Trekking in the Himalayas

--- Trekking is more enjoyable than climbing the peaks and offers spectacular scenic beauty.---

Trekking in Himalayas:

The Himalayas, over the centuries, have attracted trekkers, mountaineers, pilgrims and ascetics. Its rugged heights crowned with snow and draped in vast glaciers.

Below the snowline at 18,000 ft, nature appears to relent and from the austere magnificence of the heights brings down to a different world of cascading water falls, lush green forests, flower-bedecked meadows and a variety of flora and and fauna. Here the rivers flow clear blue and icy.

Here nestle small villages and hamlets with their diverse local customs, dances, folklore and architecture. The people are as vibrant as their surroundings and in many cases innocent of the sometimes dubious benefits of modern civilization.

Hill people are traditionally very hospitable and this adds pleasure to trekking in the Himalayas more than anywhere else.  Even at a height of 12,000 to 14,000 feet in secluded valleys, there are small village settlements tending their flocks of sheep and goats or herds of Yaks of nomadic shepherds and Gujjars. Even in the remote areas one can easily mix with the people and 'live off the land". 

Trekking is more enjoyable than climbing the peaks and offers spectacular scenic beauty.

It provides an opportunity to be in natural surroundings and to get away from the milling crowds of the cities.

Trekking in the Himalayas is now quite enjoyable and has become comparatively easy. There are difficult treks as well as easy treks, long and short treks. Vehicles, helicopters, Balloons and aircrafts are also available to explore the Himalayas. 

Stan Armington has rightly said that "Trekking is neither a wilderness experience nor is it a climbing trip". These mountain trails and high passes normally do not require any mountaineering skills or artificial climbing aids. Of course, at places, they are covered with snow and may have crevasses. However, these obstacles can usually be crossed without the aid of mountaineering equipment like ropes and pitons. There are only a few difficult treks which need mountaineering techniques or equipment. 

Food and Water:
While trekking, a common mistake that trekkers make is to drink water from open sources like streams and rivers. This should be avoided since the water may be contaminated and cause stomach disorders. Boiled water or tea should be consumed mostly to avoid dehydration. Water from regular supply schemes or taps may be used. In rare cases water from a spring source may be taken. Water sterilization tablets are useful during the treks to avoid stomach problems. Drinking water can also be treated with iodine tablets to further protect oneself.    

Similarly, food should be taken hot and fresh as far as possible. Cold and open food should be avoided as they can easily get contaminated due to flies and create stomach disorders.

We selected a number of wonderful treks in Himalayas - Mt. Everest,  Restricted areas in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and India Himalayas.

Enjoy trekking in the Himalayas!

Sherpas -- The Tigers of the Himalayas:

To trek in the Himalayas, you almost certainly will meet the Sherpas.

The Sherpas are among the most world-famous of Nepalese people. The world's highest-living population 

The Sherpas originally came from eastern Tibet, crossing the Nangpa La pass at 5,900 m (19,100 ft)  about five centuries ago. They settled in the Khumbu region, the gateway to Mt Everest from the southern side. The word "Sherpa" literally means people from the east. 

They practice the Tibetan form of Buddhism. Before coming into contact with western civilization, the Sherpas were simply farmers, yak herders and traders. 

For centuries, the Sherpas revered the great mountains of their region as dwelling places of gods and goddesses. Mount Everest is known in Tibetan as Qomolangma or Chomolangma, meaning goddess mother. 

It was during the pioneering British expeditions in the early part of the 20th Century that the Sherpas rose to prominence. During the first Everest expedition in 1921, the skill, expertise, honesty and dedication of the Sherpas impressed the English climbers.

From that point on, the Sherpas became an integral part of international Himalayan climbing as guides and partners. The affinity of Westerners for the Sherpa/Buddhist civilization eventually grew into an increasingly close sharing, understanding and friendship between these two cultures. 

The Solo Khumbu region is the home of the Sherpas. About 5,000 Sherpas reside here. In the last few decades, Sherpas have migrated to other parts of Nepal and the Indian states of Sikkim, Assam and northern West Bengal (Darjeeling). A total of about 35,000 Sherpas currently live in Nepal.

Nepal & Himalayas Kingdoms Expeditions 2001 & 2002:

NP01 - Mt. Everest Nepal Side Trek

NP02 - Kathmandu - Pakhara - Ghorepani Trek

NP03 -  Lobuche Peak Trek 

NP05 - Nepal- Sikkim - Bhutan,    3  Countries in One Expedition

NP06 - Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Trek

NP07 - Round Manaslu Restricted Area Trek

NP08 - Special Tour of Nepal for Students / Young People

NP09 - Helicopter & Balloon Himalays Tours

Optional Short Tours:

- MT. EVEREST FLIGHT TOUR: FOR ONE HOUR WHICH IS CONDUCTED FOM KATHMANDU TOWARDS MT. EVEREST AND BACK. IT IS AN HOUR LONG JOURNEY THAT LEAVES MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME. FLYING AT 25,000 FT. WITH A GUARANTEED WINDOW SEAT AND WONDERFUL VIEW OF MT. EVEREST RANGE. THE FLIGHT DURATION IS TOTAL 45 MINUTES .
THE COST: US$ 170. / PER PERSON (FLIGHT COST ONLY)