kanchenjunga singalila ridge - themountaincompany.co.uk · overnight at ashok country resort or...

Telephone: 01647 433880 / International callers: +44 1647 433880

Skype ID: Rolandh1 / Email: [email protected] / www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Postal address: Westcott Farm, Chagford, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 8JF 9QG, United Kingdom

KANCHENJUNGASINGALILA RIDGE

Mount Kanchenjunga seen from Singalila Ridge




HIGHLIGHTS This trek is a good introduction to the eastern Himalaya providing spectacular

mountain views and lush vegetated valleys with abundant flora and fauna.

The trek follows the Singalila ridge through oak and rhododendron forest and hassuperb views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga and Chomolhari.

You will have time to explore the hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong withtheir Raj era buildings and features.

There is also a sightseeing day in Delhi and an option to extend the trip to visitthe Taj Mahal.




KANCHENJUNGA SINGALILA RIDGETotal number of days 12 days

Grade & days trekking Moderate, 6 trekking days

Accommodation 6 nights hotel, 8 nights camping

2019 price ex Delhi £1,395 (US$1,815 or €1,595)

2020 price ex Delhi £1,395 (US$1,815 or €1,595)

Minimum group size 2

Maximum group size 8

Dates October 15th to 26th 2018

March 25th to April 5th 2019

October 14th to 25th 2019

March 23rd to April 3rd 2020




THE FOLLOWING IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP All transfers including airport collections.

Twin share room at Ashok Country Resort in Delhi, Traveller’s Inn in Darjeelingand Himalayan Hotel in Kalimpong.

Breakfast only at hotels in Delhi, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. All meals includedwhile on trek.

Twin share tents while on trek.

All trekking arrangements including permits and fees, tents, trekking guide,ponies (or yaks) and cook.

Full financial protection for all monies paid to us through our membership ofAssociation of Bonded Travel Operators Trust (our ABTOT membership numberis 5365) and having an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (our ATOL number is10921).

THE FOLLOWING SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IS AVAILABLE:Single room supplement £POASingle tent supplement £115 (US$155 or €130)

Please note that if you are a single person booking on one of our trips you do nothave to pay the single room supplement, this is only payable if you specificallyrequest to have a room or tent to yourself. You will not have to pay this for thisoption if you happen to end up with a single room or tent due to odd numbers onthe trip.

THE FOLLOWING IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP International flight to/from Delhi.

Internal flight to/from Bagdogra and Delhi.




Travel & trekking insurance.

India visa up to 6 month.

Lunch and evening meals in Delhi, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Personal clothing & equipment please see the Appendix for suggested kit list.

Tips.

Other items not listed in “What is included”.

PARTICIPATION SELECTIONThe Mountain Company carefully selects and screens potential participantsapplying to join our groups to ensure the trip is an appropriate objective for you. Wehave a number of pre-trip questions asking information about your outdoorexperience, training, experience, medical conditions and fitness. To access the pre-trip questions please send in your application by clicking on the “Apply now”button on the trek webpage. After review of your replies we might contact you bytelephone or email for further information to aid our selection process.

Please ensure you have done your own research about Ladakh Sky Trail trek byreading our pre trip documents (Trip Dossier, Trip Grading and Trip Reportspublished on TMC blog) to ensure you have a realistic idea of what to expect. Everytrip organised by The Mountain Company has been graded based on four factors:daily walking times, altitude, terrain and remoteness.

INTRODUCTIONA gentle trek with a varied itinerary including visits to the two main hill stations inthe Eastern Himalaya.

Your journey starts by visiting the old British Raj hill station of Darjeeling followedby a classic six day trek following the main spur running south from the vastKanchenjunga massif. Singalila Ridge is the border separating Nepal and India andmost villages in this area are ethnic Sherpa. The ridge is heavily forested with oak




and rhododendron forest and has superb views of many well known peaks-Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari.

After the trek we visit the hill station of Kalimpong staying at the historicalHimalayan Hotel. In Kalimpong you have the chance to visit a Buddhist monasteryand orchid nursery or just to relax in the gardens of the hotel with a cup of teaenjoying views of Kanchenjunga.

DETAILED ITINERARYIt is our intention to keep to the day by day itinerary detailed below, although theremight be some flexibility due to local conditions or other factors beyond our control.If this is the case the trek leader will do everything possible to work out the changesto the itinerary in order to minimise your inconvenience.

