Welcome to My Website !
Many people would like to go trekking in Nepal. Most think that it’s beyond their capabilities. You don't have to be very fit; just fit and well. The idea of trekking with me is to take it slowly enough to really see the places you are walking through. Trekking should be enjoyable and stimulating. You don’t need to be so tired you couldn’t care less where you are.
Because our itinerary is slower and more flexible we can afford to be a bit more spontaneous. We can change our plans to suit the weather or even our health.
You need to know that this is not a large trekking company just myself acting as a guide, with a very experienced network of guides, porters and service providers which I have used for years.
It is about half-way between going with an 'organised tour' and 'independent trekking'. More like a group of friends who have clubbed together to go on trek to Nepal.
On a conventional trek your porter may be hours ahead of you setting up tents or cooking. When you trek with me you will have your own porter; he will trek near you in case you need a guiding hand on a wobbly bridge or just to get at your pack for a spare jumper or roll of film.
On a more typical commercial trek, the distance for each day is planned in advance and your tents and western-style toilet are set up in a pre-determined area. When you trek with me you will stay in lodges in the local villages with beds, family cooking and solar hot showers (well, most days anyway). The accommodation varies in quality. Some lodges have spacious double rooms with attached bathrooms but others are quite simple. They all have dry rooms with windows and doors that lock, foam mattresses and pillows, quilts if it is really cold, swept-clean floors and a place to hang washing or sweaty clothes. At higher altitudes the dining room will have heating in the evening and good plain cooking both Nepali and Western. You will meet some lovely Nepali people at these lodges - and their kids as they are usually family-run.
The main characteristic of trekking with me though is our slow pace. Because we travel slowly we have virtually no problems with altitude sickness. By traveling at such a sensible speed, ordinary people, with ordinary levels of fitness, can participate. You don’t need to be Sir Edmund Hillary to trek in Nepal. It certainly helps if you like spending the best part of the day walking.
YOU CAN DO THIS!
We trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area and the Sargamatha National Park so we try to be mindful of environmental issues; favouring places with fuel stoves and solar hot water. We endeavor not to use plastic bottled water too much and to dispose of our rubbish thoughtfully.
We take good care of our porters. We do not overload them - it is no fun to walk with people who are killing themselves to get your gear up the mountain. We make sure they each have a jacket and good footwear. We pay over award wages and insurance in case they get hurt. Your personal porter will carry your rucksack (usually 16-18 kg) you carry only your daypack.
My next major public treks will be in October and November 2011.
On October 1st we will gather in Kathmandu for an expedition to
the Langtang region. Onward or return travel plans should be made
on or after October 23. This is a very special area, not quite as well-
known in the outside world as the Anapurna or Everest regions but
just as beautiful in its own way. This trek takes us up into a huge
U-shaped glacial valley, abundant with flowers in October. We will
trek up to Kyanjin Gomba, which is completely surrounded by towering
snow-capped peaks. We will stay there for two nights to explore the
area with options to walk out to Langshisha Kharka, climb a small
trekking peak or get 'up close and personal' with a glacier. We will
then descend for a few days and then climb, very slowly, to Gossainkund.
At 4300 metres this is a holy pilgrimage site with a chain of glacial
lakes connected by small waterfalls. The pass, at 4600 metres is not
quite as high as some of the better-known passes and therefore a bit
more achievable for those of you going 'over the top' and returning to
Kathmandu via the Helambu region (allow a few extra days on your
return flight if you plan to do this). Backtracking to Sin Gomba and returning via Dunche by jeep is the alternative (I plan to do this). This is amazing
scenery and doing it gently downhill is a real joy.
The second trek of the season will be to Muktinath. This is a classic trek with lots of variety (see Trek Reports - Muktinath 2010). We will have two nights in Kathmandu and then a 7-hour bus ride to Pokhara. Don't worry, its a nice bus with a very good buffet lunch at the Riverside Springs Resort. It takes 3 days to reach Gorepani, slowly. The views are unbelievable as the entire Anapurna range is visible, especially if you climb Pun Hill in the morning (optional of course, the view from the dining room of the lodge is pretty good). We will descend through intensively farmed hillsides to Tatopani, again taking two-days. Lonely Planet says one day but I did it once, it hurt! We will spend two nights at Tatopani to catch up with ourselves a bit, visit the hot-springs, have a day off. Its a steady climb up to Kalopani over the next two days. The morning views from here are amazingly good. You are between Daulaghiri and Anapurna so you can just imagine. The trekking then flattens out through Tukche, Marpha, Jomsom and Kagbeni. Now you are in Mustang. The Tibetan cultural influence is strong and there are several old gombas worth visiting. Our lodge in Tukche is in an old Salt trader's house. The climb up to Muktinath from Kagbeni is tough but we will ride sturdy Mustang ponies (jeep option available). At Muktinath we can visit the famous 'flame and water in the rock', get a blessing from the Hindu shrine and catch a glimpse of the famous Thorong La pass. We will stay at Jarkot. More comfortable, better lodge and just a tad lower for overnight comfort at altitude. The walk down next day is always a pleasure. Gently downhill for about five hours with stunning views all the way. The walk back to Jomsom is dead easy and we might make a side-trip in the afternoon for anyone interested, to a local village off the beaten track. The flight next morning will blow you away as we fly over our trek in just 25 minutes with the big peaks all around us. After a couple of days relaxing in Pokhara its back to the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu for sightseeing and shopping - choice is yours.
Flights from Australia are usually via Bangkok (Thai Airways) and Singapore (Singapore Airlines). However, Flight Centres around Australia have been advertising cheap flights to Kathmandu via Delhi in October and November - worth a look. Flying in from UK or Europe then Gulf Air, Qatar Airways or Etihad seem to be the most economical and Lufthansa has a good connection too.
The cost for either of these treks is $2650 AUD which includes almost everything you can think of. Check the Next Trek pages of this website for more details. Remember when comparing prices with other companies that ALL your meals, internal flights, permits, entrance fees, taxis and hotels and lodges are included. Also included is a Nepali porter for EACH customer. The only thing you need to pay for is alcohol and perhaps a generous tip for your porter. Be warned though, the shopping in Nepal is very tempting indeed.
If this sounds like your kind of trek do get in touch early. We like to take a maximum of ten people on each trek and some places are booked already. I will look forward to hearing from you. YOU CAN DO THIS! "
Trekking is a magical experience but, even with me, it can be challenging. You will find yourself tested at times. Meeting these demands can make you feel very good about yourself. The magnificence of the mountains and the beautiful nature of the people of Nepal will capture your spirit. I guarantee you will never be quite the same again.
Cheers!
TERESA.
Australia
Email to: teresadb@hotmail.com
Now, have a look at the other pages for more specific information and lovely pictures.
