What to Expect
Experience the thrill of trekking in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
What to Expect
Get ready to embark on an adventure like no other. Our experiences are designed to give you a taste of the Himalayan lifestyle while pushing your limits and exploring the beauty of the region.
Getting to Nepal
Kathmandu is a major Asian destination and as such has a very international airport. There are many major carriers flying a variety of routes into Kathmandu departing from most major cities in both North America and Europe. You should, of course, choose the carrier and routing with which you are most comfortable and experienced
Accommodations
Experience the Nepalese hospitality and culture in each of the many family owned Tea Houses and Lodges nestled in the heart of the Himalayas. Enjoy breathtaking views and local cuisine while immersing yourself in nature.
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In Kathmandu to start and finish our trip, we stay in high-end hotels (Hyatt Regency Kathmandu).
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On the trekking trail, we stay in Tea Houses and Lodges (great local culture, large shared dining rooms, private/semi-private rooms, typically common bathrooms, some of these accommodations have showers)
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In our night(s) at Everest Base Camp (EBC), we will stay in tents (mostly shared) and eat in common dining tents (there are showers at EBC).
Guides & Supporting Staff
All of our guides and porters are very seasoned Sherpa who have led many client trips through the spectacular Himalaya with a focus on client satisfaction.
In Kathmandu, you will be picked up outside the airport for transport to our hotel by Grand Himalaya ownership, staff and guides.
On the trail you will have the best ratio of experienced guides and porters to clients as there is in the industry.
Weather
Spring is the dry season in Nepal and the Himalaya so you should expect that most of the days will be brilliant sunshine and pleasant. That being said, there can be light snow as the trek gets closer to Everest Base Camp. Temperatures will range from 60 degrees Farenheit at Lukla to 30 degrees Farenheit up at base camp. See the Gear List for more specific details on suggested clothing.
Conditioning and Physical Preparation
One of the great attractions of trekking in the Himalaya is that it is a physical accomplishment of which to be proud and you need to be prepared. You will be hiking from roughly 9000 feet at Lukla up to roughly 17,500 feet at Mount Everest Base Camp. And while every day is both visually and culturally stunning, there will be days where you will be hiking for (10) hours (Three High Pass Trek) and gaining in excess of 2000 vertical feet of altitude. We will be hiking very well-travelled trails often on uneven surfaces and typically always uphill and often on back to back days. See the Conditioning section for more specifics on appropriate training and conditioning regimens.
FAQS
What is Grand Himalaya?
Grand Himalaya is a leading mountain guiding and adventure travel company based in Kathmandu, Nepal with experience leading treks and climbs through the entire Himalayan region. Its ownership, guides, porters and support team are all Sherpa or high-country Nepalese who have been leading clients from around the world on life changing adventures for more than (10) years. Grand Himalaya works in concert with western guides or can offer the complete mountain experience safely and satisfactorily on its own.
What are the accommodations like?
The accommodations vary depending upon where we are in the trek or climbing experience. In Kathmandu, clients stay in high-end hotels in the best parts of the city-typically the Hyatt Regency Hotel. On the trail up to Everest Base Camp, we stay in mountain villages in family owned Tea Houses which are the heart of the Himalayan and Sherpa cultural experience. These Tea Houses have large, shared dining rooms, simple but private and semi-private rooms and typically shared bathrooms (although sometimes, there will be private bathrooms with showers). In base camp, we stay in tents with typically two clients to a tent. There are showers in base camp.
Do I need previous experience?
Grand Himalaya offers guide, porter and logistics support for both climbing and trekking expeditions all throughout the Himalaya region. Trekkers do not need previous trekking experience as we are travelling well worn (and famous) routes up the Khumbu Valley which are not technical and have virtually no exposure to danger. If you can hike and are fit for continuous days of travel (there are break days) with gradual uphill stretches, you are perfectly suited for moving through the mountains comfortably and enjoying the greatest alpine scenes on the planet. Climbing expeditions are a much more challenging adventure and do require technical expertise and experience.
What is the cancellation policy?
Grand Himalaya offers an accommodating cancellation policy that is standard for this type of activity in the outdoor adventure industry. It is a tiered payment return policy that is based upon the calendar timeline heading into the trip departure date. Specific details of the cancellation policy for your trek will be specified and sent to you as part of your welcome package once Grand Himalaya receives your request for information on a specific trek or climbing expedition.
I am fit but how will I know if I’ll I be able to do this trek?
