Useful Trip Information

Respect customs and traditions

The Himalayan populations live in a harsh environment; Everyday life is tough. It is not surprising, therefore, that their beliefs and customs are closely associated with the cycles of nature. Their religious fervor is everywhere manifest and the divine omnipresent in their environment. Religious monuments, temples and monasteries testify to the vitality of their beliefs and ancestral customs that punctuate life. In the high mountains, work in the fields and household chores occupy the whole day. The peasant produces the bare necessities to feed his family and, with a little luck, a small surplus that he will hasten to sell to the market. The sense of community is very developed and the work of the land is often accomplished collectively.
Living in the Himalayas means walking to move and carry. Women and children walk to fetch water and firewood. You have to walk to the fields or to the next village. You also have to walk to the dispensary or the market. The provisions and miscellaneous merchandise required must be carried or carried on the back of a man or yak.
Despite the extreme roughness of life, the populations developed an exceptional taste for the festival, most of which have a religious connotation. The celebrations are an occasion for great celebrations in which all the people participate: Losar celebrates the Tibetan New Year, Dasain, the biggest festival in Nepal, celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga on the buffalo demon, Indra Jatra at Kathmandu highlights the end of the monsoon, Biskhet Jatra in Bhaktapur celebrates the New Year. At the rhythm of the drums and cymbals, monks and lamas, transformed into dancers personifying great Buddhist saints and demons, revive centuries-old mysteries and legends.
Some more tips to respect populations and cultures:
– Respect the personal space of your guests, adapt to the uses of the local culture.
– Photographing people relies on an exchange, make sure of their agreement.
– In the villages, prefer an ample covering covering the shoulders.
– In contact with populations of Buddhist tradition, respect the usages:
– bypass the stupas clockwise;
– fire is sacred, avoid disposing of waste;
– when sitting down, avoid stretching your legs and directing your feet towards someone (train to sit cross-legged!);
– it is customary to make an offering of a few rupees in the sanctuaries and temples visited.
– Respect the places of worship you visit, wear a suitable attire and agree not to enter it when it is forbidden or during ceremonies. Remove your shoes or cover your head at the entrance of the religious sites when requested.
– Demonstrative couples’ attitudes are perceived as inappropriate.
– Never distribute money, sweets or pens, especially to children, so as not to incite them to beggary. Prefer donations to associations, schools, dispensaries or other recognized organizations.
More suggestions
– do not enter in kitchen.
– Do not eat on the plate, nor drink in the glass of others, considered ritually polluted.
– If you decide to follow the local custom by eating the national dish (dal bath) with the hand, use the right.
– Do not designate someone or even a statue of the finger.
– Thank you do not exist! If you offer a gift, it will never be opened in front of you.
– Avoid bodily contact (never touch a child’s head, do not squeeze a woman’s hand).
– The Nepalese ask a lot of questions, do not be offended.
– Do not forget that a nod from left to right (or the opposite) means “yes, okay”!
The preservation of the environment
From the Terai plain to the Himalayan mountains, the landscapes range from 100 meters to more than 8,000 meters above sea level, offering an impressive variety. The vegetation, adapted to each environment, reflects this layout: from lush jungles to high places, through forests of acacias, magnolias or fragrant rhododendrons. Crops, especially rice fields, strongly mark these landscapes.
To preserve this exceptional natural heritage:
– Respect the regulations in force in regional and national parks.
– Avoid bringing back memories that are part of the natural heritage and collecting   Archaeological or cultural heritage.
– Do not approach the fauna too closely; We must not forget that we are only invited in its own territory. — Always remember to pick up your papers, handkerchiefs, cigarette butts, etc.
– Avoid leaving waste that is difficult to recycle (such as batteries, wipes, plastics) in rural areas or small villages that do not have recycling facilities. Bring them back to the big cities or bring them back with you.
– Pay special attention to the management of your waste in the camps, in order not to degrade the environment:
– respect the sort proposed by the accompanying team;
– burn the toilet paper used in its entirety.
– Water requires treatment, we advise you to treat it with pellets or a filter.
– Some areas you will cross contain many cultivated plots. In order to preserve the work of the local people, do not leave the paths and abstain from picking rare flowers, fruits, etc.
– When you have individual air conditioning, we recommend that you always shut it down when you leave the room to avoid over-consumption.
Our suggestion for your Health

Recommended Vaccines
We strongly recommend that you keep current vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis +/- pertussis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
In case of prolonged stay, during the transmission period, it is desirable to be immunized against Japanese encephalitis.
Malaria
Malaria is present all year round below 2000 m altitude and especially in the rural areas of Teraï – zone 2 classification. Antimalarial treatment is necessary. Consult your doctor.
Antimalarial treatment is not necessary for a trekking. Treks generally take place above the altitude of the mosquito bearer. At the lower altitudes, at the beginning and end of the circuit, the crossed regions may present some risks of transmission.
Provide additional personal protection against mosquito bites (repellent, loose clothing and covering) as an additional preventive measure.

Dengue
Dengue is present in Terai. It is recommended to protect against mosquito bites.
Dentist and doctor
We recommend that you carry out a check-up before your departure.

