with my experience in 2004 and have not been disappointed in their assistance in planning for our trip this year (I always tend to over plan and have lots of questions). Raj, my primary contact, was/is very helpful during the planning stage and he and his group provided excellent service from the airport pickup to the drop-off. In 2004 they provided a good climbing guide and delightful porters. This trip Thirdpole will be providing guides and porters for our family trip. If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to PM me.
Happy Trekking

[katwmn06]

thanks james for your reply! i plan on traveling by myself, will they put me with a group of other people? are the rates different then? i'm new to trekking abroad, i could use all the advice i can get !! thanks, kat:confused:

[James]

Rates go down the larger the group. One example that I have seen gave rates for 0-2, 3-5, 6-9 etc... If you have indicated that you are looking for the lowest rate, they might try to assist you by placing you with others in an attempt to get your costs down. There are some fixed expenses that when shared by a group reduces the fee per person.

Traveling alone has some strong positives: setting your own pace, selecting or changing your itinerary, not listening to someone complain about their sore feet and having some nice alone time. However, it can get quiet, maybe too quiet if the lodges are empty - so be think about what you want. Popular trekking routes are hardly a solitary experience. You will share the trails with guides, trekking porters, commercial porters, students going to school, lots of tourist, yaks and maybe a yeti or two. Once you're on the trail you will find others traveling at the same pace and stopping in the same locations. Some nights they will be in the same lodge other nights they won't. While I enjoyed trekking alone, I would have enjoyed company while sightseeing in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Decide what you want and ask for it. If you wish to travel alone, be clear and state that you wish to travel alone and ask for the fee to be quoted as such. Things to be clear about include group size, Kathmandu accommodations grade, trekking itinerary and dates. It is your trip you should have it the way you want it. I have found Thirdpole to be very accommodating, however, if they can’t help you I’m sure they can refer you to someone who can.

[katwmn06]

thanks james you have been most helpful! kat:)

[Andrew]

I have used them last year on my trip. Raj is very helpful and I can highly recommend them to you. Here is a link to my trip report from last year: http://www.andreastravels.com/Nepal2006.html

[James]

Andrew,
Your trip report was fantastic, put my hand journal to shame.

Off topic, but while I'm writing let me ask you a question. In November we arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 5 pm and don't depart for ktm until 10:45 the next day, do you recommend staying at the Novotel Airport Hotel or would we have time to get someplace with a little more atmosphere.

[Andrew]

James: Thanks for looking at my website. Regarding Airport Hotel: Depends on your budget. If you are not on a budget, the Novotel Airport Hotel is very convenient. It also has pretty nice restaurants. If you are on a budget, then there are other places not too far. I remember there was a thread on this website some time ago about Bangkok hotels close to the new airport but I could not find it.

If you are only staying in Bangkok for that one night, I would not bother going into town. Even if your flight arrives on time, you won't be in your downtown hotel room until 7 pm and you would have to leave the next morning by probably 8 am the latest.

[James]

Thanks Andrew. I had seen that other posting on yetizone, but it was hard to get a sense of the hassle factor. I'm trying to balance convenience against getting a very brief taste of Bangkok. I think we'll stick with the airport Novotel, and if we're up for an adventure we can take a cab tour of the city that evening.
James

[katwmn06]

andrew, what an incredible journey report! and with wonderful pics too, ...i have some questions for you regarding traveling without a group....i think i rather just trekk on my own like you did with your guide, but being a female would that be too uncomfortable for the guide and porter?.....i'm trying to find a travel companion....but not too many people i know are into trekking 75miles in the mountains to take a vacation!....so it seems like Adventure Third Pole is the way to go,....did you costumize your trip itenary? would i be able to do the same as far as lodging goes like you did? how about hotel stay in Kathmando? any recomendations? thanks for your help, kat

[Andrew]

Thanks, Kat. I have the same problem as you, no friends who like hiking in the Himalayas. I was glad my son was with me in August when we traveled through Tibet, but he has school during trekking season. Here are some answers to your questions:

Travelling alone should be no problem. I encountered several women last year who were by themselves with a guide and they were perfectly happy. I thought it was safe everywhere I went. You will meet people at the lodges every night and it is always possible for you to join a group or individuals for portions of the trek as pretty much everybody goes the same way.

I pretty much customized the itinerary. I booked flights through Raj and a guide, but once on the trek, your guide is pretty much your focus point. The guides normally take you to the lodges which they are familiar with, but you can always tell them you want to stay in a different lodge. Sometimes, you might have to pay more as normally the trekking agencies only book you "budget lodges" so to speak. They are usually all the same, but there are a couple of places like Lobuche for example where you can get a better lodge for a little more money. There are also some lodges where you might want to upgrade to an attached bathroom instead of a shared bathroom (from what I hear women like that better), which might cost you a few bucks more, but you'll get the hang of this quickly. While I personally can live without comfort, if it is available, I usually take it. I don't know when you want to trek to, but in High Season especially in the Everest Region, there are a couple of places where lodge space is limited and you might have to sleep in a dormatory style room. But usually it is no problem to get a room in the lodges.

In Kathmandu I stay in the L'Annapurna Hotel. I stayed there again just this August for a week. I like it as it is walking distance to Thamel, but also away from all the hubbub and street noise. It also has very good restaurants and their coffee shop which is brand new serves really good food. But then, it is a little pricier then the Thamel hotels.

I could also highly recommend you the guide I had from Thirdpole, But I don' know when you plan on going and he just left a couple of days ago doing the Annapurna Circuit for 3 weeks or so.

Let me know if you have more questions.

