Travel Guide

Briefing Session

A briefing session on Marathon and Trekking will be held at the event hotel (Hotel Shanker) on 18November during which you will be provided comprehensive information about both activities. Runners will also be provided official marathon t-shirts, race numbers, and a free kit bag for the trek.

Kit Bag

All participants will be provided a FREE trek bag to pack their luggage for the trek. The marathon logo on these bags helps to identify the groups’ luggage during transit. The kit bag will hold your main luggage and be transported by porters throughout the trek. All your stuff should be packed and ready the night before we leave for the trek on 19th November.

Cosmetics (helpful during the trek)

  • Chap Sticks
  • Vaseline
  • Sun Screen
  • Mouth Wash
  • Cold or Wind Cream (depending upon the area of trekking )

Toiletries

  • Oral hygiene
  • Towel
  • Sanitary napkins for women
  • Shaving kit for men
  • Tissue Paper

Note: Things to remember is that available toilets in the Everest region are basic without any superior facility. The event organizer will provide toilet rolls for each client.

Other Essentials

  • Camera
  • Water Bottle
  • Reading Materials
  • Towel and Toiletries
  • Warm & Rain gear

Note: You will only be carrying your daypack during the trek.

Medical kits for the trek

Our Sherpa Guide or Leader will carry a complete medical kit. Plus, doctors from our medical team will accompany each group with whom you can share your health concerns for free. However, you should carry personal medication prescribed by your doctor. General medication needed are – Aspirin, Para-Cetamol, Brufen, Anti-diarrhea pills, metronidazole (Fazing) to cure bugs, Anti Acid Tabs, and Antiseptic Creams, Band-Aids and some cotton & bandages including Elastic Bandage.

Consult the accompanying doctor and/or your Sherpa team leader before taking any pills during the trek. Do not take sleeping pills at higher altitudes, as it can be dangerous. Marathoners are recommended to go through medical and dental checkups in their home country before departure for trekking.

Drinking Water for the trek

While on the trek, we make sure that the clients get clean bacteria-free water every day. Water is boiled and cooled for group members to drink and to rinse their mouths. Iodine can be used but it only kills the taste of the water. Purification tabs only work 40-50% as the Himalayan Water has strong mineral contents. So, it is best to drink boiled water on the trek.

Customs you will find during your trek

You will encounter Sherpa villages with rich culture and religious traditions along the trek route, especially at Namche and Thyangboche. On the trail, when you come across some religious shrines and prayer walls or manis please walk clockwise while seeing around them, as it is the custom of Tibetan Buddhism.

Currency for the trip

At present 1USD$ = NRs. 133 (approx) (as of 22/12/2022) Nepali rupees denominations bills of Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 & 1000 are available. 100 paisa make a rupee like dollars and cents. Coins are seldom used. On trek try to carry bills of smaller denominations.

Weight

Each person is restricted to a 15kg/30lbs baggage, which includes your sleeping bags, so pack wisely. Overweight luggage will be charged USD$ 1.5 per kg on domestic flights and by the portage staff.

What to bring on the trek

We suggest the following items or trekking gears for personal use depending upon the grade and duration of the trek.

  • Good pair of trekking boots, runners, or sandshoes
  • Sleeping Bags (4-5 season)
  • 4 pairs of normal socks
  • At least 6 pairs of woolen socks to be used during the trek
  • Rucksack as a Day pack
  • Personal medical kit
  • Water bottle
  • Woolen Beni
  • Down Jacket
  • Good pair of trekking boots Runners or sandshoes
  • Windproof/waterproof jacket Gloves
  • Scarf’s
  • Thermal underwear and vest
  • Sun Glass
  • Sunscreen cream
  • Torchlight
  • 4 pairs of normal socks
  • Stamina or Rehydration powder
  • Ski poles (optional) for walking

Weather

The weather during most of November and December is clear but with the trip at the end of autumn season and start of winter season, its colder during morning and night time with minimum temperature of -15 degree Celsius. Days while walking with the sun are cooler but pleasant. Temperature might drop down depending upon the altitude and wind chill factor, so better pack your warm clothing required for the day and for the use at overnight stop place everyday.

Food on Trek

Food can vary according to availability during the season and the places. Normally, the food menu prescribes Nepali Dal Bhat (rice & lentil soup) with mild vegetable curry, fried rice, noodles, and soups of variations. In some places, steaks, continental foods like hash brown potato, bread, pancakes, boiled vegetables, stew, pizzas, cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, etc. are available. But as you go higher the food menu becomes limited.

What to expect in the trip

The region that you will be trekking is one of the most popular areas for walking journeys and expeditions in the world, so you will come across many other trekkers and mountaineers with teahouses and villages appearing every hour or so with constant views of the Himalayan peaks. After Namche and Thyangboche, the area will be barren with little vegetation like juniper, alpine shrubs & bushes. As the Everest area happens to be inside the Sagarmatha National Park, so there are chances of seeing some wildlife like Impeyan Pheasants (Danfe), musk deer, and other mountain antelopes en route.

Extra cost for Hot Shower and Internet

The cost of WIFI, Battery charge, hot shower is extra. Clients are responsible to pay directly at the lodge for using these facilities. All lodges charge for a hot shower. There is wifi available at most lodges but it will charge extra for using that also. Lodges charge for charging phones and gadgets as well.

Language

Nepali is the national language of Nepal and is mostly understood throughout the country. Your efforts to converse in Nepali will be well-received by the locals so buying a phrasebook can be a good idea. The locals you encounter on the trek will have limited abilities to understand English. Following are some common Nepali phrases.

  • Namaste – Hello, (a formal greeting)
  • Dhanyabad – Thank you
  • KastoChha? – how are you?
  • Uukalo – uphill
  • Owarolo – downhill

In Nepal, people address each other as brother or sister – Bhai for younger brother and Dai for elder brother, Bahini for younger sister, and Didi for elder sister. Similarly, an old man is addressed as Bajay and an old woman as Bajai.

Luggage Store Facility

The event organizer will provide luggage storage facilities only in two places:

  • In Kathmandu
  • In Namche

You should carry only the items that you will need during the trek. your travel street clothes can be left behind at the sage claim desk of the event hotel (Hotel Shanker) in Kathmandu until you return from the trek. But during the trek, if you feel you are carrying clothes unnecessary then you can leave in Namche and it will be stored safely until you return to Namche. (Note: Event organizer will not be responsible if you decide to store your luggage beside these two places)

Entrant Info