We are offering two treks in the Spring 2024 season; Standard Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek and the Three High Pass (EBC) Trek. Both are spectacular and you will be very physically engaged for a couple of weeks or so. You will be hiking on a pretty much daily basis (there are ‘rest days’ on the Three High Pass Trek) and constantly moving uphill at altitudes between 9000 feet (Lukla) and 18000 feet (base camp). Our guides do an excellent job of setting a pace that works for everyone and constantly monitoring the condition of hikers. Typically, all trekkers that are healthy and fit have no problem with the treks. Three High Pass is more challenging as we go over three mountain passes that approach or exceed 18000 feet enroute to base camp. However, this is the definitive case where the ‘juice’ is definitely worth the ‘squeeze’!
Is it dangerous-can I get hurt?
There are inherent dangers in everything that we do in life, so yes, you could get hurt. That being said, we are hiking on very established trails which have spectacular views and scenery at every turn and have very little fall exposure. Those parts of the trail that are a bit more exposed to fall are managed very closely by our very experienced and safety conscious guides. Other ‘dangers’ such as passing Yak trains on the trail are again, very closely managed by the guide and support team to ensure your comfort and safety while optimizing our client’s Himalayan experience.
I see pictures on TV of huge lines on Mount Everest-will it be super crowded?
Any picture of long lines in association with any Mount Everest experience are at the very top of the Everest climb and through and in the Khumbu icefall-none of which has any bearing on our trekking experience. We will be in wide-open spaces ranging from stream side pastures to climbs through mountain passes and we will see other trekkers, villagers, porters, Yak trains with herders but there is never a sense of ‘crowding’. In the Tea Houses, on the Standard EBC Trek, the dining rooms and facilities will typically be full in trekking season but always comfortable and joyous and one of the key cultural highlights on the entire adventure.
What clothing and/or gear will I need to do this trek?
There is a complete gear list for treks and climbs on the Grand Himalaya website which details every item of gear and clothing recommended/required for a successful and comfortable experience in the mountains. For trekking, the most important item is of course, footwear-you’ll want a sturdy, comfortable and ideally, well-worn in hiking boot. After that it’s typically a matter of layers, hats, gloves and eye protection that we adjust as we move to higher elevations and adjust to early morning to afternoon temperatures on the trail.
How do I know if I can handle this type of altitude?
Altitude effects every trekker on some level-it is not the same as hiking at sea level; but neither are the benefits, which are much greater trekking amidst the spectacular mountain vistas. Also, one doesn’t really know how altitude will affect them until they are in that environment and exerting themselves (it is not a matter of fitness). Symptoms are typically mild headaches and some nausea. Our guides are expert at both managing the pace of acclimatization of our client’s and carefully observing and managing any symptoms that do arise. We are constantly managing our clients safety and comfort along the trail.
Do we actually get to spend time in Everest Base Camp?
Yes! Very few trekking companies provide for their clients to actually spend a night experiencing Mount Everest Base Camp but it is one of the great benefits of travelling with Grand Himalaya. We will spend a night (or two) in camp with the climbers, eat in the dining tents, experience the famous Khumbu Ice Fall and perhaps witness the Puja blessing ceremony. It is one of the highlights of the trek to base camp!
Who are the people with whom I will be trekking and spending time?
Our clients are outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers seeking to explore the Himalayan and Sherpa mountain culture and experience the awe inspiring mountain vistas and come to us from literally all over the world. We typically have between a half dozen and a couple of dozen on an trekking expedition so the crowd can be quite diverse and mixed which adds to the overall experience of your adventure. That being said, we also often times do ‘private’ treks and climbs with groups of friends, families, professional organizations and the like.
How should I prepare and/or train for this experience?
The best way to prepare for hiking or climbing in the Himalaya is, of course, to hike or climb at elevated elevations for extended periods of time. We realize that that option is not available to all of our clients. General fitness with a focus on strength and endurance are the keys to a successful and comfortable experience in Nepal. There are many ways to get there and we discuss these in more detail in our ‘conditioning’ section on the Grand Himalaya website. Still, there is no substitute for actual hiking out in nature and being exposed to changes in elevation, varying path conditions and multi-hour durations to be the most prepared for what you will be doing with us.
Can I invite a friend or family member to join this adventure with me?
Absolutely! Trekking and climbing amongst the most famous mountains on planet earth is one of the most rewarding and spectacular experiences any of us will ever have and can only be more special when it is shared with a friend or loved one. At Grand Himalaya we strongly encourage our clients to come with others or even in a group. As long as we have space in our trip, you should consider inviting any companion you desire!
I’ve heard a lot about Kathmandu; will we spend any time in the city?
Kathmandu is both a famous and very eclectic and exciting Asian city which sits at the cross-roads between India and China. We will be in the city at the start and end of you trekking/climbing experience. Specifically, at the start of your adventure, Grand Himalaya will host a welcome dinner in one of the most culturally famous districts in town and you will spend a day sightseeing and touring some of the most famous attractions on a full-day guided tour of the city.