All you need is a sense of adventure , and that would have been quite the adventure. Yes, read that too. I meant to add to first post, that if you click on the photo links on that front page you get to see that poor little landy. Roofrack with 35 gal tank etc. Spare spring packs tied on the front, etc etc. Shows how tough those 80,s were. Read through it today - brilliant story!!
The Great Trek
Great story, thanks for sharing. The truck carried enough petrol for the whole return trip in 44 gallon drums. The trip was filmed by one of the expedition, I have it somewhere on a DVD , in colour. The movie is narrated by the film maker. The big rock was deserted when they got there , not a soul in sight.
Some of its autumn departures are already full, so hurry if you want to go in the diamond jubilee year of the first ascent. If you prefer a bit more comfort, there are now two chains of luxury lodges on the way to base camp, Yeti Mountain Homes and Everest Summit Lodges.
We're not talking five-star spas here, but an en suite bathroom and a hot water bottle are a big step up from standard lodges. If you're looking to beat the crowds, trekking guide Bonny Masson has this advice: The trail beyond is a tougher walk than the stages from Lukla, which most people now reach by air. But you should be prepared for lower temperatures.
Adventurous types can trek to the little-visited east face of Everest inside Tibet via the Kama valley, one of the least known but most beautiful approaches to the world's highest peak. Unlike the Nepalese side, this wild valley has hardly changed at all. In recent years, the visa situation in Tibet has been inconsistent, but that now seems to be settling down. Stunning views are what prompt many to go trekking, but the Himalayas is an incredibly diverse region culturally. For those who want to combine great walking with gaining an insight into how people live in such an extraordinary region, there's now a wide range of holidays offering treks combined with other activities.
Wild Frontiers , known for its stylish approach to adventure travel, now offers some excellent journeys that include trekking.
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Trekking here mixes the jungle appeal of other parts of south-east Asia with the high drama of the Himalayas — and the opportunity to explore Rangoon and the temples of Bagan. And if you're looking for something a bit less strenuous, there is an alternative itinerary through the foothills.
If trekking was developed for explorer types who see disaster as a welcome change of pace, then the industry has done a great deal to broaden its appeal. Young backpackers have been wandering around the foothills of Nepal's Annapurna range for decades now, arriving in Pokhara by bus and surviving on next to nothing. You won't sleep higher than 2, metres but you'll still get stunning views of the Annapurna range and the colossal pyramid of Dhaulagiri, seventh-highest peak in the world. The Mountain Company offers an day beautiful village walk in India's Kumaon mountains in Uttarakhand.
Once kids get over the initial shock of the idea that a walk can last for days, not hours, trekking can be a brilliant family trip option. Exodus offers a great itinerary in Ladakh for families that takes in visits to Tibetan monasteries, rafting on the Indus and a three-day trek that crosses the Sarmanchan La, a pass that reaches 3,m. Nepal is also a great place to take children, combining a trek with a visit to Chitwan national park, close to the border with India, where they can see wildlife and ride elephants. He also has a quiet guesthouse, Shivapuri Heights , on the outskirts of Kathmandu, away from the ever-increasing noise of Thamel, the city's tourist district.
Although tourism in the Himalayas is changing fast, it's still possible to do a big trek in the wildest landscape on Earth.
These really are for the hardier trekker, with weeks of camping and a tolerance for serious walking and high altitude. In Pakistan's spectacular Karakoram mountain range, there are fewer villages in the high mountains, and treks feel remote and exploratory. The jewel in the crown is the trek to K2's base camp, taking you past some of the most beautiful peaks you've probably never heard of, like the Trango Towers and Masherbrum, before reaching Concordia, the confluence of two mighty glaciers with spectacular views of K2 itself.
It takes around 15 days, walking eight miles a day, to reach base camp and leave via the Gondoro La, a pass of over 5,m, into the beautiful Hushe valley. Previous trekking experience is essential. While the Annapurna massif is as beautiful as ever, the construction of a road up the Kali Gandaki, the world's deepest gorge, to link Pokhara with the Tibetan border, has abruptly terminated interest in trekking the well-established Annapurna circuit. No one wants to trek beside a road.
A new road is also being driven on the eastern side of the massif, towards the village of Manang.
Great two days trek with Mao - Sapa Sisters Trekking Adventures
Luckily for Nepal's trekking industry, the long and arduous trek around Manaslu, higher than Annapurna and just to its east, is plugging this self-inflicted wound. Mountain Kingdoms offers a slightly different route in the early part of this increasingly popular trek that makes each one of the 18 days it takes to loop around the Manaslu Circuit 's remote north side as culturally fascinating as it is spectacular. If those two aren't enough for you, then consider the Great Himalayan Trail , which traverses the length of Nepal's high mountains, broken down into 10 sections, each of which takes around two to three weeks.
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