PDF - Crooked Trails
Transcription
PDF - Crooked Trails
NEPAL SHERPA HOMESTAY TREK March 20 - April 1, 2016 and October 1 - 13, 2016 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Sherpa People are known throughout the world for being excellent high elevation mountain guides, but few tourists have the opportunity to get to know their guides on a personal level. A classic Crooked Trails adventure, this trip brings us to Sibuje Village, the home of our guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, so we can learn about Sherpa life and culture from villagers themselves. To begin our trek we start in the village of Phaplu, far from touristic areas, and trek north toward Makalu-Barun National Park where towering mountains can be seen as we ascend ridges that separate valleys dotted with small villages. En route to Sibuje we meet Rai, Sherpa, Bahun, Chhettri, and other ethnic groups, and see different ways of life, different religious practices, and different architecture. We also visit Buddhist monasteries and have the opportunity to participate in a meditation. Once in Sibuje we stay in the homes of local people, and learn how to cook traditional foods and do work on a subsistence farm. We visit the homes of many villagers, with whom we drink butter tea and chat with the help of Karma as translator. After our stay we continue back along a different route, with more views of giant Himalayan peaks before taking a short flight back to Kathmandu. This is a challenging (but rewarding) trek – participants need to be in good physical condition! ITINERARY DAY 1 | KATHMANDU Travelers arrive from international destinations and transfer to hotel. Rest in hotel. Traditional Nepali dinner at a restaurant for those who arrive before 4pm. DAY 2 | KATHMANDU City tour of world heritage sites in Kathmandu and preparation for our trek. Shop for missing items and enjoy a group dinner. Page 1 ! of 5 ! DAY 3 | KATHMANDU - PHAPLU Take a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Phaplu, in Solukhumbu District (Everest Region). Visit Chialsa, a Tibetan refugee camp and monastery (Gompah). Visit nearby Sallery Bazaar. Stay at a lodge in Phaplu for the evening. No trekking. DAY 4 | PHAPLU - NUNTHALA Trek to Nunthala Lodge between Phaplu and Nunthala. Cross Takshindu Pass (10,100 ft./3,080 m), with views of Kangtega (22,241 ft./6,779m) Thamserku (21,729 ft./6,623 m), and on a clear day, Mt. Everest. Pass through villages where a diversity of ethnic groups live, and see a variety of agricultural practices and ways of life, including Sherpa, Chhettri, Brahmin, and Tamang. Overnight at lodge. 5 hrs. trekking. DAY 5 | NUNTHALA - KHARIKHOLA Trek to Kharikhola. Descend steeply to Manidingma, a Rai and Sherpa village, then continue downward to the Dudh Kosi Valley. Keep your eyes open for Langur monkeys which are often seen along the way. Cross a suspension bridge and climb to the village of Jubing surrounded by stands of bamboo. Finally arrive in Kharikhola, a beautiful Magar and Sherpa village surrounded by Mani stones (stone prayer tablets) and featuring a weekly market. Overnight at lodge. 5 hrs. trekking. DAY 6 | KHARIKHOLA - PANGGOM Trek to Panggom monastery. Panggom village is an idyllic location backed by snowcapped Mera Peak, the Numbur Himal, and Mt. Karylung. Visit with the Lama of the monastery, who is the uncle of one of our guides, and receive a talk on Tibetan Buddhism as it is practiced by the Sherpas of Nepal. Participate in a Buddhist meditation. Overnight at the monastery or at a homestay in nearby Sibuje village. 3 hrs. trekking. NOTE: The Panggom monastery may be under construction during the Fall of 2015. If this is the case, trekkers will have lunch at the Panngom monastery and continue to Sibuje Village for the evening. If meditation cannot be facilitated in Panggom, it will be held at the Sibuje monastery on Day 8. DAY 7 | PANGGOM - SIBUJE Short trek from Panggom to Sibuje village for a homestay. Sibuje is located along a narrow ridge jutting out into the Dudh Kosi Valley. Its terraced fields afford spectacular views of the Numbur Page 2 ! of 5 ! Himal and adjacent peaks. Sibuje is the home of our staff, so our arrival here will feel very much like a homecoming. We will stay with the families of our guides, who treat us to local food and drink along with traditional Sherpa hospitality. In the afternoon we visit a local school for a welcome ceremony and presentation. In the evening we receive cooking lessons from our hosts, who teach us how to make traditional Sherpa foods. Homestay. 