We hiked to Renjola Pass (Difficult) via Thame instead of Gokyo
Positives:
- Rusha Shrestha (travel consultant), Rajin (guide) and Samarpan (porter)
- Renjola Pass, best sight of Himalayas
- Everest Hotel (Namche Bazar)
- Nepali food
- Treks Planner Nepal (TPN) borrowed duffel and sleeping bags and duvet jackets
Negatives
- TPN policy of less days on trail = no reimbursement to client (guide pockets money as company does not ask for guide reimbursement) and client must cover additional hotel expenses in Kathmandu
TPN: Change this bad policy. Guides are incentivized to complete the itinerary in less days
- Lodging in teahouses: The guide is given cash to pay for all expenses on the trip. We rated all teahouses we stayed in on a scale from 1 worst to 10 best. Two were rated a 0, as they lacked minimum sanitary standards, had no water and/or power, one a 2, four a 4, one a 5 and one an 8. Be blunt with the guide when unhappy.
TPN: Determine a daily allowance for lodging included in trek cost and allow travelers to pay difference if interested in upgrading, as guides are incentivized to keep cost as low as possible
Thanks for the amazing trip.
Thanks for making my 10 days everest base camp trek memorable.