Welcome to an audio adventure unlike anything you've ever heard. I’m Jason Moore, host of the top-rated Zero To Travel Podcast, and I invite you to come with my wife Anne Dorthe and me to visit the beautiful country of Nepal through this unique 16-part travel podcast series – the world’s first “audio guidary” (part audio guide and part diary). We’ll be your travel companions as you soak up the entire Himalayan mountain trekking experience, going from the bustling capital city of Kathmandu to remote Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and beyond. Along the way, you’ll discover Nepalese Culture, learn about her history, and meet her famous friendly people. Together we’ll step into the world’s tallest mountain range, sharing the flood of adrenaline and emotions from hiking along steep ledges and across Indiana Jones-like suspension bridges, through Tibetan Buddhist villages, and into warm, colorful monasteries where we’ll share energizing cups of warm Tibetan tea with the locals. Enjoy the sounds of the villages, the music, the spinning prayer wheels, and the gentle wisdom of our Nepalese guide, Samir, as he shares insightful and practical information for trekking in the Himalayan Mountains. Listen now to experience this one-of-a-kind audio adventure, and learn how to plan your own trek in Nepal. Don’t wait! Subscribe now to get access to the entire series.
Episode 17: Addendum: The 2015 Earthquake
On April 25, 2015, a huge earthquake shook the little country of Nepal, killing 9,000 people, causing avalanches on Everest, and destroying entire villages. Some of the places Jason and Anne Dorthe had visited were destroyed.
Is Samir ok? Is Mingmar ok? These were the first thoughts that struck Jason and Anne Dorthe when they heard the news. Learn what happened, how the Manaslu Circuit was affected, and whether it’s still a good idea to travel to Nepal. Is it worth it?
Are you ready for a trekking adventure? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
12/14/2016 • 9 minutes, 51 seconds
Episode 16: Bhaktapur: The Side Few Tourists See
It’s the last day of hiking, and at the trail’s end Jason, Anne Dorthe, Samir and Mingmar take the terrifying Jeep ride after dark along cliff edges back down to Kathmandu, and say their sad goodbyes. Set off with Jason and Anne Dorthe to explore other parts of Nepal, including Pokhara and Bhaktapur!
Learn about obtaining a visa in Nepal, visiting Nepal’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, and traveling between cities in Nepal. Visit Nepal’s largest stupa in Samir’s home town, Boudha, and listen to the tornado of chanting and conch shell music emanating from the monasteries as you wander through the streets. Stay overnight and experience a sight that most tourists never see. Do you want to hire Samir to be your guide? Listen up for his contact information! Email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
Thank you for joining us for this adventure in Nepal! Ready for the next step? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
12/14/2016 • 24 minutes, 35 seconds
Episode 15: Electricity: Return to Civilization
Jason and Anne Dorthe experience the luxuries of modern civilization again for the first time in 12 days. They will miss the high Tibetan Buddhist villages and the ritual of hunting down the village water source each evening. The couple reflects on how the trek has changed them forever.
Is one trek in Nepal enough, or will you want to go back and do another one? Learn what Jason and Anne Dorthe would do differently if they were to plan this trip again, what type of information should you know before you land in Nepal, and how much they paid for their trek. What can you learn from their mistakes?
Want to try your hand at booking a trek? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
12/8/2016 • 30 minutes, 47 seconds
Episode 14: Raksi: A Native Nepalese Beverage
Jason and Anne Dorthe enjoy their first alcoholic drink since the trek began: a native beverage called Raksi. While waiting for their drinks, they talk to Samir about the different kinds of Buddhist monks, and share the story of an impish old man they met on the trail.
Experience Raksi for the first time and learn about how it’s made, learn what mornings are like on the trail, and enjoy Jason’s detailed description of the physically exhausting experience of using a squat toilet.
Ready to try some Raksi for yourself? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
12/7/2016 • 23 minutes, 38 seconds
Episode 13: Travel Companions: Sharing Pain and Pleasure on the Path
Jason and Anne Dorthe feel sad as their trek nears its end. They enjoy talking about little things and big things in life as they walk together, and about the difficult struggles each has had on the long hike. At day’s end they reflect on the pros and cons of traveling with a companion versus solo travel.
