Hi,
I have a few questions and concerns regarding the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal.
1. Does the cost include porter and guide insurance, do porters have proper winter clothing?
2. If I am the only female, do I need to share accomodation with a male person?
3. What's the conditions of the lodges? I heard some of them have bedbugs or lices. Will I be able to have "hot shower"?
4. I am worried about my physical fitness. I hike on the weekends in the summer, but never for more than 2 days. I could do 15km with 600m or so elevation gain. I don't know if I will be able to keep up with the rest of the group. The thing is, I really want to do it.
5. I also don't know how I will feel in hight altitude. What if I get sick on the trek? Either AMS or diarrea, flu, cold...etc. What happens to those who have to be left behind because of illness? Is there a chance they will catch up with the group again? I will probably feel very bad if I don't get through the Thurong La Pass, or if I have to be left behind.
Your reponse will be much appreciated. Thank you.
Re: Annapurna Circuit Trek
Hi Zoe,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
(i) The tour cost for the Classic Annapurna Circuit covers all staffing and porters/guides on the trek. It is your responsibility to get the correct type of insurance for the activities you will be undertaking on this tour. If you book a tour with us you will be offered a very comprehensive insurance, though you may look for your own by all means.
(ii) There is no single supplement available on this tour, but if you are the only female, you are not forced to share with a male. Other arrangements will be made to give you privacy. If the tour leader is female then you would share with her. There will be nights on this tour when rooms are multishare, for example..dormitories in some of the teahouses along the trek.
It is unlikely that you will be sharing your bed with bugs & lice! However if this is something that will probably subconsciously bother you, then one of the special luggage requirements for this tour is a sleeping bag so you do not have to use the local bed sheets if you really don't want to.
The hotels used on the tour are simple hotels & guest houses. They are twin share with attached bathroom facilities.
More importantly the Teahouses along route can vary dramatically and can range from relatively sophisticated lodges with electricity, solar showers and twin rooms to basic Teahouses with dormitories. You can normally expect twin bedded rooms with common bathroom and in some places 3-4 bedded rooms.
You should bear in mind that accommodation is an integral part of the country and as such, can suffer from common problems like electrical failure, plumbing faults, lack of water or other technical difficulties, therefore a hot shower cannot always be guaranteed!
(iii) This is a grade 'C' trek meaning it can be strenuous. This doesn't mean you should be super-fit before joining this tour, though you should have a reasonable level of fitness. As on any trek there can be steep ascents/descents. The fitter you are the easier you will find it.
It sounds like you really enjoy walking and this tour certainly contains allot of that, possibly up to 5-6 hours per day! You are perfectly able to walk at your own pace without feeling your holding anyone up...you never know, you might surprise yourself!
It is common to trek to around 5,000 feet in the Himalayas so there is no need to worry unduly about altitude. The air does become thinner after 3,000 feet and you can sometimes notice your performance being affected. The best way to overcome this is to ascend slowly. We have designed our routes carefully based on years of experience managing possible altitude related difficulties.
If for any reason you have to descend you will be accompanied by one of our team and a porter and you will be well looked after. If you are instructed to descend due to altitude difficulties then this does not mean the ascent is over. The descent may just be a short term measure and you may be able to continue upwards again after some rest and acclimatisation.
There is no shame at all in being affected or not reaching the highest points on the trek!
I hope this is helpful?
Cheers
Online Consultant [/b]
[b]Ru Lea