Short trek with great views for "older" people

Altitude is not the problem for older people, as they tend for some unknown reason handle the thin air better than younger people. Anyway, in a week you can not get all that high anyway, so the classic Poon Hill with Landruk-Tolka-Dhampus exit would fit the bill nicely, just about a week KTM-KTM. Helambu is close to the te capital, but I have not been there personally, there must be some nice less-than-a-week routes there also. It is just a question of general fitness, and attitude.

Consider the Tamang Heritage Trek in the Langtang area. There are several loops that you can do that could vary your actually trekking time from 3 to 7 days. There's the Helambu Circuit, a 6 day trek start/finishing at Sundarijal, Kiul, or Thimbu. Consider a lowland Everest Base Camp trek - trek up to Namche, over to Khumjung, Phortse and then back or over to Tengboche and down.

I agree with Petrus concerning altitude, general fitness, and attitude. I've met many trekkers in their 70's and 80's. They do just fine. They go at their own pace and enjoy the journey. Since older people tend to trek slower and not go as far each day, they usually do fine with altitude. They ascend slowly which is the key to good acclimatization. Often, it's the young and super fit that get into trouble with altitude because they feel strong and invincible. They just ascend too rapidly. I think that general fitness and attitude is the most important. Enjoy your trip to Nepal.

Have you considered taking a jeep or flying to Phaplu and then walking back to Jiri? The rhododendrons were spectacular last month on both sides of the Lamjura La and while it's a reasonable climb I'm 58, overweight, not terribly fit, and managed without a problem.

Eric
My travel blog https://wanderingeric.org

Agree with the posts above.

Apologies if I am stating the obvious, but do bear in mind that there is no need to be trekking every day, or most of the day (as above). You can take rest days, half days and so on. Though I have done some long days, I have also taken a rest day on just about all my treks, usually to keep a cold from getting worse. People seem to tend to overlook this, and feel that they have to be trekking everyday, and sticking to an itinerary - I never have precise itineraries, just an idea of what I would like to do, and then I see how things go.

You could also look at staying a few days in 1 location, and doing day walks from there - there are lots of really great day walks on most of the treks in Nepal. Itinerary focused people tend to walk right past some wonderful day walks, without even being aware of same.

Thank you so much Petrus.
I have done Langtang and Helambu and it is very nice (in 1996)
Jiggy

Thanks much Eric,

How were the views on this trek??
I have done Jiri to Gokyo Ri but I was 30 years younger at the time!!
I love the area so this is a very good idea. Let me know if you have
any more advice and I will try and read your blog soon
Jiggy

Thank you so much Tomtraveller
I will look into this. I did Langtang in 1996 but it
is worth looking into this possibility.

Where do you start the lowland Everest trek?? Jiri??
thanks much
Jiggy

NOW you are talking!!!
I like the day hike idea a lot.

ALso of course the rest days.

Not a problem for me, but my other half as a JOB and is going to
be pushed for the time off for what I figure is going to end up being almost
a month. (I on the other hand am retired)
DO appreciate the input
Have a great day
Jiggy

Hi Jiggy,
The views are good but you have to keep in mind that the way I suggested means you walk away from the Everest Area rather than towards it. In my case, the reason to walk towards Jiri was dictated by the need to catch an International flight on the last day of April and I flew to Lukla then started walking from there. You can't always guarantee that the planes are flying in Nepal but you can be sure that the bus will be going.
I took nine days from Lukla but had one day in Kharikhola where I sat in the sun and read a book and another day in Junbesi where I had been invited to a school opening and the accompanying festivities.
For me the highlight this time were the rhododendron forests that were in full bloom with both sides of the Lamjura La a sea of color. I trekked independently without using a guide or a porter but that's just because I'm a grumpy old guy that likes to do things his own way. If you want to engage porters you should be able to pick them up easily at Lukla or Phaplu. As an alternative to Jiri, you can now also take a bus back to Kathmandu from Bhandar and Shivalaya and by next year April from Kinja. In case you are wondering the trail steers clear from the roads most times but does occasionally cross them. As a budget indicator, I spent around USD 20 per day, drank a lot of tea but no alcohol and ate whatever I fancied from the menu.

Eric
My travel blog https://wanderingeric.org