Hello Everybody, I have charted an itinerary for Mt. Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Mt. Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek in the month of May, 2014.. it is going to be a “Fixed Date Departure Trek” meaning that i will certainly be going on the trek unmindful of the number of participants joining me for this trek.. If you are interested, feel free to write down your email id and ask for the itinerary and other details.. this will be my 4th trip to Mt. Everest Base Camp in 4 consecutive years and i will be more than happy to share info with you.. and i will be even more happier if you can come alongwith for the trek..
FOOTLOOSE TREKKERS
“MANZIL TO MIL HI JAYEGI, CHAAHE BHATAK KAR HI SAHI;
GUMRAH TO WHO HAI, JO GHAR SE NIKALE HI NAHI.”
Spend your holidays in the Himalayas and earn a lifetime of memories and experience.
Go on a journey of self-discovery. Discover yourself and be surprised.
Trek to the Machherpucchare Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp and see panoramic view of the mighty Himalayas.
Trek to the Mt. Everest Base Camp and see the Third Pole (Mt. Everest) with your own eyes. Cross the Cho La (17,782 ft/ 5,420 mts) in the Everest Region. This trek is internationally most popular trek with thousand of trekkers successfully doing it every year.
You have to see it to believe it. Words are not at all sufficient to describe the amazing experience.
Trek your way to good health in clean, pure & pollution (air, water, sound and light) free environment.
Experience the magnificent magnetic pull of the Mighty Himalayas which will attract you over and over again.
Date Day # Trekking
Day # Events / Schedule
30.4.2014 1 Leave Nagpur by train – Gorakhpur Express – at 5 PM.
1.5.2014 2 Reach Gorakhpur. Leave for India-Nepal Border. Enter Nepal. Take a Taxi/Bus for Pokhara / Birethanti.
2.5.2014 3 Spare Day
3.5.2014 4 1 Birethanti to Ghandruk (10 kms)
4.5.2014 5 2 Ghandruk to Chomrong (9 kms)
5.5.2014 6 3 Chomrong to Deurali (13 kms)
6.5.2014 7 4 Deurali to Machhupuchare Base Camp (MBC) (___ kms). Halt / Overnight stay here is necessary for acclimatization.
7.5.2014 8 5 Machhupuchare Base Camp (MBC) to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) (__ kms)
8.5.2014 9 6 Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo
9.5.2014 10 7 Bamboo to Chomrung
10.5.2014 11 8 Chomrung to Ghandruk
11.5.2014 12 9 Ghandruk to Birethanti/Naya Pul and bus to Pokhara
12.5.2014 13 Pokhara to Kathmandu by bus. Stay at Students’ Guest House, Thamel in Kathmandu.
13.5.2014 14 1 Group for EBC meets in Kathmandu.
14.5.2014 15 2 Early morning flight for Lukla. Reach Lukla. Breakfast and other arrangements to be made at Lukla. Start Trek. Lunch at Phakding. Trek to Monjo.
15.5.2014 16 3 Monjo to Namche Bazaar.
16.5.2014 17 4 Namche Bazaar to Trakshendu via Khumjung (Acclimatisation)
17.5.2014 18 5 Trakshendu to Pangboche via Tehgboche. Lunch at Tengboche. Visit to Tengboche Monastery.
18.5.2014 19 6 Pangboche to Dingboche
19.5.2014 20 7 Acclimatisation and Rest day at Dingboche. Day trip to Chhukung and back.
20.5.2014 21 8 Dingboche to Lobuche
21.5.2014 22 9 Lobuche to Gorakshep. Check-in at lodge in Gorakshep. Trek to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorakshep.
22.5.2014 23 10 Early morning climb up the Kala Patthar and back to Gorakshep. Return back to Lobuche.
