Nepal Lodge Trekking

Our Nepal Lodge treks offer the best of both worlds - Great routes and comfortable lodge accommodation

The development of locally managed lodges along the popular trekking trails in the Annapurna, Everest and Langtang/Helambu areas have resulted in an increasing number of trekkers making use of these facilities. In recent years with the help of Government as well non-government agencies many of these lodge owners have gone through training programmes aimed at raising the quality of services as well as instilling environmental awareness.

For example in the Annapurna Sanctuary and adjacent areas it is now regulation for all lodge owners to use alternative fuel (fuel other than fire wood - kerosene, gas, electric or even solar) for cooking and heating, dispose of garbage properly and adopt other eco-friendly measures. Most lodges have all the basic requirements for trekkers to stay overnight - a dormitory, several private rooms, an attached restaurant, toilet and a shower room. The quality of food offered may vary from lodge to lodge but most serve simple and hygienic meals.

Getaway Eco-Treks has found it very attractive for trekkers to use these lodges in some of the routes instead of operating camping style treks. One of the main reason being that along these popular routes almost every house offers bed and meals and many camping trekkers find it incongruous to camp near a lodge and not be able to experience the warmth and hospitality of the friendly Nepali hosts. The other important reason being that this helps the local economies directly by using the facilities along the route.

Keeping this in mind we have been operating Lodge-Treks in some of these classic routes. To make sure that our guests do not get disappointed we stay in simple yet comfortable and interesting lodge in each place. With larger groups we reserve all the beds in a lodge thus making sure that we have the place to ourselves. Our groups are provided with an excellent Guide and porters - possibly from the area you are trekking in - to guide you and carry your luggage while you hike only with a day-pack.

A majority of our Lodge Trekkers have been overwhelmed by the homely atmosphere and the grace of their hosts and many have made great friends with them. If you have an urge to trek in some of the most beautiful places in Nepal, interact and make friends with the local people without having to sleep in a cold and lonely tent, Lodge Trekking is just the thing for you. Make sure you are with Getaway Eco-Treks and we will make sure that you have a memorable time without having to spend a small fortune.

A DAY ON TREK

Our Lodge-Treks are led by one of our experienced local guide supported by porters to carry luggage and equipment. All our guides have undergone the trekking guide training conducted by the Department of Tourism of Nepal and are registered and licenced by the government. Additionally all our guides go through a rigorous training to make them better qualified to take care of our guest in every way possible. A trek-day starts around 6 a.m. with a cup of tea/coffee.

After packing your duffel and day-pack a breakfast of porridge/muesli/cornflakes and biscuits with tea/coffee is served. The day's trek starts around 7.30 a.m. Porter carry all luggage and equipment. All you need to carry in your day-pack are water bottle, rain/wind jacket, camera and other small items you may need on the trail. All trekkers walk at their own pace accompanied by the trek guide.

With larger groups there is a "lead" and "sweep" sherpa providing support throughout.The morning's walk to the lunch spot takes about three hours. Around mid-day we usually stop for a simple hot lunch at one of the way side tea-houses. After hiking for three to four hours in the afternoon our lodge, is usually reached between 3-4 p.m. In the late afternoon and evening you can relax, wash, read or take a walk nearby. The evening meal is served between 6 and 7 p.m. in the dining room attached to the lodge.

After dinner the guide will brief trekkers on the next day's hike. Each day's hike is planned so that trekkers have time to see, photograph and explore the countryside. Anyone who is healthy, fit, enjoys the outdoors and hiking will qualify to participate in our treks.

WHAT DOES OUR LODGE-TREKS INCLUDE ?

(Why Our Lodge-Treks Are The Best Way To Go)

Services Of An Experienced Local Guide

All our trek guides have been carefully selected for their ability and temperament. Most of them belong to Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, Chettri, Magar, or other ethnic communities from remote mountain villages. All of them have many years of experience of trekking and climbing in Nepal and Tibet. Each guide has training and proven abilities in eco-friendly methods, safety and, careful trek operations, keeping the health and happiness of the trekkers as well his crew, uppermost.

Our guides are committed to making sure that all our trekkers have an enjoyable trek, comes back safe and are overwhelmed by their experience. Your guide will be a friend and companion, who takes pleasure in showing you his country's specialities and, perhaps, meet his home and family too.

