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Off the beaten track
( 7 Articles )
Most of the other trekking routes in Nepal could possibly be classified as 'off the beaten track'. There are very few travellers, facilities are often very very basic, but the experiences are astounding.
Most famous of these treks will be the one in Dolpo, in the Kanchenjunja Area, Gorkha, etc. We conduct these treks strictly on request, but we have also developed some of our own, chief amongst them being a Chepang Route, which is a 2.5 day trek to Chitwan National Park, through the old trade route from the south. This and some other treks are described here, meant for those who like going 'off' the beaten tracks.
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Annapurna Region
( 5 Articles )
Central Nepal is dominated by the Annapurna Himal and the village of Pokhara. There are three major trekking routes in central Nepal: to Jomsom, to Annapurna Sanctuary, and a circuit of the Annapurna Himal itself. Pokhara is also a good starting place for short treks of one to four days, including the "Royal" trek, which is described here. Mustang is also geographically a part of the Annapurna region, but because treks to Mustang are subject to special restrictions, this is described it in the separate page on restricted area treks. About two-thirds of the trekkers in Nepal visit the Annapurna region. The area is easily accessible, hotels in the hills are plentiful, and treks here offer good scenery of both high mountains and lowland villages.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)
ACAP was established in 1986 under the guidance of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. The project encompasses the entire Annapurna range, more than 7600 sq km. In an innovative approach to environmental protection, it was declared a "conservation area" instead of a national park. A large number of people live within the protected region, but traditional national park practices dictate that few, if any, people reside within park boundaries. In an effort to avoid any conflicts of interest, ACAP has sought the involvement of local people and has emphasized environmental education.
PROJECTSACAP projects include the training of lodge owners, with an emphasis on sanitation, deforestation and cultural pride. They have trained trekking lodge operators and encouraged hoteliers to charge a fair price for food and accommodation. ACAP encourages the use of kerosene for cooking throughout the region, and requires its use above Chhomrong in the Annapurna Sanctuary and on the route between Ghandruk and Ghorapani. ACAP is supported by a "conservation fee" of Rs 650 that is collected from all trekkers who obtain trekking permits for the Annapurna region.
ACAP has encouraged the construction of toilets throughout the area; use them no matter how disgusting they are. ACAP has also made provision for the supply of kerosene in those parts of the conservation area where the use of firewood by both trekking groups and hotels is prohibited.
In Pokhara, visit ACAP's Trekkers Information & Environmental Centre next to the Hotel Lakeside. In addition to providing information, the centre sells iodine, solar battery chargers and other products that can help you to protect the environment while you are trekking. There is also a "trekkers meeting board" and a battery drop-off centre.
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Langtang Region
( 4 Articles )
The region north of Katmandu offers a multitude of trekking destinations, all accessible without flights. The major areas are Lang tang, Gosainkund and Helambu, which can be combined in many different ways to make treks lasting from seven to 16 days. Lang tang treks offer an experience not found elsewhere. The trails are challenging with long, steep climbs and descents, often through deep forests or across glacial mountain views and interesting villages with well-established lodges.
HIGHLIGHTS
One of the nearest trekking destinations from Katmandu lies an unparalleled combination of natural beauty and cultural riches of Lang tang, Rasuwa. Linked by roads, this region offers a life unfolding and unique experience.
Previously a restricted area near the Tibetan border, the unexplored regions of the Langtang National park has recently been developed into the Tamang Heritage Trail. The people in this place are mostly of Tamang and Tibetan origin, whose culture goes back to hundreds of years. The craftsmanship, dress, traditionally built stone houses and the beautifully carved wooden porches reflect the solitude and the serenity of the Himalayan scenery.
ATTRACTION
Lang tang has over 70 glaciers of varying sizes; the Lang tang and Ganesh Himal mountain ranges and high altitude lades including Gosaikunda, parvatikunda, Bhairavkunda, Dudhkunda etc. this region also comprises rich Tamang art and culture at Gutlang and Goljung, ancient Buddhist monasteries such as kyangin and Sing gumpa, Tatopani (natural hot springs) and the historic fort of Rasuwagadi in the china-Nepal border.
