When we were asked whether we would like to attend a travel fair we weren’t too sure about what it involved exactly, seeing that we had little experience in interacting with brands and other travel bloggers.  We have put together this post to highlight our experience at the Himalayan Travel Mart 2017 in Nepal and its relevance to the world of travel.

The Himalayan Travel Mart

The event was organized by PATA Nepal Chapter and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation of Nepal. It focused on promoting tourism in Nepal and over 107 delegates from 35 countries around the world took part, in an effort to share their experiences in the country.

Nikki and Michelle at the ITBMC

Bloggers and delegates were first taken on a multi-day trip which could be culture or adventure oriented according to their preference. We chose the adventure trip which started off with a rafting experience in the icy-cold Himalayan Trishuli river followed by a four-day trek around Poon Hill.  At the end of the adventure trip we were then invited to attend the celebration of Mt. Everest Day at the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, followed by the International Travel Bloggers & Media Conference (ITMBC) held in Kathmandu.

The International Mountain Museum in Pokhara

The Himalayan Travel Mart 2017 conference was held a day later followed by two full days of buyers and sellers meetings where pre-matched sellers and buyers had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings to discuss possible collaboration. Many travel bloggers left after the ITMBC, but we stayed on to discover whether such a networking experience could be beneficial to us as travel bloggers.

During our stay in Nepal we were hosted at some of the best hotels in the country.

In Kathmandu, we stayed at Hotel Traditional Comfort a new boutique hotel which is only 5 minutes taxi ride away from Thamel, making it close enough to quickly arrive to Kathmandu’s chaotic and colourful centre whenever we felt like, yet far enough to avoid the noise and confusion whenever we needed some relaxation time. The rooftop bar is especially beautiful and ideal for an after-dinner drink.

Contrary to popular belief, Kathmandu is not only for backpackers but offers some great luxury accommodation options!

Our hotel in Pokhara was the Hotel Pokhara Grande, a hotel found just outside Lakeside Pokhara with comfortable rooms many of which have great mountain views. The large swimming pool in the inside courtyard provides some relief on hot days!

The grounds of the Hotel Pokhara Grande

The International Travel Bloggers & Media Conference

The first ever travel bloggers meeting to be held in Nepal was pretty large by conference standards! The day’s program consisted of talks by renowned keynote speakers and experienced travel bloggers who gave us tips and advice about how to stay afloat in the business, as well as how to keep up with the ever-changing world of social media.

Bloggers on their way to the ITBMC

Listening to our peers, and other people involved in the business, talk about how to be a better blogger and survive in the industry, was a very valuable experience and one that we highly recommend especially to bloggers who are just starting out.

Tourism students dressed in traditional costume introducing the speakers

The ITBMC was hosted at the Park Village Hotel, one of the grandest in Kathmandu. The conference was well organized and the beautiful garden setting was the ideal venue for such a large number of participants. The evening dinner and party held in the same hotel was not only fun, but we were served a large and diverse selection of delicious food whilst also being given the opportunity to network with some of the brand representatives.

The Himalayan Travel Mart Conference

This day was dedicated to trends in tourism, and how a country so diverse as Nepal, plans to improve and expand its tourism industry. Talks were presented by distinguished speakers, some of whom are considered to be influential in the tourism business and who made some very valid points with respect to the role of both innovative and digital marketing with examples from the industry’s key players.

The talks were not directly relevant to travel blogging but it was very interesting to listen to how the tourism industry (of which we are part of after all) is shaping out.

The Himalayan Travel Mart Conference 2017

The Buyers and Sellers Meet

Sellers from all around the Himalayas and nearby countries had booths set up with information and brochures advertising their brand. This part of the event was attended only by few bloggers and meetings between buyers and sellers were pre-set in 20 minute intervals, so that brands did not have much time to take on other “extra” meetings with bloggers.

Michelle at the booths of the Buyers and Sellers Meet

We did however manage to talk with a few of brands in between slots, to ask whether they were interested in working with us, and in some cases got a positive response.

