When and Where

Hi

I am able to take time off work in March 09 to trek to base camp. Is this an OK time of year?

Also what route is best. Ace travel offer 3 different trips; Lobuche East peak, Everest base camp

and Everest circuit trek.

Thanks Heaps

Bec

When and Where

Early spring: average March temperatures at Namche by day maximum 9 centigrade, but that%26#39;s a shade temperature - should be very tolerable on sunny days, and you are quite likely to get some of those as you are well before the monsoon. Nightime temperatures may be below freezing - a down jacket and good sleeping bag will make staying in lodges a lot more comfortable.

Don%26#39;t know Ace Travel - are they based in Nepal ? If not you%26#39;ll find it cheaper, and better to use a Kathmandu-based firm: it%26#39;s better that the money goes to Nepalese-owned firms rather than to pay for expensive advertising, offices, western salaries outside Nepal. I%26#39;ve used a firm called Spirit of the Himalayas (email: nepshol@mos.com.np, website www.spiritofthehimalayas.com/ ) several times and found them to be excellent particularly if you want a trip tailor-made for you rather than to join a group of strangers.

As to where - it depends on what you want (and how many there are of you). The trek up to Everest base Camp - though once you are near there Kala Pattar, the hill above Base Camp, offers much better views than base camp itself - is a good trek through superb scenery. Have you been to Nepal before ? If not, this would probably offer you a magical introductory experience. You will travel in moderately short stages (as you can%26#39;t rush it as you%26#39;ll need to acclimatise) to over 5000 metres.

Lobuche East is a trekking Peak that calls for some experience of climbing.

Not certain which %26#39;Everest Circuit%26#39; you are referring to: if it means Namche- Gokyo - Cho La pass to Lobuche, Base Camp / Kala Pattar then that%26#39;s a great route, but I imagine that as it would need to be a camping, rather than Lodge, trek camping either side of the Cho La, at around 5000 metres, would be a particularly cold experience in March

When and Where

Thanks for all the advice. Yes Ace travel is based in locally which is great.

I will have 2 more weeks in Napal after the trek. I have never been before so I am really excited and want to make the best of the opportunity. I thought about doing a tour after the trek but love to travel indepandly as well.

What would you advise I do with the time?

Thanks heaps

Bec

After the trek !

How about rafting ? The Trisuli river is a fairly gentlwe (Grade 3) 2 day trip, the Kali Gandaki a grade 4 3 day trip, both are great fun (and that%26#39;s from a non-swimmer who is afraid of water !)

Either would give you a chance to visit Pokhara - well worth visiting for a couple of chill-out days.

Perhaps on from there to Chitwan, a bit of relative luxury and a chance to explore a totally different environment.

From kathmandu the 1 hour car trip to Nagarkot for a night, watching sunset and sunrise over the Himalaya, is well worth it, as are a couple of days spent in Bhaktapur, a magical city (well, particularly its ancient core), laid-back, traffic-free, and far more Nepalese than Thamel, kathmandu.

Hello, this is Frand

I use Ace the Himalaya twice and they are great, I saw many guides in my trek but found their guides speak much better English plus they offer really high stander service and also support local schools and village.