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Total Area: 147,181sq.km

People: Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups & 70 spoken languages

Language: Nepali is the national language, however travel trade people understand and speak English as well.

Capital: Kathmandu.

Geography: Situated between china in the north and India in the south

Currency: Nepali Rupee

Best Season: Oct/Nov/ Feb/Mar/Apr/May

National Flowers: Rhododendron-Arboreum ( Lali Gurans)

National Birds: Impean Pheasant ( Danfe)

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WHAT IS TREKKING ?
Trekking is another word for walking. However, the word trekking has become more well known for the kind of walking which takes you along trails winding up, down, over and around mountains.
Trekking is not mountaineering although some of the popular trails are used by mountaineering expeditions to get totheir base camps. Most of the trails you will walk on are still used predominantly by Nepali people for everyday travel and trade. It is not uncommon to be passed along the way by a Nepali porter carrying lengths of corrugated roofing iron slung from a jute strap (namlo) around the head or a sick relative being carried in a basket (doko) in the same manner to the nearest medical facility.
Trekking is a way of seeing a country and its people 'warts and all'. You will walk through the streets of cities and villages and past the open front doors of houses, you will see the people at their daily tasks, the clouds forming below you and the magnificent peaks of mountains towering over you. By trekking you will be involved in a way you could never be in a car, bus, train or aeroplane; you can enjoy the friendliness of the people, feel the magnetism of the mountains, be at one with the country and at peace with yourself. Could you ask or want for anything more?

A trekking trip can be any length you choose. There are a number of short treks around the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys which only take a day to complete. There are two or three day treks or treks from a week to a month. For those with the time you can combine a number of treks and spend months just walking around. Samrat Treks & Expedition can help you to put together a trek to suit your needs at an affordable price leaving you free of any bureaucratic or logistic hassles.

WHY ORGANIZED ?
Nepal is a country where time is almost irrelevant. The Nepali people generally take their time in getting things done. They are quite used to sitting around for hours waiting for paperwork to be processed. They are equally as prepared to wait for days for a delayed flight or a broken down bus. While this is a part of the life and experience of Nepal, travellers on a tight schedule and/or a tight budget may find these delays frustrating, stressful and a possible detraction from the enjoyment of their time in Nepal. Having your itinerary organised by a local trekking company such as Samrat Treks & Expedition can give you peace of mind while we sort out any hassles. We like to ensure that your holiday experience in our beautiful country is one of good memories by having:

• No waiting around for the paperwork.

• No waiting for seats on buses or planes (allowing of course for weather conditions - it does snow here!).

• All permits organized in advance.

• All entry fees, trekking fees pre-paid.

• Alternative itinerary, accommodation or transport arranged if you encounter bad weather, cancelled flights etc.

• No problems with food or water - all prepared hygienically by your cook and kitchen crew.

• No heavy packs to carry.

• A guaranteed place to sleep each night.

• Camping, cooking and eating essentials provided.

• Supplies and staff hassles dealt with by the Sirdar.

• Close contact with Nepali people through your crew.

• Interaction with village people with song and dance evenings.

• No time wasted in taking wrong trails and having to backtrack.

• The opportunity to make lifelong friendships with Guide and porters having a well earned rest members of the trekking crew.

• Access to trekking trails not usually frequented by trekkers.

• Great evening entertainment with other trekkers often joining in with your group.

• The satisfaction of contributing to the local economy through the employment of the trekking crew, purchasing of food and other essentials.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR TREKKING ?
        Oct/Nov/ Feb/Mar/Apr/May

Geography: Nepal, a sovereign independent kingdom, (between 80° 4' and 88° 12' East longitude and 26° 22' and 30° 27' North latitude) is bounded on the North by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, the East-South and West by India. The length of the Kingdom is 885 kilometers east-west, and it's breadth varies from 145-241 kilometers north-south. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions. From the world's deepest gorge Kali-Gandaki to Highest point on earth The Mt. Everest.
 

Himalayan Region: The altitude of this region ranges between 4,877m-8,848. It included of the Fourteen highest summits in the world which exceed an altitude of 8,000m including Everest, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Kenchengunga others.