We totally recommend doing some research and having some knowledge about the brands you want to talk to, and about the destination you are looking at. Since we knew that sellers would be mostly brands from Himalayan countries, we prepared ourselves by researching activities and things to do in Nepal and the surrounding countries so that we could discuss promoting tourism and relevant activities in the said countries more effectively.

Although we were not on the official one-on-one appointment list, we found that sellers were willing to talk to us whenever their booth was empty and that networking was not difficult at all.

Be prepared to talk about your brand, your niche, your audience and what you can do to promote and push the brand on your blog. Sellers are interested in potential outcomes of a collaboration, and you need to be prepared to truthfully discuss measurable deliverables.

One other tip is to have your business cards on you all the time. This may seem obvious, but maybe you don’t want to be carrying around too many things during your evening dinner or during a party, and decide not to take them along. Remember however, that some of the best networking connections can be made during evening dinners and times of entertainment when people are more relaxed and more open to getting to know you!

The venues hosted some of the evenings dinners for the delegates during the conference

Besides talking to brands about potential collaborations, we also managed to speak to some interesting people such as Shailee and Maya from The Seven Summits Women team about the role of women in Nepal and the difficulties they faced in becoming mountaineers. We also spoke to the representatives from the Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal and their experience in saving trekkers suffering from injuries or altitude sickness during their treks in the mountains of Nepal.

Mr. Suman Pandey chairman of the PATA Nepal Chapter

Both the Himalayan Travel Mart Conference and the Buyers and Sellers Meet were held at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza, a hotel with several meeting rooms which makes it an ideal venue to host a networking conference and event. The evening of the Himalayan Travel Mart conference we were also addressed by her excellency the President of Nepal, Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

 Her excellency the President of Nepal, Bidhya Devi Bhandari

So in reality, the travel mart was not just about conducting business with brands but also about hearing people’s views on Nepal from different perspectives, and about stories from around the Himalayas. The human factor, is after all, an important aspect of travel blogging and we felt that our experience was further enriched through these meetings.

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As I was driven through the streets of Kathmandu to my hotel on the outskirts of Thamel, I was fondly reminded about why I had fallen in love with Nepal 10 years earlier. The narrow streets of Thamel, lined with food stalls and trekking shops didn’t look very different now, to how I remembered them. The sometimes smothering, sometimes pleasant aura of Tibetan incense was all over the streets and this, coupled with the heavy aromas of the many spices used in Nepali cuisine, nostalgically took me back to my first trip to the country. This time though, I was here to participate in an adventure trip! Rafting and trekking in Nepal were on the cards and excitement was slowly building up.

The chaotic streets of Thamel, Kathmandu

Here is why trekking in Nepal should be on every traveler’s list.

For those of you who are not familiar with Nepal, the country is a small, very unique nation wedged in between India and China nestled high in the Himalayas. It is home to 8 to the world’s 10 tallest mountains including Mount Everest, the highest, for which it is most famous. Nepal is much more than Everest though. The country is also blessed with gorgeous landscapes, national parks with tigers, elephants and rhinos, rice terraces, beautiful temples and monasteries, diverse ethnic groups and some of the friendliest people that I have ever encountered.

Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu

Rafting in Nepal

The day after I arrived, we drove from Kathmandu to Pokhara, stopping for a rafting experience on the Trishuli river on the way. Exhilarating is an understatement! The country’s waters rush straight down from the Himalayas creating gorges through the mountains, hence giving rise to great white water rafting opportunities at different levels. As we got soaked, prodded each other with our paddles and laughed our way along the river, I realized that this was a great way of getting to know the group of people that I would be spending the next 6 days with!

Rafting on the Trishuli river is such a fun experience!

Trekking the Poon Hill Trek

The next day, after having spent the night in Pokhara, we were driven to Nayapul from where we would start our trek. We were on the Poon Hill Trek, a four-day hike across the lower Annapurna region which involves trekking for most of the day, stopping for lunch breaks and finally arriving to a tea house or basic guesthouse where we would spend the night.

We were advised to carry only light daypacks, filled with water bottles, a raincoat (essential if you’re trekking in Nepal during the rainy season like we were!) and a few snacks on the trek; porters would be responsible for carrying the rest of our stuff packed in waterproof duffle bags all the way to the teahouses where we would be spending our nights. Since I have always carried all my own stuff on multi-day treks, this seemed like a great arrangement to me!

