Trekking in Nepal rewards trekkers with enchanting scenery and exhilarating experiences. The country offers several trekking routes. Destinations such as Everest Base Camp, Manaslu Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp and many others are located in Nepal.
Trekking to these scenic places is exciting and rewarding. However, trekking activities also include risks of their own.
The rugged terrain, remote location and high altitudes are some challenges of trekking. Thus, careful preparation and awareness are required to be prepared for these challenges. Besides, unpredictable weather is one of the common features of the Himalayas. Natural hazards like avalanches, landslides and sudden snowstorms can occur at any time, especially in high altitude areas.
Thus, you must follow safety tips for your well-being. You can tackle the trek’s difficulty efficiently by following safety tips. Proper acclimatization, keeping yourself hydrated, proper packing, and observing signs of weather changes will ensure a smooth journey in the Himalayas.
5 Tips for High Altitude Treks of Nepal
Physical and Mental Preparation
Physical Preparation: All the high-altitude treks in Nepal, such as Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Kanchenjunga Trek and Manaslu Circuit Trek demand good physical fitness. Cardiovascular endurance and strength are essential for tackling long walking hours, steep ascents and maintaining effective trek preparation.
You can begin training at least 2-3 months before the trek. The cardiovascular exercises you can incorporate are, running, stair climbing, swimming, cycling, etc. Likewise, strength training exercises like planks, deadlifts, lunges and Squats also help to enhance muscle strength. In addition, you can hike in nearby hilly areas to be familiar with the demands of the trek.
Mental Preparation: During the high-altitude treks, there are certain share of discomforts that you can face. Generally, fatigue, cold and remoteness are some major challenges that you have to deal with.
However, by following proper techniques for mental preparation you can tackle the difficulty efficiently. You can follow these tips to be mentally prepared for the trek:
- Be realistic. You should know about the difficulty of the trek and set achievable goals to be mentally prepared for the challenges.
- Be patient and understand that high altitude treks present certain challenges and may not always go as planned. Besides, trekking comprises some risk factors such as delays and weather changes. Thus, stay flexible to make changes when required.
- Visualize yourself completing the trek smoothly to increase your confidence and stay motivated.
- Ensure good communication with fellow trekkers or the trekking team. It will help in increasing morale.
- Practice breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness.
- Have a positive mindset. Make sure to enjoy the journey at the moment rather than worrying about obstacles. Think about the rewards that you will get once you make it to your destination.
Ensure Acclimatization
The possibility of the occurrence of altitude sickness is the primary risk of trekking at high altitudes. Thus, you should be attentive to how your body is reacting at high altitude Himalayas. Some symptoms of altitude sickness include appetite loss, trouble sleeping, dizziness, exhaustion, headache, vomiting and nausea. Proper acclimatization can minimize this risk and ensure a smooth journey.
A well designed itinerary with rest in certain locations can help trekkers acclimatize to low oxygen levels at high altitudes and minimize the possibility of altitude complications. During high altitude treks like Everest Base Camp Trek, the acclimatization days are set on Namche Bazaar or Dingboche. Likewise, Manang is a popular acclimatization stop during the Annapurna Circuit Trek. During acclimatization day trekkers generally visit nearby scenic destinations to adjust to the higher altitudes.
Some techniques for acclimatization include:
- Stay Hydrated and have nutritious meals.
- Trek at a gradual pace.
- You can take medications to reduce altitude sickness after consulting with your doctor about their dose and use.
- Move to lower zones if symptoms persist or appear.
- Follow the proper schedule of acclimatization days mentioned in your itinerary.
Choose the Right Season For Trek
Selecting the right time is essential for every high-altitude trek of Nepal. The best time for trekking in Nepal falls in the pre monsoon Spring season from March to May and post monsoon Autumn from September to November. During these peak trekking seasons, the weather usually is stable and trekking trails are dry. The skies at this period remain vivid rewarding trekkers with excellent visibility.
The blooming rhododendrons and varied wildflowers are the notable highlights of trekking in spring. While in autumn the crisp air, crystal clear blue skies and beautiful views of snowy peaks attract several trekkers. Furthermore, in these high trekking seasons there is less possibility of heavy snow or rainfall, affecting the journey or causing delays. Thus, these seasons are perfect for trekking. Along with trekking, these seasons also are perfect for incredible aerial adventures like the Everest Helicopter Tour and the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour.
Trekking in the off-seasons like the summer/ monsoon period from (June to August) and winter time (December to February) can also be rewarding but is also challenging. Going for treks in summer/ monsoon and winter can be peaceful as the popular trekking regions are less crowded. In summer/ monsoon the lush scenery can be seen along with beautiful clouds and misty mountains. Likewise, the winter presents exceptional views of snow covered peaks. However, the challenges should also be analyzed.
The heavy rainfall during summer/ monsoon makes trails slippery. In addition, the leeches in lower altitudes can add to the discomfort. During winter, the Himalayan regions are extremely cold, and high-altitude trails may be close or difficult to pass through because of heavy snowfalls. You will require proper gear and excellent preparation to ensure a rewarding journey in these off-seasons.
As the objective of trekkers is generally enjoying the views and having a smooth journey, trekking in spring and autumn is advisable.
Stay Flexible
It is very important to be flexible with your itinerary plans during high altitude treks. You should understand sometimes things may not happen as exactly as planned. Weather delays, altitude sickness or unexpected fatigue may require changes in the itinerary. So, it is very important to have an extra day in your schedule.
You should be prepared for delays and be flexible with the adjustment of itineraries. Adapting to unexpected changes ensures a safer trekking experience.
Ensure Hydration and Nutrition
Staying hydrated and ensuring a proper diet including nutritious meals is a must during the high altitude treks in Nepal. Dehydration can make altitude symptoms get worse. Thus, you should drink enough water during the trek.
Likewise, nutrition is the key to maintaining energy during high altitude treks. You will need to have balanced meals to have the stamina for very long days of trekking. Snacking between meals with nuts, dried fruits and energy bars is also necessary to maintain high energy. Ensuring that you are drinking at least 3 to 4 liters of water daily and having nutritious meals you can maintain good trekking performance and stay fit throughout the journey.
Additional Tips
- Pack all essentials making a checklist according to the weather of the specific time you are planning to trek.
- If you are trekking high altitude peak like Mera Peak, Island Peak, Lobuche peak other climbing equipment is required.
- Check the weather forecast regularly.
- Walk only through marked trails.
- Learn about your trekking itinerary and routes.
- Carry a First Aid Kit and an extra supply of food.
- Trek with guides and porters from a registered and reputed trekking company
- Bring a Trek Route Map.
