1. How long is an average trekking day?

All our treks are designed to include a total of 5 – 6 walking hours per day. Clients are normally woken at about 7am with a hot drink before breakfast, and we are normally underway before 9am. A leisurely lunch is taken at about midday, followed by 2 – 3 hours more trekking in the afternoon, reaching our camp well before nightfall in time for drinks and pre dinner snacks.

2. What will I see on the trek?

The eastern Himalayas are heavily forested, and large parts of the day will be spent under the towering canopy of ancient rainforest and temperate cloud forest, or following cascading mountain streams. At other times there will be views of snowcapped mountains as we enter open areas of village habitation. There will be plenty of bird life, butterflies and other exotic flora on offer, as well as occasional troops of monkeys, and the noise of larger but harmless animals in the undergrowth.

3. How fit do you have to be?

All our expeditions are graded and we have itineraries suitable for anyone who leads a moderately healthy lifestyle back home and is reasonably fit. One or two of our longer expeditions are classified as difficult, and include longer trekking days at higher altitudes above 6000 feet. These are most suitable for our most adventurous and stronger clients, who are used to leading an active and sporty lifestyle. However, none of our expeditions require technical mountaineering skills or previous experience.

4. How are the treks graded?

Easy - suitable for most people in good health as these treks include only a short element of trekking which is always on good paths and predominantly at low altitudes.

Moderate - suitable for most hill-walkers as they involve relatively short days, on paths and trails. A reasonable level of fitness is required as these trips involve an amount of ascent and descent and the occasional challenging day.

Demanding - physically challenging and more suited to regular hill-walkers who are used to extended days and who are competent over difficult terrain. These treks may also include periods at higher altitude.

5. What about meal times?

Our experienced staff will take care of all catering on your expedition, although clients are always welcome to assist if they wish to. Menu plans have been designed for each trip, and clients with special dietary requirements will have had the opportunity to advise us at the time of booking. Lunches are simple but healthy, whereas dinners are more extensive featuring pre dinner snacks and deserts. On our rafting expeditions, a limited selection of wines and spirits will be complimentary.

6. Where do we sleep?

Two clients will share our spacious expedition tents, unless they have paid the single person supplement. All our tents are screened, although we very rarely encounter any mosquitoes during the cool trekking season. At our semi permanent Nam Lang River camp, which we use for rafting and on some of our treks, we sleep in larger safari tents on wooden platforms.

7. What facilities are at the campsites?

Our expeditions take us into remote wilderness areas, so facilities will of course be limited. Our river camp on the Nam Lang River will have a jungle shower with running hot water, as well as western toilets and a sheltered dinning area and seating. In more remote areas, we will dine under the stars, or the canopy of the rainforest, or sometimes in local village houses where appropriate. Here our guides will be able to provide a limited supply of hot water on request for washing.

8. What equipment or clothing can I buy in Putao?

Putao has a limited morning market, where you can buy cheap woolen hats and fleeces imported from China. From our base at The Lisu, we also have a limited supply of more specialized clothing and equipment manufactured in Nepal for the trekking industry. Please enquire with us for specific items.

9. What will the temperature be like?

Daytime temperatures will range from 20 to 25 degrees centigrade, although much of the trek will be in the cool shade of the forest. Nighttime temperatures will be cold but never freezing, ranging from 5 – 10 degrees centigrade around Christmas time to a very comfortable15 degrees centigrade in October and April. A 3-season sleeping bag is recommended.

10. What about insects?

Clients are advised to wear lightweight long sleeve cotton and lightweight waterproof trousers while trekking (See recommended equipment list) For the most part the jungles are free of biting insects, but we do encounter sand flies on and around the rivers during the day time only. For our rafting trips only we advise that you wear waterproof gloves and boots at all times during the day. After sundown, and in the early morning the sand flies disappear.

11. What about altitude?

Almost all of our treks take place at moderate altitudes between 2000 to 5000 feet above sea level. The Phon kan razi trek, one of our most strenuous expeditions, is the only trek to cross the cool season snowline of approx 8000 - 9000 feet, climbing to an altitude of 11,000 feet on the border with India. Altitude sickness very rarely occurs below 12,000 feet.

12. What about guides?

An English-speaking guide, who will also be able to speak the various local hill tribe languages, will accompany all expeditions. Upon request we will also be able to arrange German, French, Italian Spanish and Japanese speaking guides for a small extra supplement.

13. What about First aid?

All our guides are qualified in wilderness first aid, and we will carry a very comprehensive medical first aid kit. It will be compulsory for all clients to have taken out prior medical insurance including emergency air evacuation if required. All our treks will carry an emergency satellite phone.

14. Is the rafting suitable for beginners?

Our Nam Lang river trip is graded at 3 – 4, and is therefore suitable for clients with no previous rafting experience. All clients will receive basic instruction at the beginning of the journey, and each raft will be guided by an experienced expatriate commercial river guide, with a minimum of 5 years experience.

15. Will I be cold when we are rafting?

Rafting is an activity sport, and clients are normally kept warm through exercise. We will provide full wetsuits if required during the coldest months to protect against the cold and potential heat loss, or poly prop undergarments and spay jackets for the warmer months. Water temperatures range from 12 to 16 degrees centigrade.

16. What happens if I fall in?

Clients do occasionally fall into the water, but will have been thoroughly briefed on what to do in such an event. All clients will wear approved life jackets and protective head gear in case they fall into the water. Clients who are anxious will be able to walk around the larger rapids if they wish.

17. What about insurance?

Clients will be requested to take out their own personal travel insurance, which must cover adventure activities and include emergency evacuation as a pre condition of booking. Full contact details of the insurance policy will need to be carried with the expedition. In addition, we will also ask clients to sign a waiver form, which will recognize the client’s voluntary participation in an adventure activity, which carries a certain amount of inherent risk. Click here to see our Client waiver form.

18. What do I need to bring for the rafting trip?

Please refer to the document “Rafting and trekking items to bring” for our suggested list of personal items to bring for rafting.

19. What do I need to bring for trekking?

Please refer to the document “Rafting and trekking items to bring” for our suggested list of personal items to bring for trekking.

20. What equipment / clothing will be provided for a rafting or trekking trip?

Please refer to the document “Rafting and trekking items to bring” for a comprehensive list of items and equipment that we will provide.

21. What else is included in the price?

Your trip will include all the elements of the expedition included in our brochure and trip itineraries as well as the equipment list included above. It will include all necessary permits, licenses and park fees. It will also include airport transfers and all land transfers in and around Putao, all prepared meals, tea, coffee and snacks on your journey.

Perhaps the most important thing we provide is many years of deep experiences running professional expeditions.

22. What is NOT included in the price?

Any kind of insurance, expenses of a personal nature or any personal equipment listed above.