Horses during the trek

My first day of trekking in Nepal was as pleasant as it gets. The route to a little village called Tirhedhunga was up across a moderate incline which was easy to hike. Our walk took us over suspended bridges, on little trails by the river, through bamboo forests and besides waterfalls, where we encountered cows, donkeys, goats and some beautiful horses which made the hike all the more interesting. We stopped for lunch at the Mountain View Guesthouse during which it unfortunately it started raining and although we would have liked to wait for it to stop, our guide insisted that we “zam zam” (let’s go). And right he was since it didn’t stop raining all evening. We were trekking during the rainy season where afternoon rains are expected and common.

One of the many beautiful views during the four-day trek

It was only an hour’s walk to Laxmi Guesthouse where we spent the night in basic, yet comfortable rooms. We had been told that day two was the hardest day of the trek since we would need to climb up 3767 steps possibly in scorching weather conditions so we filled up on noodles, swiss-style rosti and of course everybody’s favourite snack, momos to prepare our bodies and souls for the next day’s climb. It was here we noticed that the dinner menu was identical to the lunch menu at the previous teahouse, and every other menu thereafter would be also be identical. This “generic” menu was pretty vast though, and every teahouse had their own individual style of cooking, so we never actually got the same dish twice!

Up 3767 of these steps on Day Two!

As expected, day two of the Poon Hill trek was indeed the hardest. Although we had been warned about the stone staircase of 3767 steps, this was not the final number of steps for the day but rather the steps included in one single stretch of the route. The final number surely must have exceeded 5000 steps, which took us up to a height of 2900 metres and although I was exhausted by the end of it, I was happy to have survived a sorely-needed workout!

Luckily, the cloudy weather protected us from the scorching sun and although we did not get the best views, since it was so overcast, we did avoid a much-feared sunburn during our climb. We spent the night at Hotel Hill Top in Ghorepani where I devoured a well-deserved yak steak (with more momos on the side of course!)

Momos – everybody’s favourite!

Day three was the most beautiful of all the days we spent trekking in Nepal. I had set my alarm for 3.30am to be ready in time for an hour’s long uphill trek to Poon Hill to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately a storm pretty much destroyed our sunrise plans although we didn’t complain about the few extra hours of sleep we got, as we groggily went back to our beds! Our climb that day took us up way above the clouds across paths lined with prayer flags and later into foggy forests which added a very eerie and mystical feel to the experience. Fishtail Lodge, our guesthouse that night is well known among trekkers for its coffee and indeed, it was the best I had in Nepal!

Up high above the clouds on one of the highest points on the trek

The highlight on day 4 should have been waking up to snowy mountain views including a view of the Machhapuchhre mountain with its infamous fishtail peak, but the day was cloudy already and the mountains invisible. Luckily, just before we set off on the last trek, it cleared for just about five seconds so that we could catch a short but sweet glimpse of the snowy mountain peaks which Nepal is so famous for!

We woke up to this view on Day Four – snowy mountain peaks at long last!

This pretty much set us all in a good mood for the rest of the day. The trek on the fourth day was mostly downhill, and because I find that going down so much easier than going up, I skipped and jumped my way across lush fields and rich forests until we reached the small village of Kimche with gorgeous views of rice terraces.

Just outside the village of Kimche

This was our final stop and as I sat in the van on my way back to Pokhara, half asleep after the strenuous activity I had endured during the past few days, I promised myself that I would come back to Nepal for the third time, for a longer trek, perhaps right up to Everest Base Camp, so as to enjoy more of what the beautiful country has to offer.

Meanwhile, I was looking forward to spending the next couple of days relaxing in the Hotel Pokhara Grande where I could get cleaned up properly and get some laundry sorted, and to enjoy more of Pokhara and Kathmandu over the following days.

A hot bath followed by a steaming mug of coffee in the comfort of a luxurious room never felt so good!

