Checking in!

Hi to you both. I think we are booked onto the same trip depatring heathrow on the evening of the 22nd October? Rob and I are trying to get in as many walks as weather and time allows and are also upping the effort in the gym to be be as prepared as we can be. We are really looking forward to the trip and can't wait to meet everyone. I have always wanted to go to Nepal and can't believe how quickly it has come around! I just wondered what people are doing in terms of jabs? Themore research I do the more confused I get about what we do and don't need?

Hi Alex,

I'm just in the process of organizing vacs with practise nurse. I have a prescription for malaria tablets and she is organizing jabs for hepatitis (need to check if this is A and/or B) . I have also been advised to ask the doc for a prescription for the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin 250mg tabs - may be worth checking this out. I think they are the main ones -others like a tetanus revac recommended every 10 years , MMR (recommended if born after 1956 and not previously given) and polio booster if never had one as an adult need checking out. Let me know if you have any other advise. Yes it is coming up quickly and all I hear about it is so very positive. Regards

Hi Marnie,

We have been told to be upto date with all the usual booster, but also menigitis has been mentioned, cholera, Rabbis and Japaneese encepilitis. The last two we will have to pay for. I am not sure about Jap Enc because from memory you need pigs, mosquitoes and monsoon for it to be a problem. As for Rabbis I the advise is to have it if we are going to be more than 24 hours from medical care so again I am not sure. I didn't think Mararia was a problem in the Annapurna region and that the Malaria risk areas were further south? 

 

I am away now for four days but will check it all out with Exodus and other sources next week.

Regards 

Back again!

I have downloaded quite a lot of information which is conflicting and also had some confusing advise from GP. Exodus today say it is simple - Typhoid, Hepatitus A and boosters for tetanus and polio - that's what I am going with. Idid ask about Japanese Encephilitus and was told 'no'. Hope that's helpful.

Hi Folks, I did the circuit last year. As far as jabs go I just had the basics, no rabies or encephalitis. malaria only a problem if you are going south to the Chitwan park area. Ciprofloxacin is really useful if you get severe diarrhoea although on our trip the leader had a large supply of medications. As far as our group was concerned the big food problem was chicken dishes in the teahouses. Probably a very good idea to become vegetarian whilst on the trek as a safety move. The guide will probably also have a supply of Diamox should you need it. It is tough but it's not a race so take your time and enjoy the fabulous scenery. By the way the best beer is Gorkha.

Thanks Jeff, good to know. Can I ask roughtly how mnay miles a day you were walking for? What time of year did you go and what was the weather like?

I was there in March. We had blazing sun, cloud, wind, rain, thunderstorms and snow. Difficult to be specific on miles, we usually worked on hours on trail. Anything from 4 to 9 hours between teahouses. There were lunch breaks on the longer days plus a few stops for rest, drinks and photographs. The shorter days were usually a morning walk then lunch and rest followed by a shorter afternoon walk. This was to condition us to the altitude by taking us higher then coming back down to sleep. Walk high sleep low is the idea. There are some tough sessions as you would expect but, again, it is not a race. We aimed to stay together as a group but on some days we became spread out. We had four guides so nobody was left without help. Just focus on getting back to Kathmandu and a farewell dinner at Rum Doodle, highly recommended. Good luck.

Hi Jeff. Thanks for the information- very helpful. Our trip is approaching rapidly and it is useful to hear from someone who has done it. Feeling very excited and doing best to get fit without over doing it. Linked up with the Crossed Kukris Restaurant in Nuneaton run by Mr Om and Nepalese family/staff - enjoying Gurhka beer and Nepalese food that has similarities with with but is  distinctive from Indian. It's good to have some local expertise (I see from googling that there are several Nepalese restaurants in the U.K.). Hope you are doing more exciting trips. Regards Marnie

Hi Marnie, glad to help with general info. Each trip is different and will not spoil yours by going into too many minute details about what we did. The trip did give me a taste for heights so climbed Kili after this one but decided that was as high as I would go. gradually working my way through the Exodus brochure.