TREK BRIEFING NOTES

What is provided during the trek: 

1.     Duffel Bag. Your porter will carry this bag. We recommend putting anything breakable at the top end of the bag.  You will see outside pockets in which the porters carry spare water bottles. Those pockets will indicate which side is the top. 

2.     Rain poncho and umbrella: As weather can be unpredictable, you should carry one or both of these items. Or you may prefer your own rain gear.

3.     Walking stick: A walking stick is useful on down hill sections because it helps take the weight off your knees.

4.     Daypack. We recommend putting in this bag: your camera, a sweatshirt, and any other items that you will need to get to during the day. If in the morning, the sky were clear, you would not need to carry your rain poncho in your daypack. Some people have their own daypacks that they prefer to use. This remains your choice.

5.     2 Water Bottles for each guest: We suggest you carry one in your daypack. Your porter will carry the other. If you have your own water bottle, your porter can refill the bottle as necessary. In the lodges, you can re-fill the water bottles from the large jugs of boiled and filtered water, located in the dining rooms or ask your porter to refill the bottles prior to departure for the day's trekking.

6.     Sun scarf and sun hat: These are for you to keep as a souvenir of the trip.

Issue and return of above items:  The duffel bag will be issued and collected in either Kathmandu or Pokhara depending on your program.  Items 2-5 will be issued in Pokhara before trek and collected in Pokhara after trek

Down jacket, wool hat, and wool gloves:  These items are kept in each of the lodge bedrooms and are available for your use, especially for cold evenings.

Packing list for the trek:

1 pair of trekking boots

3-4 T-shirts

1 pair of long trousers for evenings

1 pair of tracksuit trousers for cold evenings

1-2 pairs of shorts or skirts

3-5 pairs of thick socks

1 long-sleeved shirt

1 sweater, sweatshirt, or fleece (all 3 not required)

Toiletries

Slip on rubber sandals are kept in each of the rooms to wear around the lodges so that you do not have to pack spare shoes. You can wear your socks under these sandals.

There are small libraries in each lodge. Feel free to trade paper backs (except for reference material) so you do not need to pack more than one book.

Baggage left in Pokhara: Personal belongings not required on trek can be stored at either your Pokhara hotel or our Pokhara office.

Laundry while trekking:  There is a free laundry service in each lodge. However, the length of your stay and the weather will determine whether your clothes can dry.

Electricity:  Power is provided by generators, which are switched on at dusk and remain on until 21:30. However, at the Himalaya Lodge, there is hydro-electricity and at the Basanta Lodge, mains power is provided from the Pokhara valley. Generators are used as a back up when village electricity is not available. Power is sufficient to recharge video batteries (power is 220 volts) but is insufficient for hair dryers.  Sockets require a plug with 2 round pins.

What you should wear during the day: We recommend shorts for men and skirts for women, with T‑shirts.  Lightweight long trousers are also okay for men or women. Villagers are used to seeing women trekkers in shorts, however they appreciate women who wear skirts. If it is cold when you set off in the morning, you can wear your sweat pants over your shorts or under your skirt.

First Aid Kit:  Your guide carries a comprehensive first aid kit; however, if you brought your own first aid kit, please carry it with you as well as any prescription medications you may have brought from home.  If you have any first-aid supplies left at the end of your trip and you would like to donate these to the local people, please give them to a Ker & Downey staff member who will distribute accordingly.

Showers in the Lodges: Most showers in Nepal consist of 3 taps on the wall:  the middle one for the pressure and the left and right for hot and cold water. Each room has its own hot water supply.  Please be considerate of your roommate by not taking a long shower.  Please check that the water is hot enough by running the sink water for a few minutes before showering.  If there is a problem, please contact your guide.

What is provided in all Lodge rooms: Boiled and filtered water, towels, soap, flashlights, and candles.  You may prefer your own flashlight if it has a strong bulb.

What is included in Pokhara and on trek:  Your guide will brief you on the above.

Toilet facilities while trekking: Hiding behind a bush or rock is the norm. Where a village outhouse is available, please do not throw the paper down the toilet. Please bring your own toilet paper along with plastic bags in which to keep any used toilet paper.  (You can discard the paper in the lodges.) 

Timings for the trek: Your guide will inform you what time you will set off each day. Generally, you will trek about 5-6 hrs per day with a picnic lunch mid-way through..

Money needed while trekking: The amount required for shopping will vary from person to person.  You will see interesting souvenirs along the way. Perhaps the equivalent of US$100 (in Nepalese rupees) will be enough.

Tipping:  We would like to suggest the following guidelines (although it remains at your discretion):

Trek porters:  500 rupees per person (1 porter carries 2 guests' belongings, so each porter would receive a total of 1000 rps)

Trek guide:  500-1000 rupees per person

Lodge tip box:  100 rupees per person, per night

Driver and assistant: 600 rupees per group or 100 rupees for private transfers

US $1 = approximately 75 Nepalese Rupees, UKŁ = approximately 120 Nepalese Rupees,