As many of the details of the trip can be taken from the homepage I just want to refer to those points many people worry before they start such a trip:

Guides: Nepalese people are extremely friendly. I think I have never seen people so attentive as here! Our guide would always look around in our rooms to see if we forgot something. He would be the one making sure that food arrives on time, that whatever we needed was on the table and would not stop running around until we all had what we needed and were satisfied (he knew after a day how we drink our tees/ coffees and would steer them for us!). It seems like we in Europe really have forgotten what good service means! In addition they all are well trained for mountain emergencies and know the area as the back of their pockets.

The agency: I had never before booked such a trip by Internet nor using a local agency and rather relied to book my trips from home. However my experience with Himalayan Glacier Trekking really made me change my mind. After the first time I requested via their homepage information about the trip, they called me the day after in order to start planning. Everything went extremely smooth. We got exactly what we had planned for. We could make any extra wishes and adapt the tour to our needs. They picked us up at the airport and arranged everything for us so we could concentrate on the pure enjoyment of the trip. All guides spoke good English and new a lot about the history of Nepal, so we learned a lot. I would definitely recommend to use a local agency since by this the money stays in the country and helps further the people of Nepal vs. just being cashed in by any foreigner. The quality you get is at least the same if not much higher since they really know they’re country and combine this knowledge with Nepalese service ship.

Security: Even though Nepal has suffered in the past from significant political turmoil, the situation now has stabilized considerably. However tourists are extremely important for the countries income so they are protected from various sites. Crime rate is very low, so compared with many other poor countries it is very safe for tourists. This does not mean that you shouldn’t take care of your stuff.

Accommodation: Hiking up the valley to the base camp, one comes across several villages in which numerous hostels are available. So in case you don’t make the whole way you had planned for the day, there is most likely the possibility to stop earlier. All hostels have a similar standart: they are very simple but cozy. You get a single or double room with a bunk bed and mostly a window with a spectacular view. Each lodge has a living room where everyone gathers together around the oven and has dinner, chat, play cards, read etc. Most of them even offer hot showers for a small extra charge.

Food: The selection is very broad and there is something for every taste: pasta, rice dishes, potatoes, pizza, nepalese traditional. It is really amazing that being so far away from any civilization there is still such a big selection of food. Only meet lovers will miss something out since this is quite scarce

Additional sites to visit: Katmandu is a must. But besides that I would also highly recommend if you can take 1or 2 days extra to go and visit Patan and Baktapur, which are 2 cities close to Katmandu. If you have even a bit more time the Chitwan National Park, which is 4h drive from Katmandu is also definitely worth it. We stayed at a very nice hotel in the middle of the forest and from there made daily excursions riding an elephant to go Rhino watching (2h rides per day + boat trip). The result: at least 15 Rhinos, 1 Ganges crocodile, 8-10 deer , numerous monkeys and hundreds of amazing birds. The landscape is a mixture of different types of forests mixed with savanna.

I would recommend traveling either at the beginning of the season or at the end as it can get somewhat busy during the main season.

Please contact Himalayan Glacier if you wish to get my contact address and ask further questions regarding the trip.

Andrea
Switzerland
18 May 2007