Acclimatization And High-Altitude Sickness
The acclimatization planned during the trip helps trekkers adapt to the environment with less oxygen. Our bodies need 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, including its symptoms. The trekker suffering from regular AMS feels giddy, gets headaches and nausea, and is out of breath. It would help if you did not 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 taking rest. The trekker with severe symptoms can barely walk, and fluids may start building up in the lungs. The trekker with severe AMS must 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 accumulates in the tissues of the body. 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 accumulates in the lungs, which increases capillary pressure. Its symptoms include severe shortness of breath at rest, dry cough that later leads to producing pink frothy 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. For expeditions that take on isolated and off-the-beaten trekking paths, a comprehensive first-aid kit is compulsory; the same goes for climbing expeditions as well.
- 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' unique needs to the first-aid kit given above.
Equipment And Packing List
Here is some information to help you know what to bring for the trek. It's very important not to forget the essential items because they will affect how comfortable and safe you are. At the same time, try not to carry too much unnecessary gear.
General Items:
- An all-season sleeping bag and a down jacket (we can provide these if needed, but you’ll have to return them after the trek).
- A duffle bag (we’ll provide one for you during the trek, but it must be returned afterward).
- A windproof and waterproof lightweight jacket (this is essential for mornings and evenings above 3,000 meters).
- A daypack.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND ITEMS
- Valid passport, 2 extra passport-size photos, airline tickets.
- You will need dollars, pounds, or Euros in cash to purchase a Nepali visa at Kathmandu airport, pay for restaurants and hotels, receive gratuities and snacks, and purchase 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
HEAD
- A bandana or headscarf is also helpful 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 2 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
- 1 pair of Hiking shorts
- 1 pair of hiking trousers
- 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms (seasonal)
- 1 pair of fleece or woollen trousers
- 1 pair of waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric
FEET
- 2 pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks
- 2 pairs of heavy poly or wool socks
- 1 pair of Hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water-resistant, ankle support, "broken-in")
- 1 pair of trainers or running shoes and sandals
- Cotton socks (optional)
- Gaiters (winter only), optional, "low" ankle high version
HANDS
- 1 pair of lightweight poly liner gloves.
- 1 pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves
- 1 pair of mittens consists of 1 Gore-Tex over mitt matched with a hot polar-fleece mitt liner (seasonal)
TOILETRIES
- 1 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
- 1 sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 14 degrees F)*
- Fleece sleeping bag liner (optional)
- Rucksack and Travel Bags
- 1 medium rucksack (50-70 liters/3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used for an airplane carryon)
- 1 large duffel bag *
- A small daypack/backpack for carrying valuables should have good shoulder padding.
- Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
- 2 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 except Indian nationals needs a visa to enter Nepal. Citizens of the SAARC nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan do not require a visa for 30 days. Fortunately, getting a Nepal visa is an easy process. Tourist visas and official overland entry points are issued on arrival at the international airport. However, travelers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia have yet to be issued a visa on arrival. After arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will find electronic kiosks to assist you in processing your visa. 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. To do so, you will need your Nepal hotel address and a digital passport-sized photo uploaded to the online application. After submitting the form online, you need to print out the confirmation page, which must be furnished at the immigration section in Kathmandu airport, along with your passport and the required visa fee.
Tourists can also apply for a Nepali visa at the local Nepali Embassy or Consulate in their respective countries. They can even mail their visa application to the office nearby, but well ahead, to allow sufficient processing time. Nepal visa information for all categories of travelers and their correspondence costs can be convenient, so for more information and contact details of the Nepali Embassies and Consulate around the world,
Whichever way you enter Nepal, you will be given a 15/30/90-day visa as required. 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 a maximum of 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 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 trek to be enjoyable, safe, and successful. Most of our guides grew up in Sherpa country 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 that they have fully earned your gratitude and respect. We expect all trekkers to keep their baggage weight under 15kgs/33lbs. Adventure Club Trek maintains a total commitment to the rights of our porters, providing them with appropriate clothing, gear, and lodging. In case of severe 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.
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 the activities you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal, such as trekking and climbing. If you are injured and unable to travel, you can ask for a rescue helicopter from a remote area, but only if you have definite proof can you 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 the money from you 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 Helambu trek, electricity is available at all the teahouses where you will spend the night. You can recharge your phones, laptops, 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 expect high-speed connectivity on something other than the remote trails.
Communication On Trek
On the Helambu Valley 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 high altitudes, communication will be done 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 contact you for help you may need during the trek. Depending on your network, there could be a poor signal to the network before the high altitude. We can provide you with a separate local SIM card for a better network upon your request. Many places have WIFI service available at an extra cost.
Tipping
Tipping is optional in Nepal, as most services include a service charge. However, if you want to express gratitude, you can tip drivers, hotel staff, and others. 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.