Mountain Region: This region accounts for about 67% of the total land area. It is formed by the Mahabharat range to the lower churia range.

Terai Region: The low-land Terai occupies about 17% of the total land area.

People: The land has population of 21.7 million (as per the 2001 census), composed of a multitude of different ethnic groups and sub-groups, who speak over 70 languages and dialects. The two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, co-exist in peaceful harmony

History: The nation has always been an independent and sovereign country. The land was scattered into different small kingdoms and fiefdoms until unification in the late 18th century by King Prithivi Narayan of the Shah. Our current monarch, King Gyanendra is a direct descendant of Prithivi Narayan Shah. He stands as the symbol of national unity. The democratic constitution of the kingdom was promulgated in 1990.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

Hinduism and Buddhism constitute two major religions of Nepal . A remarkable feature of Nepal is the religious homogeneity that exists, particularly between the Hindu and Buddhist communities. Apart from the Hindus and Buddhists, Muslim from the third largest religious group. The exquisite medieval Art & Architecture of the Kathmandu Valley vividly reflect the artistic ingenuity and the religious tradition of the people.

THE CASTE SYSTEM

The caste system is still intact today but the rules are not as rigid as they were in the past. Because of western education, contact with foreigners, media, and modern communications, people are progressive in many aspects. In 1962, a law was passed making it illegal to discriminate against the untouchable castes. Hence all castes are equally treated by the law. Education is free and open to all castes.

LANGUAGE

Nepali, like Hindi, is written in the Dev-nagari script. It is Nepal 's national language, apart from being the lingua franca of the country's divergent communities that speak mutually unintelligible language and dialects. English is also widely spoken and understood in urban areas. In Tourism sector people speaks English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and other foreign languages.

NATURAL

All the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters are located in the Himalaya or its sister ranges. Of the top 10 of these, a full 8 are in Nepal – including, of course, the highest of all, Mt Everest, or Sagarmatha, as it is known in Nepali. The country is very rich in bio-diversity, with elevations ranging from a mere 60 m above sea level to the highest point on earth, the 8,850-meter summit of Mt Everest. Nepal can offer everything – from the greatest mountain ranges and high-altitude deserts, to thundering rivers, colorful forests of rhododendron, carefully tended steeply terraced hills, to dense lowland jungles teeming with wildlife. Visitors can delight in the 850 species of different birds, including the Spiny Babbler, which is found only in Nepal; the 600 species of butterflies, and the wealth of indigenous plants and flowers

ALTITUDE SICKNESS INFORMATION
Altitude sickness often known as acute mountain sickness (A.M.S.) in general may occur when people ascend too quickly normally in altitudes of over 3000 m. We ensure minimal risk by building in rest days into our trekking itineraries. Most people will feel some affect of altitude, shortness of breath and possibly a light headed, which is fairly common. Acute mountain sickness is very different and normally involves a severe headache, sickness and loss of awareness. In almost every potential case there are enough warning signs to take appropriate action.

Our expert and trained guides will advise you about any health requirements and also altitude sickness while you are trekking, so you should not worry about it, we do however recommend you get advice from you travel doctor or health advisor before you leave. The following information gives you an idea about high altitude sickness and how to minimize the affects

There are three stages of altitude sickness and symptoms:

1. Normal AMS Symptoms - Should expect but not worry.
Following are the normal altitude symptoms that you should expect but not be worried about. Every trekker will experience some or all of these, no matter how slowly they ascend.

• Periods of sleeplessness.

• Need more sleep than normal (often 10 hours or more)

• Occasional loss of appetite.

• Vivid, wild dreams especially at around 2500-3800 meters in altitude.

• Periodic breathing.

• The need to rest/catch your breath frequently while trekking, especially

• above 3500 meters.

• Runny nose.

• Increasing urination while moving to/at higher altitudes (a good sign)

• Dizziness.

2. Mild AMS Symptoms - NEVER GO HIGHER
Many trekkers in the high valleys of the Himalaya get mild AMS, admit or acknowledge that you are having symptoms. You need have only one of the following symptoms to be getting altitude sickness.

• Mild headache.