Learn some of the advantages of traveling in this unique and rugged way, what you can do to physically prepare for a trek, and how trekking in Nepal is different from trekking in other parts of the world, such as Patagonia.
Are you ready to plan a solo adventure, or will you rope in an adventure partner?To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
12/1/2016 • 19 minutes, 47 seconds
Episode 12: The Seasons: When to Trek Nepal
On Day 9 of their trek, Jason and Anne Dorthe discuss the trekking seasons with Samir. At day’s end, Samir and some villagers sing and play music on native instruments.
What is each season like? What is the most popular month for trekking? Which month is the greenest? The warmest? The quietest? When will you see the most flowers? When is your best chance of making it over the high passes? Which season is driest, and which is rainiest?
Learn all about trekking in different months of the year, about camping along the trail versus staying in the tea houses (as Jason and Anne Dorthe did), how much cash you should carry with you, how meals are handled, and what to do about drinking water.
Have you decided which season you’d like to trek in Nepal? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/30/2016 • 22 minutes, 40 seconds
Episode 11: The High Pass: A Difficult Decision
Today Jason and Anne Dorthe must decide if they will take on the high mountain pass, rumored to be snowy and icy on the other side, or turn around and retrace their steps, making a longer trek. People have died on the pass in recent days.
Most guides do not want to go back the same way they came up. Jason and Anne Dorthe speak with Samir and Mingmar, weighing the pros and cons.
What’s the ideal group size for a Nepal trek? Learn the advantages of having a smaller group, find out which equipment you should pack if there is a chance of snow and ice on the trail, and discover “Himalayan Viagra”—the most expensive biological resource in the world.
Are you dreaming of a mountain adventure? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/23/2016 • 26 minutes, 1 second
Episode 10: Altitude: Recognizing and Preventing Acute Mountain Sickness
Come along for an easy day with Jason and Anne Dorthe; it’s a shorter walk as they acclimate to the increasing altitude. As they walk up, an avalanche of people are hiking back, unable to get over the high pass. Rescue helicopters fly overhead.
Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the day-to-day life of these remote villages as Jason and Anne Dorthe pass through. Learn about altitude sickness, how to tell if you have it, how to treat it, and what you can do to help prevent it.
Ready to tackle the high mountains of Nepal? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/22/2016 • 33 minutes, 9 seconds
Episode 9: The Monastery of Lho: Tibetan Tea with the Monks
On the rocky path to a mountain-top monastery, Jason and Anne Dorthe see Manaslu—the mountain for which the circuit has been named—for the first time.
Close your eyes as you listen, and contemplate the beauty of the mountains as fall colors begin to appear. Hike up a stone path through a village toward the colorful monastery at the top of the mountain. Learn about the history of Buddhism and Buddhist monasteries. Experience harvest time in the Himalayas, take your shoes of to enter the temple, and enjoy the energizing warmth of Tibetan tea with the monks.
Do you want to experience a Tibetan monastery for yourself? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/17/2016 • 32 minutes, 32 seconds
Episode 8: Food: The Finest Fuel for the Trek
Jason and Anne Dorthe talk food with Samir. They’re both feeling strong and healthy on the diet he recommended. As they make their way higher and higher, Jason and Anne Dorthe encounter more prayer flags, more influence from Tibet…and more trekkers coming the opposite way. Will they be able to make it over the snowy pass a few days from now?
What should you eat when you trek in Nepal? Discover what to eat and what not to eat, so you can tackle the trail with the least risk of gut-butchering botherations. Explore the food options on the Manaslu Circuit, learn about the the old salt trade, and experience the sights and sounds of the high Himalayan villages.
Ready to fuel your own exotic trek? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/16/2016 • 37 minutes, 22 seconds
Episode 7: Clothing: Staying Comfortable on the Trail
On Day 4 of the trek, Jason and Anne Dorthe walk a breathtaking trail with mountain views and beautiful waterfalls into a Buddhist region with many monasteries. Hike alongside them and experience the mule trains, scenes of village life, and prayer wheels.
What kinds of permits do you need for this trek? What happens if you don’t have the proper permits? Learn the answers to those questions, plus a comprehensive overview of the best type of clothing for a comfortable Nepal trek, and yes, top tips for using a squat toilet with the least amount of discomfort.