The path towards Kimche

The Food on the Trek

I must say that although we were advised the food served during the trek would be “basic”, it actually exceeded everybody’s expectations of it. The choice was vast, the portions were large, most of the dishes I tried were very tasty and I quickly got into the habit of ordering thick milky porridge and Tibetan bread for breakfast, hearty dal bhat accompanied by masala chai for lunch and momos and rosti or pasta for supper. As soon as I arrived at the day’s final guesthouse, I would also follow a routine whereby I would obtain the key to my room, lay out my sleeping bag and other stuff I needed that evening, have a hot shower and join my team mates to celebrate the day’s achievement with an ice cold Gorkha beer.

Dal Bhat – trekker’s lunch!

Trekking in Nepal up and down hills and mountains, across paths lined with thousands of prayer flags, through lush vegetation and fairytale forests gave me a sense of wonder, peace and fulfillment as well as the opportunity to explore the beautiful country. I encourage every traveler to include trekking in Nepal on their bucket list!

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Nepal is famous worldwide for adventure sports and hiking. Every year hundreds of thousands of people travel to Nepal. Most of them are for trekking to the base camp of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world! I’m going to delve into this guide to Everest base camp trek options and FAQ.

Nestling amidst the peak of the highest mountain in the world, the Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world. More than 40,000 people from all over the world walk the trek every year.

It is one of the earliest opened trial for foreigners. Ever since the successful expedition of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in the year 1953, the route has been every adventurer’s dream.

PS: See if you need a visa by entering your information on this site.

Guide to Everest Base Camp Trek

The sight of several peaks that you will encounter in this journey will leave you awestruck. Apart from the highest peak- Mt.Everest (8848m), you will also see Mt Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Nuptse (7855m), Mt. Pumori (7161m), Mt. Changaste (7550m), Mt. Lingterin (6679m), Mt. Amadablam (6856m), Mt. Thamserku(6723m), Mt. Kantega( 6685m), Mt.Kusum Khagaru (6367m), Mt.Kongde (6011m), Mt. Khumbila(5761m) , Mt. Twache peak (6367m), Mt. Cholaste (6335m) ,Island peak(6179m), Lobuche peak(6145m), Pokalde peak (5806m), Honku south peak (6119m) and many more.

The trek lies in the Everest Region that is the second best trekking region of Nepal. The region is rich in its composition of flora and Fauna. The walk through the green hills, rhododendron forest, elegant waterfalls, graceful rivers, glacier lakes and Kala Patthar is a phenomenal experience all together. 

The region also houses the Sagarmatha National Park, which is listed under UNESCO world heritage site. It is home to several rare and endangered species. You might as well get to encounter some of the exclusive wildlife inhabitants on your way.

Everest region is also draped with a unique culture of one of its kind. Most of the people living in this region belong to the Sherpa community whose lifestyle and tradition resembles to that of the Tibetans. These people are known for their friendliness and open-mindedness.

Before you visit a place, it is always better to have a clear idea about it. This will help you overcome avoidable circumstances. This article is a detail guide of the Everest Base Camp trek so that you can have pleasant journey to the Himalayas. 

General Itinerary for Everest Base Camp

The general itinerary is the most commonly taken trail leading to Everest Base Camp. You can even have a customized version of the route if you wish spend a longer time exploring more parts of the country. The route to the Everest Base Camp is below:

Day 1: Fly to Lukla (2804 mt.) from Kathmandu, trek to Phakding (2610 mt.)

Day 2: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazar (3441 mt.)

Day 3: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazar

Day 4: Trek from Namche Bazar to Tengboche(3860 mt.)

Day 5: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4410 mt.)

Day 6: Acclimatization day at Dingboche

Day 7: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4910 mt.)

Day 8: Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep (5153 mt.) to EBC and back to Gorakshep

Day 9: Hike up to Kalapatthar (5545 mt.) and retreat trek to Pheriche (4210 mt.)

Day 12: Trek from Namche Bazar to Lukla

Day 13: Early morning fly back to Kathmandu

An alternative route is via Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek, if you want to avoid flying to Lukla.

