Nepal before going to Australia

Hi

No camping gear is needed for EBC; it's a lodge trek just like ABC.

scoodly

I don't know this for a fact but I assume that the costs given by scoodly would go down if you had a group of people (i.e. the guide costs $25 a day including food, accommodation...etc. If your trekking alone that's $25 if you find a couple other people it'll be a bit more. Also don't forget tips.
another thing, scoodly, you mention the flights for the guide, is not possible to arrive in Lukla and organise a guide there?

Hi Toad

Yes, a guide's cost is shred among the group (and a porter will carry for two, usually). Hiring a guide at Lukla is possible but there are some things to consider; strictly speaking it's against the regulations to hire on the trail and there are not many licensed guides look for work and it's difficult to 'interview' them (the right guide can really make a trek, the wrong one...). Finally, in the rare event things go wrong there will be little back up unlike hring from an agent in KTM where there is recourse to TAAN and the tourist police.

All that said, it works for some people; the daily rate is sometimes cheaper than in KTM and, as you say, no airfare to pay. If hiring at a trail head, not just Lukla, it's a good idea to agree staged payments to prevent a possible run-out.

scoodly

Hello!
Thank you for all the replies.
If I were to do a trek I was thinking of going on the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.
(http://www.nepalhikingteam.com/ghorepani-poon-hill-trek.php)
Is it better to go on a tour like this one or is it something I can do with a guide?

Hi Olivia

Tours like that work for some people but independent travel in Nepal is cheaper and very easy. The Poon Hill trek is about a straightforward as it gets and a guide is not required by the regulations or from a practical point of view.

If a organised tour is preferred it is almost always cheaper to book when in KTM even in high season. It's hard to say whether $750 os a good price because it does not say which hotels are used or the mode of transport between KTM and Pokhara. But, if only as a reference, is the cost of this trip and trek done independently:

Taxi to and from the airport - $15

3 nights in a budget hotel - $45

Sightseeing trip by taxi $25 (best guess) plus entrance fees

Tourist bus KTM to Pokhara, say $15 - better for meeting people than a hired car. Same back

Two nights hotel in Pokhara - $40 (similar standards are slightly more expensive than KTM).

TIMS card $20, ACAP ticket about $25

Bus to/from Naya Pul - $5 each way (best guess)

Food and accommodation on the trek $25 x 5

That's about $320 plus entrance fees and meals in KTM and Pokhara.

A guide and porter hired privately will be about $40 per day, so add $220 for days including bus fares for a comparable total of $540, a saving of over $200. A guide is not required, nor is a porter for averagely fit people (not much kit is needed for this trek in October). If you did want these, consider a porter/guide, who will carry kit and guide to a sort of trainee level, for $20 per day.

If an prganised trek is your preference, use a Pokhara based outfit to save paying for the guide's travel costs and time to and from KTM.

scoodly

Guys ..thanks for all the useful info , and has given me lots of ideas...will also think about the Anapurna Circuit also ....thats good that I will not need to puchase lots of cold weather gear given that nights will be in lodges. Either way it looks like I will decide on which trek to take when I arrive over in KTM and see if i can locate other individuals to join me to split the costs ....if not I will just head off on small trek and see where it takes me....

Thank you so much for all of that information scoodly!
I might actually just go to Nepal in that case. I wasn't aware that the Poon Hill Trek is something I can go on my own.
Where do you hire a porter and a guide? I was hoping to be with female staff members just because I feel alittle bit safer that way.

I will not need to puchase lots of cold weather gear given that nights will be in lodges

Don't expect the lodges to be very warm. You may not need as much cold weather gear as you would camping, but you will still need warm clothes and warm sleepwear (or sleep in your clothes.) If you only need warm clothes for the trek, you can rent clothes in KTM or Pokhara, or buy them cheaply then give them away after the trek.

Hi Olivia

Yes, PH can be done on your own; the route is obvious and locals will put you right should it be needed (they know where you are going), in October there will be lots of other trekkers. Food and accommodation are easy to arrange - the lodges are on the trail side with menus in English and the lodge owners speak English. The bureaucracy is not difficult - it's a short walk from the main tourist area in Pokhara to where the papers are issued (if trekking without a guide)

There are lots of trekking agencies in Pokhara, most are concentrated on Lakeside and at it's simplest it's a case of walking in and hiring a guide and porter. These general agencies might be able to offer female 'staff' but it could take more time. There is an outfit that specialises in female guides and porters - 3 Sistersthan - it is very succesful but there are some concerns about their ethics. Rather walking up, I think the better approach is to contact a few agencies in advance, to see what they have to offer, draw up a short list to visit when in Pokhara, negotiate and meet potential guides before deciding.

Pokhara agencies:

http://taanpokhara.org/members-directory.php

scoodly

Jool, Toad , Scooty....(& anyone else) Was going to start a new post but think you guys may be able to offer me some sound advice.....

Ok so the story goes....Have been working hard over the past year and half to save up every penny for my year long adventures which iam about to start in Sept 2013...the thing is I seemed to have lost my enthusiasm and beginning to question why the hell I would do such a thing...I originally was supposed to travel 6 months ago however due to work commitments I had to delay my trip resulting in me having to cancel flights (lost lots of $$$) which I guess has added to my overall frustration...Look I know iam very privileged to have the health , time and $$ to embark upon such an adventure which some people can only dream off however despite all of this I still cant seem to picture what the hell I am going to do for the whole 12 months without actually working . I am so used to living a really hectic work schedule and seem to think I may regret sacrificing certain aspects of my life to fulfil this lifelong goal ... Sorry for going about it but this is getting me down and can’t seem to find any real long terms positive outcomes for this trip! Iam not clinically depressed (I hope!) I just seem to have lost my mojo and can’t see the woods for the trees!

Any suggestions or words of wisdom from you guys! Greatly appreciated!

Bye the way I land in BKK single ticket and then plan to hit the SEA area / India/Nepal/ Bali/OZ/NZ etc…