Archive for the ‘Mountains’ Category

Annapurna Circuit Trek – India

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Okay, so you are novice or have been to trekking for once or twice. No problem, there is the Annapurna Circuit Trek for you. Known as most popular and classical trek in the Annapurna region and considered as one of the twenty best trekking trails all over the world the tour demands just 16 days from you. Throughout the trekking trail get a glimpse of the villages with great mountain views, small fields of millet and wheat, flock of sheep and goats, meet with the Gurungs, Magars, Brahmins, Chhetris, Newars!.

Annapurna Tekking Route

Annapurna Tekking Route

Kick start your Annapurna Circuit Trek from Besi Saha and trek through different small villages like Khudi, Bhulbule, Ngadi, Lampata, Bahundanda, Jagat, Khorte, Dharapani.

Schedule:
Day 1 – Besi Sahar to Bahundanda
Day 2 – Bahundanda to Chamje
Day 3 – Chamje to Bagarchhap
Day 4 – Bagarchhap to Chame
Day 5 – Chame to Pisang
Day 6 – Pisang to Manang
Day 7 – Acclimatisation Day in Manang
Day 8 – Manang to Letdar
Day 9 – Letdar to Thorung Phedi
Day 10 – Thorung Phedi to Muktinath
Day 11 – 16 – Muktinath to Pokhara

What say want to give it a try?

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Top Trek Destinations In The World

Monday, April 27th, 2009

So has the trekking bug bit you once more, leaving you wondering which way to push off? Well, for you trekkers here are some top trek destinations that you would like to walk through at least once in your lifetime. I am listing a few of them, and if you have any more names to add then please feel free to put in your comments.

1. Himalayas (Nepal) – A beautiful country where the Himalaya is at its best. Proud to have the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, which includes 8 out of the 10 of the highest peaks in the world, Nepal beckons trekkers to walk the beaten path or create their own.

2. Gunung Tahan (Malaysia) – The highest point in Peninsular Malaysia, Mount Tahan (2,187m), is located in the Taman Negara national forest in Pahang state.

3. Ladakh (India) – It is the highest altitude plateau in India, formed over 45 millions of years. Well known for its mountain beauty and culture, Ladakh is also known as “Little Tibet”.

4. Sierra Nevada (USA) – Located in California this amazing mountain range is also popularly known as the High Sierra, the Sierra, and the Sierras.

5. Inca Trail (Peru) – This is a famous road system used by the Incas in pre-Columbian South America. It connects all parts of the Inca Empire and a trek on this trail is like a walk down the path of history.

In the words of Gary Snyder, in The Practice of the Wild, “Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.” So, let’s get into some serious walking, pack the rucksacks and get set go!

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Himalayan Trekking Essentials!

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

So, you have decided to trek the big daddy – Himalaya. Let me tell you, it is extremely important to know about the weather conditions of the place that you will visit, and carry the essentials accordingly. Getting a clear picture about the trekking essentials is even more important if you are a first time trekker.

Trekking essentials

Trekking essentials

Here’s a brief list to get you going if you are traveling in the Himalayas:

* Sleeping bag
* Inflatable sleeping pad
* Sleeping bag liner made of silk, cotton or fleece
* Thick thermal top
* 4 to 7 pairs of underwear
* Pee bottle
* Flashlight or torches with LED bulbs or headlamps
* Boots
* Snow gaiters
* Snacks and nutrition (vitamins and chocolate)
* Money pouch/ inside pocket/ belt
* Books or light paperback novels for reading
* Leak proof water bottle
* Toiletries – toothpaste, toilet paper, tissues, and roll-on deodorant
* Sunglasses to escape the glare
* A small towel
* Sunscreen and lip care
* Swiss Army knife
* Heavy down jacket
* Hydration pack with water cleansing equipment or chlorine tablets
* Breathable and waterproof rain or wind jacket
* Trekking poles
* Moisturizer
* Warm hat
* Day wear tops and bottoms
* Insulated pants
* Gloves
* Thermal underwear top and bottom
* Sleeping sheet
* Film
* Nightwear thermal top
* Still camera or video camera
* Insulated or fleece pants
* Thick socks
* Personal medicines
* Passport photos
* First aid kit
* Sun hat
* Down booties
* Batteries
* Rucksack
* Tent
* Woollen monkey cap
* Self inflating mattress

These trekking essentials are good for Himalayan trekkers, especially, in the winter season. So pack your bags and have a nice trek!

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Trekking On The Himalayas!

Friday, March 13th, 2009

“Fear and Courage hold hands and walk here”, is what a Sherpa had told me about the Himalayas once I set foot in this serene yet fiercely intimidating snow-clad destination. Yes, I do admit, we all were scared. The larger-than-life peaks, the overwhelming white, the stories of the Yeti and the equally merciless weather, the climbers who never made it back and the daunting task ahead of us, made us feel so little and so few in front of the giant Himalayas.

Yet after handpicking the best of Sherpas (that our budget would allow!), making sure that every inch of cover and every grain of available bread was taken along, we set out to trek the great Himalyas! Making our way through the clefts and rugged passes, we slowly crawled our way past the Zoji-La through the Srinagar-Leh road. The snow had melted only a few months before our tryst with the pass, and the slick, shiny path reflected the sun like a million diamonds strewn across the road! We came across a small unnamed stream during our walk uphill, which was unusually warm for all the molten ice and snow spread around.

The whole trek was quite uneventful, as opposed to many of the trek posts you must have found on the internet. Barring a few slips and falls, and a sprain in the left ankle of our dear ol’ Marshal, nothing much had happened. But don’t mistake the lack of events as a sign of boredom. The trek from Srinagar to Leh counts among the most enthralling walks of my whole life, and if we hadn’t been winded up so badly by the time we reached Leh, I would have happily volunteered for a trip downhill too! Whenever you feel like you need a place to taste adventure and yet revel in the lap of nature’s marvelous beauty, all within a short budget, a trek in the Himalayas is the way to go!

Himalaya

Himalaya

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Giants Causeway Of Ireland

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

..I didn’t believe it till I actually saw it with my own eyes – huge stones jutting out of the sea looking as if giants have placed them to build a pathway to the mainland from the sea! What a wonderful sight, and almost unbelievable… it is the Giants Causeway in Ireland.

Actually last month my luck has been doing some extra favor to me than ever. For long, it was my dream to visit the eighth wonder of the world – Giants Causeway in Ireland. Finally, the fortune dawned on me when last month when I had to attend a conference in Ireland.

Accompanied by my colleague Jasmine I decided to have a visit to the Giants Causeway. Driving all the way we finally reached the Visitors Centre by car at 10 am and parked our car at Moyle District Council. The most interesting fact about Giants Causeway are the stones formed due to volcanic activity and cooling down of lava, bearing the test of time for millions of years. Through scientific explanations and folk-tales, the Interpretive Audio-Visual Presentation explained how the Giants Causeway was formed.

Jasmine and I took a stroll around the place taking in the beauty of the sea and marveling at the work of nature. On our way back home, we visited the souvenir shop at the centre. I bought few pieces of hand crafted silver and gold jewellery in Celtic designs while Jasmine got a hand cut Crystal for her mom that are sure to make it hard to wash away our memories of visiting this wonderland called Ireland.

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