Ganesh Himal Trek - 10 Days

Getting there

You will arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport by 3 pm at least one day before the trek departure date for last-minute preparations. If, in case, you missed the online trip briefing, it will also provide us time to conduct an in-person trip briefing.

. We will receive you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. On the trip departure date, we will take you to Balche (the trek region) on a bus or in a local jeep. The ride should be comfortable until Trishuli Bazaar, and then the road becomes a little rough until Balche. 

Free airport transfer

We provide free airport pick-up when you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and free departure transfer when you return to your country. When you arrive at Kathmandu airport, you will find one of our company representatives holding a Discovery World Trekking pamphlet with your name on it. They will greet you, present a garland as a welcome gesture, then take you to your hotel in a private vehicle.

We provide this free service so that you do not have to face navigation problems in Nepal and feel alone in a foreign country. After completing the trek, when you return to your home country, our representative will transfer you from your hotel to the airport. 

Accommodation

The 10-day Ganesh Himal trek package includes nine nights stay in trek regions. You will mostly stay in tent camps or local lodges/tea houses. In tea houses, stay will be on a twin-sharing basis. Your bed will be modestly comfortable with mattresses, pillows, and blankets. 

You will need at least two days' stay in a hotel in Kathmandu - one before departing for the trek and one after the trek completion. This package does not cover these expenses. Kathmandu has all sorts of hotels to fit all budgets and preferences, and we prefer your choice.

You can enjoy hot showers at available places by paying a small fee. Discovery World Trekking handpicks accommodations to ensure a hygienic and healthy stay.  

Meals

As you will be trekking at high altitudes, you will require plenty of nutritious food, and we will provide you with plenty of tasty, hygienic, and nutrient-rich food in the best possible tea houses/lodges. You will have traditional, Asian, or Western food choices.

We highly recommend liquids - green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup (must) at high altitudes for health benefits.

We provide you with 9 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 9 dinners in the trek regions. 

Breakfast - Hashed Brown Eggs, Varieties of eggs (Omelets), Pancakes, Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French Toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, and Honey Tibetan Bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa Porridge, Muesli Breads, Fruits and Vegetables, Hot Drinks - varieties of Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, etc.

Lunch - Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Various Soup Items, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (Dumplings), Macaroni Dishes, Potatoes, Salad, Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Dessert Items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinners - Dal (lentils), Bhat (Rice) & Tarkari (Curry), Tibetan Bread, Vegetable Curry, Potato Items, Vegetables, Salads, Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Various Soup Items, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni Dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Snacks, Papad, Prawn, Korean Ramen, Dessert Items (Rice Pudding, Apple Pie), etc

This package does not include meals in Kathmandu. You can get almost all types of food in Kathmandu.

Best Season

You must consider the weather when deciding to trek to The Ganesh Himal trek. Most trekkers choose spring or autumn seasons. The cold and snow at high altitudes during winter can frustrate you. Similarly, the summer season coincides with the monsoon in Nepal, and the rain can make trail sections wet and slippery. Here is a brief description of conditions at higher elevations throughout the year.

January – February

It is the coldest time, especially from early January to early February. The temperatures get low. Though the daytime may be warm and with clear admirable skies, the nighttime is extremely cold. 

March – April

It is a perfect season for the Ganesh Himal trek. The weather is very favorable, and you can get stunning views of the central Himalayan ranges. Temperatures start increasing from the mid of March, and with clear skies, snow mountains look their best. While on the route, you can enjoy the multi-colored rhododendron flowers.

May – June

These are two more perfect months for trekking right before the rainfall. Monsoon in Nepal starts at the end of June and lasts until mid-August. The mix of spring and summer seasons provides a very favorable time for the Ganesh Himal trek during these months.

July – August

The rainfall hits its peak during this time. Due to rain, the paths get wet and slippery, while the clouds may block the views. However, trekking during July and August has a different charm, aided by the stunning waterfalls. 

