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Welcome
to the Trek!
Scroll all the way down the list for more information than you ever wanted to know, including gear, money and things to do in Ulan Bator & Mongolia …See what our ‘Kamzang Style’ camping treks are like!
Emergency Contact *** You can give this info out to anyone who might want/need to contact you while trekking. Send an SMS to our satellite phone: Connect on-line to https://sms.thuraya.com Input our number (21277980). Write a short message, Press ‘send’. Kim Satellite: +88216 (21277980) – use this for Nepal Kim Satellite #2: +88216 (21274092) – use this for Tibet & India (or second choice for Nepal) (If the battery is charged, you are free to use the satellite phone. The rate is 250 NRP or 175 IC)
Contact Numbers (Pre-Trek) Kim’s Mobile (Nepal): + (977) 9841423810 Kim’s Mobile (Mero Mobile, Nepal): + (977) 9803414745 Kim Kathmandu Guest House: +(977) 1 4700 632
Contact Email Addresses kamzang@project-himalaya.com, kamzangkim@gmail.com, kim@kamzang.com, journeys@kamzang.com
Kamzang Fund http://www.kamzang.com/kamzang-fund/kamzang-fund.html We help sponsor or find sponsors for kids in the Himalaya in Nepal, the Indian Himalaya & Tibet. We also help with medical issues. http://picasaweb.google.com/KamzangKim/SingeeSPhotos (one of the boys in India we sponsor) http://kamzangfund.blogspot.com/ (other photos of our kids) Ask for more details!
Trek Photos http://picasaweb.google.com/KamzangKim/
Before You Leave … Have a CHECK UP Please have a FULL and thorough medical check-up BEFORE signing up for the trek. Review the itinerary in detail, discuss prior medical issues and review all medications with your doctor. People over 60 should consider a stress test.
Deposit & Payment Options *** For Deposits. If
you can pay some or all of the balance in cash or travelers checks in Nepal,
it would be appreciated. 1 - Checks: ($US only) Kim Bannister PO Box 1178, Rockport, ME 04856 Tel: (207) 236-2309 2 - Bank Transfer to Kim's Bank of America Account: *** If you can’t bring the balance with you to Nepal or India, please assure that your bank and/or intermediary bank assume all charges on your end; I pick-up the charges on my end. The amount of the trek is what should arrive in my account. Thank you *** Kim D. Bannister Bank of America Checking Account # inquire Routing Transit 121000358 Swift code BOFAUS6S Address: Chestnut Street Branch PO Box 37176 2200 Chestnut Street San Francisco, CA 94127-0001 Tel: 650 615 4700 2 - Transfer to Kim’s $US Standard Chartered Bank Account – Kathmandu: Kimberly D. Bannister Account # inquire Standard Chartered Bank Kantipath, Kathmandu Nepal Swift Code: SCBLNPKA 3 - Cash: $US, $US Travelers Checks, Euros, British Pounds (Note: The exchange rate is based on the current, official BANK rate in India or Nepal).
4 - PayPal: We accept balance payments by PayPal (to Kim’s account, access directly from the PayPal button), but there is an extra 4% tacked on top, which doesn’t (unfortunately) go to us! There is NO extra charge to you for deposits paid by PayPal.
Mongolian Visa Except for Americans & Isrealis, you need to BOOK the trip and PAY the deposit before our agent in Mongolia can issue you an ‘Invitation’ for a Mongolian Visa. You will have to get your Mongolian Visa with this invitation from the Mongolian embassy or consulate. A Mongolian Visa costs about $50 and will take at least a week to issue. We’ll need a scan (250 kg or so) of your Passport front page as well. You can apply for your Mongolian Visa in Beijing, but it takes approx 10 days to process. *** Americans DO NOT need a Mongolian Visa.
Flights to Mongolia Avoid Air China is the word from Mongolia. They are always delayed. Better to book a flight on MIAT, the national airline of Monglia (although it seems to be more expensive). In theory, most people book in Air China as it has the most flights and best fares. The best connections seem to be from Beijing although you can also sometimes connect through Seoul or Moscow. If you want us to buy your plane ticket, Bernard at Happy Camels will need a scan of your passport and 100% advance payment. He will issue an electronic ticket.
