Helambu Trek - 5 Days

Helambu Trek Start

You will be arriving in Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport-TIA), Nepal, before 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 briefing. On the trek departure date, we will drive you to Sundarijal.

Free Airport Pick Up and Drop Off

Discovery World Trekking provides free airport arrival and departure transfer on any flight for guests who have booked the Helambu Trek package. Regardless of your flight, you will find our representative holding a pamphlet with your name at the airport reception at Tribhuvan International Airport. After welcoming you, they will present you with a garland as a welcome gesture and then take you to your hotel in a private vehicle.

Accommodation Details During The Helambu Trek

Five-day Helambu trek includes four nights lodge to lodge stays at the best lodges in the trek regions. All rooms are on twin sharing basis. You will most probably require two nights of hotel stay in Kathmandu before and after the trek, but this package does not cover these stays. 

Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels to suit all budgets and tastes. You can even book several of these hotels online.

The Meals

You will need enough nutrients to trek at high elevations. We will provide you with enough tasty, hygienic, and nutrient-rich food. However, you will not get all the choices that big cities have. The further you travel from the cities, the fewer meal choices you will have.

We will provide you with 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners during the trek.

Here are the meal options.

Breakfast - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, fruits, Vegetables, Hot Drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Lunch - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Potato items, Vegetable and Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Ramen, Desserts (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks, Steaks, etc 

The menu consists of traditional local, Asian, and Western cuisine. We highly recommend you take fresh vegetables and plenty of liquids -green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup(must).

Though you can get plenty of non-veg items in the trek regions, we advise you to refrain from them for meat hygiene concerns. It is also a great idea to avoid dairy items, alcoholic, caffeinated, and hot chocolates. 

Best Time To Helumbu Trek

The weather is the main factor to consider when deciding to trek to Helambu. People trek to Helambu throughout the year, but the treks are easier during certain seasons. 

During the spring and autumn, the skies are crystal clear from dusk till dawn, there is no rain, and there are no thick sun-blocking clouds. The magic of clear azure skies provides the most spectacular views.

The winter and summer treks are a bit challenging. Summer in Nepal coincides with the monsoon, making the trails wet and slippery. However, the rain-washed landscapes and swelling waterfalls look gorgeous during this time.

During winter, the skies are clear, temperatures are low, and you will have to face snowfalls at high altitudes. However, please note that weather also depends on elevation with higher elevations being cooler than lower ones. 

In brief, below is detailed information about the weather condition at high elevations of the trek.

March to May (Spring)

During spring (March-May), mountain lovers and travel enthusiasts come to Helambu in droves due to the fabulous weather. In this season, the climate is mild, the rainfall is quite low, and the trekking conditions are perfect. The mean daily temperature in Helambu is between 15 to 20°C. Lower trek regions are even warmer, making it pleasant for all visitors.

The trekking season begins after March. By April, the trek routes up to 3,000m are ornated with blossoms of red, pink, and white rhododendrons. The temperature starts rising from mid-March up to mid-May. The temperatures are comfortable, the skies are clear, and you can enjoy the clearest views of the mountains.

June to August (Summer)

If you are coming to trek Helambu between July and August, you will be trekking in the summer. Summer temperatures are high, so temperatures should not be a problem, but the monsoon in Nepal coincides with the summer making the trekking trails wet and slippery.

Monsoon begins around the end of June and continues up to the second week of August. The temperature during the days usually ranges from 10 to 28°C. It gets relatively cooler at night - with temperatures ranging from 10 to 13°C. Mornings are often clear, with clouds building up during the afternoon and disappearing at night. Though the rain may cause some problems, plants bloom during this season, and the valleys look green, providing totally different views compared to other seasons.

September to November (Autumn)

Autumn, like spring, is a season that brings travelers from around the world to trek in the Helambu region. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation make autumn a wonderful trek season. The sun shines brightly, the skies are clear, and you get a superb view of the mountains. Moreover, you can enjoy spectacular starry skies. 

The monsoons will be over by early September, and the temperatures range from mild to warm days. Daytime temperatures at high altitudes can reach up to 22°C. The nights are colder, with temperatures going down to 10°C. Greens that grew during the monsoon fade to golden/amber, providing a spectacular contrast against the crystal blue skies, and grains are ripening in the enclave. The environment is clean, and the lowlands are lush. Two of the biggest festivals of Nepal - Dashain, and Tihar - also fall during these seasons. 

December to February (Winter)

Winter treks in the Helambu region are also popular. The places along the Helambu trek can be cold during the winter, but that excites a different breed of trekkers. The temperatures at high elevations of Helambu treks can be as low as -3 °C.

The coldest time is from December through early February. After late February, the temperatures gradually rise. Despite being cold, the skies are usually clear, and mountain views are at their best. It might snow covering the trails. The trails are uncrowded. It may not be the best season to trek for beginners, but experienced trekkers will have no problem.

Acclimatization

This trek does not require acclimatizing, as it is an easy, short, and pleasant trek. The chance of getting altitude sickness is extremely rare. Nevertheless, our trekking leaders/guides have completed extensive first-aid training and are well-experienced. We urge you to inform your group leader/guide if you feel any signs of altitude sickness. Drinking about 4 liters of water a day, and walking at your own pace, helps avoid altitude sickness.

Please note that if someone in your group gets altitude sickness, your group leader has the authority to decide whether to trek forward or descend immediately. 

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements

The Helambu trek is easy and rewarding. The hiking will be from 3-7 hours a day depending on the destination, taking regular breaks to admire the mountain views. The trek routes involve long treks, steep ascents, descents, and steep forward trails that can get rocky and pass through several forests. So, the fitter you are, the more comfortable and enjoyable your journey will be.