23.5.2014 24 11 Lobuche to Dzongla
24.5.2014 25 12 Dzongla to Thagnag / Dragnag via Cho La
25.5.2014 26 13 Thagnag / Dragnag to Gokyo after crossing the Ngozumpa Glacier (longest glacier in the Himalayas)
26.5.2014 27 14 Climb Gokyo Ri
27.5.2014 28 15 Gokyo to Dole
28.5.2014 29 16 Dole to Namche Bazaar
29.5.2014 30 17 Namche Bazaar to Phakding
30.5.2014 31 18 Phakding to Lukla
31.5.2014 32 19 Lukla to Kathmandu by early morning flight. Group members may plan their return journey by taking afternoon flight.
1.6.2014 33 20 Spare day in Kathmandu. Ideal is to book return tickets on afternoon flights on this day.
2.6.2014 34 Take bus/taxi from Kathmandu to Bhairawa. Enter India from Sonauli. Take bus/taxi for Gorakhpur.
3.6.2014 35 Early morning train from Gorakhpur for Nagpur
4.6.2014 36 Reach Nagpur.
For further information and details contact :-
Footloose Trekkers
Adv. Ambarish Joshi,
86, Ram Nagar, Hill Road,
Near Karnataka Sangha Hall,
Nagpur – 440033.
Phone Nos. 9881253862; 9730030619
E-mail. ambarishjoshi@gmail.com
Participants may kindly note..
1. My trip to EBC in May, 2014 will be my 4th trip there in past 4 years. In May, 2011 I trekked SOLO from Jiri to EBC and flew out from Lukla. In May, 2012 I trekked from Lukla to EBC and flew out from Lukla. In could not do the Cho La and Gokyo as I got tired to continue further and returned back after completing EBC. In May, 2013 I organized trek of private group of 7 Footloose Trekkers who successfully completed the Three Passes Trek or Mt. Everest Traverse Trek as after doing this trek you would have trekked across the entire Mt. Everest Region. The group trekked to EBC and Kala Patthar in addition to crossing the 3 High Passes – Kongma La (18,159 ft/ 5535 mts), Cho La (17,782 ft/ 5,420 mts) and Renjo La (17,929 ft/ 5,465 mts) in the Everest Region. The black pyramid of the Mt. Everest has an irresistible hypnotic power which pulls you towards itself again and again. You have to go there to experience it for yourself. It has been my consistent experience during past three years that the window for summiting Mt. Everest is open mostly between 20th and 25th of May ever year. As such, the dates of our trek are most convenient for visiting EBC for getting a feel of how it is there.
2. This trek is a fixed date departure trek. Unmindful of the number of participants joining me for this trek, I will be doing this trek. I will surely be doing this trek on the above dates as per the above itinerary. This is the basic itinerary for the trek. I plan to do both the treks (ABC and EBC) back to back. You may not necessarily plan to do both the treks as per this itinerary. Given the popularity of EBC, it is understandable that you are interested in doing EBC only. In this case, you should make plans to reach Kathmandu directly on 13.5.2014. There could be a slight modification in the itinerary depending on the availability of direct bus/taxi from Bhairawa to Birethanti without having to travel to Pokhara.
3. As give above, excluding travel days, ABC trek is for 10 days and EBC with Gokyo trek is 20 days. For EBC, If you choose to fly in and fly out of Kathmandu, the total duration of travel plus trek will be 20 days only.
4. Doing ABC trek is likely to be less expensive as (1) you are not required to pay any amount for air travel which is otherwise required to be done from Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu as in EBC, (2) number of days is less and (3) it is relatively less popular and less crowded trek as compared to EBC. There is a great difference in the terrain, altitude and flora and fauna which you will come across in both the treks.
5. Costing for both the treks is done..
ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK from Pokhara/Birethanti to Pokhara is likely to require an approximate amount of Rs. 17,500=00 (INR) per person which includes Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Card which costs approximately Rs. 1,200=00 (INR); Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit which costs another Rs. 1,000=00 (INR) and my guiding and organizing fees of Rs. 2,000=00 (INR)..
EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK from Kathmandu to Kathmandu is likely to require an approximate amount of Rs. 45,000=00 per person which includes return flight tickets from Kathmandu to Lukla and back; Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Card which costs approximately Rs. 1,200=00 (INR); Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit which costs another Rs. 1,000=00 (INR) and my guiding and organizing fees of Rs. 5,000=00 (INR)..