Day 1. Arrive Delhi, collection at the airport and transfer to hotel.A driver will be sent to collect you on your arrival at Delhi airport and to bring youback to the hotel. Please provide travel plans on booking and we will arrange thepick up and transfer. Overnight at Ashok Country Resort or equivalent (Meals:none).

Day 2. Fly to Bagdogra, drive to Darjeeling.Morning transfer to Delhi domestic airport for the flight to Bagdogra. If the weatheris clear we will get a superb view of the Himalayas from the plane including thegiants of Makalu, Everest and of course Kanchenjunga.

The drive to Darjeeling takes about 4 to 5 hours and follows the famous Darjeelingtoy train. The hill station was built by the British on top of a ridge facing theHimalayas and soon developed many tea gardens due to the ideal climate.Overnight at Traveller’s Inn (Meals: B).

Day 3. Morning excursion to Tiger Hill, rest of day sightseeing in Darjeeling.We are woken early and driven to Tiger Hill for the early morning sunrise views ofKangchenjunga. On the way back, we visit Ghoom monastery before returning fora late breakfast at the hotel.




Today we explore Darjeeling with a local guide visiting the HimalayanMountaineering Institute, which has an interesting collection of Everestmemorabilia, and also the zoo with many animals including snow leopard, bear andred panda. We can also visit one of the many tea plantations and get a tour aroundthe tea processing factory. Overnight at Traveller’s Inn (Meals: B).

Day 4. Drive to Manebhanjang (2,130m), trek to Megma (2,670m)- 5 hourswalking.From Darjeeling we drive for about an hour to the road head at the small town ofManebhanjang. The trail starts by ascending 600 metres along a jeep track andthen eases off as it passes through oak and rhododendron forest. We camp for thenight at Megma. From here there are good views of Darjeeling spread over theridge opposite and a panaorama of the entire Kangchenjunga range on the otherside. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 5. Trek to Kali Pokhari (3,070m)- 4 hours walkingToday we trek along the Singalila ridge and in the pre monsoon season passflowering magnolias, rhododendrons, primulas and other sub-alpine flowers. Westop at the holy Kali Pokhari lake which is well known as it never freezes. Aroundthe lake there are many prayer flags and mani walls (carved stones with Buddhistprayers). Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 6. Trek to Sandakphu (3,636m)- 4 hours walking.From Kali Pokhari it is a steep walk to Sandakphu. At an altitude of over 3600metres, it has views of Kangchenjunga, Jannu, Makalu, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptseand a number of high peaks in Sikkim and Bhutan such as Chomolhari. Overnightcamping (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 7. Trek to Phalut (3,600m)- 7 hours walking.If it is a clear morning we will enjoy sunrise views over Kanchenjunga and Everest!There are superb views of the Himalaya throughout the day as we walk along theSingalila ridge passing through forests of rhododendron and Himalayan fir.

We camp overnight at Phalut which is where Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal allmeet- there are also views of both Everest and Kangchenjunga. Overnightcamping (Meals: B,L,D).




Day 8. Trek to Ramam (2,560m)- 5 hours walking.For the first part of today’s walk we stay on the ridge before descending throughrhododendron and magnolia forest to our campsite at Ramam. Overnight camping(Meals: B,L,D).

Day 9. Trek to Rimbik (2,300m)- 5 hours walking.The trail continues descending with views of thickly forested hillsides andsubtropical valleys along with an increasing number of farmlands and villages.After reaching the Sri Khola valley there is a short climb to the village of Rimbik.Overnight camping or Hotel Sherpa (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 10. Drive to Kalimpong, rest of day exploring the hill station.In the morning we meet the jeeps for the drive to Kalimpong. Kalimpong has asimilar layout to Darjeeling as it straddles a ridge.

We can relax here for the rest of the day while enjoying the views of thesurrounding Himalayan foothills and perhaps make a visit to the Bhutanese Gompa.Overnight at Himalayan Hotel, Kalimpong (Meals: B).

Day 11. Morning transfer by road to Bagdogra airport & fly to Delhi, rest ofday at leisure.In the morning we drive to Bagdogra airport where we catch our short flight to Delhi.Transfer to the hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight at AshokCountry Resort or equivalent (Meals: B).

Day 12. Transfer to the airport & fly back home.Early morning transfer to the international airport for the flight back home.




YOUR COMPLETE FINANCIAL PROTECTIONThe Mountain Trekking Company Ltd (trading as The Mountain Company) is a fullylicensed and bonded tour operator. For flight inclusive packages sold to UKresidents these will be covered by our Air Travel Organisers Licence (our ATOLnumber is 10921). For packages that do not include flights and for packages sold tocustomers outside of the UK your financial protection is covered by ourmembership of Association of Bonded Travel Organisers’ Trust ("ABTOT"). OurABTOT membership number is 5365.

