Acclimatization And High Altitude Sickness
The acclimatization planned during the trip helps trekkers adapt to the environment with less oxygen. Our body needs time to adjust to higher altitudes. Rushing to the higher elevation without acclimatization may result in acute mountain sickness (AMS), which could be fatal. The trekkers may suffer from AMS above 2,400m/7,875ft as the amount of oxygen becomes less and less with the increase in elevation.
We can categorize AMS into three categories with its symptoms. The trekker suffering from normal AMS feels giddy, gets a headache, has Nausea, is out of breath, and is suggested not to worry as it disappears after the body gets used to less oxygen. Likewise, trekkers suffering from mild AMS show symptoms of dizziness, muscular pain, insomnia, headache, vomiting, loss of appetite, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. Mild AMS can be treated with anti-headache medicines. A person suffering from severe AMS shows heightened symptoms, including shortness of breath, even while resting. The trekker with severe symptoms can barely walk, and fluids may start building up in the lungs. The trekker having severe AMS has to be taken to a lower altitude immediately.
Advanced cases of AMS
If AMS is not treated in time, it can be life-threatening and lead to edema, a condition in which fluid is accumulated in the body's tissues. Following are the two serious altitude sicknesses caused at high altitudes.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
In HACE, the brain gets swollen, which can lead to coma and even death. Its symptoms are paralysis on one side of the body, bladder dysfunction, fatigue, bowel dysfunction, loss of coordination, and confusion. Descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible to prevent the worsening of the condition.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
Fluid is accumulated in the lungs, which also increases the capillary pressure. Its symptoms include severe shortness of breath at rest, dry cough that later leads to producing frothy pink sputum, and fatigue. Important Note: Severe cases of AMS are rare. All our Adventure Club Trek guides are aware of the symptoms of AMS and can handle it with care. We prioritize acclimatization, talk about the use of Diamox beforehand, and counsel all our trekkers on the risk and preventive factors before and during the trip. Your safety is our main concern.
First-Aid Kit
Our guides and porters are equipped with a basic first-aid kit during regular treks. A comprehensive first-aid kit is compulsory for expeditions that take on isolated and off-the-beaten trekking paths; the same goes for climbing expeditions.
- A bandage in case of sprains.
- Plasters/ Band-aids and antiseptic ointments for simple cuts
- Iodine or water filter (optional) instead of buying bottled mineral water
- Moleskin/Second skin in case of blisters.
- Aspirin/Paracetamol -painkiller.
- Oral rehydration salts-Nava Jeevan or Jeevan Jal (orange-flavored ORS)
- The broad-spectrum antibiotic (norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin).
- Anti-diarrhea medication (antibiotic).
- Diarrheal stopper (Imodium - optional).
- Diamox 250/500mg (for altitude sickness).
- Gel hand cleaner/sanitizer.
Note: We can add medical supplies per the trekkers' special needs to the first-aid kit given above.
Meals
During our Pisang Peak Climbing, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided during the trek, and breakfast will only be provided in Kathmandu and Pokhara. We host welcome and farewell dinners for our guests. During the trek, we have breakfast and dinner at tea houses or lodges where we spend nights, while there will be lunch at tea houses on the way. You have the option to choose from Nepali, continental, Tibetan, and Indian cuisines. As we take care of our guests, we ensure that you get healthy food. We prioritize locally produced organic food and also provide you with seasonable fruits. During the climbing session, hygienic, freshly cooked food will be provided.
Note: If you are a vegetarian, let us know in advance so that we can make proper arrangements for food as per your wish during the trek.
Accommodations
You will be accommodated in a three-star standard hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara and the best available teahouses during the trek. All accommodations are on a twin-shared basis. A single supplement will be served on request and will cost an additional amount. Since you will be trekking in remote regions, the services in the teahouses/guesthouses will be basic. We will try our best to arrange rooms with attached washrooms; however, some teahouses still need attached bathrooms.
Drinking Water
Adventure Club provides all the meals on the trek but needs to provide water. The best option is to treat the local water with chlorine/iodine tablets or a steripen. The tea houses will give you good quality free water, and you can also get it along the trail, but you will need to treat it. If you are using the tablets, make sure they dissolve completely (in about 30 mins). On most treks, you can buy mineral water along the trail. A liter of mineral water at lower-elevation tea houses costs around USD 1 but at higher elevations can cost up to $4, so the cost can add up.