Trains to Mongolia The Trans Mongolian Express is an (expensive) option for getting from UB to Beijing – the fare is about the same as a flight.. Price 2010: Train costs 265 USD 2nd class & 365 USD first class. Happy Camel Tours can book your train ticket for you. To book yourself, try:
Hotels in Beijing A hotel in Beijing within walking distance of the central station: The Harmony Hotel
Money & Currency http://www.xe.com/ (currency conversion calculations)
Travel Medical Insurance For adventure travel. MUST include HELICOPTER EVACUATION and treks over 4000 meters or over 10,000 feet! Ask your insurer if you are unsure … Travel Insurance: We REQUIRE that everyone has travel medical insurance available from your local medical insurer or from some of the companies listed below (there are many other companies online, do some research to find which is best for you). ***Please bring a
PRINTED PAGE with your name, address, personal emergency contact, insurance
policy name & number and the overseas contact number to call in case of
emergency for us to give to our local agents (we don't need the particulars,
just a one-page copy of the policy). Some suggestions, but check with your local insurance provider for the company best for your country and age. Or ‘Google’ travel medical insurance: http://www.internationalsos.com/en/ Also, I recommend joining (Free) - International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers For Americans (every country has its own website – check your gov’ts) - Lists foreign requirements and certified travel clinics throughout the US Travelers’
Immunizations Early Arrival & Rooms in Ulan Bator Make sure we have your updated flight arrival information for your hotel pick-up. If you are arriving early, we will book extra nights for you IF you want us to. Just let us know your arrival time and date as soon as you’ve booked your flights. *** Extra nights are $55/room ***There will be a required $100 surcharge for Single Supplements when in Mongolia. *** Anyone wanting to splurge is recommended to stay at the Kempinski Hotel ($180 per night). There is a less expensive option at the Happy Camel Guest House in shared rooms. We can make the arrangements for you for our trek days or your extra days in UB.
Gear Read the specific gear list below for camping treks, and get back to us with questions.
Rentals Make sure to let us know if you need to rent a down jacket or sleeping bag BEFORE arriving in Mongolia. Scroll down for info.
Mongolia Movies The Story of the Weeping Camel Horse Boy Cave of the Yellow Dog Khadak Taiga (8-hour documentary by Ulrike Ottinger) Mongol Dersu Uzala
Mongolia Books Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Jack Weatherford Hearing Birds Fly: A Nomadic Year in Mongolia- Louisa Waugh Paperback Eagle Dreams: Searching for Legends in Wild Mongolia- Stephen J. Bodio Modern Mongolia: Reclaiming Genghis Khan - Paula L.W. Sabloff
Mongolia Links http://www.mongolia-travel-guide.com/index.html - an Expat’s view of Mongolia http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia - Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia - Wikipedia
Climate,Temp & Altitude Ulan Bator (locally called Ulaan Baatar) is hot in the summer with warm days and slightly cooler evenings. The west is much colder. In the Altai it should be pleasant during the day with lows in the 20s C but might drop to -5C or so in the evenings. The Altai might be a bit boggy in June although July & August are the wettest months in western Mongolia. Hovsgol shouldn’t be wet at all. The Gobi, of course, is hot during the summer and cools down in the evening as deserts do. The Altai range is mostly in the 2500 meter range and the Kovsgol region slightly lower, around 2000 meters.
Arriving in Ulan Bator … Arrival in Ulan Bator You’ll be met at the Ulan Bator airport by a representative from Happy Camel Travels and transported by car to our hotel. Kim will meet you at the hotel later in the day, once trek shopping is finished. We’ll all meet in the café at 6:30 or 7:00 for a briefing and dinner.
Mongolia Contact TBA
Arrival Hotel Ulan Bator TBA *** On camping treks, everyone will have their own tent, shared tents for couples only. Our tents are new, Western (Big Agnes) and roomy, 2 person tents for singles, and 3 person tents for couples. *** $150 Single Supplement required for all singles in Mongolia.
Money & ATMS There are ATM machines in Ulan Bator and other places in Mongolia. The exchange rate is 1500 Tg for $1 USD. You should also bring Travelers Checks or cash just in case …
What we need in UB - 4 PP or visa sized photos - A copy of your travel medical insurance (just one sheet with policy number, name and international contact numbers) - A copy of your Passport (front page) - Your passports
General Trek Information ...
Satellite Phone We will have a satellite phone with us which you are free to use if the battery is charged. The per minute fee is $3.50
Medical Supplies We have a full medical kit with us including Diamox (for acclimatizing), antibiotics, inhalers, bandages, re-hydration, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs etc. but please bring a supply of all prescription and personal medications. I have First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications as well as many years of experience with altitude in the Himalaya but am NOT a qualified medic or doctor, so please have a check-up before leaving home, and inform us of any medical issues. This is for your safety …
Rentals We have Northface, Patagonia &Marmot down jackets to rent for 75 NRP per day (about $1). We also have 3 new (KTM North Face) down sleeping bags to rent (Approx 0 F ) for 150 NRP per day (about $2), and a warmer bag (Approx -20F) sleeping bag for 200 NRP per day (about $2.50). *** Let us know BEFORE you arrive in Mongolia if you need to rent equipment as we need to bring it from Kathmandu.
