Latest Updates

NEPAL TRAVEL UPDATE (August 2008)

Nepal has been enjoying about 18 months of political stability and the Royal Family vacated the Royal Palace in June at the desire of most Nepalese people. The Palace will soon become a museum. Although we never encountered problems during the recent years of unrest many would-be trekkers stayed away but are now returning in increasing numbers especially in the Everest Region. Life has certainly returned to normal on the streets of Kathmandu and Pokhara for the locals. Recent changes to trekking regulations and Nepal Tourist Entry Visas have created a little more paper work for us however.

The 23 Day Rhododendron Trek Remains our most popular, being the easiest and offering a great variety of highlights. From the Pony Trek to Muktinath in the beautiful Mustang Region, the Kali Ghandaki valley where 8,000 meter peaks tower above, through the rhododendron, daphne and magnolia forests of pink, red and white to the Elephant Safari in the sub tropics of Royal Chitwan National Park.

While most people will do the actual trek in 7 to 8 days we do it leisurely over 13 days to make it available to average fitness levels and ages 7 to 75 years. On the half day Pony Trek (exclusive to Aus Global) we hike the 880 meters up from Kagbeni to Muktinath at walking pace only, passing through ancient stone villages in a stark snow capped landscape. ( Ideal for beginners but optional on the day)

On our most recent trek the rhododendron forests near Ghorapani put on the best display I had seen for some years and Daphne lined the trail for about 12 kilometers .

Down at Royal Chitwan National Park we saw 26 of the One Horned Rhino, some with calves, many deer, birds and other wildlife from the comfort of the Elephants. Almost all of our accom . on this 23 day tour is twin or double with attached bathroom.

The 25 Day Everest/ Gokyo /Royal Chitwan Treks Continue to be popular for trekkers wanting to visit Everest Base Camp. This trek requires a medium level of fitness and we have now added 2 extra days (from 23 to 25) on the trail for flexability

We now begin this trek in mid Sept. (2 weeks earlier than before) to get ahead of the big October/November crowds. This season generally offers the best weather in Nepal for high altitude trekking but attracts big crowds and we met up to 1,400 a day on the trail in 2007 as we were completing our trek.

The Everest trek in particular requires careful planning and almost 50 % of all the trekkers we meet never reach Base Camp or Gokyo . From our highest accom . at Gorak Shep (5,147 m) we offer the option of visiting either Base Camp or Kala Patthar (with the better view) and to date with 11 visits we have a 100 % success rate.

Our oldest participant to Everest Base Camp was 71 years of age. We are now able to book much of our accom . in advance by email and satellite phone. Our next group departs Melbourne on Sept .20 and will visit both Everest Base Camp and Royal Chitwan N P.

30 Day Annapurna Circuit Trek is on again in 2009 but this time the actual trek will be run over 26 days on the trail although many trekkers can do the entire circuit in 14 to 18 days .

As our tours are designed around leisure ,comfort and photography to suit older age groups the 26 days on the trail gives us more time to enjoy the beautiful Manang valley and to acclimatise for crossing the Thorong LA at 5,416 m.

The Annapurna Circuit is the longest trek we do and is only run on request but there are still limited vacancies to join us from April 11 to May 10 in 2009. The trek requires a moderate fitness level.

Some advice about your fitness
Unfortunately I meet many people who would love to trek in Nepal but do not believe they are fit enough even though they have an active healthy lifestyle. If you live in Victoria and you have hiked to Mt. Buffalo via ‘The Big Walk' or to Feathertop from Harrietville or to Mt Bogong from Eskdale Spur you have probably done a harder day hike than anything we would do in Nepal .

While some fitness is required a positive attitude is a very good start and that has enabled many of our clients to complete a trek in Nepal without any previous history of bushwalking. We normally plan to hike for only half of the day and always at a pace that suits you as an individual. While we provide a guide on every leg of the trek you also have a porter carrying your main pack and walking with you while you only carry a 5 or 6 kg. Day Pack. Unlike here in Australia there are small villages and T houses at regular intervals along the trail offering meals, water and other drinks.

Trekking at high altitudes is seldom a concern if you have allowed extra time for acclimatisation, take your guides advice (the tortoise wins the race at high altitude) We have found that older age groups cope much better at altitude than young fit trekkers who do not have the discipline to acclimatise.

We assist you with advice on fitness and hiking before and during the trek so please talk to us before you or someone else talks you out of a most rewarding experience of a lifetime.