Train your body for the Everest trek

You do not have to be an exclusive athlete to be able to trek to EBC. But you have to be fit enough to enjoy the long walks and to wake up without a sore body. Some of the ways you can train your body are:

• Start exercising about 4-6 weeks before the trek.
• Do Cardio exercises like running, walking, swimming or cycling.
• Carry a backpack while doing cardio exercises.
• Strengthen your muscles by doing squats, pull-ups, push ups, dead lifts, etc.
• Avoid over-exercising. The aim is to increase physical stamina and lung capacity.

What to pack for Everest Trek

You will need several equipment for the trek. The below is a generous list and you may include or avoid according to your needs.

The trekking gears you must have:

• Heavyweight gloves or mittens with a waterproof shell outer
• Down vest and/or jacket (optional)
• Fleece or wool trousers/pants
• Trekking/Hiking boots with spare laces
• Thick, warm wool hiking socks
• Footwear for around camp, example, running shoes and/or sandals
• Gaiters (optional)

You will also need the following during the trek.

• Thermal tops
• Fleece jacket or pullover
• Wind cheater jacket (optional)
• Waterproof shell jacket
• Thermal gloves
• Underwear
• Shorts
• Cotton trousers/pants
• Thermal bottoms
• Sun hat or scarf or Hat or light balaclava
• T-shirts
• Socks
• Sunglasses with UV protection (opt to but this at your home country)
• Sleeping bag rated to 0 degrees (3/4 season)
• Head lamp, spare bulbs & batteries
• Small padlock to lock trek bag
• Plastic bags
• Daypack (35-40 litres/2500-3000 cubic inches)
• Camping mattress
• Water bottles
• Small wash towel
• Footwear (see footwear section below for details)
• Waterproof shell trousers/pants (preferably breathable fabric)
• Toiletries
• Basic first aid kit

Some things to should know about the equipment

• Not all the items from the checklist is a must. You can use your own judgment to make your buying decision.
• You footwear has to be very comfortable and durable. Shoe bites and blisters can ruin the experience for you. The boots should be lightweight trekking boots. Insure that the fabric is good and waterproof.
• Purchase a pair of gaiters to keep your legs warmer.
• Dress in layers so that you can regulate your body temperature as and when required. You can alter the combination of the clothes according to the prevailing weather condition.
• Your clothes should be lightweight and especially designed for trekking.
• Carry along a waterproof shell outerwear, jacket and pants.
• Keep your hands, head and body as warm as possible.

Required Permits for Everest Base Camp

The Everest region is not restricted and hence requires no permit to trek in. If you are looking forward to enter the Sagarmatha National Park then you will have to pay permit fees.

Health concerns

Trekking to high altitudes can result in various risks concerning health. You can easily fall a victim of minor or major injury. The cause of it can be a natural calamity or a careless step. You also might catch common cold, viral fever or have muscles aches.

The most important health issues you need to be aware of before trekking to EBC are below.

Altitude Sickness

This is a kind of illness that is caused by ascent to high altitudes. The symptoms will occur within 6 to 24 hours of achieving a high altitude. Altitude sickness is fatal and can result in death if not treated in time. You need to stay alert to any of the symptoms that occur.

Symptoms

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Upset stomach
• Feeling unsteady
• Shortness of breath 
• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty sleeping

Effective measure to recover from early AMS

If you happen to notice any of the symptoms, follow the guideline mentioned below-

• Do not climb any higher for the next 48 hours
• Descend to a lower altitude if possible
• Take complete rest until you feel well
• Do not exercise
• Do not smoke
• Drink plenty of water
• Take external oxygen supply if necessary
• Take anti-sickness medicines

If you see no improvement in your health within 48 hours, you will have to be immediately deported to the city for medical support.

Preventive Measures

There is no way to train your body prior to trekking so as to adapt to the high altitude. Some ways in which you can prevent it are as follows:

• Take plenty of rest
• Ascend slowly and gradually as you reach higher
• keep yourself hydrated
• Eat high calorie food
• Do not smoke, drink or consume tranquilizing medicines

Sunburn issues

In higher altitudes, you are likely to fall an easy prey of sunburn. Make sure you carry an abundant amount of sunscreen lotion of spf 80 at least. Apply the lotion daily.

You will also have to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. Purchase a good polarized sunglass.