If you have prior experience or enjoy trekking, this will help you, but no experience is necessary. We do not recommend this trek for those who suffer from sensitive medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease.

Trekking group/single

We organize group and private treks. If you have your own group, you are eligible for discounts proportionate to your group size. However, you will not get discounts for groups we assemble. The price for group and private treks is the same. Each group will have a guide and a porter for every two trekkers. We add an assistant guide for a group of 12 or more. We can handle all group sizes. 

A typical day on trek

Every day you will be rewarded with a unique trekking experience - visiting new places, enjoying the scenery, taking photos, and exploring the local villages. During the expedition, our experienced, friendly, and government-licensed Sherpa will accompany you. They will also be sharing information about the places you will be visiting. Porters will carry most of your luggage, but we also expect you to bring a small backpack with your essential documents and valuables.

The day starts with an early morning cup of tea/coffee. After a wholesome breakfast, we set off on that day's walk from around 7 to 8 AM, depending on the distance to cover and the nature of the walk. 

After trekking for three to four hours, you will have lunch around midday on the route to the next destination. We continue after about an hour of rest. The afternoon walk is generally shorter, lasting about two to three hours. 

Once you reach our overnight lodge/tea house/hotel, you can snack on the extra dietary food. Then you are free time to explore nearby places until it gets dark. 

We will serve you dinner from around 6 to 7 PM. Before going to bed, you can engage in friendly conversations and discuss the experience of that day with your group members. Your expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. After this briefing, you can read a book, enjoy onboard games like Monopoly or cards, or watch mountaineering documentaries. Some foreigners also indulge in learning the Nepalese language from our crew before heading to bed.

Communication on trek

During the Helambu Trek, you can use the internet at the lodges, but you will have to bear an extra charge. You can contact your family and friends from these lodges. Once we reach high altitudes, we will be using our phones for communication.

We'll communicate to all our valuable clients through our leader at least once a day to ensure everyone is comfortable, safe, and feel right. You are always free to contact the Kathmandu DWT office for any help during the trek. You can buy a sim in Kathmandu for communication, but the signals may not be strong enough.

Electricity and water during the trek

Throughout the lodges at trek regions, electricity for the camera and mobile battery recharge is available at an extra cost. Similarly, you can either buy packed mineral water from local lodges and en route shops or carry a water bottle and fill it with boiled water, which you can buy at lodges/tea houses/hotels. We can also provide you with water purification pills to make water drinkable.

Travel insurance

This trip grade is ranked moderate with a low risk of potential high altitude sickness. However, this mountain journey is not for casual visits, and the trek comes with chances of unforeseen or unexpected events such as injury, illness, flood, landslide, sudden climate changes, etc.

Travel insurance is compulsory for Helambu Trek. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking before starting the trek. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation - including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at the highest trek altitudes.

We request our trekking guests to email their detailed insurance information after booking the trek. In emergencies, we will use the insurance policy and informational documents you sent us to arrange a quick and effective rescue operation and transfer for emergency medical help. 

Please ensure that the insurance company includes the cost incurred for mountain rescue service at the highest elevation of the trekking (4,000m).

Extra personal expenses during the trek

The Helambu Trek package covers all the major expenses during the trek. However, it does not cover all expenses. Meals and accommodations in Kathmandu are up to our clients themselves. Kathmandu has all kinds of hotels/lodges (both luxury & budget) that you can easily book online yourself.

Moreover, all our valuable clients will have to bring personal spending money to cover the visa processing, travel insurance policy purchase, snacks for the trek, alcoholic, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend bringing cash (major currencies), which you can easily exchange for Rupees in Kathmandu. The trek regions only accept Nepali currency.

Passport and visa

All foreigners, except Indians, require a visa to enter Nepal. Citizens from most countries will receive an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. To apply for an on-arrival visa, you need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport-size photo, and visa application fees. The current cost is USD 50 for a 30-day stay. Children under 10 receive a free visa.

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

There are certain countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan) whose citizens may not receive an on-arrival visa. So if you are a citizen from any of these countries, contact your local Nepalese embassy for a visa. 

The Nepal government can change visa rules without notice. For the latest information, please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/.

Money exchange

Nepali Rupee (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.

(1 USD = ~ Rs.130 NPR).

You can exchange most foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all-over Thamel. Some hotels also exchange small amounts of cash. Legal money exchanges display their ongoing rates publicly.

Please note that only Indian Rupee notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal. 

Despite the traveler's cheque's security advantage, we recommend cash exchange to avoid hassles like lengthy processes and high commissions at banks and financial institutions. 

You can withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel itself. Several of these ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum withdrawal amount is Rs. 35,000 for a 500 Rupees processing fee using a foreign card. If you use the money exchange facilities at banks and financial institutions, they impose a service fee charge of about four percent or more.

How much luggage can I bring to the Helambu trek?

The luggage weight limit per trekker is 9-kg. We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and they will only carry a maximum of 18-kg of combined luggage. You will also be bringing a small backpack to keep your valuables and important documents. We advise you to bring only the essential things to the trek as mentioned in the equipment list. You can store excess luggage at the Discovery World Trekking for free throughout your trek duration.

Helambu Trek Safety

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction. Your safety is our utmost concern. There are several ways we pursue to keep you safe throughout the trek. 

We carry all the necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits. Our leaders and guides are extensively first-aid trained. If a trekker falls sick, the trek lead has the authority to decide whether to continue the trek or descend immediately. In an emergency, we will deploy a helicopter to bring you back to safety (funded by insurance). Moreover, we will trek together as a group which ensures further safety.