Friendly guide, trip catered to our wishes Our guide for this trek, Manish, was very friendly, personable, and knowledgeable about trekking. He offered us an alternative route - to see Mohare Dansa - which would've been more eco-tourism focused, with homestays, villages, and a less populated trail. But because my friend and I didn't know much about it, we opted for the original Poon Hill trek, which was still great. (Next time, I would consider the other option, though). Despite being the easiest trek, it was still quite intense with a lot of stairs, up and down. (Day 2 is mostly just upstairs!!) But the good thing is there are lots of tea houses along the way for you to take breaks. We went in March and the climates vary a lot: 70's and strong sun at lower altitudes to 0 Celsius at the top of Poon Hill. The company allows you to rent a puffer jacket and sleeping bag, and for everything else (backpack, towel, gloves, etc.) you can buy in Kathmandu. For lodging, we stayed in some nice lodges with cots and blankets; you can purchase wifi for 100 rupees (about 1 USD) and fill up water (1L bottles usually 100 rupees). Some highlights were the walk down from Poon Hill (Day 3) after sunrise and Gandhruk - we stayed in a cute lodge called Hotel Asish Aama with the cutest host and best homecooked dal bhat. Some things I'd recommend packing: synthetic or wool clothes, thick/wool socks, quick-dry towel, cap/hat for the sun, hand warmers, and joint care pills (like omega-3).
The 12-day trek to Everest base camp was indeed a wonderful experience. The food, people, culture, and of course the majestic mountains along the whole trek makes it a very memorable trip for all of us.
Manaslu Circuit Trek in April of 2017 This is a really exciting trek. I have been hiking/mountaineering for nearly 20 years, and on this trek walked through almost all terrain encountered previously. Yet, it is not overly demanding physically and has no technical difficulties. Exposure to different peoples and cultures also leaves a lasting impression.