Our membership of these organisations means that you can book with us incomplete confidence that all monies paid to us for trips are protected.

ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTALCONSIDERATIONSThe Mountain Company is committed to adopting a responsible attitude to theareas we visit. We are guests of the communities visited and with some thoughtand care we can ensure that everyone benefits from the experience. We havedeveloped a Responsible Tourism policy which aims to ensure that The MountainCompany and its clients act in a way that is socially, environmentally and culturallysound.

In 2017 the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) launched ProjectPROTECT in recognition of the important role that destinations play in the future ofthe travel industry. The aim of this project is to encourage sustainable tourism andto nurture the destinations for tomorrow's travellers. The PROTECT acronym




stands for People / Resources / Outreach / Tourism / Environment / Conservation /Tomorrow.

This project is led by Professor Xavier Font of the University of Surrey and eachAITO member has to publish an annual pledge and report back at the end of theyear on how they got along. To see The Mountain Company’s Project PROTECTpledges for 2018 and 2017, please take a look at our Sustainable Tourism page onAITO website.

We work closely with the International Porter Protection Group and abide by theirfive guidelines for porter protection, their website is at www.ippg.net. We also havepartnered with Kathmandu Environmental Education Project in Nepal, their websiteis at www.keepnepal.org

THREAT AND RISK ASSESSMENTParticipants should be aware trekking, mountaineering and travelling in adeveloping country are activities that involve a risk of personal injury or death. As acondition of booking you must accept these risks and be responsible for your ownactions and involvement.

Adventure travel requires an open and flexible attitude. You may experienceextreme conditions, unpredictable weather and last minute changes to the itinerarybeyond our control. The ability to work in team is an important aspect of all of ourtrips.

As a part of our planning process we have performed a detailed threat and riskassessment for our Kanchenjunga Singalila Ridge trek. It is worth pointing out all of




our trips have a certain degree of risk, this is of course part of the attraction ofadventure travel and why so many people choose to join this type of holiday.However by identifying the potential hazards on Kanchenjunga Singalila Ridge wecan assess the level of risk and implement control measures to reduce thishappening.

Our full threat and risk assessment for Kanchenjunga Singalila Ridge is available toclients on request. For your information we have listed below a summary of thesignificant risks and hazards identified by us:

Falls and trips resulting in physical injury eg. slipping on ice or falling off the path.

Altitude illness including but not limited to AMS, HACE and HAPE.

Getting lost or becoming separated from group.

Severe bad weather and conditions when camping eg. flash flooding.

Climatic injuries (dehydration, sun burn, heat exhaustion, hypothermia or heatstroke).

Crossing a river with no bridge resulting in drowning and/ or a fall.

Rock fall and landslides.

Lightning strike.

Wildlife, pack animals (eg. donkeys or horses) or stray dogs. Pack animals havebeen known to knock people off the path. Dogs can attack and bite, we adviseyou discuss rabies vaccination with your doctor.

Earthquake.

Risk of fire in the hotel or lodge.

Endemic local diseases. We advise you discuss vaccinations with your doctorbefore departure.

Physiological injury such as heart attack, appendicitis, hernia, toothache etc. in aremote area.

Road traffic accident.




Contaminated food and/ or water.

This trip visits a remote area where you are away from normal emergency servicesand medical facilities. In case of a serious injury requiring hospitalisation evacuationcould take up to several days and may impede your ensuing recovery. Helicoptersare the most usual means of evacuation, however they are not always available orthey may be hindered by poor weather and flying conditions.

THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUROPERATORS (“AITO”)The Mountain Company is a member of the Association of Independent TourOperators (AITO) and we have agreed to abide by the terms of the AITO QualityCharter.

AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Ourmember companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidayswith high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personalservice. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of touroperating. For more information please take a look at http://www.aito.com/

ALTITUDE AND ACCLIMATISATIONThere are ways of helping the acclimatisation process, as described below:

Walk slowly: there is plenty of time included in the itinerary so there is no need torush, go at your own pace and enjoy the incredible views!




Drinks lots of water: it is easier for your body to acclimatise when hydrated sodrink water and avoid coffee, tea and alcohol.

Consider taking diamox (acetazolamide): before using this drug we recommendconsulting a doctor and thoroughly researching the pros and cons.

