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To read more about editing your posts, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_postsHi rem
trekkingpartners.com is an excellent website to seek buddies, it has worked for me in the past. More on your other uestions later.
scoodly
Hi again
Trekking independently, whether solo or with a group, is the cheapest option and many people do this safely and successfully so it can be a wise choice. If you joined a group or formed one yourself the hiring a guide can be cheap; a guide typically costs $25 per day (including his food, accommodation and insurance but travel costs are extra) so for a group of 6 this would be a little over $4 per day each.
Trekking without using an agency is easy enough. The 'permits' or pieces of paper need for trekking are easy to obtain for open treks such those in the Annapurna, Langtang and Everest - including Gokyo - areas. The TIMS card and national park/conservation area tickets can be obtained in KTM or Pokhara as appropriate and on the treks themselves. You just need passport photos, copies of passport (information page and visa) and the fee. Arranging tranpsort is easy eneough whether bus, taxi or flight as needed. members on here can give specific info or an upto date guidebook is a good investment.
Agencies can offer back up and support such as taking the (minor) hassle of obtaining the permits offo you and aranging transport off you but they are not necessary. One of the advantages of an agency is if you need emergency help on the trek; they can arrange the helicopter liase with your insurance company and so on. That said, by trekking in a group you have the main safety aspect covered by not being alone and committing to each other in case of the statistically rare need for emergency evacutaion. You can tilt the odds further in your favour by having a safer itinerary in terms of the rate of ascent/acute mountain sicknes and knowing the symptoms and what to do - again more info on here if you want it.
scoodly
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