Trekking Grade in Nepal Himalayas

Grade 1 Easy:

Easy trekking by Himalayan standards is generally up to 2000m. There are plenty of ups and downs on well-maintained trails. This type of trip is best suited for those who lead a reasonably active life. The trek takes about 3 to 7 days, walking about 4 to 5 hours a day.

Grade 2 Moderate:

This involves longer treks (five to ten days) on maintained trails. This type of trek includes day excursions to higher elevations, for which it's advisable to have some previous hill- walking experience. On these treks, we generally achieve an altitude between 900m to 3000m.

Grade 3: Moderate to Strenuous:

These treks must be fully supported. We climb to altitudes between 3500 and 5000m. & there are overnight stays at altitudes above 4000m. For this trek, trekkers should be fit & enthusiastic hill walkers prepared to tackle difficult terrain in remote areas.

Grade 4 Strenuous:

These treks must be fully supported. We climb to altitudes between 3500 and 5000m. & there are overnight stays at altitudes above 4000m. For this trek, trekkers should be fit & enthusiastic hill walkers prepared to tackle difficult terrain in remote areas.

Grade 5 Very Strenuous:

This trek is best described as Alpine, and suitable is suitable for those in excellent health, capable of carrying a backpack, when required. The trek covers very remote areas, traveling over snow-covered passes at an altitudes of up to 6500m. You will need to axes and crampons. No strenuous trek should be undertaken without medical clearance

TIMS Information

Nepal Government assigns Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) to implement Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC) now becomes TIMS Registration Required for trekkers.

Nepal’s tourism begins it’s new year, 2008, with a new system called Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS).
Nepal, has been called 'a Trekker's Paradise'. Its high standing mountains, scenic hills and the luxuriant Terai offers some of the most spectacular trekking routes in the world. Passing through the diverse culture and nature, trekking in Nepal is a life-time experience which involves a certain degree of physical risks owing to the rugged topography. 
With the distinction of Nepal as a trekking destination and its growing charm, a provision of Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) has been implemented to control illegal trekking operations and ensure safety and security of the trekkers in general trekking areas through the mechanism of Prompt Information Service as and when required .
The past experiences have shown that difficulties have been faced while carrying out rescue operations promptly during the times of accidents and natural calamities. Because of lack of proper record system of trekkers, their exact whereabouts and the information about trekking routes, rescue and search missions used to face difficulties in spotting the trekkers missing.
The provision of Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) has come into force from Jan 01, 2008. Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) have started recording trekkers detail and issuing TIMS Card to trekkers.

The new system allows Nepal Tourism Board to better serve to trekkers in case of emergency and also better maintain records of trekkers in the country.

All trekkers must carry a valid TIMS, a free certificate that is now issued by Nepal Tourism Board and by Nepal Trekking Agents Association.

If you are trekking in Nepal, *PLEASE BE SURE* to get a TIMS Certificate and carry it with you during your trekking and after finishing your trekking take it with you for your best memory in a life. It is assumed that we Asian Travellers Treks & Expedition provide you this certificate making hassle free for you. 

Nepal Trekking Permit Fees

Trekking Permit and National park fee

All trekkers require a trekking permit to visit Nepal’s interior regions, which are not connected by highways. Recently the Annapurna, Langtang and Everest regions have been declared “permit fee" areas; but National Park or Conservation Area fees are still applicable. We process the trekking permits and national park entrances at immigration offices from Nepal Social Treks & Expedition office in Katmandu.

 A trekking permit is a must to visit restricted areas mentioned below. To visit normaltrekking areas, no permission is required restricted areas which have been opened for Group Trekking.

 The following restricted areas are open only for group trekkers. And a trekking permit will not be issued to individual trekkers for such areas. The areas and required fees are as follows:

 (1.) Areas of lower Dolpa For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and after 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20.

 (2.) Taplejung District (Kanchenjanga Region):-Areas of Olangchunggola, Lelep, Papung and Yamphudin Village Development Committee.