Please remember even the fittest and healthiest person can develop one of thealtitude illnesses: AMS (acute mountain sickness), HACE (high altitude cerebraledema) and/ or HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema). The symptoms of theseillnesses are listed below, if any of these occur when you are on trek pleaseimmediately tell your guide.

Symptoms of AMS:

Tiredness

Dizziness

Nausea or if severe, vomiting

Poor sleep

Symptoms of HACE:

Usually preceded by AMS

Like “Severe AMS” also with severe headache unresponsive to painkillers;confusion and physical clumsiness (ataxia).

Symptoms of HAPE:

Fluid in the lungs: cough, tiredness, breathlessness out of proportion to exerciseespecially at rest and worse when lying flat.

Often symptoms start later (at night or after 24 to 48 hours at new altitude).

Often occurs without AMS (often no headache)

But you can have AMS and HACE too.




If you have symptoms of altitude illness (AMS, HACE or HAPE) you must notascend in altitude. If you have HACE or HAPE you must descend to nearest healthpost (if available) or seek medical help.

If you have only mild symptoms of AMS you should rest, drink fluids, try to eat,keep warm. If symptoms go away then you can go up. If symptoms get worse youhave to descend in altitude escorted by one of our guides (someone with altitudeillness must never descend alone).

For further information we suggest you take a look at the following websites:

Base Camp MD website: http://www.BaseCampmd.com/expguide/highalt.shtml

High Altitude medicine website:http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com

Medex Travel at High Altitude:http://www.medex.org.uk/v26%20booklet.pdf

BMC website:https://www.thebmc.co.uk/hill-skills-an-introduction-to-altitude

ACCOMMODATION IN DELHI, DARJEELING & KALIMPONGIn Delhi for hotel accommodation we use the Ashok Country Resort. This hotel isa family run eco-friendly boutique hotel, situated only 4km from Indira GandhiInternational Airport and about 16 km from the Delhi commercial centre ofConnaught Place. Website at: http://www.ashokcountryresort.com/

In Darjeeling we use the Traveller’s Inn situated near the centre of Darjeeling. Thehotel has superb views of Darjeeling town and the Kanchenjunga mountain range.For more information take a look at their websitehttp://www.travellersinndarjeeling.in/

In Kalimpong we use the Himalayan Hotel. This is the home of the McDonald familyand is set in landscaped gardens to the south of the town. The hotel has impressivebuildings with oak ceilings, teak furniture and a large collection of Tibetan artefactsand memorabilia.




David McDonald was the interpreter on Francis Younghusband’s mission to Lhasain 1904 and was later posted to Tibet as the British Trade agent until he retired in1924. He also helped the 13th Dalai Lama to escape from Tibet in 1910 andserved as British Political Officer in Sikkim.

We will book hotels of a similar quality if we are unable to get reservations at theseones.

A TYPICAL DAY ON TREKThe day starts with an early morning mug of tea brought to your tent by one of thecook’s helpers. Before heading over to the mess tent for breakfast it is best to packyour overnight gear into your duffel bag. During breakfast the tents will be packedaway and, after the porters (or pony men) have arranged their loads, they will setoff on the trail in the cool of the morning.

After breakfast, probably between 7am and 8am, we start walking. The pace of thetrek is leisurely with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, take photos and explore thelocal villages. Lunch will be around 11am at a spot by the side of the trail and isprepared for us by the cooks.

There is more walking after lunch and normally you will get into camp by midafternoon with the tents already put up by the local staff. In the evening a threecourse meal is served in the mess tent around 7pm. After supper the westernleader will discuss the plan for the next day with the group. People might stay in themess tent chatting about the day’s events for a while before retiring to their tent forthe night.

FOODIn Delhi there is a wide range of excellent restaurants close to the hotel inConnaught Circus from upmarket, local dhabas to western style. Some of the morepopular ones are: Spice Route (in the Imperial hotel), Banana Leaf, Nirulas,Baristas, Parikrama, United Coffee House and Standard. Breakfast is providedeach morning by the hotel.




While on the trek you will get breakfast with porridge and cereal, toast or chapattis,omelettes and a range of hot drinks. Normally a hot lunch is prepared by the trekcrew or on the longer days a pack lunch is provided after breakfast. On arrival atthe camp in the afternoon you will be given tea and biscuits and a three coursemeal will follow later in the evening.

CLIMATEThe traditional trekking season is late September to December and March to June.Singalila Ridge trek will have a range of temperatures depending on the altitude,the time of day and seasons. In the mountains the nights will be cool and given fineweather during the day temperatures can sometimes rise to 20˚C.

