Frequently
Asked Questions
What
is Himalayan Trekking?
A Responsible Adventures' trek is a small group adventure-walking
holiday. Experienced leaders accompanied by Sherpa guides lead
our treks. On average it involves 5-8 hours hiking per day,
including lunch stop somewhere on the trail. A common misconception
is that if you are a slow walker you may hold people back -
not so! Our leaders and guides will constantly remind you that
you are not on a race! During the day the group members often
'string out' and there will usually be an hour or so between
the first to arrive in camp and the last. You walk at your own
pace and stop when you feel like it. There will always be a
crew member at the front and rear ensuring no one gets lost.
What do I have to carry?
You carry only the items you need during the day, such as your
camera, water bottle and anorak in a light day sack; porters,
horses, mules or yaks carry the main luggage.
What
are the paths like?
Walking usually starts in highly cultivated foothills and works
its way upwards into the mountains. The routes are centuries
old village paths either on the floors of the valleys or gorges,
following ridge lines, passing through forests, contouring hillsides,
or crossing passes from one region to the next. They connect
villages and lead to remote monasteries, using suspension bridges
to cross-rivers. The longer, harder treks may cross glaciers
and snow covered passes. Occasionally you might wade small streams.
Where do we sleep and
who does the cooking?
On a camping trek you will be sleeping in a tent and eating
in a mess tent. The dining venues are also a place for evening
games, reading or writing diaries. Tables and chairs/stools
and a lantern/candles re supplied by us. There is a full team
of Sherpas/local staff to erect and dismantle tents. They cook,
serve meals, wash-up and produce hot water for washing and 'bed
tea'. They are great fun and invariably there are end of trek
parties with singing and dancing. They have a separate kitchen
tent and additionally there will be a toilet tent. There is
always plenty of food and our cooks have a wide repertoire of
local and European dishes. Special diets can be catered for.
On some of our treks we use 'tea houses' or hotels and lodges.
Will we meet local people?
Trekking is a wonderfully relaxing pursuit in the company of
like-minded people. It gives you a chance to make new friends,
and enables you to interact with local people, who will surely
invite you into their homes for yak-butter tea, or Chang (barley
beer). Himalayan tribes-people are open hearted, generous and
often display a mischievous sense of humor. The time in their
company is often one of the fondest memories you bring home.
Photography
The air in the mountains is so clear that it is ideal for capturing
those special memories. Sunsets and sunrises are often spectacular.
The remoteness and the thin air provide exceptional opportunities
for 'star gazing'.
Culture,
History and cities
Part and parcel of a trekking holiday is the raw excitement
of the atmosphere, sights and sounds of ancient capital cities.
Their very name fire the imagination: Kathmandu, Lhasa, Thimpu,
Gantok and the like. In cities we use 2-3 star hotels of character.
We use the best available. We have found that a little luxury
before and after the trek is always welcome. The history and
religions are an important facet of your trek; we certainly
recommend plenty of reading beforehand.
Mountain
flights and road journeys
A trekking holiday almost certainly involves a Himalayan road
journey or two, by private car, jeep or bus, and/or a flight
in a small aircraft close to main peaks. These are hugely exciting
in their own right.
Flexibility
Trekking is an adventurous pursuit in a Third World situation.
Our itineraries allow a degree of flexibility in case of roadblock
caused by landslide, breaking down of a vehicle, or cancellation
of flight due to bad weather. We aim to provide the highest
quality service available in the Himalaya, but one cannot legislate
for the unexpected. Anyone booking one of our treks should possess
a spirit of adventure, an easy going, laid back attitude and
a capacity for tolerance. Do not expect an itinerary cast in
stone; this by definition is definitely Adventure Travel.
Who's in-charge?
Experienced local leaders lead long treks into remote areas,
our belief is that no one knows the area better than a local.
Group Size
We only take a maximum of 12 clients per lodge trek, 16 clients
per camping treks and a maximum of 20 on tours such as Taste
of Nepal. Keeping the world recession in mind, we have lowered
our minimum group size from 6 to as small as 2 clients to avoid
inconvenience to our respected clientele. The new minimum size
is mentioned on each tour's headings.
Who
travels with us?
Many clients of ours have been coming from all walks of life.
The ages of our clients start from as young as mid 20s to their
60s and different nationalities although the medium of communication
is English. The vast difference in age groups have never proven
to be a problem as most people on trekking holidays are like-minded
questing for adventure and fun.
What
is the food like?
Meals are not included in the land cost on Our Journeys. We
endeavor to make your experience of the local cuisine as unique
and fascinating as the sights you'll see.
In addition to regional specialties, restaurants in the big
cities span the international spectrum and you'll find something
to suit every taste: Italian, French, Indian, American, Chinese
and Japanese. Coffee shops and restaurants in the major hotels
serve fairly authentic renditions of Western food.
On treks, your cook will prepare three hot meals a day with
tea and biscuits in the afternoon. Breakfast consists of hot
porridge, granola/cereal, pancakes, yogurt, coffee and tea.
Lunch is eggs, dried meats, sandwiches and vegetables. Dinner
starts with soup, followed by the main course and dessert.
Dinner fare incorporates Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan, Bhutanese
and Continental cuisines (depending on the region). Fresh
meat is infrequently served. Trekking meals are hearty and
basic. Main staples consist of rice, noodles (egg and wheat),
potatoes, lentils, eggs, cheese, nan (bread from the subcontinent
which resembles tortillas) and vegetables. Condiments such
as catsup, chili, chutney, peanut butter, jelly, sugar, salt
and pepper accompany every meal. If you are vegetarian or
have other dietary needs, please let us know so we can best
accommodate your request.
Whether you're on an overland cultural tour or a trekking
adventure, we recommend you bring a bag of goodies to snack
on. Choose items that pack and travel well, like crackers,
energy bars, chocolate, nuts and dried fruits.
Can special dietary requirements
be accommodated?
Usually it is no problem for us to meet special diet requirements.
Be sure to let us know of any restrictions when you sign up
for your trip.
What is the toilet situation?
In the cities, Responsible Adventures guests stay in 4- and 5-star hotels
that have Western-style private bathrooms. Guesthouse or yurt
accommodations on some of the more adventuresome trips into
rural areas may be more basic, such as shared bathroom facilities.
The group camping gear on our treks in Nepal, India and Tibet includes
toilet tent, with improvised "Western Seats".
These are secluded within a small tent, which is set away from
camp.
Public facilities, such as in restaurants, can be basic and
sometimes lack Western-style toilets. Be sure to take a packet
of tissues in your daypack for travel days. |
