Our grading system for trekking:
There are many different factors that contribute to the difficulty of a particular trip
Our grading are based on various factors such as length of trek and walking day, trail conditions, maximum altitude and average altitude, elevation gain/loss per day, prevailing weather conditions, temperature range, remoteness and general level of comfort.
Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please contact us at [email protected]
Grade A: Leisure
These adventure tours are our least demanding trips suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. These trips may involve long drives usually on private transport. Sightseeing trips are conducted on foot. The itinerary may also take you to remote places with basic lodging facilities and may also involve a day or two of hiking. We expect you to carry a small back pack weighing about 4 to 5 kgs.
Recommended preparation: Walking on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2-3 months prior to departure.
Grade B: Easy to moderate
These adventures involve trekking between 7 to 10 days in remote areas where facilities are often basic. These trips involve some camping or basic lodging. The trekking days are often between 3 to 6 hours of walking each day on good trails with plenty of time for sightseeing. The itineraries often include 1 or 2 rest days. The trails are generally well defined and relatively easy, but it doesn’t mean it will be a walk in the park. In the Himalayas, flat trail are extremely rare sights, so there will be plenty of ascents and descents on rocky terrains and often on stony steps. The altitudes are moderate and rarely go above 3800m. The average daily ascents and descents will be about 300m to 400m with perhaps an odd day ascending/ descending about 800m. There are no extremes of weather and the daytime temperatures generally do not get lower than 5C with exceptional cases during bad weather when it can get down to 0C.
Recommended preparation: Walking or jogging 45 mins to 1 hour for at least two times a week on undulating terrain or on a tread mill with inclined angle for at least 3 months prior to departure.
Grade C: Moderate
These treks are slightly more difficult. Our moderate treks are between 11 to 15 days in remote areas with camping or basic lodging. The trekking days are often between 4 to 7 hours of walking each day on good trails with plenty of time for sightseeing. The itineraries often include 1 or 2 rest days. The trails are generally well defined but with plenty of ascents and descents on rocky terrains and often on stony steps. The altitudes are moderate and rarely go above 4500m. The average daily ascents and descents will be about 300m to 500m with occasional harder days ascending/ descending about 800m. There are no extremes of weather and the daytime temperatures generally do not get lower than 5C with exceptional cases during bad weather when it can get down to -5C.
Recommended preparation: Walking or jogging 45 mins to 1 hour for at least two times a week on undulating terrain or on a tread mill with inclined angle for at least 3 months prior to departure.
Grade D: Challenging
These adventures are more challenging and remote and with altitudes up to 5600m. Our challenging treks are between 13 to 24 days in remote areas with camping or basic lodging. The trekking days are often between 5 to 7 hours of walking each day with some days involving crossing a pass with up to 10 hours walking. Generally the trails are well defined, but there will be days which involve climbing steep rocky terrains at high altitudes and crossing icy and rocky glaciers in harsh weather conditions.
The average daily ascents and descents will be about 300m to 500m with a few harder days ascending/ descending about 1000m. The itineraries often include rest days after such big ascents.
Temperatures can get below Zero in the daytime at high altitudes and can fall down to -10C at night.
Recommended preparation: Stamina is essential, as walking days are long. We recommend previous trekking experience, preferably at altitude. Walking or jogging 45 mins to 1 hour for at least two times a week on undulating terrain or on a tread mill with inclined angle for at least 3 months prior to departure. Cycling is recommended. Long day hikes on weekends with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended.
Grading system for Expeditions:
A realistically chosen trip maximizes both your enjoyment of the experience, as well as your chances of summit success. Selection of a trip that is beyond your ability could result in uncomfortable experiences. You might end up having the leader not taking you on the climb for your own safety and for the safety of the other team members.
Therefore to let you make a more realistic selection of your mountain, we have categorized each mountain into 2 tired grading systems which describes the technical difficulty (I-V) and fitness (A-E) required for each expedition.
Technical Difficulty
I Straightforward climbing/ scrambling on low angle snow/ rocks. Previous climbing experience is not essential. No ropes required.
II Involves glacial travel on ropes with ice axe and crampons. Previous experience of Ice axe and crampon comes in handy but not a compulsory.
III Involves ice climbing on short sections of snow or ice up to about 50 degrees. Previous snow/ ice climbing experience are essential.
IV Good all-round climbing ability required. Involves low grade rock climbing and long, steep snow and ice slopes over 50 degrees.
V Difficult climbing on very steep ice or technically difficult rock. It is suitable only for competent and experienced mountaineers who have successfully summited technical mountains above 6000m.
Fitness
A Good basic fitness required. Ability to walk 6 to 8 hour over undulating terrain with a few punchy uphill climbs carrying a pack up to 6kg in weight.
B Good cardio-vascular fitness required. Regular training, by running, hiking and perhaps some gym work is essential. Expect to be able to do 8 hour days in hilly and often steep train, carrying a pack of 6-10kg in weight with the occasional extra-long day.
C High level of fitness coupled with physical endurance required with regular training as part of your normal routine. Expect days of up to 8 hours and longer while carrying a pack up to 8-12kg in weight. Summit night could be easily in excess of 12 hours.
D Superlative fitness is called for. Climbs of this grade are exceptionally strenuous and some weight loss is inevitable. Regular, long and intense physical training is required for preparation. Expect 10-15 hours of climbing in testing weather conditions (especially summit day) carrying up to 10-15kg in weight.
E Extreme physical effort at extreme altitude which requires arduous preparation based on your experience of previous trips. You will be pushed physically to the limit and then beyond. Be prepared for very long, sustained days with 10 – 12 hours on a regular basis and more than 15 hours on the summit day. Discomfort to achieve your goal is to be expected.
If you need further help, please do not hesitate to contact us, who are happy to discuss which trips would be suitable for you.