Daypack We recommend a 30-45 liter daypack (ask at your sporting shop if you’re not sure of the capacity of yours). Better to have it too large than too small, as on pass days you’ll want to carry more. Most have internal water bladders built in, which are good to have. Make sure it’s comfortable before leaving home. Mine are 35 and 45 liters, both made by Osprey. In your daypack, you’ll be carrying 1 or 2 liters of water, a wind/Gortex/soft/ hard-shell jacket, wind/rain pants, hat & gloves, extra socks, sunscreen, snacks, water purifying tablets or filter, camera, a plastic bag or pack-cover and maybe a down jacket. Lhakpa & I carry small medical kits in ours.
Packing/Storage It’s easiest to pack and unpack from a duffel-bag but bring whatever you’re comfortable with. Most people bring a 90-130 Liter duffel bag. Best to invest in a good, waterproof and sturdy duffel bag such as a North Face duffel.
Porterage We will have either camels, reindeer or horses to carry our gear depending on the region.
Snacks It’s always good to have some with you even if you’re not a snacker at lower elevations. You crave amazing things at altitude, and often need energy in a way that you usually don’t at lower altitudes … energy bars, candy bars, beef jerkey, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate, electrolytes, etc are important to have along for long days or passes. Lemonade mix, Emergen-C, Tang, etc great to have for hot days in your water bottles. If anyone has a favorite cookie/biscuit, bring a package to share in the tent in the evenings if you want. And anything else that you particularly like (someone from my last Tibet trip brought maple syrup, which was delicious on pancakes) makes our diet a bit more varied. Bring a tube of Vegemite or Marmite if you’re a Kiwi or Aussie! *** Cheese is great as a treat on a cheese-board before dinner (Blue, Stilton, Yarlsburg, good Cheddar, Brie, etc). If you would like, bring a bit of your favorite and we’ll throw it on a cheese board for appetizers one night. Pesto, Tahini, Beef Jerky, Dried Mango, Dried Ginger, Anchovies & Anchovy paste welcome! *** Nothing besides your personal snack food is required, but it’s fun to see what everyone comes up with!
Water Purifiers & Filters We bring a MSR ceramic purifying/filtering pump along on the trek which everyone can use to pump fresh water in the evenings for the next day’s drinking water, ecologically the best way to get water in the Himalaya’s fragile trekking regions. Bring your own pump, UV purifier or iodine tablets to have the capacity for fresh water en route. Please bring at least TWO Nalgene, Sigg or other unbreakable plastic/metal water bottles. Camelbacks and other bladder systems are also good, but can leak, so as a back-up it’s best to also bring a Nalgene/metal water bottle.
Odds & Ends Zip-lock bags are great to have along for food and lotions. *** We can’t get them in Nepal, so desperately need a few small and large boxes if anyone could bring us some as well! *** Bring a few large, Hefty-type bags to keep clothes dry on a rainy day. Don’t forget your sunscreen. A plastic, foldable wash bucket is a great idea for clothes at the lodge.
Camping Treks ...
Cash You’ll all want some cash with you on the trek for drinks, snacks, beer, sodas, etc. There are sometimes chances to shop between sections of the trip, while on the trek and during the jeep/van trips, and often local crafts to buy en route. For tipping the crew we recommend about $100 per person in local currency. There are ATMs in UB and many money changers, banks, etc. You should budget about $5-10 per meal in Ulan Bator, so at least $25 per day.
Staff We will be working with a Mongolian guide and staff, arranged for us by Happy Camels owner, Bernard … Lhakpa Dorji Sherpa, my trekking ‘partner’ in Nepal & India MAY come with us depending on how many people book the trek.
Our Dining Tent We will be in a Mongolian-style dining tent, so with the same theme as our normal ‘Kamzang-Style’ tents …
Tents Everyone gets their own Marmot or Big Agnes tent; singles have a 2-person tent and couples share a larger, 3-person version. They are new tents, easy to put up, airy, and have doors on both sides for great Himalayan views!
Gear Layers are essential for trekking; you don’t need quantity as much as quality, and it’s worth investing in some of the great, warm, lightweight gear available these days. I wear a t-shirt, a mid-weight shirt or fleece jacket/vest over that, and always carry a wind/rain jacket, either hard or soft-shell. If the weather looks stormy or it’s a pass day, I carry my down jacket with me. I always have a pair of gloves, wool hat, cap and extra pair of socks in my day-pack. Good trekking boots are essential. High boots are best, but you don’t need climbing or plastic boots (for crampons). You can also get away with low, sturdy trekking boot, which I wear quite often.
