Your crew
Trek Leader : over-all responsibility for the organization and running of your trek
Sirdar : in charge of crew, responsible for hiring of porters, kitchen staff, organizing camp areas, camp set-up, finances during trek
Sherpa Guide : Assists Leader in guiding, setting up camp, looking after trekkers, security of camp site. 'Sherpa' has become synonymous with a guide but is in fact one of the many "caste" names and your guide may be a 'Gurung', 'Rai', 'Tamang', 'Magar' etc.. Ask them!
Cook : responsible for kitchen staff, buying of food, preparation of food etc.
Porter: responsible for the transport of all equipment and trekkers' gear
Kitchen hand: assists cook with the preparation of meals etc.

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"Namaste"
At 6.20 am (yes, that is in the morning!) you will be cheerfully greeted by your 'Sherpa' guide with an early morning call and a hot cup of tea. This will be followed by a bowl of warm washing water. Your day has begun!!
After enjoying your cup of tea and washing you will have to re-pack your kit-bag and day pack. Don't worry, you will become quite efficient at this task - by the last day you will have the packing down to a 'T'. It is at this time you will find your headlamp most useful.

While you have breakfast, the porters will be busy packing your tent, preparing their loads and heading off to the next campsite. Take note of who your porter is and get to know him.

You may see him again on the trail when the porters have their rest stop or lunch but they will always be at the campsite ahead of you with your tent set up and your kit-bag outside the door.

Tip: use two garbage in your kit-bag; one for sleeping gear and one for clothes. Much easier for packing and unpacking

Breakfast is usually eaten in the open as the dining tent will have been sent on its way to the next campsite. Be prepared to do a few circuits of the table to warm up those toes before you settle down to eat. This is a time when those mittens will prove useful.

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Trekking commences at about 8 o'clock. The morning trek is 3-4 hours duration with rest and refreshment stops along the way. The idea is to enjoy the scenery and the people, listen to the sounds and experience the feelings, there is no rush. We encourage you to spread out along the trail rather than walk as one group. There will always be a guide close at hand to help you or to ask questions of.

Tip: carry your 'pink roll' and towel in your day pack
Lunch preparations will be well under way when you arrive at the lunch stop. You will be served a nourishing cooked smorgasbord which you will be more than ready for.

Take this opportunity to top up your water bottle if required - you have been drinking your water haven't you?

The lunch stop will be for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. A toilet tent will have been set up for your convenience.

Tip: don't forget to drink some water each time you take a rest stop

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The afternoon trek will be for 2 - 3 hours so as to arrive at the campsite with enough daylight to explore the area and to set up your sleeping bag and tent space. You may even get to play a game of volleyball - one of the guides will probably have a ball. There is nothing quite like volleyball at 3500 m with a sheer drop down one side of the court and guess who finds the breathing much easier!

A bowl of warm water for washing will be delivered to your tent soon after arrival. If you wish to wash your hair or some clothes, ask your guide for another bowl. Do, however, use the water sparingly as it may have to be carried a long way from the nearest supply. Check with your leader first. You will be surprised how much you can wash using just a bowl of water and a face cloth! Nurses call it a bed bath! (Sorry this comes without the nurse).

"What's that? No showers for a few days! How will I cope?" Many first time trekkers are concerned about this. They soon find that the climate makes a shower every day unnecessary. Anyway, we will all smell the same so it won't be that noticeable!

In some places, a 'hot running water' shower can be a bucket and a ladle - well it is running water!! So be prepared.

Tea is served in the dining tent at around 6 o'clock (that's in the evening this time). Another delectable and hearty feast will be served to you. Be sure to wear clothes which can be let out a notch as the days go by. The cook will be sure to have some surprises for you too.

Bring your water bottle to the tent with you as it will be filled with fresh boiled water for the following day's trek. The now hot water bottle will be a delight to hold onto during the evening and will be appreciated even more when placed in you sleeping bag overnight. Do make sure that it doesn't leak!

On really cold nights, keep your camera in your sleeping bag with you, so that it will take that early morning sunrise photo.

Tip: small chocolate bars, nuts and dried fruit are a good filler and source of energy during the day's trek

The evening can be spent chatting, reading, playing cards (the crew are quick at learning new card games) or whatever you fancy. It's a good time to get to know your fellow trekkers and your crew, to learn some Nepali phrases and to teach some of your language.

Some evenings, the crew will entertain you with Nepali song and dance. Be prepared to join in and do have at least one home country song which you can sing as you will be invariably asked to do so. It can be embarrassing to be able to offer only a few 'one-liners'. A traditional Nepali trekking song is given at the end of this session.

Every evening and often at times during the day, you will hear the sound of the Nepali drum (madal), which is always carried on a trek by one of the porters, and the singing of the crew.

You've survived the first day - Congratulations!

Tip: to compliment the cook; say: - "khaana mitho lagyo chha" - "the meal was delicious"