Services Of Porter/s to Carry Luggage and Equipment

Where ever possible we employ porters/pack-animals locally at the begining of the trek. This is one of the many measures we take to make sure that most of the cost our clients pays goes directly into the local economies where you trek. All our porters, as all our field staff, are covered by insurance and, on high altitude treks, are issued warm clothing and footwear to prepare them better. Porters who prove themselves are choosen for training as trek helpers, cooks and guides, thus giving them an avenue to improve the quality of their life.

Accommodation In Comfortable Lodges

Our Lodge Treks include accommodation at a family run lodge at each stop. Lodges normally have a common dormitory sleeping 6 or more people with an attached restaurant and basic toilet facilities. Many also have a few private rooms for two or three persons each. Solar heated shower rooms are available at a small extra cost! Along the more popular routes lodges are very comfortable and charming, managed by friendly local families. As one gets higher, to the base of high mountains, high passes and, in remote valleys, lodges are more basic. In some of our high altitude lodge-treks (e.g.: Thorung La and Cho La passes), trekkers may have to spend a few nights with basic facilities, and make pass crossings or explorations alpine style.

All Meals While On Trek

The trek includes three basic meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, each day. Breakfast and dinners are ordered at the restaurant attached to the lodge where we stay overnight. Lunches are ordered at a trail-side tea-house around mid-day. Most lodges serve, Nepali meals - rice, lentil soup and curried vegetables or meat - soups, noodles, momos (meat or veg-stuffed steamed dumplings), pancakes, chappati breads, etc. Many also offer other exotic dishes.

Three basic meals will be provided. Desserts, drinks, and special itiems listed in the menus are not included. It is best to bring Iodine water purefiction tablets for purefying drinking water during the trek which is environmental friendly and cheaper. Boiled and/or filtered water and bottled water are available at extra cost.

Road-head Transport From Kathmandu Or Pokhara

Trek Costs includes road-head transport, to and from trek start and end point, ex Kathmandu or Pokhara, as applicable. Group transport is by best available tourist bus or local bus transportation. For treks starting from Pokhara, Tourist Bus transport from Kathmandu at the start of the trek is included. Transport up to Pokhara at the end of the trek is also included. Transport cost back from Pokhara to Kathanmdu, Chitwan or other places, after the trek, is not included. Domestic airfares, when applicable, are extra.

Trek Permits, National Park and Conservation Fees

All trekking permits, National Park and Conservation Fees are included. Restricted area trek permits (eg: Mustang Permit), are quoted separately, where applicable. (Please note that there is an entrance fee of USD100 per video camera in all National Parks in Nepal not included in trek cost).

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TREK COST

Any hotel room, meals, transport or sightseeing in Kathmandu or Pokhara (unless specified); Airfares; client insurance of any kind; emergency evacuation costs; video camera fees in National Parks (where applicable); bottled drinks; boiled, filtered or bottled water; alcohol; snacks; tea/coffee (other than at breakfast); hot showers (Rs 100-200 per shower); riding ponies; personal clothing and equipment; sleeping bag; douvet/down/goretek jacket, etc. (available for hire in Kathmandu at US$ 1/item/day).

TREK GRADING (Trek Difficulty)

Grade 1 Easy

Easy trekking, by Himalayan standards is generally between 900m/3,000ft. and 2,000m/6,500ft. There are always plenty of 'ups and downs' anywhere in the Himalaya and clients need to be regular walkers to get full enjoyment from their experience. It is possible however to design 'easier' three to four day treks with perhaps only three to four hours walking per day on request.

Grade 2 - Moderate

Moderate trekking 900m/3,000ft. and 3,000m/10,000ft. but possibly involving side trips to higher elevations.

Grade 3 - Difficult

Reasonably demanding trekking at altitudes up to 4,000m/13,000ft. with side trips to higher elevations. Some treks included here will, in part, be well away from villages on ill- defined mountain trails.

Grade 4 - Strenuous

Treks of a demanding nature, requiring all participants to be fit and in excellent health, often in remote alpine areas and sometimes reaching altitudes in excess of 5000m/18,000ft. Here we include all Tibet trips primarily because of the rigors of the climate and overall altitude, varying between Lhasa, at 3,700m/12,000ft., to high pass crossing, by vehicle or on foot in excess of 5,000m/16,000ft.

ALPINE

Extremely demanding treks sometimes in very remote areas on rough terrain and perhaps including ( in Nepal) one or more of the so called 'trekking peaks' - maximum altitude, Mt. Mera at 6,461m/21,192ft. Participants should have at least a basic knowledge of use of crampons and ice axes, though first time climbers may be accepted on some of the so called 'easy' routes on these peaks. Medical certificates are required prior to acceptance on any climbing treks