“In Nepal, all mountain rescues are paid for, they can take time to organize and are dependent on the weather, helicopters flying only in good conditions. Insurance is the responsibility of individuals. Otherwise, they must finance the cost of the search and / or repatriation themselves. In Nepal, helicopters only take off if they are guaranteed to be paid for.
It is imperative to carefully read the terms of the insurance contract. All travel insurance does not cover research and evacuation costs in the mountains, especially those associated with the use of a credit card. To be insured for a repatriation usually involves only the assumption of responsibility for the transfer from a hospital to your country. This does not necessarily cover mountain research and evacuation costs to a hospital. Similarly, sometimes only accidents are covered and not diseases, such as mountain sickness.”
Getting Ready to Go
Physical preparation is needed to Trek /Expedition and other Adventure sports activites in Himalaya Nepal to make your dreams come true. Do not forget to maintain your fitness,once a week by walking (about 15 km) if possible on a vertical course (250 m / h) or by practicing any kind of sport (1 h 30) every three day per week.
Your individual pharmacy will contain:
– Treatment of elevated pulmonary edema (Nifedipine).
– Treatment of elevated cerebral edema (Betamethasone).
– Treatment of acute mountain sickness (Acetazolamide).
– Blood-suppressant (aspirin).
– Analgesic (Paracetamol).
– Powerful analgesic (Tramadol).
– Antidiarrhoeal (Racécadotril).
– Antispasmodic (Phloroglucinol).
– Antiemetic and An antacid against heartburn.
– Intestinal antibiotic (Metronidazole).
– Antibiotic broad spectrum (Azithromycin).
– Anti-inflammatories (tablets and ointment).
– Cold and sore throat pellets.
– Ophthalmic healing (Vitamin A Dulcis).
– Tick gripper, needle for splinter and blister, tweezers, 2/3 nurse pins.
– Disinfectant wipes, adhesive plasters (various sizes), double skin, adhesive tape 6 cm, Steri-strip.
– Antiallergic treatment and itch cream.
– Biafine and sunscreen.
– Purifying tablets for water.
– Adequate antimalarial treatment, antiparasitic powder, anti-mosquito repellent.
Your personal medications
This will be validated with your physician taking into account the recommendations of  your personal doctors, to be responsible for your safety during the trip.
Your luggage
–All of your belongings are split between a backpack worn during the walk and a travel bag with padlocks carried by the logistics team on site. Entrusted to porters, it must not exceed 16 kg per person (for the tent program) or 13 kg per person (for the lodge program).
–Provision of a sursac during the trekking: on your arrival in Kathmandu, a sursac will be put at your disposal for the duration of the trekking. Its purpose is to protect your own trekking bag during transport by man. It is not waterproof and can not totally replace your own travel bag, unless you carry your belongings in individual plastic bags.
These bags, the volume of which is studied for transport on the back of a man, are we
– A backpack equipped with wide shoulder straps and an adjustable anatomical frame, with a capacity of 35 to 40 liters, for your business of the day.
– A bag of travel of 80 to 100 liters, flexible, transported during the day by the porterage team or by vehicle.
Bedding
– Sleeping bag (comfort temperature – 5 ° C / -10 ° C).
Basic equipment
– Carline thermal underwear (quick drying).
– Micropolar.
– A warm jacket in polar type Polartec or Windstopper (excellent weight / insulation ratio).
– A waterproof and breathable Goretex jacket.
– A rain cape.
– Carline thermal tights.
– Mountain pants.
– Socks of excellent thermicity.
– A pair of gaiters.
– Windstopper hat or hood.
– A hat, a scarf or a cap for the sun.
– Very good ski goggles with side shields or glacier glasses.
– A pair of warm and waterproof Goretex gloves.
– A pair of spare gloves.
– A gourd (or water bottle gourd, pipette).
Shoes and technical equipment
– Light, airy shoes with good adhesion on the different surfaces.
Examples in Salomon’s X-Hiking range: Epic Cabrio, Elios.
– Waterproof footwear with a high-stem and sole with good adhesion, such as Contagrip or Vibram.
– A headlamp.
– Telescopic walking sticks.
Various
– Spare clothes.
– A pair of spare laces.
– A toilet kit and a towel.
– Toilet paper.
– A pocket knife (in the hold!).
– A few plastic bags to protect your belongings.
– A needle and thread.
– An anti-theft wallet, to be kept always with you, with your papers of identity, money, attestations of insurance, assistance.
– A swimsuit for the hotel in Kathmandu.
– Light clothing for the Kathmandu valley.
Security in Nepal
Since May 28, 2008, a Constituent Assembly has been elected. It proclaimed the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement by a federal democratic republic. The paramilitary groups have laid down their arms and no incidents have so far involved tourist groups. If the constitutional process is now over, the political situation is always fluctuating.
No region of the world can be considered totally safe.
t is essential, however, to remember that we can not substitute for your own decision.
In the presence of proven risk, we reserve the right to:
– reinforce our coaching (for accompanied circuits);
– modify the itinerary of our circuits;
– close a circuit or a destination for a longer or shorter period when we consider that the level of risk is not acceptable.
Your safety and enjoyment are our priority.