Destination Guide - Nepal

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
1	Nepal, Everest Base Camp, Trekking (19 Days)

There is no greater mountain than Everest, the world’s highest peak at (29,028ft/8848m). This special departure is to Everest Base Camp, the foot of the mighty Everest summit. After exploring Kathmandu., We fly to Lukla where we begin 16-day trek through Sherpa country. We hike along cultivated fields and through small villages, through the Khumbu Valley, savouring the high mountain views from our selected campsites.

We follow the Dudh Kosi before the hard work begins as we climb up to Namche Bazaar. There are rest days at the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar and Dingboche village, set below the spectacular peak of Ama Dablam to take in the festival and help adjust to the altitude. Once we reach Loboche, the temperatures will have dropped and we’ll be walking amongst icy rivers in a winter wonderland. From here, it’s the stretch to Base Camp and lastly the final highlight, Kalar Patar (18,300 ft/5545m) with intoxicating views of Everest and the Khumbu Glacier cascading below. This trek is designed to fulfill the dream of many trekkers to experience the historic route to the base of the world’s highest mountain.

Official Name: Kingdom of Nepal
Population: 26.5 million
Capital City: Kathmandu
Language: Nepali
Religion: 90% Hindu, 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% Other
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
Time: GMT plus 5.75 hours
Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz (http://www.kropla.com)
Airport Departure Tax: $27 USD (subject to change)

IMPORTANT FACTS
Travel Documents
Citizens from Canada and the US require a valid passport and a visa. Citizens of other nations should check with their nearest Nepalese Embassy for entry requirements. You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of your trip in order to enter Nepal.

A visa is required for Canadian and US citizens . This can be obtained in advance or on arrival. If purchasing upon arrival, you will need one passport photo and payment in cash (US dollars are best). Single-entry tourist visas cost $40 USD for up to 30 days, or $100 USD if you require multiple entry.

Climate
Nepal has a monsoonal climate with four main seasons. They are as follows:
June to September – heavy monsoonal rains with the mountain peaks often lost in the clouds.
October to December – this is the best season to visit the mountains. The weather is clear and cool.
January to March – the temperature is cold and often drops below 0’C at night. At higher elevations the weather is extremely cold and snow may fall.
April to June – the weather is dry and warm. There is an abundance of blooming flowers in the Himalayas.

Food and Drink
The Nepali national meal is daal bhaat tarkaari (spiced lentils, boiled rice and vegetable curry). This is served in most Nepalese homes and teahouses. The meal is often accompanied by dahl (yogurt) and a small helping of ultra-spicy fresh chutney. Traditionally this meal is eaten with the right hand.

Many dishes are Tibetan in origin and not very spicy. Some dishes to look for include momos, a meat or vegetable dumpling similar to Chinese pot-stickers, and Tibetan bread and honey, a puffy fried bread with heavy raw honey.

Nepal also has a large tea growing industry. Most plantations are located in the east of the country and the type of tea grown is very similar to that produced in neighboring Darjeeling.

Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations for Nepal, however there are some recommended ones including tetanus, typhoid, polio and Hepatitis A. We advise you to contact your nearest travel clinic for information on health requirements, as this information can and does change frequently. A good website for current information is The Centre for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel/.

Suggested Reading List
The Snow Leopard – by Peter Matthiessen, A vivid memoir of a five- week journey through Nepal in search of the elusive snow leopard.
Into Thin Air –by Jon Krakauer. Climber and journalist Krakauer reconstructs his account of what went wrong on Mt. Everest in 1996.
Trekking in the Everest Region: Includes Kathmandu City Guide – by Jamie McGuinness
Everest Base Camp Adventure Map – by National Geographic
Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalayas – by Stan Armington
Lonely Planet Nepali Phrasebook – by Mary-Jo O’Rourke

Destination Guide - Nepal

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