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Travel Tips
Generals:
1
Respect local traditions, customs, values and sentiments to help them
protect local culture and maintain local pride.
2
Respect privacy when taking photographs
3
Respect holy places
4
Refrain from giving money to children as it encourages begging
5
Respect for the local etiquette earns you respect
6
Let the Himalayas change you - Do not change them
7
Protect the natural environment
8
Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it
9
Limit deforestation - make no open fires
10
Burn dry paper and packets in a safe place
11
Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants
12
Plants should be left to flourish in their natural environment
·
Flying in from the east (Bangkok, Singapore,
Hong Kong), select seats on the right for a view of the Himalaya.
·
A local tour operator can arrange flights over
Everest (Mountain Flight).
·
The new Patan Museum, housed in a renovated
palace, is worth a trip for its elegantly displayed Hindu and Buddhist
sculptures.
·
Pilgrim’s Books in the Thamel district has a
great selection of books about Asia and Nepal.
On The Trekking Trail
·
One of the best ways to physically prepare for a
trek is to climb stairs before you leave home.
·
Avoid bringing new hiking boots unless you have
time to break them in beforehand.
·
Pace yourself. Slowing down to between one-half
and two-thirds your normal hiking speed will allow you to cover long distances
without becoming overtired.
·
Don’t bring cotton clothing for the trail.
Fabrics made of synthetic fibers that wick perspiration away from your body are
best.
·
Drink only purified water, and always washes
your hands before eating. Bring antibacterial hand cleaner-soap and water are
not always available.
Trekking Gently
·
Bring a longer lasting plastic container that
can be filled with boiling water and carried with you.
·
Water must be boiled or treated with iodine
before it is safe to drink.
·
Avoid purchasing water in non-biodegradable
plastic bottles.
·
Bring longer-lasting lithium batteries and take
them home with you.
·
Remove unnecessary packaging before leaving home
and store items in reusable containers.
·
Choose a reputable trekking agency and ask about
their conservation practices
Cultural Considerations
·
Revealing clothes are not acceptable for women,
and men should always wear a shirt.
·
Pass religious sites and prayer flags on the
left.
·
When you sit, avoid pointing your feet at any
sacred objects or at another person. Feet are considered unclean.
·
Do not pat anyone on the head, not even
children. It is considered the spiritual apex of the body and therefore sacred.
Photography
·
Always ask permission to take someone’s
photograph.
·
Do not promise to send photographs unless you
intend to follow through.
·
When in doubt about taking a picture, ask
yourself if it would be appropriate in the same circumstances at home.
·
In Nepalese airports carry your film with you
and ask that it be inspected by hand. Despite what you may be told, not all
x-ray equipment there is safe for film.
·
Lighting conditions in Nepal are extreme. For
best results, shoot in the early morning or late in the day. |