The Lang tang valley is the most popular trek destination equally rich in culture and high bio-diversity are the ‘Gutlang-Chili me’ and Briddim area (see map), an identified Tamang and Tibetan art and cultural heritage trek route is one of the most interesting trekking regions in Nepal.
Check out a video clip from one of the trips on YouTube here
The following are some of the trips we are actively promoting in the area.
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Tailormade Trekking in the Everest Region
( 3 Articles )
Between five and thirty days, these treks take you in the sherpa heartland and give you a very good exposure to the rich Buddhist culture of this region. Most of these treks reach the Everest Base Camp and follow the route taken by the conquerers of the world's highest mountain. The Base Camp Trek was ranked the world's 10th best journey in 2003.
HIGHLIGHTS A trek in this region takes one to the foothills of the mightiest of the mountains in the world. Enroute, one traverses through rhododendron and pine forests, rivers, Sherpa villages and Buddhist Monasteries from temperate to snow line regions. The Himalayas are best seen on this trek as one traces the main route through the Khumbu region from the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar. Trekkers get a close view of the world's greatest mountains, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Tawache and others. The name Khumbu comes from its guardian deity Khumbila Tetsan Gelbu. The literal translation is "Khumbu country god." The teachings of Sherpa Buddhism talk of a spiritual understanding between all beings. This is probably why the level of hospitality and acceptance of westerners comes naturally to the Sherpa. Although it should be mentioned that the Tibetans are also considered fierce warriors. Buddhism can be a very open and accepting theory of thought. There's a story of Swedish missionaries traveling to Tibet when it was opened to the west. While the Tibetans embraced the bible tales, listening and debating with intensity, little if any converting was done, and in fact, the missionaries started to embrace some Buddhist practices. Later, when questioned about the missionaries, the Tibetans responded, "Ah yes, we remember... such wonderful story tellers." Stories, their own and others, are sought out and readily accepted as on-going mythology. Sherpa religion (a mixture of Buddhist and animist) and culture have evolved from thousands of years of myths, stories and strong religious practice. Those of us attempting to understand this culture soon enter an endless maze of woven stories and tales. Views of Everest start getting better and better from Namche Bazaar and on to the birthplace of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first man on top Mt. Everest. The best view of course is from Kalapattar. SPECIAL FEATURESMountains: The Khumbu Himalaya Range: Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Tawatse, Kantega, Pumo Ri, etc. Rivers: Bhote Kosi and Arun. Ethnic Villages & Tribes: Mostly Sherpas and Tibetans in the villages like Namche Bazaar, Thyangboche, Pheriche, Lobuche, Lukla, etc. with monasteries, chortens and Mani stones. Forests: Rhododendron and Pine.
Landscapes: Varying from temperate valleys to snow clad mountains.Interesting extensions to a trek to this region can be cultural walks in the Kathmandu Valley, a two day rafting trip on the Bhote Kosi, or a three day Chitwan Wildlife Reserve Rhino safari. If you are an avid skier, we conduct a backcountry ski expedition in the Everest Region every December.
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Nepal without plan
( 1 Article )
basically the idea here is that you can just come into the country; spend couple of days and figure out what you would like to do in terms of trekking, hiking, other adventure activities
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Charity tours
( 2 Articles )
Developed to support project partners of Save the Children in Nepal, Charity Tours and Treks could be any trip in Nepal, done with a cause in mind, and programmed to raise funds for the particular cause. THey usually have two components, a regular custom trip in Nepal, which could be one of the standard trips, or a highly customised trip, including a visit to the project that is being funded, or could even include a component of actual work / volunteering in the project.
They include a regular trip cost and a funding component, divided equally amongst the participants to fund the particular cause for which teh trip is taken out.
Our vision envisons a world supporting development through tourism, and what better way than to do this through Charity Tours.
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