Zingaro Travels

Practical details

Contents:

The trek
You will be driven by jeep from Manali to the start of the walk. Thereafter the staff will take care of everything. They will guide you, pitch the tents and provide a bowl of warm washing water twice a day. On the way they will point out the natural phenomena and help on difficult paths and river crossings. The length of the walking day varies and often depends on the position of suitable campsites. Sometimes you will only walk for a few hours, enabling you to eat lunch in camp and then relax or do some local exploration. One or two days of the trek may be more challenging, with an early start necessary for the crossing of a high pass or glacier-fed river. Treks can last from three days to three weeks - it is entirely up to you!

What to bring

• Clothes: The Himalayas can be fairly cold at the beginning and end of the trekking season, so bring warm clothes and a waterproof coat. However, in the daytime the sun can be quite strong so light clothing and a sun hat are essential. When walking through villages bear in mind that the local people dress conservatively and it is more polite not to expose too much flesh! On the longer treks there will usually be at least one opportunity for you to wash your clothes in a mountain stream.
• Shoes: Sturdy walking boots, with plenty of grip on the soles, are a must; crampons will not usually be necessary. Comfortable shoes for wearing around the campsite in the evenings and sandals or flip-flops for wading rivers are also a good idea.
• Toiletries: Biodegradable camping soap and a flannel for washing, along with a towel.
• Medicines: Painkillers (asprin or paracetamol) are useful both for yourself and as treatment for local people you meet. Anti-diarrhoea medicines such as loperamide (Imodium) may also be necessary. Due to the thinner atmosphere at high altitudes the Sun's UV rays are much stronger than usual - take factor 15-25 sunscreen and after-sun lotion even if you do not usually get sunburnt. If you will be going high (above 3300m/11000ft) there is a risk of Acute Mountain Sickness; acetazolamide (Diamox) can sometimes help and can be taken prophylactically to hasten acclimatisation, but otherwise rapid descent to a lower altitude is necessary. Make sure you have an adequate supply of any other medicines you are taking, as medical assistance is very scarce in the Himalayas.
• Other: The only other items you need to bring are a 3-4 season sleeping bag and a water bottle, though a camera and about 4 films per week are essential to record the stunning surroundings. A head-mounted torch is also useful for nocturnal navigation, and it is advisable to bring something to entertain yourself in the evenings, whether a supply of books or a pack of cards.

What is provided
For the first and last nights you will have rooms in a good hotel. For the rest of the time you will generally camp, though sometimes rest-houses are available in the inhabited valleys. Zingaro Travels provides double tents with inflatable sleeping mats, a dining tent, chairs and the all-important "loo tent". These will be pitched carefully to enable you to enjoy the view and give you some privacy.

Food
All meals will be provided: "bed tea" in the morning, a cooked breakfast, picnic lunch, tea on arrival in camp, then soup followed by supper, rounded off with a choice of hot drinks! If you plan to lose a lot of weight Zingaro Travels are probably not the right people to go with, but if you wish to remain fit and healthy they are an excellent choice! Special diets can be accommodated - mention it when discussing your trek.

Group size
Zingaro Travels will take any size group from a solitary trekker upwards although a party of much more than eight is not recommended.

Fitness
You should be reasonably fit and in good general health, but due to the variety of possible treks we will be able to find one to suit your specific abilities and interests. However fit you are at the beginning of the trek, you will probably be much healthier by the end!

The cost
This will depend on the type of trek but it will be charged on a daily, all-inclusive rate per person covering everything from the time you arrive in Manali until you depart. An approximate guide-line is GB£40-45 per person per day. We will need a 25% advance payment at least one month before your arrival, but the balance can be paid immediately before your trek.