If you are planning a trek to Nepal, here we have useful top tips for Nepal trekking preparation to make sure that you have a successful and enjoyable experience and time in this beautiful country. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to travel and trekking in Nepal. And the best way to fully enjoy your Nepal trip is to be prepared.
Nepal is one of the most fascinating places and best trekking destinations in the world. Every year thousands of travelers visits this beautiful country for trekking adventure and enjoy the mountains. Nepal is a home to most of the highest mountains in the world and there are more than hundreds of trekking destinations suitable for trekkers from all age groups. Nepal is the perfect destination for trekkers as it is a paradise for all kinds of trekkers. The best part of trekking in Nepal is the breathtaking mountain views and ever-changing amazingly beautiful landscapes. Another highlights of trekking in Nepal is the combinations of exotic flora and fauna with the taste of authentic Nepali lifestyle. But planning your trek with no right preparation, it can ruin your whole trekking adventure so we have created this post specially to give you some useful tips on how to prepare for a trek in Nepal. With the right preparation, your trekking in Nepal will be even better and you can have a great experience.
There is no question about the trip will be better with the right preparation so, without further ado, here are our top tips for preparing trekking in Nepal.
For trekking in Nepal you don't need expert climbing experience but you should have a good standard of fitness. Even if your planned trekking date is 12 months away, it’s never too early to get started on your trek conditioning program. Start your trekking training today to build your strength and fitness gradually, giving your body time to adapt to the new demands that you are placing on it. This makes the trip more enjoyable and easier on you physically and mentally. The less drained you are, the better.
A trek is a great way to stay fit, but you already have to be in shape before you go. For a trekking training plan, you can go for several long walks a week, building up the distance slowly until around five hours of walking doesn’t bother you. Another thing you should focus on is strength training at the gym, focused on your legs in particular. Aerobic exercises like swimming and jogging are good ways of helping yourself build up endurance skills for the long days of trekking.
For trekking in Nepal, mental preparation is equally important with physical preparation. With no right mental preparation, you will be not able to enjoy your trekking in Nepal and the real beauty of mountains. You may not have realized, but being physically ready is only half the battle.When you are mentally prepared for what is to come during the trek, your trop will be even better.
The right willpower and mentality some of the major factors that prevents you from finishing your trek. While you are trekking, you need to make sure that your mind doesn’t take over. If you are a lover of the outdoors and very comfortable with the mountain life, including staying in local tea house, bugs, dirt, going to the toilet outdoors, eating local foods, it will be easier for you to prepare mentally for trekking in Nepal. But if you are not comfortable with mentioned things, you may need to prepare seriously yourself for what is to come.
You have to make sure that you are well aware of the standard of local-run tea houses, their accommodation and facilities, walking trails, local people, walking durations, the demands of the altitude and any fears you have approaching your journey. The best way to master your mind is to accept its thoughts and figure out how to change them. At the end of the day, trekking is about putting one foot in front of the other, at a pace you are most comfortable with.
Having the right gear is very important for trekking in Nepal. Right gear is the next key thing you have to consider while preparing your trekking in Nepal. Packing right gears is very important for trekking in Nepal. Packing can either make or worsen your trekking experience. When you pack less, it may make you run out of necessities during the trek. Packing more is also not really fruitful as it increases the weight of your backpack.
When you are packing for your trekking, you have to collect the information about the trekking destination including temperature, weather, terrain, altitude, and environment of the place, local accommodation etc. There are different types of treks like short treks, long treks, camping treks, lodge to lodge trek, high altitude treks and low altitude treks. Your packing list will vary according to the type of trekking you choose. It also depends on the number of trekking days and the available facilities en route.
For a full list of things to pack for the trekking in Nepal, click here.
There will be a local porter who will be carrying your main pack but you will be also carrying a small daypack, packed with essentials like your camera, snacks, sunscreen, water and wet-weather gear. You will be walking with same pack for multiple days so you need to be comfortable with it. So practice using your backpack (loaded) as part of your training so that you will be comfortable with the weight and position. When you are buying backpack, look for backpack with adjustable chest and waist straps so that you can adjust it according to your comfort and fits your body comfortably.
Good quality and appropriate footwear for your trek and your walking training is essential. Your feet are one of the most important parts of the body to take care of when trekking. Never skimp on footwear when you are going to walk multiple hours a day, for multiple days, your feet have to be comfortable and dry all the time. You need a good hiking boots with good ankle support. Buy a good, sturdy, waterproof pair of trekking boots and make sure they fit properly and are broken-in enough to make sure they are comfortable because well-fitting boots can make difference between an entertaining or a painful trip. Take several pairs of good-quality hiking socks. When purchasing your boots, try to shop in the afternoon when your feet have expanded slightly so that you get the correct size.
You may be trying to conserve space in your bag, but the following items can come in handy on the trail if unexpected circumstances arise: sunblock, energy snacks; a flashlight; binoculars; a knife; bug repellant; a first aid kit with blister bandages and an emergency kit with a whistle; compass; matches and a space blanket.
Whether you are in a hot climate or not, your fluid requirements will increase significantly when trekking. Losses on the breath and from sweating will serve to reduce your blood volume, resulting in your heart having to work much harder. By the time you feel thirsty you will already be dehydrated so try and drink small, frequent quantities of water throughout the day. Carry out the urine test to monitor your hydration: a pale straw color indicates that you are well hydrated, anything darker means that you need to drink more.
Last, but by no means least, consider your diet. Similarly to hydration, your energy requirements will increase whilst you are trekking. Aim to eat small, frequent meals and snacks on the go to maintain energy levels. Depending on the part of the world, your favourite snack-type foods may not be plentiful, but fruit is frequently available which is easy to eat on the move and excellent for an energy boost. During your training, experiment with eating ‘on the go’, so that you get used to the feeling of food in your stomach when you are trekking.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
TripAdvisor