| Trekking in the Himalayas can be a great, even | | | | great way to get away from the beaten track |
| life-changing experience. Good planning of your | | | | and avoid the crowd of other trekkers. But it |
| trekking trip increases your chances of a | | | | requires a lot more gear. In places like the Nepal |
| successful trekking trip. Go through this little check | | | | Himalayas, it is easy to go on a tea-house trek |
| list to make sure you remember some of the | | | | where you will be staying in family-run lodges |
| essentials in your planning. | | | | along the route. Typically, these village lodges / |
| 1. Trekking alone or together with others | | | | tea-houses are found up to 4000 meters / |
| As a general idea, trekking alone in the Himalayas | | | | 13,500 feet altitude and are open all year round. |
| is not advisable. The main drawback is that in | | | | 4. Best time to trek in the Himalayas |
| case of an accident or a sudden bout of altitude | | | | Trekking in the Himalayas can actually be done all |
| sickness, you can be stranded for days far away | | | | year round. But the best time to trek is usually |
| from civilization. You usually can't just pick up a | | | | considered September-October-November for the |
| phone and call for help. But it is possible to trek | | | | southern side of the Himalayas, and |
| alone. The best thing about trekking alone is that | | | | July-August-September for the northern side of |
| you will be in complete control of when and | | | | the Himalayas, also known as the trans-Himalayas. |
| where you stop for a break, camp or settle in for | | | | Trekking in the winter season, |
| the night. On the popular trekking routes you can | | | | December-January-February is also a good option, |
| usually talk with other trekkers and locals. To | | | | as there won't be so many other trekkers and |
| avoid trekking alone, ask for trekking partners on | | | | the weather is mostly clear. But you need to be |
| some of the online trekking forums. You can also | | | | prepared for high mountain passes that are closed |
| hire a guide to go with you. | | | | for days or weeks due to heavy snow fall. So if |
| 2. Trekking with a guide | | | | you are on a tight schedule, you may have to |
| Especially if it is your first trek, a guide can be a | | | | abort your trek during this season. |
| good idea. You just need to make sure that it is a | | | | March-April-May-July (pre-monsoon) is generally |
| good guide who understands and respects your | | | | considered the second-best time for trekking in |
| wishes. If possible, a face-to-face meeting with a | | | | the Himalayas. The weather is usually good, |
| guide prior to trekking is always advisable. In | | | | although it can be a bit hazy. |
| many parts of the Himalayas, a local guide can be | | | | 5. Trekking style |
| hired without having to pay a fortune. | | | | If you are trekking with friends or other people, |
| 3. Camping trek vs. tea-house trek | | | | make sure you all agree on your common |
| If you bring your own camping gear on a trek, or | | | | 'trekking style'. Are you going quickly or slowly? |
| if you are booking a camping trek through a | | | | Are you following the trails or will you be doing |
| trekking agency, you will have extra possibility of | | | | off-trail expedition style trekking? Are you doing |
| exploring the more remote mountain areas. It is a | | | | lightweight trekking or carrying a lot of 'extras'? |