PS: I am planning on a Mustang trek October 2008, combined with either a Dhaulagiri circuit or Annapurna Base Camp. Raj told me that there need to be at least 2 people for the Mustang permit, so if anybody reads this and has an interest in joining, let me know.

[Suginami]

Andrew's report is one of the best I have read, I have read a lot. The photos were excellent and good quality colour.

I was embarassed about the antics of the Japanese up in Khumbu. Sadly once they are in a group they exclude all others. Also not just noisy but oblivious. At one lodge in spoke in Japanese to some of the trekkers and later heard one of their leaders telling the others to 'avoid' me. So rude.

THe other important issue Andrew brings up is noise and inconsideration. Always pack earplugs. I always do. Esp in Japan where people in groups are very raucous.

Like Escher I try to find fairly quiet or lodges and I always go late in the season. I cannot stand those groups on their trip of a life time.

Usually the nicest travellers seem to be Dutch and Scandanavians who are very personable. But like Andrew says the groups are too big and noisy. If you meet a couple of friends hiking that's better.

Sharon mentions somewhere about eating in the kitchin. I have often done this if there is a big group hogging the dining room and yelling.

I laughed about the Korean guy running up to KP. Not surprised. The Js pay no attention to altitude at all. Never wear any skin protection. Someone told me the J's have the highest mortality rate up in the mountains. Totally oblivious of the rest of the world.

[katwmn06]

...any recommendations for a midrange hotel or lodge in kat that is quiet, clean, with good food and atmosphere?....or is that asking too much?...what are the price range for high end hotels/lodges?.....the trekking agency told me the price of the trekks are going up because of the maoists?.......

[Per]

In Kathmandu I stay in the L'Annapurna Hotel.

They used to have a nice tandoori resturant upstairs, above the coffee shop, Ghar è kebab (lit., home of kebab), specialized in muglai cooking. Most evenings there would also be ghazal music. In the early eighties you could become a member of the swimming pool, so we used to be members. Then, someone bombed the hotel (at the time it was owned by some aristorcat closely connected to the palace next door) and they restricted access to hotel guests. There are also some good shops with excellent handicrafts, as the five-star-hotel guests can afford to pay what it is worth.

As a hotel I don´t care much for it. If you have plenty of money and is really short of time it is ok, but even if I was travelling on someone else expense account I would prefer a place with a garden in Thamel. And, the muglai food is just as good in the Third Eye in Thamel.

[Sharon]

I like the hotel Norbu linka. I have stayed in several others like the Kathamndu Guest House, Hotel Tibet and hotel Dynasty. Norbu Linka is smal and just outside Thamel. Easy walk to Third Eye, all the normal hot spots but very quiet at the hotel and very helpful staff.

I always eat outside the hotel. Various favourites like Third Eye, New Orleans, Fire and Ice, Weizen bakery etc.

[Per]

I like the hotel Norbu linka.

I think it has taken its name from the Dalai Lama´s summer residence in Lhasa. Are the owners Tibetan?

I always eat outside the hotel. Various favourites like Third Eye, New Orleans, Fire and Ice, Weizen bakery etc.

We have stayed in the KGH a lot. Sometimes we tried other places but then the KGH has been so insulted and cut prices for us so we just had to move there. But perhaps we will have a go at your Norbu Linka. Does it have a nice garden?

Tea and such stuff is OK in the KGH. But, I never liked the resturant. Has still not overcome the grafiti in the loo upstairs, that said, "push hard, it is far to the kitchen" ;)

[yakshaver]

Let me know if you have more questions.

PS: I am planning on a Mustang trek October 2008, combined with either a Dhaulagiri circuit or Annapurna Base Camp. Raj told me that there need to be at least 2 people for the Mustang permit, so if anybody reads this and has an interest in joining, let me know.


Andrew, this request, for people to join you for Mustang, might have better effect if posted elsewhere on the board.

In fact, if I think of it, a lot of this discussion, lately, but I am not sure where to begin, if I were to relocate it... Don't worry, it is nobody's fault, this is now natural discussions develop, wherever they occur.

[Sharon]

Yes, Norbu Linka is Tibetan owned. I have never gone to the rooftop garden. I'm in thye lobby or out. The KGH is so large and busy. I'll never stay there again.

[Suginami]

I am able in from the Vajra every day and love it. The V is quiet, nice gardens and roof top. If I need Thamel I can get a ride on a motorbike very easily. The view from the V is very good. The food is competent but then I am vegetarian so my needs are not great. Potato curry and pakoras.

I avoid the KGH because of the TV in the lobby. I don't like them.

I will be off to Koshi again as its a quiet heaven.

[katwmn06]

...i booked for L'annapurna......can somebody tell me more about this place?..i hope i made the right choice there are so many hotel/lodges to stay at!

[Andrew]

Hadn't read this thread for a while, so here it goes:

Suginami: Thanks for reading my trip report and your kind words. I am currently working on the diary of my Tibet trip from August and hopefully have that done in a couple of weeks if I ever get a break from work.

Yakshaver: I knew that my Mustang companion request was not posted at the right spot, but I was thinking to post something on the Trekking Companions section once I am nailing down my timing. Right now I am set to do this second half September/first half October, but I need to finalize details. You wanna come??

Kat: I like the L'Annapurna and that is where I stayed both times I was in KTM, but I also admit that this might not be the right place for everybody. I am not on a budget and I like a little comfort and quietness when I can get it, so that's why I stayed there and will stay there in the future. Try to get the rooms in the newer section. Also, the new coffee shop has good food (ok, ok, don't bash me, my stomach is americanized :) ), although my favorite restaurant in KTM is that Marco Polo Italian place.