thursdaysd

I'm with MmePerdu, you can have a great time in Nepal without trekking and on your own - especially if the clouds cooperate - I did. No reason you both have to do the same thing.

Nelson

Ditto. The alpha-male changes the equation. I thought you wanted to go!

Either an easier low-elevation compromise trek, or separate itineraries seems to be the answer.

KE, mentioned by annhig is a good place to start. World Expeditions is another. For example:
http://www.worldexpeditions.com/inde...rips&id=263253

Good luck.

annhig

Nelson - I had a look at the world expeditions site and it appears that they offer almost exactly the same trek/s as KE, though the latter are slightly more expensive, at least for the trek I was looking at, [the Annapurna Chitwan trek] which might even be within my capabilities.

Food for thought!

Nelson

Annhig, I used KE 20 years ago for a long high altitude trek south of Everest. They did an outstanding job. Back then they were called "Karakoram Experience" and most of their treks were in Pakistan. When the security situation changed they altered their name and increased their trips, both in style and location. But they have a long track record.

A good friend of mine is choosing between those two companies now for an Everest region trek and settled on World Expeditions because they offered better options like no single supplement charge and included a high altitude sleeping bag (he will be in a tent). It pays to read the fine print.

Chitwan is a nice destination to relax after the trek.

Good luck!

annhig

Thanks for the info, Nelson. We wouldn't be going until next March so I've got plenty of time to research these things. Certainly KE give the impression of being very professional, which is not to "dis" the other company either.

plenty to think about during these long wet english summers!

jhubbel

Just had a chuckle reading about alpha males. Last year when I did Kili - and this year on the Inca Trail- one always sees those alpha males hurtling forward trying to do what MmePerdu rightly describes as conquering the mountain.They are also the ones who often come down on stretchers. There is absolutely no point whatsoever. If the point is the journey- the scenery- the joy of being in a place, then the ability to be there (being healthy enough to do it) and being aware of one's limitations (DH does his thing, I do mine) works just fine. We had a 49 yo man who literally race walked his way to the top of Dead Woman's pass and bragged to us all about his time. Nobody cared. The rest of us were agog at the scenery on the Inca Trail- which is why we were all there.

As a female who loves adventure, and I acknowledge MMs' point that no, I haven't done EBC yet, I have done big treks in wild places with very minimal if any, ah, "accommodations" shall we say. The very fact that there is very little there is part of the fun for me. Not everyone likes that. If one prefers to have nice bathrooms along the way then day hikes are a better option. I like a little more epic. But then I do a radio show on living vividly after fifty and I speak on these things so of course I'm a huge fan of anyone- especially women of a certain age- taking on adventures. It's learning to do such challenges that stretch us especially as we age. It's a matter of preference.

Joanne958, there is so much expertise on here about Nepal that you will find lots of options without taking on a BHAG like the EBC which many seem to disparage, still have an excellent adventure, find many reasons to get in superb shape, and come home with many many wonderful stories. That's my point. I simply don't want people to decide not to come because one party had an awful time of it. Solid research and serious preparation, taking the right meds for the altitude and really understanding the demands you're going to place on yourself at this age and this level of physical fitness are what I'm advocating. As we research we'll hear all kinds of stories. As I was researching Kilimanjaro last year I heard that a man died and so did his guide. To my mind you have to write your own novel.

Joanne958

Thank you, dear pen pals, for your time and advice. I am leaning toward separate itineraries. I'll probably come back to the list for more info as planning progresses.

Meanwhile, feel free to continue weighing in, no such thing as too much info. Happy travels.

annhig

i had a client once who kept referring to himself as an "alpha male". By the end of our association, I was wishing that I'd had gun so I could shoot him.

fortunately lawyers are not equipped with firearms in the UK.

jhubbel - i admire those of either sex who can get by in the wild. I think that I am looking for something a little less adventurous.

julies

Since you are inclined now towards separate itineraries, here are places we stayed and liked:

Balthali Village Resort--in an interesting area for day hikes with access to untouched villages

Famous Farm in Nuwakot--lovely place for perhaps 2 nights

Bandipur--very nice town with walks one can do

Jungle Villa Resort--on edge of Chtiwan, and we saw a tiger!