Sankhuwasabha District (Makalu Region):-Areas of Kimathanka, Chepuwa, Hatiya and Pawakhola Village Development Committee.

Solukhumbu District (Everest Region):-All north-west area way from Thame to Nangpala of Namche Village Development Committee.

For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and After 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20

 (3.) Rasuwa District :-Thuman and Tingure per week per person US$ 10

 4.) Manang District:- Areas of Nar, Phu, and Northern area of Tilche Village of Thochhe Village Development Committee For September to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75.

 (5.) Mugu District:- Areas of Mugu, Dolpu, Pulu and Bhangri. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.

 (6.) Bajhang District:-Areas of Kanda, Saipal, Dhuli. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.

 (7.) Darchula District:- Areas of Byas Village Development Committee. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.

 (8.) Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpa District:- For the first 10 days per person US $700 and After 10 days per day per person Us$70.

 (9.) Gorkha District (Manaslu Area):- For September to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75.

 (10.) Humla District (Simikot and Yari):- Areas of Limi and Muchu village Development Committee, and area way to Tibet via Tangekhola of Darma

 Village Development committee. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.

Trekking Equipments & Clothing

Many trekking gears can be purchased from trekking shops in kathmandu.Sometime the equipments is used or it may also be exported new from overseas countries. Sleeping Bag, Warm down-filled and wind proof Jacket to protect from cold, Light weight trekking Shoes, Woolen Socks, Comfortable Trousers or loose Skits for women, Flashlight and Batteries, Hat Sunglasses and Sun cream to protect from sunburn, Gloves, Raincoat and other personal things like Camera, extra cloths etc. are mainly necessary while your are in trekking.

We have suggest you to bring the follwing list of quipments and personal clothes.

Personal Equipment (for trekking) :

• A pair of light hiking boots.
• A pair of sandals.
• Five pairs of woolen socks.
• One light wool / fleece sweater.
• One down sweater / jacket.
• One light wind Gore-Tex jacket and one light wind Gore-Tex pant.
• A pair of Gore-Tex glove shells with liner or ski gloves.
• One sunscreen lotion SPF 10 to 30 and one sunscreen stick SPF 10 to 30.
• A one - litter water bottle and purifier.
• Two T - shirts and one long sleeve T - shirts.
• Rucksack
• Flashlight (extra batteries)
• Camera and photo films as per your interest.
• Sun hat.
• One trekking baggy pants.
• First aid kit
• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, toilet rolls, bath towel etc)

Climbing Gear Checklist:

• Harness/ Jumper
• Ice Axe/ waterproof jacket (1 per person)
• Figure 8
• Carbines (2 per person)
• Crampons
• Gaiter, rope (minimum 50 m.)
• Mess kit/ down pants (waterproof)
• Thermal gloves/mittens
• Dome tents
• Extra food for 1 to 3 days
• Cooking gas

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) / High Altitude Sickness

Acute Mountain Sickness also known as Altitude Sickness, is the effect of altitude on those who ascend too rapidly to elevations above 3,600 m. Early symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, lethargy, and sleeplessness. Do not ignore these warnings as these are serious symptoms of AMS which can cause even death within a few hours. Being young, strong and fit does not help. Medicine is no substitute for descent. If a doctor is available, he may give medicine and oxygen.

The patient must go down, however, even after treatment. If you are traveling in Khumbu region and Manang, you can contact Khunde, Pheriche & Manang respectively for altitude sickness information. Hospitals are there with good doctors. To avoid altitude sickness you should walk slowly. If you feel exhausted, you have moved too fast or too high. Take time to acclimatize to each gaining altitude and give yourself rest days. If you start to feel unwell, retreat to a lower altitude immediately. It may save your life. The only cure for AMS is to descend immediately to a lower elevation.

We recommend you to be checked by your Physician before trekking and those who are suffering from heart disease, respiratory diseases such as Asthma, emphysema are not advisable to attempt to high altitude treks and any strenuous activity. So, one should be physically fit for trekking.