5.1. This amount is an approximate amount which is computed on the basis of knowledge and information gathered by me during my treks in Nepal in past three years and is not an exact amount..
5.2. You will be paying for your food, drinks and lodging out of your own pockets and I am not collecting any amount from you towards your food, drinks and lodging as this is not an package deal for an organized trek.. For this reason, this amount is variable depending upon the foods and drinks consumed by yourself and the tea-houses/lodges you may prefer to stay..
5.3. The aforesaid amount does not include the expenses for hiring a porter or a porter-cum-guide at any stage of the trek and the tips paid to the porter by trekkers. The expenses for hiring a porter will be shared/divided by the trekkers who hire a porter..
5.4. Additionally, it would be advisable for you to get your travel and health insurance done including insurance which entitles you to evacuation by helicopter/air-rescue in case of any emergency as the costs and expenses of arranging helicopter evacuation / air-rescue are astronomical in the mountains and the pilot of the helicopter does not even take off from its place unless and until payment of the amount demanded is assured to them/company..
6. We will be trekking together as a group of Free Individual Trekkers (FITs). You will be responsible for paying for your own food, drinks, stay, permits, TIMS card, etc. Trekking in a group is relatively less expensive than going solo. A distinct advantage of trekking as a group is that you always have a reliable support group. Cost of hiring Porter(s), etc. will be borne by the participants who are engaging their services.
7. I am not charging or collecting any money from participants as tour expenses. I am organizing this trek on account of my love for the Himalayas and especially, the magnanimity of Everest Region which pulls me to itself repeatedly and with inexplicable force. This is not a conducted tour. I am here only as a past-experience holder / co-ordinator / Information-cum-Facilitation person. However, I will be charging a nominal fee of Rs. 2,000=00 per participant for ABC and Rs. 5,000=00 per participant for EBC which is for my travel expenses and fees for organizing and guiding the group. This amount shall be paid in advance one you confirm your participation in the trek. Additionally, as organizer, I will organize the flight reservations from Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu, hiring the porters, reservations in lodges on the way, etc. However, you will have to pay my fees plus the cost of Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight tickets in advance while confirming your participation. If the flight tickets are required to be cancelled at your instance after the flight tickets are booked, refund of the amount paid will be as per schedule/tarrif of the concerned airlines. In an event of your cancelling your participation in the trek, I will deduct an amount of Rs. 1,000=00 as my consultation fees.
8. The expenses stated are tentative / approximate and are based upon my modest assumption during my earlier trek in the region in May, 2011; May, 2012 and May, 2013. The cost of even a packet of biscuits increases proportionately to the rise in altitude. For eg., A chocolate bar (Mars / Snickers) which costs Rs. 40 NPR in Kathmandu costs Rs. 70 NPR at Namche Bazar and Rs. 200 NPR at Gorakshep. Similarly, you have to pay for even one cup of hot water. As such, importance of carrying sufficient cash can never be over-emphasised. However,trekking as a group is more cost-effective than solo trekking.
9. While planning itinerary for both the treks, Over-emphasis is laid on acclimatization and rest days are included in the plan. It is always advisable to good equipment including ruck-sack and have sturdy and good quality footwear having strong sole, excellent grip and ankle support. If not, a pair of ankle-guards for ankle support will do.
10. Necessary items to be included :- Ideal is to travel light and carry only the essential items. It is advisable to include 2 pairs track-pants, 2-3 t-shirts, 1 pair thermal wear, 1 rucksack (medium size – 50-65 ltrs.), sleeping bag (if required), undergarments, 3 pairs socks, torch, cap, woolen cap, photography materials (if required), spare batteries for torch, camera, etc. battery charger, medicine kit, toiletries, tissue-paper roll, rain coat / poncho, wind-cheater / warm jacket, trekking shoes, sunscreen, water bottle. Everything can be purchased at Kathmandu. Rucksack, sleeping bag, trekking shoes, trekking poles, etc. can even be purchased/rented at Kathmandu and at Namche Bazaar.
