vertical-endeavour.com

I would like to do a trip to the himalayas,only to do some hiking there ,i would say nothing higher than 6000m.Does anybody have any recommendations on routes and tour operators,and what sort of cost it would be.

The little research i have done so far is that it looks like it is cheaper to go to the himalayas than to climb kili.I would rather be surrounded by some serious mountains,than been on an overcrowded mound in Africa for 6 days for the same money.R21000.00/person

I would also highly recommend the Swiss Alps as a mountain destination. The altitude is not as high (max 4800m) but what's a number anyway? The "surrounded by snowy/craggy mountains" feel is epic and it's all very accessible.

We have done 2 summer alpine trips now, both in Switzerland. The first was for 5 weeks in 2006 and the second for 3 weeks in 2009. Both cost about R15k including flights. Notice how the first was when I was still a student and happy to bum around in barns or sneaky wild-camping - hence the same cost as the much shorter 2nd trip

As an example of what you can get done for the same cost as a kili trip:

On the 2006 trip, we trekked 320km from Champex-Lac on the French border to Sass-Grund (one valley past Zermatt) via 11 glaciers and 20 alpine peak summits (up to 4327m, the summit of Nadelhorn). Most of the routes up the peaks involved easy scrambling up to about C grade with mind-blowing exposure! Highly recommended!

Stijn, it sounds awesome!
Would it be worthwhile to go to Swiss Alps in winter, around December?

Only for skiing - winter mountaineering is pretty hardcore and requires some serious alpine experience.

In summer you can get by with your berg experience, some reading up and practicing of glacier and alpine techniques such as crevasse recue and common-sense. Then choose routes on peaks that are graded F or PD at most and the most technical routes you will encounter will have scrambling at most. No need for trad gear, except for a few slings around spikes until you get into the AD grade.

Ok cool. thanx for the info. Summer it is then!
It sounds like a really great experience!

I'll have to do a couple more of winter Berg hikes first, did Injisuthi last year August, and realised how ill prepared I was. Constant wet feet, butane gas wouldnt cook the water and the snow glare was hectic!!!

@anthony: I can recommend Nepal out of all the Himalayan countries. Not only is it affordable and easy to travel there, but the locals are welcoming and friendly. It will be more than just a mountain experience. Its also unique in that you can do independent "tea house" trekking, which is the most affordable, where you won't need to worry about food and tents etc (which otherwise porters would have to carry for you). Costs vary considerably depending on the number of days, permits, camping vs staying in lodges, whether you use a porter, guide or a "porter-guide", whether you fly locally (like Kathmandu to Lukla), and of course which agency you decide to do it with. If you care to narrow some options down, I can get a quote for you if you want.

Bear in mind that the Himalayas do not readily offer solitude along the regular routes. The Annapurna and Everest areas are packed in peak season. You'll have to contend with locals, porters, yaks, goats, donkeys and other trekkers on the trail. Naturally you can get off the beaten track a little and there are less popular, quieter regions.

Normally the passes do not go over 5600m.