trek

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<hr>Apart from the altitude, it's an easy trek, it follows a valley, thery are no high passes.<hr></blockquote>Whether you consider them passes or not there are long steep climbs. Jorsale to Namche and from the river to Tengboche are examples. Nevertheless anyone with reasonable fitness and mental determination can do it. The main issue is not to ascend too quickly.

Do you think it's necessary to go with a tour group?
The main reason for me doing so would be to meet fellow travellers and to make friends. However, my best friend has expressed an interest in coming with me, so I guess if there were two of us we wouldn't need to join a group.
What do you reckon?
Cheers,
Katy

It is best to go with somebody but I wouldn't recommend a group, just hire a guide and maybe a porter instead of going alone. Many people, even women, do go alone but the general consensus on this forum is that it may not be a good idea, especially for women. If you start alone or with a guide you will have no problem meeting people. Most trekkers follow the same schedule so you end up seeing the same people over and over, after a couple days you start arranging tea stops and guest houses for that night and suddenly your in a group. You'll even meet people on the bus/plane to the trailhead, that happened to me n two different treks and I ended up trekking with them alot. If you don't want to rely on chance there are places in Pokhara and Kathmandu where people advertise looking for trekking partners, you can try there. I forget the names but theres a bakery in Thamel where there is a board and also the ACAP office (where you get trekking permits/info) also has a place.

Petrus, the moderator removed the post I was referring to. I used to be #6, and the one right above me was a blatant advertiser. They are finally yanking posts that are not helpful ones, but just trolling for business.

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<hr>They are finally yanking posts that are not helpful ones, but just trolling for business. <hr></blockquote>

Well, I think the mods need someone to point out touts' posts to them. I used to spend a lot of time on the SEAsia branch: there are a few regulars there who always report commercial posts, and they are always quickly removed. But this branch is pretty bad and pretty blatant: when I just casually mentioned the words 'trekking in Nepal', I found my PM Box was filled with unsolicited offers from guides.

Burntfoot, a joke...

I know! I haven't figured out really how to report posts in these forums. In the backpacker forums, there is a button on each thread similar to the ones in the top corner over here that we click to report a post to the moderator.

Two people with a guide and/or porter are fine. A porter can carry for two. Doing this allows you to set your own pace without the pressure from a group to maintain a set schedule. As moose_drool states, you tend to see the same people at night all along the route.

Katy,

The best way to get fit for doing the EBC trek is by getting out and hillwalking in somewhere like the Lake District. Go out on three or so consecutive days and do a longish walk of five to six hours on each one. This will get you used to walking day in and day out which you will do on trek.

Also, have a go at wearing a day pack with the sort of things you will be carrying in Nepal, wear the same sort of footwear too. Again it will give you a feel for what it will be like. You can't replicate the altitude but by going up and down inclines, and crossing some uneven path ways over rocks etc you will start to build the leg muscles up and attune your body for teh type of walking you will face in Nepal. The other thing it will do is give you confidence that you have prepared.

Enjoy Nepal!