We rise early with the sun at about 6 am. A cup of hot tea will be brought to your tent door, followed by hot water for washing / shaving. You are responsible for packing your own gear into your duffel bag and the sherpa crew will take down the tents and load all gear onto porters / yaks / ponies depending on which area you are trekking.
Breakfast is
served at the table with fresh eggs, toast, cereal tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Your
water bottles will be collected for filtered and boiled water. After breakfast, the
trekkers start to walk usually 2 - 3 hours or longer (depending on the trek) until
reaching the lunch spot for more stunning views of the Himalayas. People like to set their
own pace, stopping to talk to villagers or take photographs. It is always advisable to
keep in sight of one of the guides.
Lunch is usually by the river or perhaps on a ridge near a village for the best possible views. Since sherpas are 'fast walkers', the cooks have gone ahead to prepare a light lunch of vegetable curry, cheese, bread, and fruit. The menus are always varied and delicious.
After
lunch, we continue walking and aim to reach our camp site by 4 PM Upon arrival at our
camp, a hot tea and cookies / biscuits are well deserved! There is usually time to explore
villages or temples in the area.
Dinner is served in the early evening and most appreciated since trekking works up an appetite. Dinner consists of soup, fresh vegetables, potatoes, noodles, and perhaps chicken curry. We do occasionally use canned meats and fruit but try to limit its use because of the environment. Dinner may be followed by custard or fruit and tea. In the evening, there is time to sit around the campfire to swap stories, sing and dance with the sherpas. If requested, more hot water can be brought to your tent for a wash or you may want to try a refreshing wash by the river if near by. A hot shower will have to wait until Kathmandu, but you will be amazed at how a sponge bath works!