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What
is trekking?
A trek is a mountain walk from place to place, rather than just
rambling or day walking from a fixed base. A trek is not necessarily
more arduous or uncomfortable than centre-based sojourns; we believe
they are more interesting and rewarding. Trekking appeals to
different people for different reasons. Most are drawn to the
healthy exercise and magnificent mountain scenery, both of which are
fully guaranteed. Because of the type of treks we operate, Siniolchu
Tours and Travels particularly appeals to those who are seeking
unspoiled areas and an opportunity to experience the indigenous
culture, history and traditions of a region. For some- certainly not
everyone the lure of trekking is the desire to take on a strenuous,
testing high-altitude route.
Trekking is a way of life in the mountains-one needs to walk to
live.
How long is the trek and how far each day walking?
Generally the trek duration depends on your interest and
location of trek. Your trek can last anywhere from 2-3 days to an
entire month or longer if you wish. We can accommodate day hikes,
cultural visits to local villages, and relaxing rest days on your
trek. The decision is up to you.
It is difficult to reply you when you ask how far each day walking
but it is best answered in terms of time rather than distance, as
mileage is dictated by altitude and terrain. Walking time, including
rests, ranges from four to eight hours but there is no hard and fast
rule.
How difficult are the treks?
The difficulty of our treks depends on where you want to trek
and how long you want to go. The shorter Treks tend to be easier
while the longer ones require some physical fitness. Be prepared for
some steep trails leading to amazing views. The pace at which you
hike is up to you. We have friendly and dependable porters to assist
you with your personal gear.
Where do we stay on trek?
Where acceptable Trekkers Huts facilities exist, we normally use
them. Tea houses are a way of life for almost all trekkers. They are
the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. We
encourage all trekkers along the Dzongri, Goechala, Jholomolari,
Everest, Langtang, and Annapurna treks to try our routine treks and
tea house treks. Our many years of experience along these routes
have helped us find the friendliest, cleanest, and most enjoyable
camps/huts and tea houses with the best views.. Many have hot water
available for bathing. But we discourage our groups from using water
heated by wood fires due to lack of firewood in most villages and
Himalayas. Deforestation is a big environmental concern in OUR
HIMALAYAS. These are also great way help support local villages. In
remote terrain, we camp in tents. Even if you've never camped
before, you don't need to worry: the tents we provide are roomy, the
sleeping pads/mattresses are comfortable. On all of our treks there
is a bathroom tent and a dining tent with tables and camp stools,
providing a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to eat and chat with fellow
trekkers during the evening.
Where and what type of food is served?
If you are on a tea house trek you will eat breakfast and dinner
at your tea house. We will stop for lunch at one of the various
trail side for mid lunch prepared by our cooks. If you are on a
camping trek we will prepare all meals and snacks. Almost every tea
house serves the traditional meal, Dal Bhat (rice and curried
lentils).. Some have versions of western food such as pizza and
French fries too. The choice is yours.
How safe is the food?
Food safety is always a big concern when visiting a foreign
country. This is why we do our best to choose tea houses and
restaurants with clean and sanitary kitchens . On our lodge treks,
we provide a cook to prepare safe and tasty meals with our own set
of cookery as well as hygienic cleaning facilities. The food we
serve on camping trips is completely safe. Our cooks have undergone
high altitude diet preparations trainings to minimise the usage of
excess fuel and combined cooking.
Where do we get water during the trip?
All tea houses have boiled water for trekkers. Your guide will
provide you with all the water you need during your trek. We
discourage the purchase of bottled water while on the trail. The
plastic bottles are difficult to dispose off and have become an
environmental problem. In a camping trek, we boil water in the
morning and you will have enough boiled water in your bottle (Highly
practiced in Sikkim).
Is the water safe to drink?
Your guide will be in charge of all your water needs. He will
make sure all water is boiled and treated with iodine. Iodine is
100% effective in killing the bacteria in water. We recommend you
get your own water cleaning tablets if you feel so about it.
What equipment should I bring?
Choosing the right equipments is very important. You want to
have enough clothes to stay warm or cool yet not over pack. Usually
you will have warm days and cold nights. A warm jacket either fleece
or down can be nice for the evening. Long under wear and woolen
socks are good for warmth too. We encourage people to bring a light
pair of pants and shorts for hiking. Sun screen and glasses are a
must. Rain and hail can appear on a trek so we suggest a Gore-Tex
jacket. Most gear can be purchased in Kathmandu or Pokhara at one of
the many outdoor gear shops. The proper foot wear depends on the
trek. Shorter treks can be done in comfortable running shoes while
longer ones require sturdy but light weight hiking boots. Shoes and
boots are best purchased before arriving in Nepal/Sikkim/Bhutan.
Proper fit is a must for boots. And we encourage wearing your boots
before the trek to wear them in.
What happens if there is an emergency?
Siniolchu Tours and Travels prides itself on being prepared for
any emergency situation. Our guides are trained in first aid and can
deal with most of the basic ailments that occur during a trek. But
if a serious emergency occurs, then outside help is needed. Every
client should have their own insurance before coming to Our
Himalayas incase an emergency occurs.
Is there a doctor on the trek?
We can't guarantee a doctor on every trek, but we do try to
encourage suitably experienced medical personnel to join our high
altitude treks by offering a discount in return for looking after
the medical needs of a group. In addition to trek doctors, our group
leaders are trained in first aid.
Could you tell me how much money do I need?
This is bit of difficult to explain to you without knowing your
proper holiday plan. But you can make always easy with explaining
about your interest- that you like to do tour, trekking, rafting,
wildlife safari, shopping etc. or with explaining about the
categories of hotel that you're going to accommodate and nature of
tour you're going to do, and total days for HIMALAYAS. We will tell
you want cost for what! Then you will know the how much money should
have to bring with you! Be sure while you're in trekking or in tour-
we have a safe in our office where plane tickets and money can be
kept and other stuffs on our store.
