Choosing a First Trek
You do not need mountaineering experience for Nepal's teahouse treks. Two routes suit first-timers: the Poon Hill trek (4–5 days, moderate, famous sunrise over the Annapurnas) and the Annapurna Base Camp trek (7–11 days, more demanding, right into the mountain amphitheatre). Everest Base Camp is longer, higher, and harder — leave it for a second trip.
Fitness and Preparation
Start walking hills with a loaded daypack six to eight weeks before you go. You will be on your feet five to seven hours a day on uneven stone steps. You do not need to be an athlete, but arriving fit turns a hard week into an enjoyable one.
Permits and Guides
Nepal requires trekking permits (TIMS and the relevant conservation-area permit) and, on most routes, a licensed guide. A guide also arranges teahouse rooms, reads the weather, and manages any altitude problem early. A porter to carry the main bag is inexpensive and transforms the experience.
Altitude
Above roughly 2,500 m, ascend slowly, sleep no more than 300–500 m higher each night once high, drink plenty of water, and tell your guide immediately about headache, nausea, or dizziness. The only reliable treatment for altitude sickness is to descend. Poon Hill stays low enough that this is rarely an issue; ABC needs respect.
When to Trek
October–November has the clearest skies and stable weather and is the busiest. March–April brings rhododendron blooms and slightly hazier views. Monsoon (June–September) is wet with leeches and cloud; winter is clear but cold and some high passes close.
Booking Through Us
We arrange the full trek — permits, a licensed guide and porter, teahouse nights, and your Kathmandu and Pokhara stays either side — as one costed package. Tell us your dates and fitness level and we will recommend the right route.