• Nausea

• Dizziness.

• Weakness.

• Sleeplessness.

• Dry Raspy cough.

• Fatigue/Tired.

• Loss of apatite.

• Runny nose.

• Hard to breath.

WHAT TO DO IF A MILD SYMPTOM DOESN'T GO WAY ?

• If you find mild symptoms developing while walking, stop and relax (with your head out of sun) and drink some fluids. Drink frequently.

• If mild symptoms developing while walking, stop have rest, drink some fluids and take 125-250mg Diamox. Diamox generally takes one to four hours to begin alleviating symptoms. Drink more water and consider staying close by.

• If symptoms develop in the evening, take 125-250mg Diamox and drink plenty of fluids again.

• If symptoms partially go away but are still annoying it is safe to take another 250mg Diamox 6-8 hours later.

• If mild symptoms continue getting worse try descending for a few hours which may be more beneficial than staying at the same altitude. Going higher will definitely make it worse. You're here to enjoy trekking not to feel sick.

3. Serious AMS Symptoms - IMMEDIATE DESCENT

• Persistent, severe headache.

• Persistent vomiting.

• Ataxia (loss of co-ordination, an inability to walk in a straight line, making the sufferer look drunk)

• Losing consciousness (inability to stay awake or understand instructions)

• Mental confusion or hallucinations.

• Liquid sounds in the lungs.

• Very persistent, sometimes watery, cough.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Rapid breathing or feeling breathless at rest.

• Coughing clear fluid, pink phlegm or blood (a very bad sign).

• Severe lethargy/fatigue.

• Marked blueness of face and lips.

• High resting heartbeat (over 130 beats per minute)

• Mild symptoms rapidly getting worse.

DANGEROUS CASES OF ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS (AMS)
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
This is a build-up of fluid around the brain. It In most cases the first five symptoms on the mild and severe lists previously. Coma from HACE can lead to unconsciousness are death within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms, but normally takes 1-2 days to develop. At the first sign of ataxia begin treatment with medication, oxygen and descent. Usually 4 to 8mg of dexamethasone is given as a first does, then 4mg every six hours, Diamox every 12 hours and 2-4 liters /minute oxygen. Descent is necessary but a PAC (portable altitude chamber) bag will often be used first if available.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
This is an accumulation of fluid in the lungs and is very serious. It is responsible for all the other mild and serious symptoms and it is often accompanied by a mild fever. By far the treatment is oxygen at 4 liters a minute but using PAC (portable altitude chamber) bag treatment is a good substitute. If there is no PAC bag or oxygen then descent will be life saving. HAPE can lead to unconsciousness are death very quick.

PREVENTION OF ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS (AMS)

• Allow sufficient time for acclimatization (After 3000 meters).

• Don't make rapid Ascent. Don't go too far too fast.

• No Alcohol, Sleeping pills and Smoking.

• Drink more fluid 3-4 Liters a day, clean water-boiled or treated / tea / coffee / soup / juice etc.

• Climb high and sleep low.

• Do not trek/travel alone, take guide/porter.

• Follow the advice from your guide, hotel, local, guide book.

• Descent if mild symptoms rapidly getting worse.

• Never leave or descent sick person along.

• Avoid getting cold.

• Take an easy and comfortable trekking route even if its longer.

FIRST AID KIT

This is the basic list to cover the more common ailments that affect trekkers. Climbing groups, expeditions and trekkers going to isolated areas will need a more comprehensive kit.

• Bandage for sprains

• Plasters/Band-aids

• Iodine or water filter (optional)

• Moleskin/Second skin - for blisters

• Antiseptic ointment for cuts

• Anti-bacterial throat lozenges (with antiseptic)

• Aspirin/Paracetamol - general painkiller

• Oral rehydration salts

• Broad-spectrum antibiotic (norfloxacin or ciprofloxin)

• Anti-diarrhea medication (antibiotic)

• Diarrhea stopper (Imodium - optional)

• Antibiotic for Guardia or similar microbe or bacteria

• Diamox 250/500mg (for altitude sickness)

• Sterile Syringe set (anti-AIDS precaution)

• Gel hand cleaner.