General Information

Getaway! Himalayan Eco-Treks (P) Ltd
What is Eco-Trekking
Why Go With Getaway Eco-Treks
Our Commitmentt To Eco-Trekking
A Day On Trek
Trek Grading (difficulty)

With a vision for positive change in the trekking industry a group of people committed to nature and adventure tourism formed Getaway Eco- Treks. Our team comprises of leaders in Himalayan adventure travel, naturalists, environmentalist and others, all with a mission:

1. To make it possible for the visitor, to Nepal & Tibet, travel in an eco-friendly manner throughout.
2. To directly benefit the local economies in the trek areas by using the services and products available locally.
3. To encourage entrepreneurs who adopt the minimum-impact methods and eco-sensitive services.
4. To extend top quality and reliable services to visitors at prices no other agents can compare.

In other words our mission is to add value to the quality of the traveller's experience as well as to improve the quality of Himalayan people's lives while protecting the environment and cultures typical of the region. We are adding value to people's lives.

To find out more about Getaway Eco-Treks, our vision, the people who make up this unique organization, the treks and tours we operate, and how you can be part of an eco-trekking group, please look up the subjects from the HOME PAGE.

Hence Eco-Trekking is trekking in such a sensitive way that treks:
Make sure that while trekking through protected and environmentally fragile areas steps are taken to minimize the impact by adopting eco-friendly methods such as using only alternative fuel (kerosene, gas) for cooking, packing out all non-degradable waste, disposing of biodegradable waste carefully and taking full safety precautions for clients as well as staff.

Make sure that, wherever possible, trekkers directly benefit the village economies by using local services (ie: lodges, products, guides, porters, etc.). Encourage lodges, and other village producers, to adopt eco-friendly methods.

Act in a sensitive manner as regards to cultural and religious beliefs of the region. Help instill a sense of pride in local cultures and values so that children do not just ape the foreigners but learn to adapt their modern methods with local requirements and resources.

Eco-Trekking is also a commitment by the agents, operators and local bodies to make sure that the visitor gets the best value for their money, gets to experience the culture and nature in a safe, peaceful, friendly atmosphere and goes back totally satisfied.

Keeping all these points in mind a group of people committed to nature and adventure tourism have formed Getaway Eco-Treks. Our mission is to make it possible for the visitor to be able to travel in an eco-friendly manner, avail of quality services at a very fair price while benefiting the local economies along the way. In other words our mission is to add value to the quality of the traveller's experience as well as to the villagers' lives while protecting the environment and cultures typical of the Himalayas.

Make sure you go with Getaway Eco-Treks. With us you deal directly with local operators and service providers, get reliable and quality services, best leaders/guides, innovative itineraries, all at prices not available anywhere.

Getaway Eco-Treks offers a choice of camping treks in Nepal Tibet and Bhutan. Managed and operated by a group of dedicated and experienced people who are not only well versed in the adventure travel service business but also are committed to conserving our natural and cultural diversity. Our treks, tours and river rafting trips are well equipped , offers optimum safety, provides guides who have first hand knowledge of the routes, natural history and cultural background.

Trained Trek Guides and Sherpas
Each of our treks are managed by a team of professionally trained trek guide, cook and sherpas. Many of our famous mountain guides have climbed Everest and other Himalayan peaks. Our leaders/guides and trek crew are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable holiday to our clients and in an eco-friendly manner.

High Quality Camping Equipment
All our camping-treks are outfitted with the highest quality equipment available. Comfortable dome or 'A' frame tents, foam mattress, dinning tent with camp chairs and tables and a toilet tent are standard equipment on all our camping treks.

Hygenic Food & Water Preparation
Meal are prepared by cooks trained in modern cooking hygiene. Special care is taken to serve well boiled and purified drinking water everyday on trail to ensure that our trekkers stay healthy and enjoy their outing fully. Lodge food along the popular trails vary from basic to those offering a range of choice from pizzas to apple pie.

Kerosene Fuel For Cooking
In order not to contribute to the already rapid denudation of Himalayan forests we use kerosene fuel for all client and staff cooking on all our camping treks. When we use local services like lodges we patronize and encourage those lodges who have adopted ecologically safe methods in use of fuel and waste management - thereby encouraging other lodges to implement similar, or better, methods.

Correct Disposal Of Waste
Our trail staff are trained in the correct disposal of waste. All biodegradable waste is burned and buried before breaking camp every morning. Care is taken to fill in toilet holes after use. It is our policy to porter all non-degradable waste (viz: used batteries, tin cans, bottles, plastics, etc.) out of the mountains. All our trip members are briefed about requirements regarding waste disposal before starting. All paper and dry tissue are collected and burned by our crew. Plastics, tins, foils, batteries and other non- biodegradable items are to be taken back to Kathmandu (used batteries cannot be properly disposed in Nepal hence we encourage that batteries to go back to where they came from to be disposed properly).

Staff Insurance, etc.
We take pride in the fact that every single porter and guide employed by us is not only well paid but also protected by a life insurance policy. They are provided with warm clothing and proper shelter on all high altitude treks. All our treks benefit the village economics by using local services (manpower, produce, lodges and other services). Getaway Eco-Treks also contributes funds, leadership and time in fields such as environmental protection and in providing opportunities at the micro-economic (family and village) level.