11. Expenses stated above do not include the cost of liquor, hot showers, laundry, chocolate bars, porters, guides, personal shopping and other personal expenses, expenses in casino , other miscellaneous and incidental expenses, etc. if incurred by the participants.
12. Services of guide and trekking porters (as may be required) can be engaged depending on the walking strength and luggage carrying capacity of the entire group as a whole. The trekking route for Everest Base Camp is very popular and we get to meet numerous trekkers. As such, services of guide are not required for this stretch. I plan to engage services of a guide for one stretch : From Lobuche to Dragnag/Thagnag for crossing Cho La Pass; guide to be hired at Lobuche. A guide charges around Rs. 1,000-1,200 NPR per day and a trekking porter carrying about 30 kgs. of weight charges around Rs. 800-1,000 NPR per day. However, when the cost is divided between all the members of the group, it becomes negligible and you are left to carry only a light backpack.
13. If you are planning to join me for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, we can work out arrangements to meet directly at Gorakhpur or at Pokhara / Birethanti. Alternately, if you plan to do only EBC with Gokyo, you can reach Kathmandu directly on 13.5.2014 and leave Kathmandu on 1.6.2014 by afternoon flight. Thus, participant(s) can complete the trek in lesser number of days. Members can also make travel arrangements to reach Kathmandu directly and leave from Kathmandu directly depending on the number of days available at their disposal. Necessary arrangements can be worked out to fix a common meeting point. I will be staying in Students Guest House, next to Marco Polo Guest House in Thamel, Kathmandu which is a relative clean, decent and reasonably priced place to stay without any frills.
14. If you decide to join the trek, you will have to make your own travel arrangements.
15. Please remember the dates. Most importantly, start preparing. Advisable is atleast an hour of walk/jog and stretching exercises. Also, please stop using lift/elevator and take stairs to wherever u go for atleast six months before the trek.
16. A WORD OF CAUTION :-
This is a High Altitude Trek and the difficulty level is strenuous. The EBC trek starts at Lukla which is at an altitude of 2,800 Mts. = 9,186 Fts. and the highest point of the trek Kala Patthar which is at an altitude of 5,550 Mts = 18,209 Fts. Those who are having chest / lungs / heart problems are requested to consult their physician before venturing on the trek. High Altitude challenges everybody by varying degree. Exposure to High Altitude without proper acclimatization could cause AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness, HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) or HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema). In addition to the High Altitude, you will also be facing the unpredictable weather in the mountains. Drinking lots and lots of fluids including water helps in the process of proper acclimatization. Additionally, drinking a bowl of garlic soup or consuming garlic cloves or garlic capsules daily helps in proper acclimatization. Participants are also advised to get themselves sufficiently insured by obtaining travel insurance and medical insurance (including facility of rescue and evacuation by helicopter, if required in emergency situation) and keep a copy of insurance papers with themselves at all times during the trek.
17. The airport at Lukla is considered to be one of the most dangerous airports of the world. Similarly, the departure and arrival of flights depends entirely on weather conditions at the Lukla airport. There are several instances of flights getting cancelled and trekkers being stranded at Lukla and/or Kathmandu as the weather conditions were not safe and conducive for flying. In May, 2013 our flight from Kathmandu to Lukla got cancelled due to bad weather and heavy fog conditions at Lukla. I immediately contacted my friend who works with Tara Airlines and she arranged to book / re-schedule our tickets in the first flight for Lukla for the next day. As such, while making travel plans, especially return reservations, please keep atleast one spare day in Kathmandu between your return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu and from Kathmandu to your respective onward destinations.
Group Atmosphere
As I foresee, the group will be a heterogeneous group of trekkers from cross-section of society and the members are likely to be from various fields and professions.. I have already received queries and positive responses from several people from India as well as abroad who have expressed their interest in joining me for the treks.. they are, however, not yet confirmed.. this being a fixed date departure trek, I am going for sure on the above dates as per the above itinerary..