companion, travel buddies for nepal

Hi,

I am new,too and hopefully this works.

I am planning to go to Nepal and Tibet around March for 3 months or so. Are you a strong hiker ? I am just average. I like to do Annapurna base camp and circuit. Depends on the time, Everest base camp and Gokyo lake, then going to Tibet. If I do not have time to go Everest base camp, I go from China side. Then travel from Lhasa to Mt.Kailash, then Kashgar. I usually travel alone. So I am just looking for somebody for the trekking part and Tibet overland from Lhasa to Kashgar by Mt. Kailash. Since travailing in Tibet is expensive as solo. Overland part, I may want to travel in small group, like 4 ?

I went to Nepal before and have contact there. So he can arrange trekking part and to Lhasa by Everest base camp. so far he cannot do from Lhasa to Kashgar. If you are interested in to join me some part of it, it will be great. So far my date are not set, yet. I think 70%, I am going.

What do you think?

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Hi Dan

That sounds good.

This is one of my contact.
http://www.trektibet.com/index.htm

If I have enough people, he can arrange any date. But so far I was thinking to take Annapurna base camp from March 26 and going to Annapurna circuit. Then join Mt. Kailash trip from April 26, then instead of going back to Kathmandu, going to Lhasa via Mt. Everest base camp China side.

I wanted to go to Kashgar after Mt, Kailash from Lhasa but he does not have that tour and another company who has that itinerary was so expensive. Unless if I have some travel companies. In Tibet, basically the cost is for a group. So if you have more people to travel with, each person pay less.

Depends on my work situation but this is my plan so far.

My fitness level is OK. ( I am mid 30's and I used to be very fit but not anymore but still OK I think.) I hiked 900-1000m elevation and 10 hours. I did Inca Trail before. My concern is high altitude. I do not hike consecutive days very often. I am training so should be OK for consecutive date but I do not want to go fast. I like to enjoy scenery. I belong to hiking club and I know some people are so strong and want to go very fast.

Is that OK with you? (trekking pace)

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Great! We can enjoy trekking !

This is part of my big trip. ( I was planning a huge one but need to downsize ..In Asian part, I will start from India and go though Nepal, Tibet to China, Wanted to go to Central Asia but next time.. ) In Nepal will be about 1 month and Tibet for a month or so

Trekking itself, Annapurna base camp (BC) takes about 9 days and Circuit takes 17 days. Some lower trail will be the same route. I want to do both but you can do one or the other. Base camp will be easier and go back to the same way, so if somebody cannot make it, can wait somewhere between. View from BC will be spectacular. Surrounding by mountains. Circuit trail, I may do from south bound. It;s higher altitude trail and go thorough different cultural villages. This time of the year, you will see lots of Rhododendron (Nepal national flower)

Price, you can check the web site to get idea. http://www.trektibet.com/index.htm

It will cost around BC is US 670, Circuit is US790, Plus minus, I think. I do not need sightseeing in KTM or Pokhara, I already did. So I will ask adjustment. This is local tour company. I checked few others, price are similar.

I will come from Vancouver, Canada. So far looking at flying via Europe. How about you? Reply to this

also id like 2 know...the price of the trip does that include shelter for the nights? and food..?
like i said iv never done this b4...need 2 look at the budget etc Reply to this

I think British need Visa for all these countries. India-you need to get the visa before you go, Nepal - you may get the visa at the airport or border, Tibet- you need to have one but through local travel agency. They only allow group tour. Even you are going alone, those travel agency can arrange the visa for you but the tour price will be expensive. Because they charge for one bus (a group) . If you have 5-6 people travel together, price will be divided by 5-6. You need to have Chinese visa as well. If you travel back to Nepal. Then Nepalese agent will arrange Chinese visa as well. I will travel longer in China, so I apply longer Chinese visa here in Canada. Indian and Chinese visa won't take long time not like Brazilian visa. You need to contact embassy to check the fee.

These web site is useful to quickly check visa requirement. But depend on your nationality and things are changing, always better to double check with each embassies.

North West travel tips
http://www.nwa.com/services/timatic.html

Kumuka
http://www.kumuka.com/Content.aspx?pageName=Columbus-country-travel-guide

Kumuka is tour company but has good information for each countries. If you do not have time to read guide books, this is good place to start to get some idea.

Budgeting... It depends how you want to spend especially accommodation. I have not had a chance to look at the cost in India, China and flight detail, yet. Usually I read some guide books and search on-line to get some idea. I go very bottom and once in a while, stay nicer place but not like 5 stars. I do not spend too much time in India this time. Just Northern part to get Pokahara. I like to see the border and Buddha's path. But it will depend on the international flight as well.

Tibet will be expensive. Also need to be in group. That;s why I am looking for somebody to travel with. according to Earth bound expedition company, Mt Kailash is from US 1890, KTM to Lhasa via Everest is from US 1290. I am looking at the date of

Kailash April 26- May 12
http://www.trektibet.com/kailash_mansarovar_yatra.htm

KTM - Everest - Lhasa May 8-20
http://www.trektibet.com/ktm_lhasa_everest.htm

I think I can leave the first tour on day 14 at Naylan( border ) to meet the next tour's group to go Lhasa. Also I do not come back to KTM. I do not need the flight. I do not need 5 stars hotel as well. So price will be negotiable.

He put the set date. So hopefully other travellers go on the same date. Many other company does not show the date on web, which means you need to have some travel companion and e-mail them to ask the price. Otherwise they will quote the price for solo.

This is for the trekking one. See the detail. What is including the price,
Usually pretty much everything you need. Transportation, accommodation, trail permit and guide. Meals are include on the trail. Not drink, of course.

http://www.trektibet.com/annapurna_base_camp.htm
http://www.trektibet.com/thorongla_trek.htm

Extra will be your spending money like some meals, drinks and souvenirs.

I usually like to travel alone with my own pace. Then maybe spend some time with other travellers for a couple days. Sometimes take tour for where there are no public transportation and the place is better to have a guide like in mountains or historical places like Egypt and middle east. Like I am interested in taking Kumuka trip in Africa and middle east. Take overland truck and sleep in the tent in the desert, that's cool. Also it is nice to have a knowledgeable guide for historical places. The guide can give us local information and travel tips. Taking tour can also save time to see more.

Another good reason to look at these tour company web, either you take tour or not, will give you some idea of routing and cost. Reading guide books and researching web site for hotels and transportation in each city take time. If you need rough idea of cost, you can look at the tour price. Then maybe you can reduce a little bit from that depends on what kind of accommodation you want to stay. Kumuka for Asia seems to stay nice accommodation. Intrepid has different type of accommodations for different trip style. their trip dossier or note has good information.

Here is some other useful site

Intrepid http://www.intrepidtravel.com/

Lonely Planet (under money, you get some budget idea)
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/nepal

Hostels ( is good place to meet other travellers )
http://www.hostels.com/en/np.ka.html


Web, guide book is not always accurate, again things will change, so just for an idea.

When I went to Vietnam, I ended up getting good deal ( Like $4-10 ) from ,nicely saying, sales people from the hotels. You know, when you get the station, those people come up and offer their hotel pretty aggressively.
Knowing avarage price from your reserch will help for negotiation with these guys.

Flight. You should check travel agencies in UK and this kind of web site;

http://uk.traveljungle.com/

I am looking for somebody to hike with and travel with in Tibet. Last time when I hike in Nepal, just a guide and me. Little bit boring. It is nice to have 3-6 people to hike with. So do not worry about India.



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