September – October

These are perfect trek months for the Ganesh Himal trek. As the monsoon recedes, a favorable trekking climate sets in. The temperature at high elevations goes up to 20 degrees in the daytime and falls to 5 degrees at night. These are the months when trekkers enjoy trekking the most, with clear skies and amazing views of the mountains. If you are new to trekking, we suggest you choose these months. Several major festivals, including Dashain and Tihar, fall during these months, adding a festive mood to the whole of Nepal. 

November – December

The winter begins. Snowfalls start in the Ganesh Himal Region, and it eventually gets tough to trek. Nights get cold. However, November treks are possible as November provides clear skies with sparkling days. The daytime temperatures are very stable and constant. The clear blue skies provide fantastic views of the mountains. From December, the temperature dips down, and heavy snowfall begins.

Acclimatization

During the Ganesh Himal trek, you will be acclimatizing at Chalish Gaon. During this rest day, you have several options, such as hiking, exploring the village, and learning the culture and lifestyle of the locals. Acclimatization helps to minimize the chances of falling prey to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is common among trekkers, but severe altitude sickness requires immediate treatment.

Our trekking leaders and guides have completed extensive first-aid training and are well-experienced in handling altitude sickness. Please report to your guide the moment you realize that you are facing some form of discomfort. You need not worry about your health. Rest assured that your health is in good hands. There are several ways to avoid altitude sickness, including drinking four or more liters of water, walking at your own pace, and resting properly.

If altitude sickness is severe, the only cure is to descend immediately. Your group leader has the authority to decide based on the overall situation. In extreme cases, we deploy a helicopter to bring you back to safety (funded by insurance). Please note that some are more vulnerable than others.

Trip Grade, fitness level, medical, and health

The Ganesh Himal trek is a slightly challenging yet rewarding trek. You will hike for 5 to 7 hours each day, taking regular breaks to admire the mountains. The actual hours also depend on the trek length to cover that day. The trek routes involve long climbs, steep descents, and straightforward trails that pass through rocky regions and dense forests. So, the fitter you are - the more comfortable and enjoyable your journey will be. If you have trek experience or enjoy trekking, it will be an advantage but not necessary. We do not recommend this trek to those suffering from serious medical conditions, such as blood, heart, or lung diseases.

Trekking group/single

We can handle all group sizes and conduct group and private treks. If you have your group, you can get discounts based on the group size. We add an assistant guide for a group of twelve or more. If you have your group, you can get discounts based on the group size. However, we do not provide discounts for trek groups that our company forms. For every two trekkers, we also add a porter as well.

A typical day on the trek

On a typical day, you will gain a unique trek experience as you hike leisurely with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and explore the local villages. Our experienced, friendly, and qualified expert guide will accompany you throughout your trek with a team of our porters who will carry your luggage. 

Each day starts with an early morning cup of tea, and after having a wholesome breakfast, you will set off on the day’s walk around 7 am -8 am, depending on the duration and nature of that day’s walk. After trekking for 3 to 4 hours, we will serve you lunch around midday, often in between the next destination. Then you can rest for an hour before beginning your hike. The afternoon hike will be shorter and last two to three hours. 

After reaching the destination, you can snack on your extra-dietary snacks and explore the trek region until dark. In the evening around six to seven, we will be serving you dinner. After dinner, your guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. Then, you can entertain yourself in various ways, such as playing board games like chess, cards, or Monopoly. You can also share each other's hiking experiences. Most of our clients also love learning light Nepali words from our Discovery World Trekking crew before heading to bed.

Communication on trek

There is mobile phone coverage through most parts of the trek routes, but the service may not be reliable, depending on which network you use. You can easily buy a local SIM in Kathmandu. Discovery World Trekking remains in contact with all its trek teams at least once a day via the trek lead using mobile. This call ensures that the trek is progressing as planned and everyone is comfortable and enjoying the hike.