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENTA list of clothing and equipment for Kanchenjunga Singalila trek has been includedin Appendix below. It is worth pointing out that you will need a sleeping bag for thistrip.

If you do not have the clothing and equipment contained in this list then a goodoption might be to rent from the UK. Trek Hire and Expedition Kit Hire rent out highquality items at competitive prices which would save you the expense of buying.The links to their websites are at http://www.trekhireuk.com/ andhttp://www.expeditionkithire.co.uk

Alternatively if you are going to buy then please contact the office for the CotswoldOutdoor promo code that entitles you, as a client of The Mountain Company, to a15% discount in their stores and online.

Each trekker should bring one backpack for items required during the day. Your daybackpack will contain items such as warm clothes, jacket, camera, water bottles,personal first aid kit and snacks. Typically the backpack would be 30 to 40 litres insize.




The rest of your personal equipment packed in a duffel bag or backpack will becarried by a porter. The maximum weight allowance is 15kgs. Please ensure thatyour bag is marked clearly on the outside for easy identification.

VISA REQUIREMENTSCitizens from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand require an entryvisa, it is your responsibility to obtain the entry visa. The Indian High Commission inLondon has updated the procedure for obtaining tourist visas. The decision onwhether to grant a visa has been retained by the High Commission; however theapplication and collection process has been outsourced to VFS Global.

All applications have to be made online at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ You still have toapply online if you are submitting your application by post or using a visa agency.Walk-in applicants also need to fill out the online form before visiting VFS's office.

It should take 2 to 3 days to process your visa from submission although manypeople have experienced delays so please allow longer than this. Postalapplications might take up to 15 days plus postage time. We suggest you carefullyread the VFS website taking particular care in calculating the fee payable and alsothe rules for acceptable passport photos in order to avoid further delays.

VACCINATIONS AND MEDICALYou should obtain professional advice from a travel clinic or your local GP aboutwhich vaccinations to have before you arrive in Nepal. A dental check-up is a goodidea as there will be no dental facilities while on the trek.

We bring a comprehensive first aid kit from UK (Life Systems Mountain Leader)plus high altitude medicine, antibiotics and other medicines.




INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTSThe Mountain Company does not book international flights for our holidays. Insteadall package prices are Land Only with services starting from arrival to thedestination country.

If you would like help arranging flights then we suggest you contact our partnertravel agent, StudentUniverse (ATOL registered) a specialist division of the FlightCentre Travel Group ---> Get an online quote

INSURANCETravel insurance for any Mountain Company itinerary is a condition of booking aholiday. At the very least you should have emergency medical and repatriationinsurance which must include the cost of mountain rescue. Cancellation insuranceis strongly recommended as all deposits paid to The Mountain Company are non-refundable.

Please carefully check your insurers’ Terms and Conditions in particular you shouldmake sure the following is covered: 1) Activity (i.e touring, trekking ormountaineering) 2) Maximum altitude reached on trek 3) Helicopter evacuation inan emergency.

It is important for you to understand that ultimately the burden of any expenseincurred in evacuation and repatriation procedures will be borne by you and that itis your responsibility to pay any costs incurred in respect of any evacuation or formedical treatment. You should be fully aware of the implications involved inarranging your own travel insurance and understand the limitations and exclusionsof your policy.

You should be aware that under certain circumstances, The Mountain Companyleader (or our local agent, if no western leader) might instigate rescue proceedingsvia helicopter (or any other means necessary) in situations of medical emergencywithout first contacting your insurance company for their approval.

The Mountain Company has arranged travel and trekking insurance for EuropeanUnion residents with the specialist insurance broker Campbell Irvine. Their




insurance policy will cover you for most of the trips in our portfolio. However if yourtrek is classified or graded by The Mountain Company as “Strenuous” or“Challenging” then you must make sure you select this option when obtaining anonline quote for your insurance. Campbell Irvine will not provide insurance cover forany trips classified as “Mountaineering”.

To apply for an online quote through Campbell Irvine’s Direct Travel Insurancewebsite. Should you have any questions regarding the terms and conditions ofcover please contact Campbell Irvine on 0207 938 1734 oremail [email protected]

We have listed on TMC website a comprehensive list of specialist adventure travelinsurers that our trekkers from UK, EU and Internationally based have used in thepast. Please carefully check their Terms & Conditions prior to purchase. Thesecompanies are not necessarily recommended by us so it is your responsibility toensure you have appropriate coverage.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONSFor those of you who are visiting India for the first time we have provided somecultural information to help ensure your behaviour is acceptable to your hosts inIndia:

Both men and women should dress conservatively wearing full length trousersand a shirt.

