Accommodations while trekking

Nepali girl in her kitchen

You may wondering how accommodation could be in the middle in nowhere at 3000 meters high in the Annapurna?

Trekking is nothing new in Nepal: in 1953, Sir Edmond Hillary was the first to reach the summit of Everest and since then, many many people have visited Nepal for climbing, mountaineering and more recently trekking in the Himalaya.

Accommodation alternatives during trekking, are limited and you should not expect the comfort of a four star hotel! We will eat and sleep in relatively simple family run homestay with an average of 10 to 15 rooms available for 2 to 4 people. You will have dinner with other trekkers in a large dining room with a wood fire (in the colder, higher areas).

Unless you have chosen to be on our own, you will share your room with another member of our group. You don’t nee to bring your own sleeping bag as every lodge has good and clean blankets to keep you warm.

Most of the guesthouses have shared bathroom facilities but sometimes you might have you own bathroom but you will always have access to a hot shower (mostly solar system).

 Simple kitchen but excellent food

Food is quite good and menus full of surprising dishes like pizzas (Nepali style but good), apple pies or Tibetan tea. The main food still is the “Dahl Baht” a full plate with rice, lentils, curried vegetables, pickles and various additions depending on the cook. For meat eater, chicken, goat meat or buffalo meat is what you will get. Personally I like few days of vegetarianism, it felt lighter walking up and down the trail…

The price of food varies according to the distance of the next market! The higher you are and the higher the prices. You may start with a dish that will cost 250 rupees (3 US$)  in the first village and the same dish at 4200 m at the Annapurna Base Camp will be double that price, still quite reasonable according to western standards.

In every lodge you will find properly boiled or filtered water and you will be able to fill up your bottles for free or sometimes for a small fee.

We use water purifier pills or drops but you can also bring a portable backpacking filter as there is now some good option on the market. See http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Backpacking-Water-Filter-Reviews/buying-advice.

When I started to trek in Nepal, some thirty years ago, the quantity and the quality of the lodges was often a problem compensated by the very low number of trekkers and the amazing landscapes. There is definitely more people on the trails now but the lodges are quite comfortable, the food good and the people really nice and English speaking (it helps!)… And the landscapes are still amazing!

More details on our next photography and trekking workshop here: http://www.photography-trekking.asia/

See you there

Bruno L’Hoste

Guesthouse in Muktinath, 3800 m high in the Annapurna

Photography and Trekking update

Namasté

While the temperature is now 40 degrees in Cambodia where I am staying now, it is still cool in Nepal, even cold if you are over 3000 meters high and I am definitely looking forward to be back there.

An update on our photography workshops: one reservation so far but we still have 7 months before the treks and it would be fine to book in the coming months. However, if you are coming from Europe or the US, remember that flights are cheaper if you can book well in advance. We will keep you inform of the availabilities in this blog and on the website (http://www.photography-trekking.asia/) on the “price list” page, check the status.

Some basic facts about "Trekking":
a/ Trekking is defined as a trip on foot in places where power-driven transportation is generally not obtainable or possible, except in a few areas where some 4x4 vehicles are available and mostly used by locals for goods.
b/ trekking always means walking on paths, it doesn't involve climbing or mountaineering, which may come as an option in some cases but not for us.
c/ Not like hiking which could be very harduous, trekking is only for fun, although somtimes it can definitely test your fitness!

So, nothing to worry about and we have added a fantastic value: you will trek with an accomplished landscape photographer who will share his secrets with you in some of the most incredible mountains in the world: the Himalaya.

We are looking forward to your participation
More here: http://www.photography-trekking.asia/

Trekking with kids

Last year, in late 2012, my wife and I decided to do another trek with our 9 years old daughter. I have been thinking about it for a long time wondering what would be a good age to be able to take her with me. I thought something like 12 years old but she has a strong body and an adventurous mind so I couldn’t wait that long and decided to push for it…

It was a really wonderful experience; she loved it and almost never complains despite some very long walking days up and down the Annapurna mountains up to 3800 m high in Mustang area.

Of course we took a lot of days off in the best places like Chomrong, Tatopani or Kagbeni where we stayed 5 days! She made friends with local kids, ride a horse on the way to Muktinath for 6 hours and even eat the famous “dahl baht” (local dish eaten by everybody every day).

6 months later she’s still talking about it and really wants to do it again.

In my sense this is one of the best experience for children, discovering new country, new language, good, people and quite a physical exercise which is something missing in our kids life.

We’ll do it again!

Check our website for details about the next treks: http://www.photography-trekking.asia/

                                      Street dancing for the Diwali festival in Pokhara, Nepal

Good old times...

I did my first trek in Nepal in 1981. The mountains were wild then with very little tourism. It was tough sometimes because trails weren’t marked very well and accommodation in the villages were very primitive ( !), basic… But it was the most wonderful time and people were truly great with us. Now, of course, things have changed and it is a lot easier to go around the Annapurnas, up and down the trails and rest in truly comfortable guesthouses where the food is quite good. But I still have the nostalgia of the old times when you would never know what will be next…

 My daughter Sylvie, 9 years old, riding a horse near Muktinath at 3500m in Mustang area. Great trek! 

More here: http://www.photography-trekking.asia/

For our French speaking friends:

Voyager au Cambodge, c' est découvrir une culture riche en architecture et paysages. Nous sommes présents depuis 15 ans dans ce pays, et nos circuits sont a la carte. Spécialisés dans la découverte de chaque région, nous privilégions le contact humain, dans tous nos tours. Ballades en vélos sur les routes de l 'ancien Cambodge. Trekking dans les forets des parcs nationaux, ou par les sentiers des ethnies qui peuplent les régions lointaines. Vous découvrirez la médecine des plantes, l'architecture incroyable des cites disparues, chères à nos auteurs français du 19 eme siècle. Nos guides parlent plusieurs langues, et sont des spécialistes de la culture de ce pays.

 Contact@secretofelephants.com  and www.secretofelephants.com

Just got an email from Kumar, our Nepali guide. He's really looking forward to see us back in Nepal. He's a great guy and we miss him a lot! But another few month and we'll be back on track in the Annapurna for the next workshop!
Check details here: http://www.photography-trekking.asia/

http://www.photography-trekking.asia/ is now online after two months hard work! This is awesome and we are quite happy to see the newborn... Let's wish it a long and prosperous life!