Equipment And Packing List
We recommend that you bring the items to the list below. If your trek is longer or shorter than that, appropriate adjustments can be made to reflect the specific requirements, season, and length of the trip. The items marked with an asterisk (Adventure Club Trek will provide *) at no additional cost. You are welcome to use such articles if you already have them and prefer your own. Many trekking items can be bought cheaply in the Thamel neighborhood of Kathmandu; quality will vary, with the imported items from China often being of higher quality. There are also several high-end shops in Kathmandu that carry well-known brands. Since our porters will carry your pack, please remember the weight limit is 20kg (40 lbs since there is nothing there but some prayer flags. Also, please note that you still need to send me a gear list.
* The Adventure Club Trek will lend each trekker a set of down Jackets, sleeping bags,s and duffle bags.
* Our main guide, trained in wilderness first aid, will carry a comprehensive medical kit.
Important Documents And Items
- Valid passport, two extra passport-size photos, and airline tickets.
- Dollars, pounds, or Euros in cash for purchasing a Nepali visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks, and for purchasing your drinks and gifts.
- Credit cards, Bank/ATM/Cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines (bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler's checks, etc.
CLIMBING
- Ice axe
- Crampons
- Harness
- Screw gate
- Descended abseil device
- Prussic loops
- Plastic mountaineering boot
HEAD
- Bandana or headscarf, also useful in dusty conditions
- Warm hat that covers your ears (wool or synthetic)
- Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Prescription sunglasses (if required)
UPPER BODY
- Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and two long sleeves)
- Light and expedition-weight thermal tops
- Fleece wind-stopper jacket or pullover
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
- Down vest and jacket *
- Gore-Tex jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable
LOWER BODY
- non-cotton underwear briefs
- One pair of Hiking shorts
- One pair of hiking trousers
- One pair of lightweight thermal bottoms (seasonal)
- One pair of fleece or woolen trousers
- One pair of waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric
FEET
- Two pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks
- Two pairs of heavy poly or wool socks
- One pair of Hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water-resistant, ankle support, "broken-in")
- One pair of trainers or running shoes and sandals
- Cotton socks (optional)
- Gaiters (winter only), optional, "low" ankle high version
HANDS
- Pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves.
- One pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves
- One pair of mittens consists of 1 Gore-Tex over mitt matched with a hot polar-fleece mitt liner (seasonal)
TOILETRIES
- One medium-sized quick-drying towel
- Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
- Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
- Deodorants
- Nail clippers
- Face and body moisturizer
- Female hygiene products
- Small mirror
- Personal Hygiene
- Wet wipes (baby wipes)
- Tissue /toilet roll
- Anti-bacterial handwash
SLEEPING
- One sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 14 degrees F)*
- Fleece sleeping bag liner (optional)
- Rucksack and Travel Bags
- Medium rucksack (50-70 liters/3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used for an airplane carryon)
- large duffel bag *
- A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables should have good shoulder padding.
- Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
- Two large waterproof rucksack covers (optional)
Medical
- Small, personal first-aid kit. (Simple and light)
- Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
- Anti-diarrhea pills
- Anti-headache pills
- Cough and cold medicine
- Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylpolyamine
- Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Do not bring sleeping pills, as they are respiratory depressants.
- Water purification tablets or the water filter
- Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies
- Extras/Luxuries
- Reading book
- Trail map/guidebook
- Journal and pen
- Binoculars (optional)
- Voltage converter (from 220 to 110)
- Plug adapter (2 round pegs to 2 flat pegs)
Visa And Entry Procedure
Everyone needs a visa to enter Nepal except Indian nationals. Citizens of the SAARC nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan do not require visas for 30 days. Fortunately, getting a Nepal visa is an easy process. Tourist visas are issued on arrival at the international airport and official overland entry points. However, travelers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia are not issued visas on arrival. After arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will find electronic kiosks to assist with your visa processing. After taking the completed form and paying the visa fee, you must stay in the long immigration queue for your visa on arrival.
Visitors can now apply for an online visa within 15 days of their arrival date in Nepal. For this, you will need your Nepal hotel address and a digital passport-sized photo to be uploaded to the online application. After submitting the form online, you need to print out the confirmation page, which has to be furnished at the immigration section in Kathmandu airport, along with your passport and the required visa fee. You can apply for your online Nepal visa here.
Tourists can also apply for a Nepali visa at the local Nepali Embassy or Consulate in their respective countries. Or, they can even mail their visa application to the office near their location, but well ahead of time to allow sufficient processing time. Nepal visa information for all categories of travelers and their correspondence cost is very handy, so for more information and contact details of the Nepali Embassies and Consulate worldwide, you can click here.
Whichever way you enter Nepal, you will be given a 15/30/90-day visa per your requirement. The general Nepal tourist visa fee on arrival for multiple entries is:
15 days – US$30, 30 days – US$50, and 90days – US$125
Tourist visas can be extended for 150 days a year, and these extensions are granted only at the department of immigration offices in Pokhara and Kathmandu. For more information on Nepal visas, visit our visa information page.
