Nepal Peak Climbing FAQ’s

What is a Trekking Peak
Essentially, a trekking peak is a peak that can be climbed (from base camp) in 1-3 days. The routes we use are chosen for their objective safety and sometimes involve easily angled snow slopes, straightforward ridges, and occasionally scrambling. You will be using equipment such as crampons, an ice axe, a harness, and a zommer. Fixed ropes will be used while ascending and descending. Blossom Expeditions organizes special climbing training at base camp to provide our clients with the climbing skills necessary for their safe and successful summit to the top. All our trekking peak itineraries are carefully designed to deliver interesting treks and to provide proper acclimatization

The Climbing Group
For the Blossom Expeditions climbing trip, you will be accompanied by a guide, a climbing guide, a cook (depending on group size and trip), porters, and other helpers as per our requirements during the climbing component. We need a minimum of 2 clients to run any peak climbing trip and have a maximum of 10 pax, as we’ve found this to be the most favorable size for a successful trip. However, if you’d like to make a group booking for a party of more than 10 members, we can arrange this too.

Accommodation
The type of accommodation used depends on the duration of your trip and the period you will spend climbing.

On the Climbing Trip: In lodges in most trekking areas, you will have a double room with separate beds with foam mattresses and clean bedsit. Usually, rooms are small but with plenty of space for you to move around. As you go higher, lodges typically have a centrally heated dining room to keep you warm in the evening. Lodge owners always provide a lock to your room but you are welcome to bring your own. Combination locks are recommended since you don’t want to lose the key out on your hike. And during the climbing (1-3 nights) section of your trip, we will provide two men’s tents with mats.

In the City: In Kathmandu and other cities, the range of accommodations is larger. There are internationally recommended 4 and 5-star hotels to budget guesthouses. According to our service plan, the cost includes a few nights’ accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara in 2 to 3-star hotels. However, we can arrange any standard accommodation in specific hotels on request.

Food will you be eating on the trek
Most Teahouses/Lodges along the trails are run by families in the trekking areas. Lodges offer a menu with diverse Western and local foods like Dal Bhat, MOMO, yak steak, and many potato-based items. Most lodge owners have been in the business for a long time and have mastered the preparation of surprisingly good meals that will make a trekker happy after long hours on the trail. Whenever possible they use fresh vegetables carried in from the lowlands or else supplied by local farmers. While we are camping we will have our own cook who will prepare meals, or else your Guide/Climbing Guide will prepare easy-to-prepare meals such as spaghetti, noodles, different bread items, soups, potato-based items, rice and curries, and hot tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. We use fresh vegetables, which we carry from KTM or buy along the trail, as well as pre-packed products. The milk we use on the trip is powder milk, which we always boil before serving.

Travel Insurance Policy
Before you start your journey, it’s a good idea to get a comprehensive Personal Travel Insurance Policy. That should cover you for things like trip cancellations, lost baggage, flight delays, accidents, theft, and even helicopter evacuation and medical treatment abroad. Travel insurance is affordable and provides great value. Helicopter evacuations can be really pricey, and the payment needs to be made before the helicopter leaves Kathmandu or the insurance company ensures the payment. For your safety and peace of mind, make sure to purchase insurance and share a copy of your policy with us before you leaving on your trek.

Porter Welfare
We are dedicated to the well-being of our staff, including trip leaders, guides, assistance guides, cooks, and porters. We ensure fair wages, provident funds, proper insurance, and necessary clothing for all our staff, especially porters who play a crucial role in the adventure industry in Nepal. In Nepal, it is customary to tip field staff at the end trip as a token of gratitude for their hard work, and they also anticipate tips from clients.

In case of emergency
Blossom Expeditions has recognized that a responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide work and travel conditions that are safe. We have well-equipped guides trained in handling emergencies and carefully planned itineraries. Our field staff keeps a close eye on camp security and your belongings. Our guides are all trained in wilderness first-aid and crisis management, so if something does go wrong, you are in good hands and we always carry a comprehensive first-aid kit. All though, in the case of a serious sickness or a casualty, which we believe will not happen; we have helicopter rescue plans in place. However, as you are responsible for evacuation expenses, please ensure your insurance covers it or be prepared to pay for it upon return to Kathmandu.

First Aid Kit and Medical Facility
Each climbing member should have his/her own first aid kit containing general medicines and provisions. People on prescription medicine should bring adequate supplies of these prescribed products. Please do not forget to take your medication for the whole trip. If you stop taking your medication, or if you do not have sufficient supplies of your medication, you might encounter health problems on the trip. Our guide has a First Aid Kit with general medicine for emergencies. This kit will be used as necessary to provide medical aid to anyone in the group who needs it, including porters.

How fit do I need to be?
Climbing any trekking peak here in Nepal is physically and technically challenging work. It requires great personal commitment and good physical fitness. Previous trekking or climbing experience is beneficial. However, we offer one-day climbing training sessions as required before you start climbing. These are run by our experienced climbing guides, and will train you in the use of crampons, ice axes, ropes, etc, and will ensure you have the necessary skills and confidence to successfully climb a Himalaya peak. Please note: the time you put into physical training before you begin your climbing trip will definitely be rewarded. We suggest you to do at least 5-7km jogging several times a week, and climb stairs (30 minutes, 3-4 times a week), as well as do some long day hiking from 3 months before your trip starts.

Important Note and Optional Activities
Your safety is of paramount concern while traveling with Blossom Expeditions. Please note that your Guide has the authority to adjust or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the safe Climbing trip itinerary; however, as this is adventure travel in the remote mountain regions, we cannot guarantee it! Weather conditions, the health condition of a member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The guide will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.