Insurance

During times of emergencies like acute altitude sickness or a natural calamity, you might have to be immediately deported in a helicopter. The cost of such deportation is covered by health insurance that needs to be purchased before you start the trek. Consult any travel agency regarding the purchase of insurance. They should guide you through it. Make sure you do not start the trek without it.

(editor’s note: I use World Nomads Travel Insurance and it’s amazing)

Trekking options

There are several ways in which you can trek to EBC.

• Private Guide with a Porter
• Private Guide with No Porter
• No Guide with Porter
• No Guide and no Porter
• Porter/Guide Combo
• Small Group Tour with Guide with Porter

Hiring a guide and a porter

There is no law to travel with a guide. But it is highly recommended that you do. Guides are people who have a good knowledge and experience about trekking. They will guide you through navigation, suggest you the best place places to stay and eat at, and help you with price negotiations. The guide will also help you during time of emergencies. Before hiring a guide, make sure that he or she is licensed.

A porter is someone who will carry your baggage for you making your journey more comfortable and enjoyable. Nowadays Guide-porter are also available. These are people who earlier worked as a porter and are close to becoming a certified guide. Hiring a guide-porter will save you from extra expenses.

Best season for trekking

The best time of the year to trek to EBC is September to December (Autumn) and March to May (Spring). During these months, the weather is pleasant for you to enjoy long walks. There will be very little or no rainfall. The rhododendron forest will be blossoming with flowers especially in the month of May. The skies are very clear allowing you to get the best view of the white Himalayan ranges.

FAQs | Guide to Everest base camp trek

You might have many questions about Everest Base Camp. So I have also included some frequently asked questions.

What kind of food is available?

There are many foods in Nepal that you can try. You will be eating in teahouses. Almost all the teahouses have the same menu. For breakfast, you can have eggs cooked in your preferred style, bread-butter-jam, pancakes, sprouted beans and many more.

For meals, you can have momo’s, pasta, noodles and various other dishes.

The most preferred dish is Dal-Bhaat-Tarkari. Rice is served with vegetable curry, lentil, chutney, salad and meat cooked in Nepali style. You will not be charged extra for taking extra serving of anything but meat.

Is drinking water easily available?

Yes, drinking water is available. But as you go higher, the cost of water will rise up to 1$ per litres. Carry spare water bottle with you and get them filled in teahouses. The teahouses will sell boiled water for a relatively cheaper rate.

How much money should I bring along with me to the trek?

Depend only on cash and not on ATM card. Withdraw all the cash in Kathmandu city itself. Carry along at least 600-700$ cash. If you are on a luxury trek you will need 1800-2000$ cash.

The mentioned amount is an overestimation of the actual cost. Accommodation is available at a cost of 3-4$ per night. A meal should not cost you more than 3$. You might need extra money to buy water, charge your electric devices, tip your guide and porter or pay for their basic need, and buy medicines. It is always better to carry some extra money with you.

What kind of accommodation should I expect?

Do not expect luxurious accommodation. You will be spending your nights in teahouses or tented camps, as you want. The rooms are very simple but comfortable to sleep off the tiredness. Some place will have squatting toilets. While in some guesthouses, you might as well have to share the restroom with other guests.

Where can I buy the trekking equipment?

You can buy equipment from your hometown or Nepal. Nepal had many stores you can buy them from. You will find branded as well as local stores selling trekking gears. The most popular place to shop for them is Thamel situated in Kathmandu. You can also rent most of the items if you want.

Can I carry my electronic devices?

Yes, you can carry your electrical devices and it is absolutely safe. But buy an insulating cover to protect them from extreme change in temperature and pressure.

Carry as many spare batteries as you can for your camera because Nepal has extreme electricity shortage problem. In higher altitudes, the supply is even lesser. The teahouses will allow you to charge your devices only at a certain cost.

Can I trek solo?

You can trek to EBC alone. The route is pretty easy and straightforward. Quite a lot of people trek solo – without a guide or porter or trekking company. However, trekking solo is not advisable when it comes to your safety. Trekking is an adventure sport that involves risks and uncertainties. You never know when you might need help. It is always better to stay on the safer side.

