Useful Info
Why Climb Chulu West with Annapurna Foothills Treks?
Annapurna Foothills Treks has been running climbing expeditions for over 10 years. Annapurna Foothills Treks reaches for the highest ethical business practices. Our team of mountaineering guides is dynamic, professional, and qualified as instructors.
Why Climb with a Sherpa?
Annapurna Foothills Treks is here to save you the unnecessary expense of going with an expatriate company and an expatriate guide. Our qualified and experienced guides are well able to guide your expedition safely and can provide an accurate cultural perspective as well. Additionally, when you book with Annapurna Foothills Treks, you are supporting the Sherpa community who are dependent on the trekking/climbing industry for their livelihood.
Our climbing guides are dedicated mountaineers and license-holders who always put your safety first. They use harness and ropes below the every peak whether for crevasse danger or steep slopes. Our Sherpa guides are there to fix the rope as well as teach climbers how to fix the rope or set up a belay for glacier travel.
While some people spend unnecessarily to go with a foreign company, others risk their lives to save money by going without a guide. We encourage you to play it safe, and climb with our experienced guides. Our packages are reasonably priced and afford the safety of an experienced guide who will allow you the independence you desire.
The routes we suggest are almost always the most straightforward. Under good conditions, none of the routes are challenging for skillful technical alpinist. Safety-conscious amateurs have potential to provide satisfaction and experience without much risk.
AFT'S Sherpa Support Staff:
Even the support staff at Annapurna Foothills Treks are well experienced, so you can look forward to a well organized trip. The relationship we have developed among us over the years makes for a wonderful exchange of ideas, laughter and assistance. Your personal packs will be carried by the porters, saving you time and energy to fully enjoy the surrounding environment.
Each staff member at Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expeditions is insured for their appropriate roles. (Some companies are cutting corners here.)
Logistics: You can fully enjoy the world of mountains unfettered by the rigors of food preparation, lodging and logistics. Annapurna Foothills Treks provides a wide variety of quality meals to keep climbers healthy and strong. Most of the food is flown in from Kathmandu.
Chulu West Trip Accommodation:
Accommodation is included in the cost of your package. Annapurna Foothills Treks takes great care to arrange the most comfortable accommodation possible throughout your stay.
In Kathmandu, our clients enjoy four nights at the Hotel Holy Himalaya before and after heading into the remote regions.
During the trek, the nights will be spent in clean and comfortable tea houses with plenty of character and good food. The simple rooms usually have two narrow beds. The family run lodges are a great place to get to know the Nepalese people. In Nepalese culture, a guest is equal to god, and surely this has become even more of a reality since the tourism industry has improved their meager opportunities to earn. You will be made very welcome!
During the climbing period, Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expeditions supply all camping equipment and meals. Three hot meals per day will be served; breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/coffee and boiled water. The meals will be tasty and hygienic. On summit day we provide a packed lunch of high calorie foods that are easily eaten at high altitude. As well as your Sherpa guide there will be a team of porters to carry the camping gear and set up tents and a well- trained cook.
Altitude Advice for Climbing Chulu West:
It is really difficult to head straight up to high altitude for the first time even if you follow the recommended 400m-a-day-rule. Walking, let alone climbing, uphill at 5000 m is harder than you think. The trek in is a means of acclimatization and getting fit. Our itinerary is planned to allow rational acclimatization and avoid altitude sickness.
Travel Insurance:
Annapurna Foothills Treks requires that you are adequately protected in terms of insurance. You will need special travel insurance for participation in hazardous activities. We recommend a complete travel insurance policy that covers cancellation, lost baggage, theft, injury, liability, medical treatment, death and expenses. Make sure the insurance covers all the activities that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal including trekking and climbing.
If a client requires medical treatment, all hospital expenses, including doctors fees and repatriation costs, are the clients responsibility.
If you are injured and unable to walk in a remote area, a helicopter rescue will be arranged. Annapurna foothills Treks has an agreement in Kathmandu that guarantees payment for helicopter evacuations. We will pay a cash deposit to the helicopter operator and collect the money from you once you have been rescued. Before leaving on the expedition, we will make sure your policy specifically covers mountaineering or alpinism otherwise you may have a difficult time settling the large claim.
Safety for Chulu West Climb:
When travelling in remote mountain regions, uncertainties such as weather, health problems and natural disasters require a certain amount of flexibility. While our goal is to follow the itinerary, that is not our first priority; your safety is always our first priority. Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expeditions request your cooperation to accept the decisions and advice of our trusted and experienced guides if they deem it necessary to change or cancel any part of the itinerary due to safety concerns.
We should also plan for few extra days as bad weather may affect the designed schedule. This doesnt guarantee the successful ascent but often avoids the disappointment of a cloudy summit day.
Environmental Responsibility:
Annapurna Foothills Treks practices and teaches the Leave-No-Trace principles. Moreover, we are committed to protecting the land and culture of the indigenous people. The mountains are our home and we are unwilling to sacrifice their preservation for human objectives.
Safe Drinking Water:
We suggest that you drink boiled water or bring chlorine tablets to purify the normal water available in the guest houses along the way. There is a small fee charged for the boiled water. Several guesthouses have Euro-guard filters. Although mineral water is available in most places, there is no provision to dispose of the plastic bottles, so we encourage the guests to do what they can to protect the environment.
Re-charging Batteries of Electronic Items on the Trek:
You can recharge your digital camera, iPod, batteries etc. with electricity or solar power sources. You may need to buy an adaptor in Kathmandu before the trip since the plugs in Nepal might be different. The lodges charge a small fee per hour for recharging facilities.
Nepal uses 220-240 volts to power your appliances. The sockets fit both round and flat plugs.
Spending Money per Day:
Although it depends on your spending habits, you should allocate US$ 10- 12 per meal in Kathamndu. On the trek, US$9 - 12 a day should be enough to buy chocolates, Coca Cola and a beer.
How Can I Plan and Confirm My Trip?
Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expedition is a government licensed trekking and touring company in Nepal. On the following terms and conditions, we accept your bookings.
In order to confirm your bookings we require a non-refundable deposit US$ of 10% down payment in advance is mandatory to book the flight tickets and hotel booking and permit process too. Bookings must be done 60 days prior to your planned trekking date, to reserve a place. This amount can be sent by bank-to-bank transfer, Western Union, money grams, or credit card (telex transfer or wire transfer). And the rest of the money must be paid to us upon arrival