Nights are chilly to cold, so a down jacket or vest is important to have with you, and a WARM sleeping bag, which means 0 to -20 F (-18 to -28 C). Mine is -20 F, too warms at times, but I’m toasty warm in it on the cold nights, and the campsites near the passes can get COLD. Rentals available (see below). It’s important to have a change of warm clothes for the evenings. I have down booties, which are nice when it’s cold, but a pair of thick wool socks also works.
Trekking poles are not absolutely necessary, but recommended, especially going down passes, which can be quite steep (if there is snow, you might NEED your trekking poles). Bring gators if you have them, but they’re not essential. Crampons and ice ax usually not necessary, but feel free to bring them if you have them. We’ll have at least one ice ax with us, just for emergencies (and they are great for digging toilet tents). It’s also good to have a pair of plastic sandals or Crocs for washing and the evenings; wear a pair of warm socks under them for going in and out of the dining tent. Tevas take a long time to dry. You can bring a pair of light sneakers/running shoes for the afternoons or easy days if you want.
Good sunglasses are essential; please bring an extra pair if you tend to lose them! Don’t forget a sun hat/baseball cap and plenty of sunscreen …
Bring extra large plastic bags in case of rain; you can pack electronics in them, or stash your sleeping bag and clothes in them. The weather is changeable in the Himalaya, so I suggest that everyone has a strong, WATERPROOF duffel with them.
A BASIC LIST Strong, waterproof Duffel Bag (North Face are perfect, available online) 35-45 Liter Daypack (with rain-cover) Sleeping Bag Air Matress Down Jacket or Vest Trekking Boots Sneakers (optional) or Crocs (for the afternoon & washing) Sandals (optional, only for lower treks) 2 Pairs Trekking Pants (a zip-off shorts pair is often good to have, but not essential) 3 T-shirts 2 Long-sleeve Trekking Shirts 1-2 Fleece Jacket/Vest Gortex or Wind/Rainproof Jacket & Pants Fleece Top & Bottom (for the evenings) Silk-weight Long Underwear (optional - to sleep in, or to layer under clothes) 3-4 Socks Hat & Gloves Baseball/Wide-rimmed Cap Sunglasses Book Plastic Bags Nalgene or Sigg Water-bottles (2) and/or a Bladder Snack Food & Re-hydration/Electrolytes Toiletries, Sunscreen & Personal medical supplies Watch Extra batteries & Chargers Headlamp (important!) Water-purifying Tablets or Filter/pump Down Booties Trekking Poles Gators & Yak Tracks (‘soft’ crampons) (optional) Compactable Washing Bowl (optional) – for clothes. *** Bring some powdered detergent from KTM for washing clothes on the trek Solar Panel (optional) Thermal Mug (optional) – But I never leave home without mine! A SOFT roll of Toilet Paper/Tissues (optional) – NOTE: we supply toilet paper but it’s not soft! You’ll want something softer for blowing your nose …
Air Mattresses/Thermarests Bring them if you have them, we supply sleeping pads, but it’s much warmer as well as more comfortable to have an air mattress as well. Highly recommended!
Trekking Poles Trekking poles are very good to have for crossing rivers and going up/down steep passes, saving knees, but not essential.
Trekking Meals We’re going Monglian on this trek, but will at least bring our standard freshly ground coffee and a French Press, herbal teas and some other luxuries. We have a serious weight issue in Monglian, so it might not be the usual ‘Kamang-Style’ fare, but it will be a change for everyone, I’m sure! Fermented mare’s milk not promised, but I’m sure we’ll have a chance to sample it!
Coffee & Tea We serve fresh pressed French Roast from Himalayan Java in Kathmandu in the mornings. If anyone has a favorite roast, we love a variety of GROUND coffee (for a French press, dark roasts are preferred). We also have a large variety of herbal teas including Jasmine tea from China, and serve Indian Chai (milky tea with cinnamon, cardamom & cloves) in the mornings, afternoons & after dinner.
Drinks Cokes, juice, beer, etc, sometimes available at shops along the way. If you like, pack a bit of rum into a metal bottle (I’m sure it’s available in UB!)
Washing We give you a warm bowl of water in the mornings (and the evenings if you want) for washing up, and there is always a bucket of water with soap and a towel next to the dining tent. There are always streams nearby, and a favorite past-time becomes finding the perfect wash-spot. A plastic, foldable wash bucket is a great idea for campsite. Bring a small bag of powdered soap from Kathmandu for your clothes, and you can always get one of our staff members to do your washing for you for a small fee if you want!
Batteries & Solar Panels Bring your camera battery chargers and an extra battery or two for your digital camera. We have solar panels and inverters which you are free to use if they are free but they aren’t always compatible with your chargers. If you have your own, small solar panel, bring it! Let us know if you have additional questions; better to be prepared!
THE BEST GEAR & ADVENTURE LINKS OTHER HIMALAYAN LINKS We look forward to having you along for the trek!
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