Chandra Ban Eco Resort--on outskirts of Kathmandu

Bhaktapur



I know Pokhara is on every itinerary, but it was our least favorite part of Nepal. There are so many places that are much nicer.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

jhubbel

annhig,
There are so many ways to see the world, and to me the whole point is to SEE it. It opens the deepest folds of the heart, causes the tears to course down the cheeks in the face of grandeur, and expands our notion of the idea of human family. The first step onto the airplane to me is the beginning of yet another journey to understanding and to be totally blown away by what more there is to learn, see, experience. From being able to understand poverty to being exposed to the generosity of people everywhere, it's one of life's greatest gifts. I just like to throw in a good bit of physicality. It just always tickles me when I see those "alpha males" rushing by the very things it takes being present to notice. Your comment made me guffaw. It goes back to what MMePurdu said about conquering. Whether I'm packing up a fourteener here in Colorado or clambering down Dead Woman's Pass in Peru, the point is to absorb the experience. You can most certainly enjoy gorgeous mountains from the balcony of a nice hotel just as well from the opening of a tent. As long as we take the time to look, appreciate, and be humbled by it.

I have an extra three or four days in Kathmandu after EBC and am taking all this in to see where to sneak off to before the flight home. Happy travels, all!

annhig

hope you find somewhere good, jhubbel, to spend your free days in Kathmandu, and don't encounter too many of those mane-tossing blokes.

thursdaysd

@jhubbel - if you have three days in Kathmandu -

1. Stay at the Courtyard. http://hotelcourtyard.com/

2. Find out whether the organic farm (aka Apa Villa) at Phulbari is still taking guests. The Courtyard people should know.

For the late, great, much lamented dogster's take on the Courtyard see: https://thedogster6.wordpress.com/courtyard-cabaret/

For my trip, in dogster's footsteps, to Phulbari, see:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...omment-6801198

julies

Don't spend your time in Kathmandu. Instead, try one of these places near Kathmandu that we enjoyed.

Bhaktapur--Mila Guest House

http://www.millaguesthousebhaktapur.com/


Chandra Ban Eco-Resort

http://www.kathmanduecoresort.com/


We stayed at the Courtyard, and it is nice. But, Kathmandu itself left us cold. From either of the above mentioned places you can explore the area while staying in a place removed from the noise and pollution and chaos of Kathmandu.

jhubbel

Many thanks to all, I am in Kathmandu now, with a facemask to deal with the omnipresent dust. Did someone say noise, pollution and chaos? I'm starting a trip report on another thread.

Bokhara2

It's very dusty just now - need some rain. My friends in KTM tell me it's very dry & hot.

jhubbel

Just finalizing here, Bokhara2 was right- it was and is VERY dusty and hot here in KTM, quite the contrast to the snowstorm that whacked us up top and prevented half our group from getting to EBC. In this case we opted out, the we being those of us who had more experience, and those who had the least, went up. And I am very glad they made it down, one got really ill, and the conditions were pretty bad. The snow was very deep and wet and we had some real concerns about avalanches. And staying dry.

As for you intrepids, the feedback on the trail for sixty somethings is that I wouldn't do this without considerable physical preparation, taking the right meds which includes antibiotics. Not that you would but I picked up something way up top that I carried right down to my hotel and it took me about four days to shake it- and it was bad. And you still have to make that whole hike down, although much of the return hike is uphill. In some ways this hike was easier than the others I've done but in others- the sheer distance- it's rougher on the pegs. Everyone's body will respond differently.

I think that our experience was a good reminder that no matter what you read or research about the best time of year to hike you have to plan on a possible snowstorm, and not making it all the way, and being ready to accept that part way is enough if the weather gets evil. Which also means that bringing proper gear for those contingencies is essential.

That said, it was absolutely worth it, and even if you take your own porters and guide and do it very slowly - which would most assuredly give you time to enjoy the omg views- I still think that it would be worth a try. I saw a bunch of sixty somethings on this trail coming down from the snow, and they were tired- happy- energized. They hadn't seen Everest either because of the storm. But they had come, and they had journeyed. But there are many other trails, many other journeys here, and so many options. All I know is this one for as high as we got (Loubouche, probably misspelled). There's this one hotel right above Namche Bazaar you can helicopter into, and there's this deck that you can sit on and look out over at Everest and her sisters. Be a nice place to stay. We loved it but we hiked up. Hubby can too- perhaps you can meet him up there for hot chocolate or drinks?

Having said all that, alpha male may say let's do it, and you may say go for it, I'll take the resort, but either way, I hope you come. This is something else again.