In Kathmandu - We will have nice temperatures of about 68-77 ºF during the day with a small drop at night. During the trek, the temperatures will vary a lot, depending on the height we're at. During the day, the temperature will be nice to walk in, around 59-69 degrees, but at night temperatures could go from 43 to 10 at 16,732 ft, at the highest town.

In Kathmandu we will walk quite a lot to get to know the city better. On some excursions we will use taxis or vans, depending on the group's size. Our trip to Lukla will be by plane on a 20-seat "Twin Otter."

In Kathmandu: We will stay at the Radisson Hotel (5*) or at a similar hotel in double rooms with breakfast included. If you prefer to stay in a single room, the extra cost is US$800. In case someone doesn't have a partner to split the room with at the end of the registration period, he or she will have to pay a single accommodation supplement of US$400.

During the trek, we will stay in simple mountain lodges in small double rooms. The bathroom will most likely be outside the inn, and it is generally a Turkish Bathroom (a hole in a glazed tile). We cannot guarantee individual rooms during the trek, not even to the people who paid an individual room in Kathmandu. We will use the best inns in every town. Our criteria to choose them are: cleanliness, good food, and hospitality. The owners of all these inns are our friends and we will be treated as such during our stay.

After a long trip from America to Nepal, it is relieving to get to a quiet and comfortable hotel outside the crowded area of Thamel, which is very interesting to get to know and walk in, but chaotic and noisy to sleep at.

At our return from the trek, after two weeks of staying at simple mountain inns with bucket showers, it's good to come back to the comfort of a good hotel. After having overcome our challenge, we deserve a couple good nights' sleep and an abundant and diverse breakfast.

With our experience of years in the region, we put together a complete list of necessary clothing and equipment. All of these items can be purchased in Nepal directly, at a better price than in the US. All the equipment and mountain clothing will be placed in a duffle bag (that can be purchased in Kathmandu as well) and will be taken by our carriers. During the registration process, you will receive a copy of this list. The clothing that won't be used during the trekking can be left at the hotel in Kathmandu.

The difficulty level of a trek is very subjective. What's easy for one may be impossible for another. This depends on the person's physical condition, experience and age, but most importantly, it depends on each individual's motivation. Despite this, this trek is usually considered a medium difficulty level one. The traveled distances per day are of an average of 6 miles; the inns are simple but comfortable; the food is tasty and varied and believe us, all of this influences the way you perceive the trek's difficulty. Altitude is an inherent difficulty factor, given that we will stay above 13,120 ft for several days.  Another factor that may make this more difficult is the cold, but with the appropriate equipment, this difficulty may be controlled. Basically, we can say that a healthy person with a medium physical training could complete the trek without any major problems. We recommend one-hour training, three times a week, for at least three months before the trek, especially for those people who are sedentary. For training, walking with a heavy backpack, running, bicycling, and doing steps at the gym may be very effective. Above all, enjoying what this trek will offer us daily is the greatest incentive to finish every day with a smile on your face.

Food supply in Kathmandu is varied and low-priced. With a maximum of US$20 a day we get to eat two great meals in the best restaurants in town. Airport taxes and tips are not included, and handcrafts are pretty and cheap. Take note: We recommend you take a debit card to withdraw cash form ATMs. Most places take credit cards (Visa or Master Card), Dollars and Euros. Should you take Dollars, remember that the bills should be in good conditions and with the "big" President's face.

During the trek we'll spend around 3 or 4 Dollars per shower (which we won't be taking every day--especially in the higher towns where cold is greater and sweat is lesser), bottled water and food from the bakeries. We have a satellite phone available, for 3 Dollars a minute. You will get a Nepali visa on your arrival to the country and it costs $40 for a month (you will need to bring two pictures, passport size) and we recommend tipping our Sherpa and carriers team from 50 to 100 dollars if the service is satisfactory.

We have formulated this trip covering a thorough acclimatizing program that has been successful throughout the years. Although this trip is guided by Andrea Cardona--a guide with wide experience in this region who has carried out a First Aid course and a mountain-aid program--, should something happen to you and you are covered by this insurance policy, you will have access to the best hospitals (in Thailand and Singapur) and free treatment. Your baggage will also be covered in case of loss during flights. Still, the main reason to get the helicopter-rescue insurance is that Nepal's Tourism Ministry demands it in order to give permission to trek. Feel free to ask your travel agent what insurance is more convenient for you.

Urban violence is not common in Asia and even less so in Nepal. You will be able to walk safely through the streets at any given hour, night and day. Despite the fact that this is a country in extreme poverty, the doctrine of Karma or the Cause and Effect Law, well-followed by both Hindus and Buddhists, discourages the practice of violence as a means to improve their life conditions. On top of this, after many years in civil war (that never really affected tourists directly), Nepal is in a process of improving their political and social conditions.

Sanitary conditions in Kathmandu are really poor, and a lot of tropical diseases are prevalent. With a few vaccines for Hepatitis A and Typhoid Fever, and small precautions while we're there, the risks of getting sick will reduce significantly. We recommend you visit your doctor or a specialized center before the trip for the vaccine matter.

Even though we will be in a remote region, where the closest highway is 5 walking days away, we make our best effort to make this experience as comfortable as possible. After all, it'll be 15 days in the mountains, and most people are not used to that. Every morning, you will give your duffle bag with all your mountain equipment to our carriers, and will walk with a medium-sized backpack weighing from 10-15 lbs. where you'll have your camera, a liter of water, sunscreen, lip balm, anorak (a jacket), some snacks and the clothes we advise you to take every morning. Our Sherpas will always be attentive to your needs and will carry your small bag in case you feel tired or have back problems.

On the trek we'll use mountain inns (not tents), which adds more comfort to our trip. At night we will be dining in a well-heated dining hall (it has a sort of metal chimney where they place firewood and dried cow excrement mixed with straw). If you wish to do so, you can shower every day, as this service is offered at the inns.  As a touch of extra comfort, above 13,120 ft we offer a rubber bag filled with hot water for you to place inside your sleeping bag. That way, when you get in, it will already be warm and will stay like that for some hours.

Nepal's visa should be gotten at Kathmandu's airport when you arrive. It costs US$40 and has a 30-day validity. You should take one passport-size picture for this, and another one for your trekking permission that our operator will arrange for you.

Given that children have a higher predisposition to develop altitude sickness, we recommend that you don't take children younger than 13. We also recommend that people older than 50 ask their doctor and run heart tests.

We know that before you register for a trip like this, you'll have several doubts. Should you have further questions, you may e-mail me to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it