There are many hot springs, rivers and lakes where it is pleasant to take a dip, itis fine for men to go bare-chested while bathing but should not go nude. Womenshould try and be as modest as possible in these situations.

Indians consider the left hand to be unclean, therefore do not eat food with yourleft hand and make sure you give or receive food only with your right hand




Shoes are considered degrading so keep them on the ground and remove thembefore putting your feet on anything and on entering a temple you should removeyour shoes.

You will pass Buddhist mani walls, chortens, and stupas along the trek and tofollow local traditions you should pass them on your right.

When visiting a monastery or gompa it is customary to give a donation for itsupkeep.

SUGGESTED READING Kanchenjunga the Untrodden Peak by Charles Evans.

The Hard Years by Joe Brown

The Kanchenjunga Adventure by Frank Smythe

Round Kanchenjunga by Douglas Freshfield

Kanchenjunga; First Ascent from the North-East Spur by Col Narinder Kumar

Kangchenjunga Himal and Kumbhakana by Jan Kielkowski

The Ascent of Rum Doodle by WE Bowman

MAPS Sikkim Schweizerische Stiftung fur Alpine Forschung (Swiss Foundation For

Alpine Research) Scale: 1:150,000




APPENDIX

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST FOR KANCHENJUNGASINGALILA RIDGEFor the safety of everyone in the group and to help ensure a successful trek, youare required to have the following items in our clothing and equipment list tailoredfor Kanchenjunga Singalila Ridge trek.

As a reminder, the weather on this trek will vary season to season and day to dayas you ascend to higher elevations. During the first couple of days onKanchenjunga Singalila Ridge trek you are likely to experience quite warmconditions and you will experience the coldest temperatures at Sandakphu at analtitude of 3,636m where overnight lows can get down to around -10˚C.

Footwear: Walking boots. A pair of water repellent boots with ankle support.

Gaiters. A pair used to keep boots dry if walking through deep snow or on wetground.

Wool and liner socks.

Trainers/sneakers or sandals. Can be used in camp/lodge in the evenings.

Clothing: Waterproof jacket and trousers (goretex or similar).

Trekking trousers.

Long sleeve shirts (not cotton).

Micro fleece.

Mid to heavyweight fleece.

Sleeveless or body warmer type fleece.




Thermals or base layer for top & bottom (merino wool or synthetic).

Fleece pants.

Medium weight down jacket.

Handwear: Fleece gloves.

Warms mittens and/or gloves.

Headwear: Wool or fleece hat.

Sun hat.

Bandana or scarf.

Headtorch. Bring extra batteries.

Sunglasses. The lenses need to be Category 4 rated and should have sideprotection or wraparound design to prevent light getting through to your eyes thatcould cause sun blindness.

Personal Equipment: Sleeping bag. Maximum overnight lows at Sandakphu will be around -10 Celsius.

Fleece or silk liner for your sleeping bag. A liner protects your sleeping bag fromgetting dirty and helps by adding extra insulation to keep you warm at night.

Daypack. Recommended size is 30 litres or larger as you need to have enoughspace to carry water bottles, camera, snacks and extra clothing. It is also a goodidea to bring a rain cover to keep the contents dry.

Stuff sacks for keeping your gear dry and organised.

Two water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best).

Sunscreen and lipsalve with a high SPF.

Insect repellent.




Water purification tablets (Pristine, Biox Acqua or Acqa Mira).

Favourite snack food.

Books, ipod and cards etc.

Trekking poles.

Camera with spare batteries and memory cards.

Insurance certificate.

Earplugs (optional).

Baby wipes (optional).

Hand sanitizer (optional).

Travelling: Duffle bag or large backpack for your personal gear on the trek (carried by a

pony or yak). Bring a small combination padlock to secure the bag.

Travel clothes. You will need casual clothing for air travel days.

Toiletry bag include toilet paper, soap, towel, toothbrush, etc.

Personal first aid kit:Note: we provide a comprehensive group first aid kit but please bring personalmedications and other items you might use regularly such as:

Any personal medications.

Malaria prophylactic tablets.

Blister treatment- Compeed patches are the best.

Rehydration powder eg Dioralyte.

Analgesic (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin).

Plasters and zinc oxide tape.

Throat lozenges.




Diamox (optional), helps with acclimatisation.

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