Trekking in Nepal with Intrepid

Intrepid Travel has found the middle ground between a group tour and a shoestring backpacker’s experience. Far from the world-through-a-window experience that some tour companies offer, Intrepid gives travelers the time and space to explore on their own.

Intrepid is the original arm of Intrepid Group, launched by Geoffrey Manchester and Darrell Wade in 1989. The Melbourne, Australia-based company, is now a leader in global adventure travel and has a U.S office in Petaluma, Calif. Manchester and Wade wanted to establish a travel that could handle smallest of details like tickets, reservations, navigations and itinerary , without sacrificing the feeling of experiential, encounter-based travel that solitary exploration affords. Being a dedicated traveler themselves, they wanted to come up with something that would save all travelers from unnecessary hassle while traveling.

Ever since Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake, Intrepid has been playing a very important role to help Nepal recover. It has been encouraging tourists to return back to Nepal and has been spreading the word that Nepal is open for business. Infact, it has contributed all of this year’s profit from Nepal trips to rebuild Nepal.

Itinerary: Intrepid’s “Everest Base Camp Trek,” a strenuous 15-day tour of the Everest region, begins and ends in Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu. The trek travels up from Lukla to the Everest Base Camp at 17,600 feet, and includes stops in Phakding, Namche Bazaar and Tengboche. The itinerary includes visits to cultural attractions and free time for independent shopping or wandering.

Usually, the tour is lead by a group leader who spends time with each traveler to build rapport. They employ skillful local guides who act as a mediator between guests and local people.

Accommodations are local teahouses, which are found along the Everest route and offer room and board with clean but spartan rooms. Most group meals are eaten at these teahouses, which off er meals like omelets and spaghetti, which appeal to American tastes, as well as local meals of lentils, meats, curries and rice. Meals eaten as a group are included; meals during free afternoons are at the guest’s expense.

Learn more about Intrepid trek here