How to find myself a trekking partner?

If you want to travel with a trekking partner, you can find them on this site. 

If you want to book a tour and go with a group, you can search the best ones here.

What is so different about travelling with a trekking agency?

There are innumerable trekking agencies in Nepal for you to choose from. Before you decide to travel with one, insure that they are registered and are reliable. Internet can be a valuable tool for you to evaluate them.

In general, a trekking agency will plan your entire trip right from transferring you your hotel from the airport to leaving you off after the trek for your next flight. The team will consist of guides and porter hired by these companies. All you needs will be tended to throughout your trek.

Specifically speaking, the agencies will have few services different from one another. But overall, all of them provide pretty much the same facilities and services, the difference being in the cost and quality of it.

Is there anything else I need to know before I plan the trek?

Always plan extra days than the number of days the trek will cost you. The weather in unreliable and the flights can get delayed or cancelled. You also might confront natural calamity because of which you might get stuck in a particular place for long. Sometimes, the weather in some area might be unfavorable for you to travel and hence you might have to halt for an extra day. You can fall sick. Considering all these possibilities, do not book a flight back to your next destination that is scheduled immediately after the last day of the trek.

Enjoy your Everest Trek!

Trekking to EBC is every adventurer’s dream. I hope this guide to Everest base camp trek will help your planning. The thought of standing at the Base Camp of the highest peak in the world itself is so exciting. And as difficult as the journey may sound to be, it actually is not. You will have so many things to enjoy and savour along the way that you may not even have enough attention to pay to the body wearing out. And simply by following the tips and advices mentioned in this guide, you will definitely have a pleasant and memorable trip.

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Raushan is a trekking expert from Nepal. He has trekked to several trekking regions in Nepal and his favourite region is Annapurna region, which is considered by many one of the trekking region in the world. Apart from trekking, Raushan loves adventure sports. He blogs about trekking and adventure in Nepal on Trek Route and he could be followed via Twitter and Facebook.

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Kathmandu

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Kathmandu.

My name is Elen, I’m an editor and writer who has just moved back to Kathmandu, Nepal. I lived here for almost a year in 2013-14, travelled here for five weeks in 2015, and have set up home here again recently—the joys of having location-independent work! South Asia is my favourite region of the world. Despite Kathmandu’s general dirtiness and apparent chaos, I love its atmosphere. The people are friendly and chilled out, and I’m always discovering new hidden corners of beauty and surprise.

My blog, Wilderness Metropolis, focuses on travel in South Asia.

What makes Kathmandu a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Nepal isn’t widely known as a luxury travel destination, but there plenty of high-end hotels, resorts, spas and boutiques around the country—and particularly in Kathmandu—to attract travellers who like a bit of luxury. Although Nepal is often overshadowed by its dominant neighbor India, Kathmandu is really very different from any Indian cities. Luxury hotels and other experiences are uniquely Nepali in design and flavor.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Kathmandu?

Dwarika’s Hotel, without a doubt. This 80+ room hotel was begun in the 1960s by Dwarika Das Shrestha, a local man who saw a lot of the Kathmandu Valley’s traditional Newari architectural heritage being destroyed through neglect. He started collecting artefacts such as window frames and intricate carvings, and promoted the traditional production of various handicrafts. Now, Dwarika’s Hotel looks like a beautiful Newari palace—such as those found in the Kathmandu or Patan Durbar Squares—and the enormous rooms are each different, and filled with antiques and other one-off, local touches. Although it is a 5-star hotel, there is nothing generic about it.

What about boutique hotels in Kathmandu, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

For a small, homely atmosphere, I recommend Swotha Bed & Breakfast in Patan. This part of the city doesn’t have as many hotels as Kathmandu-proper, so is much quieter at night and more intimate. Swotha Bed & Breakfast is tucked down a lane just off Swotha Square, which used to be identifiable by its small temple, but which unfortunately fell down in the earthquake of April 2015. It’s not far from the main Patan Durbar Square and some lovely art, jewellery and crafts shops. The café downstairs, Café Swotha, is also my favourite place to take my laptop and write.

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in Kathmandu?

