A Month to Travel
 

So I am moving to India for a year, to Jaipur actually. Anyway, my question is what the recommendations are for a month over the holidays to travel. I was contemplating trekking to the Everest Base Camp, but from what I see they are quite expensive, is their a cheaper way to go?

I am really the kind of person who likes to do everything, from arts to outdoors etc. So I would just love to hear some ideas. It seems like an ideal time to travel outside of India perhaps, but I know there is a ton to see in India as well so give me some ideas!

Wow. Could you narrow it down just a little? Do you want to stay in India or go elsewhere? If elsewhere, where?

Your question is too broad and vague. Do some more thinking and get back to us.

Mucho importante: when will you be traveling????

If you have a month to travel note that the (expensive) trek to the Everest base camp will take half that time. If trekking is what you are after there are many more beautiful treks in Nepal.

Jaya, I don't really mind if I stay in India or go somewhere else.

Indiana, I will be traveling from the middle of December to the middle of January

You need to offer up some more info. We have no idea where you have already been, how upscale or budget you want to travel.

If you haven't been around India, you can use that month to see other parts of India.

Sorry, I haven't posted on here before so I forget what info to include.

In answer to your questions, I have never been anywhere in Asia. At the moment I am thinking of traveling in India and Nepal over that month. But I am honest when I say everything interests me--so I would just like to hear what other people love to do that would be more difficult for me to do in say a couple of weeks of traveling or a weekend. That is, what requires more time that is worth going to?

I am a student, so I am on a typical student budget. Not looking to spend a ton of money on hotels(but still, I am not sure even how much is a lot to spend on a hotel there, perhaps a nicer hotel would be something I could afford. I'm currently living in Guatemala, so my India research will commence upon getting home, hence the reason I am not currently particularly knowledgeable on India).

Kathie--I have been considering at some point throughout the year in India of heading to Nepal to do the Annapurna trek. Do you have other recommendations?

The Annapurna trek is supposed to be lovely. There are many treks in Nepal. Let me suggest the Lonely Planet guide as a good source of info on treks in Nepal.


There are also treks in less- visited places, like Assam and Sikkim as well as other areas in Northern India. Also consider Ladkah, but really, only in the warmer months.

If you have a year in India, you can see so much more than just the north of India. I envy you the amount of time you have to see the country. Get a guidebook. Look at the climates. See each part of the country when it is at its best. A year in India is a gift. Use it wisely.

Everest base camp is not hugely popular on this board, but if you do a search you may find some info. However, if you are going to be living in India, then I would strongly suggest you WAIT until you get to India and start talking to other people there, especially other foreign students and Indians, and get the benefit of their thoughts and experience. You will most likely find people there who have done many trips, including to Everest, on a budget. Most importantly, you also should be able to take advantage of student discounts, and hopefully the discounts for Indian residents, which people on this board cannot. That should help with airfare and hotels (although not hotels in Nepal, but possibly flights TO Nepal.) So you might just hold on to your question for a few months until you have been in India for a while. You may also decide that there are other places in India or elsewhere that you would prefer to go instead of Everest. For what it is worth, it is my understanding that the best months for doing an Everest base camp trek are the spring and the early fall. December and January would not be the ideal months, as it would be very cold and you would have more snowstorms.