What sort of experience do your guides have?
Siniolchu Tours and Travels has some of the most dependable and
experienced guides in Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and Darjeeling. All of
our guides have spent years exploring the mountains and countryside
of Our Himalayas. All guides speak English and have a deep knowledge
of the various trekking routes. Our guides are trained in first aid
and know how to react in any situation. And most importantly our
guides are friendly and enjoyable and want to share with you the
true beauty of Our Himalayas.
What would be when I am single or with my family?
On your interest, we do the both single guided trek/ tour and
group tour. If you are alone and willing join with other people,
this is always possible. On your request we will give all the
details of the member and size of the groups that you're joining.
People traveling with us may be of any nationality, either sex,
alone or accompanied, experienced travelers or complete beginners.
Groups are always small (in general 10 or less). English is the
common language, and there can be a wide age-range. We apply no
upper age limit, though we ask those over 70 for their doctor's
confirmation of their fitness to participate. Generally speaking, we
regard our trips as being for adults: unaccompanied minors are not
accepted, but of course we will accept accompanied minors. Our
family Trek is designed to accommodate younger children.
Will we have private rooms and bathrooms?
Private rooms are available in most tea houses except for those
at very high altitudes in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Darjeeling, toilet
tents will be used. Most bathrooms are shared. On our lodge treks we
also provide someone to clean all bathroom facilities for our
groups. Our lodge treks also include bed and pillow covers.
How difficult is the trek?
We can absolutely assure you that you do not have to be young,
very experienced, or super fit to enjoy most of our treks. Our
trekkers range from 17 to 70. Previous walking experience, though
useful, is not essential: the great majority of our treks could be
undertaken by anyone who is in good health, enjoys outdoor life, and
is reasonably fit. Many of our guests casually participate in a
sport such as swimming, cycling, tennis or golf.
What we do every day in trekking?
A trek day begins around 6 a.m. with a mug of coffee or tea
served through your tent flap. Hot water is provided for washing and
shaving, followed by breakfast. Water is provided for your water
containers. We strike camp and begin walking in the pleasant cool of
the morning for 3-4 hours before stopping for lunch. This two-hour
break offers an opportunity to write in your diary, read and relax.
The full meal typically includes fresh fruit, tinned meat, cheese,
rice chapatis or biscuits, cooked vegetables, and tea or coffee. We
usually reach our campsite by 4 p.m. and have tea and biscuits
shortly afterwards. There is time to rest or explore before our
evening meal at 6 p.m. This is the social event of the day. It
begins with an appetizer and soup, followed by the main course and
dessert with tea or coffee. The variety and quality of our "camp"
food will delight you. Guests keep threatening to take our cooks
home with them! As we mainly camp near villages, there is usually
plenty of time to visit with the locals before or after dinner and
sample their home brews. As night approaches, most people retire to
their warm sleeping bags and are fast asleep by 9:30 p.m.
Environmental awareness?
Our approach is to raise environmental awareness in visitors to
Our Himalayas. We also give information to our valuable customers on
how to minimize the negative effects that their ignorance may have
on Our Himalayas. We guide and help them how to trek gently and to
support positive effects at culture and environmental conservation.
We are also trying to protect the fragile environment and indigenous
cultures of the Himalayas. We cook food by kerosene stoves, suggest
you to stay in lodges that use kerosene or fuel efficient
stoves/LPG's and advise you to take hot showers when the water is
heated with solar energy or hydroelectricity or black coal stove
etc. We always take one extra porter to carry and manage all the
garbage that our groups make in their campsite. Yearly we invest 20%
of our net profit for above purpose and further more social work in
the different approach of Our Himalayas. We always hearty welcome
and enchant your comments and suggestions for a better way to serve
our customers, environment and nature.
Why should I travel with Siniolchu Tours & Travels and Treks?
There are many reasons. In a nutshell, we go out of our way to
make sure your experience is a positive one, there will be no
negative impact on the region we are visiting: after all, we live
here. We give you more for your money than anyone else. And our
safety record is unsurpassed.
We also provide warm clothes, good walking shoes and other necessary
trekking equipment for our Guide and Porters. They will get good
accommodations along the way and food same as you are having on the
way. All our trekking staffs are insured.
Happy and safe trekking in sikkimdarjeeling.
What is Altitude Sickness(AMS)?
Altitude sickness, often known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
is a particularly important medical consideration while trekking in
Nepal. Altitude sickness means the effect of altitude on those who
ascend too rapidly to elevations above 3000 meters. The initial
symptoms of AMS are as follows:
Nausea, vomiting
Loss of appetite
Insomnia/sleeplessness
Persistent headache
Dizziness, light headedness, confusion
Disorientation, drunken gait
Weakness, fatigue, lassitude, heavy legs
Slight swelling of hands and face
Breathlessness and Breathing irregularity
Reduced urine output
These symptoms are to be taken very seriously. In case of appearance
of any of the above symptoms any further ascent should be
reconsidered; otherwise more serious, even life-threatening problems
can occur. The only cure for Altitude Sickness is to descend to
lower elevations immediately. Acclimatization by ascending to no
more than 300 to 500 meters per day above 3000 meters, and the
proper amount of rest and re hydration are the best methods for
prevention of AMS.
If you follow the simple advice of our trained guides, you won't
have to worry about complications from mountain sickness. We design
our tours to ensure clients are ready for high altitude, and arrange
alternative itineraries for those at risk.
Surendra K.Pradhan
(Mg.Director-Siniolchu Grp)
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