1 hr. trekking. DAY 8 | SIBUJE HOMESTAY Homestay in Sibuje. After a hearty Sherpa breakfast of Tsampa (buckwheat flour porridge, like oatmeal) we will take a short walk to visit a water-powered gristmill. The mill is used to grind buckwheat into flour, which is later cooked to make Tsampa porridge. We will then visit the local monastery (gompah), and visit the homes of Sibuje villagers. Using our guides as translators, we are able to ask questions about life and challenges that villagers face. We can also ask about village projects, since Sibuje is where project funds from your tour are being used. Homestay. 1 hr. walk to waterwheel. DAY 9 | SIBUJE - PAIYA Trek to Paiya. Today we again don our packs and begin climbing through mixed oak and rhododendron forest toward Khari La Pass (10,088 ft./3,075m). From the pass we catch the first glimpse of tooth-like Mt. Kumbulia (18,901 ft./5,761m), which is considered to be the abode of a god by the Sherpa people, and therefore never to be climbed. We also see Gyachen Kang and Kusum Kangkeru before descending and crossing a bridge into Paiya where we will stay the night with the extended family of one of our guides. Overnight at a family-owned guesthouse. 4 hrs. trekking. DAY 10 | PAIYA - LUKLA Trek to Lukla. Today we travel toward Lukla, a village made famous as the arrival point for trekkers and climbers headed toward Mt. Everest. Along the way we pass more lodges and teashops, indicating that we are entering an area of greater economic opportunity. We have continuous views of high peaks as we gradually ascend a ridge and then descend to the village of Surke (7,513 ft./2,290m). We cross a bridge and then begin our final 1.5 hour ascent to Lukla (9,317 ft./2,840m). In Lukla we have the opportunity to do some shopping and eat Western fare at cafes and restaurants. There is also internet for those who need to contact loved-ones back home. Overnight at lodge. 4 hrs. trekking. Page 3 ! of 5 ! DAY 11 | LUKLA - KATHMANDU Fly back to Kathmandu. Catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu from Lukla. Rest and shopping in Kathmandu. Celebration dinner together at a restaurant in Kathmandu. Overnight in hotel. 30 minute flight. DAY 12 & 13 | LUKLA / KATHMANDU Alternate flight days in the event either of our flights are cancelled due to weather. We will have plenty of fun options for you during these days. DAY 14 | KATHMANDU Departure to international destinations. Cost $2,985 per person Cost Includes: All in-country lodging during trip dates, including in Kathmandu All meals, excluding meals in Kathmandu, snacks between meals, and alcohol In-country transportation, including airport pick-up/drop-off and internal flights. City tour Final cultural dinner celebration Local guide and porter support, including all Nepali staff wages, clothing, equipment, food, and insurance Cost Does Not Include: Participant international airfare, travel insurance/trip cancellation insurance, visa fees ($40 USD for a 30 day Visa) personal clothing and equipment, meals in Kathmandu, snacks between meals, alcohol, any extra baggage fees, expenses resulting from travel delays or cancellations, city tour transportation or charges, tips for guides and support staff. Page 4 ! of 5 ! NEPAL SHERPA HOMESTAY TREK March 20 - April 1, 2016 and October 1 - 13, 2016 TRAVEL DAYS ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW DAY 1 | KATMANDU DAY 2 | KATMANDU DAY 3 | KATHMANDU - PHAPLU DAY 4 | PHAPLU - NUNTHALA DAY 5 | NUNTHALA - KHARIKHOLA DAY 6 | KHARIKHOLA - PANGGOM DAY 7 | PANGGOM - SIBUJE DAY 8 | SIBUJE HOMESTAY DAY 9 | SIBUJE - PAIYA DAY 10 | PAIYA - LUKLA DAY 11 | LUKLA - KATHMANDU DAY 12 | LUKLA - KATHMANDU (ALTERNATE FLIGHT DAY) DAY 13 | LUKLA - KATHMANDU (ALTERNATE FLIGHT DAY) DAY 14 | KATHMANDU DEPARTURE Page 5 ! of 5 !