We Commit To Follow These Principles Of Eco-Trekking

1. Prepare Properly For Each Trek. Warm clothing and shelter will be provided for porters and staff on high altitude treks. A first aid kit will be sent on each trek. First aid training will be made a available to staff.
2. Ask Group Members To Help. Group members will be properly briefed before trek on proper dress, bathing attire, respect for religious sites, to give money/gifts only through monastery/temple caretakers, schoolmasters or local health workers.
3. Cook On Stoves/Fuel Efficient Stoves. Every effort will be made to provide kerosene and meals for porters. Kerosene/gas will be used in every camping trek.
4. Practice Proper Hygiene. Staff will be informed of the importance of washing hands before touching food and using clean towels for drying dishes. Drinking water will be boiled for at least two minutes.
5. Use Toilets And Existing Campsites. Toilet tents or existing campsite toilets will be used Toilet tent holes will be filled in to look as they did before digging. Rain trenches around tents will only be dug in emergency. New campsites will be used only when existing site are not available.
6. Leave All Camp And Trails Clean. Campsite rubbish will be separated into burnable (paper), food garbage and nonbiodegredables (tins, bottles, metal-foils, batteries and plastics.) Only paper products will be burned in an old fire-site, not a new one. Vegetable waste will be scattered out of sight well away from the campsite. All nonbiodegredables will be packed out to be disposed correctly. Porters and staff will be encouraged to clean up after others and not to litter. Lodges that practice eco-friendly methods will be used on Lodge-Treks.
7. While Staying In Village Lodges. Patronize those lodges who use kerosene, gas or fuel efficient stoves for cooking where ever possible. Encourage and help those not already using eco-friendly methods to do so. Keep a record of each lodge used in order to compare different lodges and to introduce better services using better methods.
   
   

All our camping treks are managed by a team of professionally trained sherpas with the Leader/guide responsible for all aspects of the running of the trek. Our special departures and nature/birdwatching treks are led by qualified leaders who are well versed in the culture and natural history of the Himalayas. Our Lodge-Treks are led by a local guide supported by porters to carry luggage and equipment.

A trek-day starts around 6 a.m. with a cup of tea/coffee. Soon a bowl of warm water is provided for washing. After packing your duffel and day-pack a breakfast of porridge/muesli/cornflakes and biscuits with tea/coffee is served. The day's trek starts around 7.30 a.m. Porter/pack animals carry all camp equipment, food and duffel bags. All you need to carry in your day pack are water bottle, rain/wind jacket, camera and other small items you may need on the trail All trekkers walk at their own pace with the lead and "sweep" sherpa providing support throughout.

The morning's walk to the lunch spot takes about three hours. In Nepal we usually stop for a hot lunch on the trail where as in Tibet a picnic lunch is provided. After hiking for three to four hours in the afternoon our camp, or lodge, is usually reached between 3-4 p.m. In the late afternoon and evening you can relax, wash, read or take a walk nearby. The evening meal is served between 6 and 7 p.m. in the dining tent (or dining room on a Lodge- Trek). After dinner the leader/guide will brief trekkers on the next day's hike.

Meals on the camping trek are prepared by our sherpa cooks whereas on the Lodge Trek we order meals at the restaurant attached to the lodges where we stay. Each days hike is planned so that trekkers have time to see, photograph and explore the countryside. Anyone who is healthy, fit, enjoys the outdoors and hiking will qualify to participate in our treks.

Grade 1 - Easy
Easy trekking, by Himalayan standards is generally between 900m/3,000ft. and 2,000m/6,500ft. There are always plenty of 'ups and downs' anywhere in the Himalaya and clients need to be regular walkers to get full enjoyment from their experience. It is possible however to design 'easier' three to four day treks with perhaps only three to four hours walking per day on request.

Grade 2 - Moderate
Moderate trekking 900m/3,000ft. and 3,000m/10,000ft. but possibly involving side trips to higher elevations.

Grade 3 - Difficult
Reasonably demanding trekking at altitudes up to 4,000m/13,000ft. with side trips to higher elevations. Some treks included here will, in part, be well away from villages on ill- defined mountain trails.

Grade 4 - Strenuous
Treks of a demanding nature, requiring all participants to be fit and in excellent health, often in remote alpine areas and sometimes reaching altitudes in excess of 5000m/18,000ft. Here we include all Tibet trips primarily because of the rigors of the climate and overall altitude, varying between Lhasa, at 3,700m/12,000ft., to high pass crossing, by vehicle or on foot in excess of 5,000m/16,000ft.

Alpine
Extremely demanding treks sometimes in very remote areas on rough terrain and perhaps including ( in Nepal) one or more of the so called 'trekking peaks' - maximum altitude, Mt. Mera at 6,461m/21,192ft. Participants should have at least a basic knowledge of use of crampons and ice axes, though first time climbers may be accepted on some of the so called 'easy' routes on these peaks. Medical certificates are required prior to acceptance on any climbing treks.