To Nepal with a guide

In the spring of 2019, the stars lined up in the bizarre shape of a pig twirling its finger at its temple, and I immediately realized that I had to make a strange and unjustified decision. So I typed “Nepal trek” into Google and away we go.

I will try to give a short review with all the tags, links and photos that I think are useful. Descriptions of nature, my deep insights and feelings, war, as well as peace will be cut out. I want to share my impressions with those who will have a similar situation and who, like me at one time, want to be prepared for it.

So, what I had at the time of planning the trip:

• 4 hikes in the Crimea and the Carpathians from 3 to 7 days, from easy to medium-high difficulty;
• Almost complete lack of serious training in the gym. Instead, 2-3 times a week, do some cardio and some strength training;
• I don’t run in the morning, sometimes I smoke;
• The medical record is sad because it is full of problems with knees and back.

What I managed to do even with this kit:

• Complete the entire tour without injury during or afterward;
• Get one hundred five hundred thousand pleasant emotions and experiences;
• Meet new interesting people who share a love of walking, games, puzzles;
• Find an operator whom I now trust, recommend to friends, and plan my next trip myself.

Hooray!

Briefly about planning

I planned based on available dates, price and communication with the operator.

After several mediocre attempts, I found a person who was always ready to get in touch, answer honestly and joke no less honestly about any questions of my tossing soul. And she was rushing about! In terms of dates and price, the tour was ideal. So I settled on trekking in Annapurna Base Camp, where the leader, guide and consultant was Kirill Yasko.

I liked the tour itself because it promised to be picturesque, of moderate difficulty and less touristy than the same trek to Everest Base Camp. The time of year (second half of April) should also provide a mild climate.

Basically, I decided to take a tour (rather than organize everything myself) because:

• I went on a hike alone. You can take a guide on the spot and go alone with him or with another group, probably, but I wanted the company of people who were close in spirit and language. I wanted to be safe and chat before the hike about everything that worried me;
• Didn’t have time to understand the details well on my own

Briefly about equipment

As a result of the hike, I created the following list for myself:

• Trekking boots – it is advisable to have your own. They are being replaced by cross-country sneakers, also our own.
• Warm clothes, a sleeping bag and everything from the rain - it’s better to buy in Kathmandu, it will be cheaper.
• It’s better to have your own backpack and a good one.
• Food – it’s better to have small joys with you (energy bars, dried fruits, nuts). And it’s good to hide them, and not to feed the mice at night, as I did.

About the hike

Upon arrival in Nepal, the most important thing is to acclimatize, buy what you need and get ready.

Therefore, we immediately went for a walk around the neighborhood straight from the plane.

See how the locals live. What do they do?

Having assessed the situation with the monkeys, I realized that it was time to stop being afraid of them. And so she did.

It's easy when there's always a handsome dog next to these monsters

But the monkeys are always on the lookout.

So you shouldn’t relax too much with them.

You never know when such a gentleman will tell you to bow.

In general, I think it’s not for nothing that the ancients saw them so playful

This is Pathan, by the way. You definitely need to go there. There are very beautiful carvings, wood, stone.

Nepal is peace.

Nepal is a world in its natural colors of love of life, sweet superstitions, pure, untainted emotions, and again peace.

I’m really not sure that without a good guide I would have had time to see all this, and would not have rushed straight to the market for a sleeping bag and to the mountains.

Note to the hostess

For sensitive people like me, it’s better to immediately pull on the mask and not show off. The air is really dusty. Plus must-haves: sun cream, hat.

It's also raining nicely here. Don't wait for the first drops; it's better to put on your raincoat right away. Because already the first drop can be the size of your head.

During the hike itself, it is important to listen to yourself and act together with yourself. Walk at a pace that is comfortable for you, there is something that you can digest and be sure to squeeze all the furry asses that you will meet along the way.

It turned out that, contrary to my fears, there are very few donkeys on this route, and therefore little of their poop. Therefore, you (the donkeys) are very happy every time. According to rumors, this trek to Annapurna is very different from the trek to the base of Everest. And for me this difference is very significant.

If you look around carefully, you can see a langur. It solidifies my newfound love for monkeys.

Almost every lodge makes you want to squeal at the view. And it seems that I didn’t deny myself this.

While on the track, it’s better to stock up on snacks for the kids.

And recharge the mimemeter to meet these guys:

Pay attention to the flora, it is very interesting there.

And again about fauna

Another note for the hostess

Next time I’ll definitely take with me not one but two sets of thermal underwear, because I’ll sleep in one and walk in the other. And also clothespins, your favorite coffee and more vitamins. Although I had enough vitamin C.

Oh, and also, if you want to draw or pee, you also need to take it with you, it’s almost impossible to buy. At the Machapuchare base camp, which is already at the end of the trek, I finally found a notebook, and did not regret it.

There are several sunrise and rise meetings on the tour and I regret some of them that I didn’t go. Next time I will save more energy in the evening. Although I met one sunrise simply by leaving the lodge with coffee and it turned out no worse. Just not in the company of comrades, but in the company of local dogs.

It was more difficult for me personally with snow. Perhaps because I had simpler cats, or perhaps because my knees were more difficult. But you also have to go through this to learn about yourself.

The whole trek is good for learning more about yourself and feasting your eyes on Nepal itself.

Results

I would definitely go the second time, and definitely with Outdoor Ukraine.

In the context of my experience of hiking both on my own and with commercial tours, I am most pleased with this hike so far. A very good organization of the process, where you feel like a participant in real time, and not a stupid tourist. The logistics and chronology are perfect for me. The main feeling is trust. To the guide, to the tour, and it seems even to yourself in the end, which does not always work in extreme conditions :)

The preparation is accompanied by the support of Kirill, in which he gives his best. I received answers to all my questions. Now I regret that I didn’t ask the eternal question about the meaning of existence then... In general, Kirill is a patient and intelligent guide, a pleasant person and an already endangered species with a sense of humor. I recommend the company, the guide and the tour to my friends and travelers I meet along the way.

Alexandra Matveeva, Kyiv, May 28, 2019.