| Few places in the whole world can match the | | | | suffer from. Typically this does not affect people |
| sheer beauty and fascinating culture of Nepal. | | | | until they're over 10,000 feet, though so if you're |
| Adventure travellers rave about it, and more and | | | | sticking to lower treks you should be fine. If you |
| more people are preparing for the first trek | | | | are planning on heading over 10,000 feet for the |
| based on the positive reviews of others. The | | | | first time, the bad news is that there's no way of |
| trouble is, trekking in Nepal isn't as simple as | | | | knowing if you suffer from altitude sickness until |
| booking a beach holiday or taking a city break - | | | | you see the first symptoms. The best advice |
| it's a serious undertaking that requires a lot of | | | | therefore is to move to higher altitudes slowly |
| thought and preparation. Fortunately, the rewards | | | | over a period of days, which will give your body |
| exceed these negatives, so beginners should not | | | | the chance to acclimatise. If you find you are |
| be put off! Here's a list of things you should know | | | | suffering, the solution is to move to a lower |
| before you go trekking in Nepal for the first time... | | | | elevation - which you should do if you begin to |
| When to go? | | | | recognise the symptoms: nausea, dizziness, |
| Spring or autumn are without a doubt the best | | | | headaches and/or insomnia. |
| times to go trekking in Nepal. It's around 15 to 25 | | | | What to take? |
| degrees centigrade in spring, and between 10 and | | | | A fairly common question is what sort of clothes |
| 15 degrees in autumn. Which of these you pick | | | | travellers need to take for a Nepal trek. The key |
| depends on your own tastes - in spring, the | | | | to being comfortable for your trek is layers: |
| forest's flora is in full bloom, while autumn's clear | | | | Always be able to add and remove clothes as |
| skies present unparalleled mountain views. | | | | you need and you should be fine, no matter what |
| As for the other months, winter is just too cold | | | | the weather throws at you. Hiking shorts and |
| for most tastes - well below freezing at nights on | | | | trousers with T shirts and sun hats should see |
| higher elevations. Summer would be ideal, if it | | | | you fine at lower altitudes. If your Nepal trek |
| weren't monsoon season - 80% of the country's | | | | takes you above 10,000 feet, you will want to |
| rainfall is between the months of June and | | | | bring insulated trousers, gloves and a strong |
| September, so it's best to be avoided! | | | | jacket. |
| Where to go? | | | | When you're out there... |
| The most important thing is to not overstretch | | | | The last thing you want to do on your Nepal |
| yourself in Nepal. Trekking is not for the faint of | | | | trekking holiday is to cause offence to the locals. |
| heart (both figuratively and literally!), and you can't | | | | To that end, there are some local customs, and |
| just head up Everest on your first trip! That said, | | | | rules that you should be aware of. Pointing is |
| all of Nepal's trekking regions have areas that are | | | | considered rude (both at people and statues), |
| suited to beginners. The best advice here is to | | | | shrines and Chorten should be passed in a |
| not overstretch yourself, and to find a tour | | | | clockwise direction and hand shaking is not the |
| operator who clearly outlines the strenuousness | | | | norm when greeting new people - putting the |
| of their routes. Do a little research and you should | | | | palms together in a 'praying style' is expected. |
| be able to strike up the right balance between | | | | There are also various rules to do with the feet - |
| difficulty and pleasure fairly easily. | | | | stepping over the feet of someone is considered |
| Before you go? | | | | rude and shoes should be removed upon entering |
| Above all else, it's important to make sure you | | | | someone's home or any of the shrines. One of |
| have the proper vaccinations before you head out | | | | the oddest customs is to not stand next to |
| to Nepal. These include Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, | | | | someone who is eating, while it is perfectly |
| Tetanus and Rabies vaccinations. You may have | | | | acceptable to sit or kneel next to said person. |
| had some or all of these before, but in the case | | | | If you follow this advice, and you have an |
| of Rabies and Tetanus, they have a time limit on | | | | appreciation of natural beauty, you're bound to |
| their effectiveness. | | | | get hooked. Fortunately, there are many excellent |
| The next big concern is what to drink. It's best to | | | | Nepal trekking routes, and no two are ever the |
| boil or purify any water you get locally, as drinking | | | | same. You won't be able to resist visiting time and |
| unclean water will really ruin your experience! | | | | time again... |
| Finally there's altitude sickness, which some people | | | | |