Accommodation, Food and Safe Water

Accommodation is twin share basis with 2 single beds per room. However single, triple and even quad rooms are often available. Most of our home and lodge accommodation have hot showers and standard western toilets (not available on tenting tours).

We have just added more ensuite accommodation to both our Annapurna and Everest treks.

In both Kathmandu and Pokhara you can choose from extensive menus and many restaurants. Home and lodge menus include some local cuisine and up to 20 different western meals, ideal for vegetarians. Bottled water is available in Kathmandu and Pokhara. In villages it can be ozonated, boiled, filtered or purified with tablets. Beer, soft drink and spirits are available at the lodges we have chosen.

Guides and Porters

Most important to our success and your comfort and safety are our highly professional guides and porters. Our Guides are mostly from Australia and have a hospitality background. Most groups are accompanied by a guide all the way from Australia and on all treks in Nepal and Borneo and attend to your everyday requirements including shopping and dining. Sandi Dwyer, one of our most experienced guides has a diploma in remedial massage.

Our Nepalese Porters are mostly from a small village in the mountains and have been working with us since 1996. They speak a little English, have a constant smile and are a highlight of the trek. They may insist on holding your hand on some sections of the trail and will offer you a very skilful shoulder massage after the days trek. Aus Global Soft Adventure are very sensitive to our porters well-being and treat them like family, as they treat us. Porters are paid directly via your guide at almost double the rate of most other companies. The porters carry your main pack but we limit their load and you may choose to carry your own pack if you wish. We provide our porters with lodge accommodation on the trek. This policy is unique to Aus Global-Soft Adventure.

Advice and Personal Requirements

Aus Global Soft Adventure can give advice and suggestions on improving your fitness prior to the trek. We also give advice on walking during a trek as there are many ways to conserve energy and make your trek more enjoyable.

Our tours are organized to create a special social experience and our groups usually become closely bonded and remain in contact for years after a tour. We also organize a group reunion some weeks after each tour for our Australian customers and this has proved to be a great success. A chance to swap photo’s and recall experiences.

After customers have booked a tour, Aus Global Soft Adventure supply a clothing list and advise on packs and luggage. Just prior to our departure we supply details on flights, airports, currency and much more detail on Nepal and Borneo Travel. We also supply forms for medical concerns and requirements and information on altitude for higher elevation tours.

Safety, Travel & Insurance

Please do not be misled by the media. The Moaist conflict has lasted 8 years but was never aimed at the tourists, in fact we ran our tours throughout the entire conflict without incident. Both Nepal and Malaysian Borneo are extremely safe countries to visit, security has never been higher and our latest tours were very successful. Statistically, we face greater risks to our health through crime, accidents and illness here in Australia.

With the AUS$ stronger and red carpet reception for overseas tourists there has never been a better time to travel.

Full Travel Insurance with helicopter rescue cover is compulsory on all our tours and is inclusive in the cost. If you choose your own Travel Insurance please check that you have total cover for trekking in Nepal.

Fitness

Aus Global Soft Adventure offer an experience of a lifetime for most active people who enjoy walking. Our treks are ideal for most people of average fitness and active seniors while some are more suited for experienced hikers.

If you are planning a trip to Nepal or a hike to Mt Kinabalu in Borneo we recommend you train by regular walking carrying a daypack and increasing it’s weight as your fitness improves. Whenever possible walk on steps or uneven trail surfaces to strengthen knees and ankles.

In the past, some of our customers have arrived in Nepal without training and have managed, however we recommend some form of training for your own comfort and enjoyment of the trek. Using a stair climber at home or gym can be helpful. Regular walking on uneven surfaces and on steps is useful training.

To date we have taken people on our Gokyo/ Everest Trek to the age of 70 and to the age of 73 on the Rhododendron trek.

Shopping

Shopping is a highlight of our Nepal experience and very good quality jewellery and gemstones are available including sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, topaz, garnet, amethyst, lapis lazuli and turquoise. Paintings, carvings and other art forms are also available. Beautiful embroidered or plain Chinese and Thai silk can be tailored into clothing.

Trekking clothing and boots can be purchased at reasonable prices. Carpets and pash mina shawls, camera gear, films and film processing are available at good prices. There is an amazing bookshop close to our hotel, with two floors of books on Central and South East Asia, most of which are unavailable in Australia.

When shopping at stores recommended by Aus Global Soft Adventure, discounts are available. Visa, Master Card and American Express can be used in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Banks, plus ATM's are close to our hotels as well as small but well stocked supermarkets.