Best time of the year to go on Helambu Trek
March to May (spring) and October to November (autumn) is the best time to do Helambu Trek 10 days. The stable weather and moderate climate make the walk pleasant. Likewise, the views are stunning and different floras decorate the trail in spring. While trekking in autumn, you can see some of the biggest festivals of Nepali.
The best thing about the Helambu trek is the trail is not crowded even in the peak trekking seasons. Therefore, you can have the trail and the gorgeous views to yourself. The temperature ranges from 5°C to 18°C. The lower elevation is on the hot and humid side than the higher elevation, which is mostly cold. You will need a thin warm layer in the mornings and nights.
Trekking in other seasons, summer, monsoon, and winter in the Helambu region is not recommended because of unstable weather, bad views, and a slippery trail.
Helambu Trek difficulty
Helambu Trekking is a relatively easy venture in the Himalayas altitude and difficulty wise. However, the trekking route is remote and explores less-crowded areas. The accommodation and other facilities along the trail are very simple and limited. You have to adjust to less comfortable and almost zero modern facilities during the trekking period.
There are numerous ascends and descends throughout the trek, along with forested, rugged, and steep sections. You do not need previous trekking experience to go on this trek, but good health and physical fitness is required. Walking 5 to 6 hours daily requires stamina too.
The maximum altitude you will touch during the Helambu trek 10 days is 3,650 at Tharepati. As the elevation rise is pretty decent, the risk of altitude sickness during this trek is low. Still, we want you to be careful of it. Moreover, our Helambu trek itinerary also has a rest day in it that will give your body time to adjust to the elevation.
Followings are some early symptoms of altitude sickness you have to be careful of:
Symptoms of altitude sickness
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breathing
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
Preventive Measures of Altitude Sickness
- Drink a lot of water and keep yourself hydrated
- Eat a balanced diet and choose dishes like Dal Bhat with lots of veggies in at least one meal of the day
- Do not drink alcohol or smoke
- Rest well and do not gain more than 500 meters in a day
- Inform your team leader if you see any symptoms of altitude sickness
Mode of transportation during the trek
The starting point of the Helambu short trek is Sundarijal. You will take around one and a half-hour drive from your hotel to reach there. Likewise, the ending point of the trek is Melamchi Pul Bazar, from where you will drive back to Kathmandu. You will use a private tourist vehicle to move around during the tour as per the itinerary. There will be airport pick up and drop service as well as per the itinerary.
Electricity and Charging Facilities
You will find electricity in most of the households along the trail. Many villagers also depend on solar power. You might have to pay a few bucks to charge your device at some places. Do carry a solar charger or spare batteries. In Kathmandu, there will be no problem with charging.
Sim Card and WiFi
WiFi service is available in every indoor place in Kathmandu. During the Helambu trek, you can get a Nepali sim with data to use the internet. We will help you get one. In the villages at lower altitudes, you will find WiFi service too. The service provider may ask you for a little extra cash for WiFi. Once the elevation begins to increase, the network connection will get unstable, making the internet slow and not available in some places.
Guide and Luggage
Our professional and experienced guide will accompany you during the Helambu Trekking. They will not only show you the route but also introduce you to the region and the locals. Our guides and porters are well trained and friendly.
In a group of 8 people or more, there will be an assistant guide as well. Likewise, porters also join the group. We offer one porter for every two members of the group (porters carry around 20 Kg to 22 Kg, 10kg/11kg per person). Each member in the group has a weight limit of 10kgs, and we will be using duffel bags as our main luggage during the trek. You can store the rest of your luggage in the hotel's locker room for free of charge.
Child policy
To go on a Helambu Trek 10 days, you have to be above 18 years old. If you are underage, an identified adult should accompany you during the trek. If you are an active underage trekker, then you may trek with a guide. To know more in detail about the policy of child trekking, get in touch with us anytime.
Tipping to crew members
Tipping is not essential but well appreciated. If the services of our crew members satisfy you, tipping is the best way to show your appreciation. All the members of the team can tip USD 5 each to the tour guide, USD 2 each to the driver, and USD 100 each to the trek guide (divided between porters & guide). The mentioned numbers are only for reference. You can tip as much as you want.
Personal expenses
The Helambu trek package cost does not cover personal expenses like drinks and snacks you buy out of the offered meals. Likewise, you might also need extra cash to buy services like hot showers and WiFi at some places during the trek.
Budget around USD 12 to USD 15 for each day on the trail. Similarly, flight tickets, shopping, travel insurance, tipping, etc are also not included in the package cost.
Insurance, rescue, evacuation
Helambu Trek does not compulsory require travel insurance. However, you are still trekking in a remote area, where there are no proper hospitals or any other modern infrastructures. And travel insurance will come in handy in an emergency.
We advise you to add air evacuation (up to 6000 meters), hospital bills, loss/theft of properties, and flight cancellation in the travel insurance. Likewise, our crew members are well trained to handle any adverse situation.