Our Trekking Guides/Leaders
Here at Adventure Club, our staff is like family. We only use locals to support their communities, and we train our staff rigorously to be the best they can be – for you!
- Full first-aid training
- Guide Training (trekking)
- English and other common languages (as requested)
- Village and land Conservation
- Mountaineering (for specialty expeditions or climbing treks)
All our guides are carefully trained for leadership, as good leadership is vital for your tour to be enjoyable, safe, and successful. Most of our guides grew up in Sherpa or other mountainous parts of Nepal. Their pride in their region shows itself in the way they lead treks and interface with you.
Porters Care
On any team, courtesy and respect are fundamental for an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Our porters are an essential, integral part of each trekking team, and as such, they are well-treated and well-paid. After your trek, you will find they fully earned gratitude and respect. We expect all trekkers to keep the weight of their baggage under 22kgs/40lbs. Adventure Club Trek maintains a full commitment to the rights of our porters, providing them with appropriate clothing, gear, and lodging. In case of serious accident or sickness, they receive the same care as anyone else employed on the trekking team, even including evacuation by helicopter at our expense if appropriate. We fully support the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group), which strives to maintain and improve our porter's working conditions.
Experience Required
The Pisang Peak and Annapurna circuit route is the longest in this region and is a complete circle of the Annapurna massif. Comparatively, it is considered harder and longer in duration than the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. It is because hikers will be walking across the high-altitude Thorong La Pass at 5,416m (17,764ft.). Besides the altitude, the steep climbs, long distances, and pared-down amenities make this trek hard. The route usually remains closed during the winter season due to the heavy snow accumulation on the trails. As it is a long trek, you need to be in the great shape of physical fitness so that you can walk for at least 5 to 7 hours each day. Even beginners can do this trek if they train themselves at least three months before. Cycling, swimming, acrobatics, hiking, jogging, and cardiovascular exercises are ways to train your body for a successful journey in the Himalayas.
Best Time to Travel
Autumn (Sept -Nov) and Spring (March-May) are the best seasons for the Annapurna Base Camp. The weather is sunny and warm, with outstanding views. Trekking in Summer or Monsoon (July to Aug) will be affected by rain, but a summer trek could be a boon for a keen botanist.
Travel Insurance
To be adequately protected in terms of insurance, you will need specialist travel insurance for participation in hazardous activities. A travel insurance policy that covers helicopter evacuation, trip cancellation, injury, death, lost baggage, theft, liability, medical treatment, and expenses is strongly recommended. Ensure the insurance covers all your activities during your Nepal stay, such as trekking and climbing. If you are injured and unable to travel, you can ask for a rescue helicopter from a remote area only if you have definite proof that you can pay for it. Adventure Club Trek has an agreement in Kathmandu that guarantees payment for helicopter evacuations. They pay a cash deposit to the helicopter operator and collect your money once you have been rescued. Be sure your policy specifically covers mountaineering or alpinism, or you may need help settling a claim.
Electricity, WIFI, And Battery Recharge
During the trek, electricity is available at all the teahouses where you will spend the night. You can recharge your phones, laptop, or iPads from micro-hydropower and solar panels by paying a nominal charge. Regarding Wi-Fi, there are no free hotspots along the trekking trail, so we do not encourage carrying your laptop. Some teahouses offer paid Wi-Fi services hourly but don't expect high-speed connectivity on the remote trails.
Communication
On the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal, the internet service will be available at lodges with some extra service charge. You can contact your family and friends from the guesthouses, but as we reach higher altitudes, the communication will be through the phone for safety purposes. We communicate with all our valuable clients through the team leader at least once daily to ensure you are fine and enjoying the trip. The Adventure Club Trek office in Kathmandu will constantly be in touch with you for the help you may need during the trek. Depending on your network, there could be a poor signal to the network before the high altitude. Upon your request, we can provide you with a separate local sim card to better the network. Many places have WIFI service available at an extra cost.
Group Size And Team Composition
We always form a small group of like-minded people to give them a wonderful and perceptive travel experience. It provides opportunities to interact and share with each other in a fun-filled environment when out in the wilderness. Generally, our travel group comprises a maximum of 14 members. We need at least two participants to run our fixed departure dates. For private trips, the number of group members does not apply. We always strive to form a team, ensuring members are comfortable with one another.
Tipping
Tipping is optional in Nepal as most services include a service charge. However, if you want to express gratitude, you are free to tip drivers and hotel staff. People usually welcome such generosity. When tipping your porters or trekking leaders, use your discretion as per the quality of the services. Tip money does not form a part of our employees' wages. However, you can use tipping to show appreciation for excellent service at the end of the trip