Nepal is all about adventure travel, but you don’t have to go far outside Kathmandu to enjoy this. Many tour companies—which are concentrated in the Thamel district of Kathmandu—arrange day hikes to spots within the Kathmandu Valley. The Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park or Phulchoki, the highest peak of the Valley, are manageable day hikes for a bit of fresh(er) air and exercise.

Where are the best hangouts during the day in Kathmandu?

In Patan, the Patan Museum and Patan Durbar Square cannot be topped. You can first take a look around the museum to learn about the religious and architectural history of the Kathmandu Valley, then sit in the shade of one of the temples outside to contextualize what you’ve learnt. And the peaceful courtyard restaurant out the back of the museum does excellent dal bhat.

In Kathmandu, the Garden of Dreams is a surprising respite from the overly touristy Thamel district. It is a beautifully landscaped garden with trimmed lawns, fountains, flowers and nooks and crannies to hide away in with a book.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Kathmandu and what are their best dishes?

Although you wouldn’t have thought that you’d come to Kathmandu for the French food, everyone raves about Chez Caroline, in the Baber Mahal Revisited complex. It’s the hangout of French expats, so you know it must be authentic. Everything there is perfect, from the set-course weekend brunches to the crème caramel. You will not make a bad choice. And because you wouldn’t want to forget that you’re in Kathmandu, Chez Caroline is set within a courtyard of a renovated old palace. The brickwork and bronze sculptures are among the most beautiful and authentically Nepali that you will find anywhere in Kathmandu.

The Baber Mahal Revisited complex is tucked a bit out of the way, so takes a little effort to get to (although it’s worth it!) From wherever you’re staying in Kathmandu, it will be a short taxi-ride away, so it is worth planning spending a leisurely lunch or dinner here.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Kathmandu.

The best things to buy in Kathmandu are the handicrafts (especially made out of paper, bronze and cashmere), Tibetan paintings and silver jewellery. Although you can buy almost anything in Thamel, it is overly touristy and the shopping experience isn’t the most luxurious. A better plan is to combine lunch at Chez Caroline (above) with window-shopping the upmarket boutiques also in the Baber Mahal complex. Check out the prices and quality of items there, although I wouldn’t recommend buying anything there. The better-value, better-variety fair-trade shops along Pulchowk Road in Patan are what you should aim for to buy a variety of handicrafts, from pashmina shawls to brass singing bowls.

For jewellery and Tibetan thangka paintings, the lanes of old Patan, near the Patan Durbar Square, are a treat. The best jewellery can be found in the smallest shops, tucked behind blue and green shutters, and probably not very well lit. You will need to bargain, but nobody pushes the hard sell here, so the shopping experience is fun and memorably Kathmandu.

What is the best salon or spa in Kathmandu?

The luxury hotels provide good massage and spa services, but my favourite is Wellness Spa, above Café Cheeno in Patan. It can be found easily because it’s on the corner by the bus stand, before you go through the Patan gate. Wellness Spa is understated, but has a loyal following of expat clients.

Time for a great sunset view in Kathmandu… where would you go?

The sun sets early in Kathmandu, year-round. But if you’re lucky (and in town during the right season) the mountains will come out on display in the late afternoon and early evening, around sun-set. The best place to catch this is from a rooftop bar, such as Mezze by Roadhouse, on Durbar Marg. Overlooking the old Narayanhiti Palace, if the conditions are right, this upmarket bar is the place to catch a perfect Himalayan sunset.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks.

Kathmandu is not known for its classy bars, I’m afraid, but you can definitely have a lot of fun in the city if you like dancing or loud live music. If you’ve watched the pink glow of sunset fade over the snow-capped Himalayas at Mezze by Roadhouse, stay there for a little while before walking over to Thamel and taking a seat in any number of traveller-oriented bars. As long as it’s before 11.30pm, when everything has to shut!

Elen Turner is a Kathmandu-based editor and writer with a passion for South Asia, especially Nepal and India. Highlights of her travels around Nepal include a helicopter ride from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu, and rhino-spotting in the Chitwan National Park. She blogs about her travels at www.wildernessmetropolis.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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