Ganesh Himal Eco Trek

Overview

This gentle trek takes you through beautiful valleys and ridges, with spectacular views of the Ganesh Himal along the way. You’ll pass through many scenic small villages and agricultural areas, and stay in a lovely, unspoiled village where you can experience rural Nepal at its best.  There is also the option to take an early morning trek to Singla Pass (4045m), where the scenery will take your breath away.

You will have an opportunity to visit local homes and schools and perhaps even teach an English class to delighted Nepali children. You may be able to sample freshly made raksi or toffee – a special treat when in season!  There are also numerous day hikes with lovely views of the valley and the great mountain ranges nearby. You can customize this trip to stay as many or as few nights as you wish.

Itinerary Detail

Ganesh Himal Eco Trekking Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel. A representative from WildPath Adventure will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Free afternoon/evening.

Day 02: Kathmandu. After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant morning walk and visit to the ancient Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, which is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Buddhist religions. From the top you can see the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Then visit Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. After lunch, visit the famous Durbar Square in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner and a chance for you to view traditional Nepali dancing.

Day 03: From Kathmandu, drive to Betrawati (540m/5 to 6 hrs.) by tourist bus or private car. Walk ½ hour to campsite. Overnight at camp.

Day 04: Trek to Kispang (1600m/5 hrs.). Overnight at camp. Today we climb steadily thru picturesque villages, farmland and forests of alder and pine.

Day 05: Trek to Thulo Chaur (2200m/5 hrs.). Overnight at camp. The scenery today is full of variety, as we ascend steadily to our next campsite. There are great views of the surrounding hill country and farmland.

Day 06: Trek to Gonga (2900m/4 hrs.). Overnight at camp. The trek passes through rhododendron forests, which are an amazing sight when in bloom. At Gonga we will have our first views of the mighty Himalayan mountains.

Day 07: Trek to Rupchet. (4040m/5 hrs.). Overnight at camp. After an easy day’s trek through forests, we camp at Rupchet. One option for the afternoon is to hike the steep, rough trail to Singla Pass to see the sunset over the Ganesh Himal (7429m) – a sight never to be forgotten.

Day 08: Trek to Chhermo (2300m/5 hrs.). Overnight at camp. For those with sufficient energy, you can rise while it is still dark and return to Singla Pass (4045m) to see a magical sunrise panorama. After returning to the campsite for breakfast, we will then trek down to Chhermo.

Day 09: Trek to Maygaon (2000m/6 to 7 hrs.). Overnight at camp. Trek downhill to our next campsite, while enjoying great views of the Ganesh Himal and walking through forests of rhododendron.

Day 10: Trek to Thopal Khola (1600m/5 to 6 hrs.) Overnight at camp. An easy day of walking through scenic terraced farmlands and Tamang villages.

Day 11: Trek to Khalte. (1830m/5 to 6 hrs.). Overnight at camp. After a gentle day of ascending and descending through farmland and beautiful pine forest, we arrive at the Khalte region. On our first night we will camp high, near a sacred cave. You will have time to explore the deep and large cave or take a gentle walk to watch the sun set over the Khalte Valley and hills.

Day 12-14: Khalte Village: (1430m/2 hrs.) Overnight at local home. For those who wish to rise early, after a 1 hour walk up through the pine forest, there is a great sunrise view of Manaslu, the Ganesh Himal and Langtang. After breakfast, an easy downhill walk takes us the village, where we will stay in local homes for the next 3 nights. Here you will be treated to traditional Nepali hospitality and food. There are several options for each day, including visiting Nepali homes or the local schools, where you will have an opportunity to meet the students and the teachers, and perhaps teach a class or two. As well there are many good day hikes in the region, which will reward you with a closer look at the area as well as stunning views of the mountains.

Day 15: Kathmandu. After saying goodbye to Khalte, we will walk to the Trisuli River (540m/3 hrs.). Then travel by bus or private car to Kathmandu (5 hrs.). Overnight at hotel.  Final farewell dinner.

Day 16: Final Departure

Depending on your flight time, there should be free time in Thamel for shopping until transfer to the airport for departure. We will say goodbye and Namaste until the next time.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All hotel transfers
• Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Camping accommodation enroute
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• All meals enroute and boiled water in mountain
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
• Salary for all Trekking staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for Guides and Porters

Trip Info

Accommodation
Wildpath Adventure has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and camping in comfortable, two-person camping tents along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals
One of the joys of camping treks is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition.

The experienced and trained cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at camp, while lunch will be prepared at a suitable rest spot along the way.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request.

A Typical Day on the Trek
Soon after dawn breaks, you will be awakened and offered a steaming cup of tea or coffee by your Sherpa. A nutritious and appetizing breakfast awaits you after you dress for the day. Then you will trek for 3 or more hours before stopping for lunch at a scenic spot – often near a river or stream. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the campsite. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal or simply relax. After a delicious dinner .there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to the tent for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a strenuous trek.

The Trekking Group
For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements
In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions. In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least 5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety
Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization
Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated. The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team. If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time
We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu, river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring
The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu. Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with Wildpath Adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

• T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
• Hiking shorts or capris
• Lightweight Long Hiking pants
• Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
• Fleece pants and jacket
• 2 pair inner liner socks
• 2 pair outer socks, wool, medium to heavy weight
• Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

• Lightweight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof outer shell
• Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket
• Down jacket
• Waterproof, breathable shell pants
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

• Hiking boots
• Camp shoes such as sneakers or Teva-like sandals
• Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude camp)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Camera and extra battery and card
• Sun hat or bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade. Down is preferable)
• Sleeping bag liner (optional, but very useful)
• Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
• Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
• Small lock
• Basic First Aid Kit (Wildpath Adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
• Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
• Trekking Poles
• Water bottles (2) or camel back
• Ear Plugs
• Sewing and repair kit
• Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
• Energy bars, chocolate, candy
• Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

• Sunscreen with high UV protection
• Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
• Face and body moisturizer
• 1 medium sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Small mirror
• Wet wipes
• Toilet tissue
• Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES
All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required. There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

• Plasters/Band aids
• Moleskin
• General-purpose antibiotic such as Cipro
• Headache medicine – (not Codein-based)
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antibiotic cream
• Eye drops
• Rehydration salts such as ORS
• Multi-vitamins
• Throat lozenges
• Anti-diarrheal medicine
• Anti-constipation medicine

And if your pack is still light:

• Binoculars
• Journal
• IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
• Reading material
• Travel game or cards
• Photos from home

Travel Insurance
All participants in a Wild path Adventure must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.