Since 1976, Peter Owens has been leading trekking trips in Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim, including 33 for the Sierra Club. If you are hale and hearty (or just hale, I guess), you can join him this fall, winter and next spring on one of the 27 trips he has scheduled. Prices range from as low as $425 up to $3,050.
Prices depend in large part on how many are in a group--the economics are simple, the more people there are, the cheaper your cost. The $425 mentioned above is for the Langtang Lodge Trek in Nepal from November 16 through December 1, 2002, a total of 16 days, predicated on there being from 4 to 10 persons. However, if you are the only one joining this trek, it can still be yours for $640. You stay in local lodges, not tents, as you hike the valley, which lies north of Kathmandu on the Tibetan frontier beneath the 23,500-foot peak of Langtang Lirung. You'll be in Nepal's second-largest national park, where you spend only 10 days of actual (and moderate) trekking.
The $3,030 price is for a group of only 3 to 6 people taking the Himalayan Kingdoms trek of Bhutan and Sikkim from March 28 through April 20, 2003, a total of 24 days (that breaks down to $127 a day, by the way). You spend four nights in the world's only Hindu kingdom. Nepal, eight nights in the former Buddhist kingdom of Sikkim, part of India since 1975, three nights in the adjacent Indian hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, then four nights in Bhutan, the world's only remaining Buddhist kingdom. You stay 14 nights in hotels, and take a five-night Sikkim trek, where you will be surrounded by rhododendrons and wild orchids and spied upon by butterflies and birds. Two internal flights are involved, as well. You'll be in Bhutan for the annual Paro Festival and the unveiling of the giant thangka (prayer banner).
Other treks include some to Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga and other Nepalese destinations. (You'll be happy to know that a portion of Owens' profits have gone to subsidizing solar lighting systems and stove/chimney installations in the remote village houses of his Nepali staff, 35 solar and nine stove installations done since 1996.)
For more information and to make bookings, contact one of the following: Peter Owens in his Kathmandu office from mid-September through June at petertrek@worldnet.att.net or phone 977-1-479755, fax 977-1-223256; or Govind Shahi at his San Francisco area office of Himalayan Treasures & Travel any time at 800/223-1813 or 510/222-5307. You can e-mail Govind at info@himalayantrekking.com. The Web site is www.instantweb.com/p/peterowens.