Extra personal expenses on trekking

The Discovery World Trekking trek package provides most costs during the trek, but not all the costs. You are responsible for meals and accommodations in Kathmandu. Further, you will need spending money for visa application, travel insurance purchase, beverages, snacks, tips to the crew, souvenirs, etc. We recommend you bring cash (major currencies) and change them for Nepali Rupees. You will need USD 10 -20 per trek day as spending money, which you can spend on drinks, Wi-Fi access, snacks, or hot showers. Please make sure to change your currency in Kathmandu, as the trek regions do not have money exchange facilities, and the locals do not accept foreign currencies.

Electricity for battery recharge, water during the trek

Throughout the lodges at Ganesh Himal trek, you can use electricity for your battery recharge. However, you might need to pay for this service. Similarly, you can buy bottled water from en-route shops. However, to preserve the environment, we urge you to carry a water bottle and buy boiled/filtered water from the lodges/tea houses on the way. It is always better to use water purification pills before drinking water. If you do not have them, we can provide them for you. 

Insurance Policy

The Ganesh Himal trek requires some preparedness as the high mountains are not for casual visits. So you will need adequate insurance, including helicopter rescue up to the highest trek elevation (4,050m) in addition to health care costs. 

If you need help choosing an insurer, we can suggest insurance companies based on our client's experiences. However, we do not sell insurance in any form or shape. In emergencies, we will use your insurance and other documents you provided for your rescue. 
So, we recommend you send your insurance details and other informational documents within a week of booking the trek. 

Passport and visa

All foreigners, except Indians, require a visa to enter Nepal. Fortunately, citizens from most countries are entitled to an on-arrival visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport. For visa application, you will need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport-size photo, and visa fees. Currently, the visa fee is USD 50 for a 30-day stay. 

Citizens of China and the SAARC (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka) countries will receive a free visa. Similarly, children under ten receive a free visa.

Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan - may not receive an on-arrival visa. If you are a citizen of any of these countries, you should contact your local Nepalese embassy. 

The Nepal government can change visa rules without notice. For the latest visa information, please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/. You can also get an on-arrival visa at immigration checkpoints between Nepal-India and Nepal-Tibet borders. 

Money exchange

Nepalese Rupees (NPR) is the official currency of Nepal.
1 USD = ~ 130 NPR

You can exchange most foreign currencies through banks and money exchanges. You may be able to exchange small amounts of cash at your hotel. Money exchange facilities are easily available all over Kathmandu. The trek regions do not have money exchange facilities. Hence, you should exchange your currency in Kathmandu. We estimate that you will need around 20 USD per trek day as spending money 

You can find money exchangers in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. These exchanges publicly display their rates.

If you have Indian Rupees (INR), only INR 100 and 2,000 notes are legal in Nepal. Despite the security advantage of a traveler’s cheque, we recommend cash exchanges to avoid hassles like lengthy processes and high bank commission rates. You can also withdraw Nepali Rupees from ATMs all over Kathmandu. Several of these ATMs are open 24/7. However, they will charge you a fee of Rs 500 for withdrawing Rs 35,000. 

Luggage

We will assign porters to carry your luggage. However, your luggage weight limit is 9 kg. One porter will carry luggage for two trekkers but no more than 18 kg combined weight. We never overload our porters. However, we also expect you to bring a regular backpack for your essential documents and valuable items. If you need, we can arrange one porter for you. It is always a great idea to travel light. Discovery World Trekking also provides free luggage storage service for its customers during their trek. 

Safety

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction, and your safety is of the utmost concern to us. We carry all the necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits to face all situations. Our guides are extensive first-aid trained. If a trekker falls sick due to the altitude, the trek guide will decide what actions to take next, such as stopping the trek, taking breaks, or descending immediately.

In emergencies, we will deploy a helicopter (funded by insurance) to bring you back to safety. We will also travel together as a group for an added safety layer.