Dreaming of your own trekking adventure? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/15/2016 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Episode 6: Porters: Getting to Know Mingmar
Dubbed “the cutest person ever” by Anne Dorthe, Mingmar carries the bags for Jason and Anne Dorthe during the trek. Jason and Anne Dorthe discuss their feelings about having someone else carry their things and why they decided to hire a porter. Experience a typical lunch on the trail with Jason, Anne Dorthe, Mingmar and Samir.
Is it a good idea to hire a porter? What is your responsibility toward your porters? Learn all about porters, what to carry with you on the trail, and what essential item that every trekker should have (which costs less than $10).
Can’t wait to go on a trek yourself? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/10/2016 • 20 minutes, 8 seconds
Episode 5: Samir: Our Wise and Witty Guide
Jason and Anne Dorthe become better acquainted with their guide Samir as they start out on day two of their hike. What is his background? Samir shares how Nepal’s turbulent recent history affected his life as he grew up through the Maoist uprising and became a guide.
Learn how Jason and Anne Dorthe are coping with her health concern and the other emotions that accompany being far from home in a strange place when you’re not feeling your best. Enjoy a taste of dal bhat—Nepal’s national food—and discover why it’s the best meal to order if you’re really hungry!
Are you ready for an adventure of your own? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/9/2016 • 29 minutes, 36 seconds
Episode 4: The First Day on the Trail: Health Concern
Anne Dorthe gets up multiple times during the night with a worrying health concern. During Jason and Anne Dorthe’s first 24 hours on the trail, they must face a difficult decision about Anne Dorthe’s illness. Should they keep going and risk it getting worse in a place where they will have no access to medical care, or avoid risk and turn around?
What options could you consider if you are about to start a trek and you get sick? Also, is it a good idea to bring gifts for villagers along your route? If so, what kinds of gifts are best to bring—or not bring—for them? Learn the answers to these questions and more as you walk along with Jason and Anne Dorthe on the first day of their hike.
Have you always dreamed of trekking? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
11/8/2016 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
Episode 3: To Arughat Bazaar: A Raw and Rugged Ride
Jason and Anne Dorthe dance in their seats and struggle not to get sick as they endure the bumpiest jeep ride they’ve ever experienced. They are en route to the place where they will begin their Manaslu trek. Why did they choose the Manaslu Circuit instead of the more popular Annapurna or Everest Circuits?
Join Jason and Anne Dorthe on their epic jeep ride to the starting point of the Manaslu trek. Along the way, discover the history and geology of the region. Learn the features and advantages of the Manaslu Circuit, what you can expect along the route, and why you might want to consider it over some of the more popular routes.
Do you love to hike? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
10/28/2016 • 9 minutes, 48 seconds
Episode 2: Kathmandu: The Quest for a Guide
Many outfitters approach Jason and Anne Dorthe, trying to sell their guiding services. Can they fend them off and sort out the gougers from the gurus? Who has real experience in the high Himalayas, and who is babbling bull crap?
When you’re trying to set up a trek in Nepal, how can you stave off feelings of overwhelm? How do you choose your guide? What are the logistics of preparing for a trek?
Learn how to choose your guide and gear, how to negotiate your costs, what gear you should bring from home and what you can buy in Nepal.
Do you want to plan your own high mountain adventure? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
10/28/2016 • 27 minutes, 23 seconds
Episode 1: Norway to Nepal: Fears and Fantasies of the Adventure Ahead
In the wake of an avalanche that wiped out many trekkers, along with the political turmoil that Nepal experienced in its recent history, Jason and Anne Dorthe feel apprehension about this potentially dangerous excursion. Is it worth it? Should you travel to a country with potentially dangerous weather, natural disasters, and political instability?
Learn about Nepal’s culture, its complex past, the tragedy in the mountains, and the hopes and challenges that Jason and Anne Dorthe experienced during their first full day in Nepal. Walk through their experience with them as they navigate their fears and fantasies of the adventure ahead.
Do you love trekking adventures? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com
10/28/2016 • 24 minutes, 4 seconds
Sneak Peek: Trekking Nepal Adventure Series
Ready to take a long walk with us? Part guide and part diary, this unique 16 part audio adventure series will take you through the entire Himalayan mountain trekking experience from the bustling capital city of Kathmandu to remote Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and beyond. You'll experience Nepalese Culture, meet her famous friendly people and along the way learn how to plan your own mountain trek.
