How does it work? How does a typical day trekking in Nepal unfold? The answers to these questions will depend largely on the type of expedition you are on and the level of service you’ve signed up for. Trekking agencies vary greatly. Some will provide fantastic food, great accommodation, professional guides and their trips will be operated around solid safety protocols. Others will be operating on a shoe-string budget will little regard for their clients and staff. When it comes to trekking in Nepal you get what you pay for. If the price is incredibly cheap there will be a good reason for it and you probably won’t find out until it’s too late.
So how does a typical day trekking in Nepal with Trek Climb Ski Nepal unfold? We’ll assume that we’re on an Everest Base Camp Trek and we’re camping. Learn more about this trek.
Breakfast
6:30 am: Around this time you’ll be greeted at the door of your tent by our guides with a hot cup of tea or coffee. They’ll also bring you a large bowl of warm water for an early morning wash. It’s your job now to pack your clothing and personal belongings into your kit bag so our porters can collect them at around 7.00 am. It’s important our porters can take your bags early so as to have them at your destination by the time you arrive.
We should mention that trekking in Nepal with us is a lot of fun!
7:00 am: Our porters will collect your kit bags and our kitchen team will have your breakfast ready. Depending on where we are staying, we’ll eat breakfast in one of our large dining tents on in the dining room of the lodge we’re camping at. While you’re enjoying a hearty breakfast, our guides will be taking down and packing your tents along with our other camping equipment. You just need to eat your brekky, clean your teeth and be sure your day-pack is ready to go.
7:30 am: We usually try to be on the trail by around 7.30 am most days. This allows us plenty of time to reach our next destination without rushing and provides ample opportunity to explore things along the way, and of course to take plenty of photographs. Trekking in Nepal at lower altitudes can also be quite warm so an early start to the day also helps us to avoid the afternoon heat. We always enjoy a break for morning tea at around 10:00 am which involves tea, coffee, biscuits or even soup and noodles if you’d prefer.
Lunch
12.00 – 1.00 pm: Our aim almost every trekking day is to arrive at our daily destination for lunch. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, most expeditions trekking in Nepal take place at moderate to high altitude. An important part of a safe acclimatisation process requires regular food and liquid intake. Sure we could stop for lunch whenever we need to eat but adequate rest is also a crucial part of an effective acclimatisation schedule. Gradually ascend, drink, eat, drink, eat and rest. This is (and should be) the cornerstone of every day trekking at altitude. So we start early with plenty of rest, snacks and fluids along the way and then we stop for lunch and have a solid rest at the same time. Our tents and camping facilities will always be set-up and in place when you arrive at your daily destination. Our porters will also have your kit-bag ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
3.30 pm: Another important component of a safe acclimatisation is to trek high and sleep low. We’ve found over many years that this strategy really helps to “bullet-proof” our acclimatisation process. So after lunch – and after everyone has had plenty of time to rest up after the morning’s trek – we’ll usually suggest a slow and steady walk ascending up around another vertical 300m. This will be to a point of interest or a high point providing great views. After spending 20 – 30 minutes at the high point we’ll return to our campsite for a little more R & R before dinner… acclimatisation walk completed. Afternoon tea is always provided before or after our acclimatisation walk.
Dinner during a typical day trekking in Nepal
6.00 pm: Dinner time is the ideal time to reflect on the days trek and to enjoy the company of our guides, porters and fellow trekkers. We’ll tell stories, work on our Nepalese, check our maps, complete our travel journals and prepare to do it all again the following day. We’ll enjoy a hot cuppa around the fire or an old pot-belly stove and marvel at the mountains and the incredibly clear and starry skies above us.
7.30 – 8.30 pm: Not many people trekking to Everest Base Camp are up much later than 8.30 pm. The days are exciting and rewarding but getting from A to B each day is nearly always tiring. Some days are easier than others but the challenge is what makes trekking in Nepal, especially a trek to Everest Base Camp, the fulfilling adventure it is. The reality is, a typical day trekking in Nepal probably doesn’t exist. The fact they are always so different is what lures us back time and time again.
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