The Annapurna region of Nepal is a land so gorgeous, it’s long been the ultimate trekking dream for hikers. Here, the sacred peaks of Annapurna, Machapuchare and Dhaulagiri, shining with snow year round, tower over ancient rhododendron forests, icy rivers, and temperate jungles where tigers still roam. Plenty of trekkers come here for all this beauty – but few stray off the tourist routes. That’s where The Moving Mountains Project is different. Our Nepal treks visit off-the-beaten-track villages in the Annapurna region. Walkers stay in village communities - sometimes in people's homes - so there's time for real interaction with Nepalis. We eat with families, and on a rest day we might be invited to help them on projects around the village. We visit a village weaving workshop, a cheese making project, and have the chance to partake the celebration of two of the year’s major festivals Dashain and Tikhar. We stay at a yak farming project on the flanks of Annapurna, and the high point of our trek is a visit to sacred Khayer Lake (4500m) surrounded with shrines, and with the peak of Annapurna towering above. The Moving Mountains Project works closely with the Village Development Committee of the region we visit to ensure income from our visits is used where the village needs it most: this might mean for a drinking water or micro hydropower scheme, school and vocational training development, for medical facilities, or to expand the villages' ingenious wireless internet network. Our style of trekking here empowers communities to undertake the development projects they most need.
Cost
AUD $2300
In 2010/2011 we’ll be walking the Annapurna region
9-25 November 2010 and
Feb-March 2011 (dates to be confirmed shortly)
Trip Notes: The Annapurna Region, Nepal
> Download PDF version
The Annapurna region of Nepal is a land so gorgeous, it’s long been the ultimate trekking dream for hikers. Here, the sacred peaks of Annapurna, Machapuchare and Dhaulagiri, shining with snow year round, tower over ancient rhododendron forests, icy rivers, and temperate jungles where tigers still roam. Plenty of trekkers come here for all this beauty – but few stray off the tourist routes. That’s where The Moving Mountains Project is different. Our Nepal treks visit off-the-beaten-track villages in the Annapurna region. Walkers stay in village communities - sometimes in people's homes - so there's time for real interaction with Nepalis. We eat with families, and on a rest day we might be invited to help them on projects around the village. We visit a village weaving workshop, a cheese making project, and have the chance to partake in cultural activities and festivals. We stay at a yak farming project on the flanks of Annapurna, and the high point of our trek is a visit to sacred Khayer Lake (4500m) surrounded with shrines, and with the peak of Annapurna towering above.
How we Move Mountains in the Annapurna Range
The Moving Mountains Project is fortunate to work with what’s surely one of Nepal’s most dynamic and energetic Village Development Committees. Encompassing 13 villages in the Myagdi District, this committee is lead by Mahabir Pun 2007 winner of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award for Community Leadership. Pun has been working tirelessly in Nangi and surrounding villages for many years, setting up the village’s thriving high school, as well as a micro hydropower scheme, a village plant nursery for reforestation, a health post, a library; and most ingenious of all, a wireless internet network that connects Nangi and eight surrounding villages with the outside world. Using donated computer parts, Pun set up a computer department in Himanchal High School so that students can learn computer skills. Villagers also use this to communicate with distant villages, benefit from tele-medicine services, and there are even opportunities for online teaching in distant villages where there’s no school as yet. There are now 350 students from kindergarten to year 12 at Himanchal High School and boarding facilities have been built for students from other villages. Vocational training in sewing, paper making, carpentry and other trades are also being developed. Amongst the long term goals here is to set up by 2015, a college for four-year study courses for students from Nangi and surrounding mountain villages. Only with a strong foundation of village-based income generating schemes will this be possible. Walks organised by The Moving Mountains Project, which will donate all after-expenses profits, will be an important part of this income generation. For more information please see: www.himanchal.org
The Walk
This 16 day journey is different from most tourist trekking, because it’ s about more than just the walk. We take time in villages, rather than simply passing through, and in our small groups, are welcomed as friends. There are opportunities for homestay with villagers in their houses, where we’ll experience the simplicity of life here, as well as villagers’ generosity. We visit current development schemes, and will have the chance to talk with villagers about how they see their future. Although cultural exchange is strongly emphasized, this is by no means tame trekking. Some walking days are demanding, with several hard climbs. Most walking is at a moderate altitude of between 2000-3000m, and we walk between 15 and 20kms a day. Once we make the ascent from the town of Beni, we will be walking within sight of Annapurna (8091m), Dhaulagiri, (8167m), Nilgiri (7061m). Our high point is the yak-farming settlement of Khopa at 3660m where there are magnificent views of Annapurna, Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and the Khali Gandaki valley. Those who wish can
make the ascent from here to sacred Khayer Lake at 4500m, on the very flank of Annapurna. In order to keep our walks small and personal, we’ve decided not to use long trains of porters. You’ll need to be able to carry a rucksack with your own sleeping bag and clothes, water bottle, and personal effects. If you pack wisely you can keep the weight of your bag down to 12 or 14kgs.
Itinerary
Please arrange to arrive in Kathmandu at the latest, the afternoon before trip departure. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Day 1:
Depart Kathmandu this morning for Pokhara. This is a pleasant 7-hour journey by high-standard bus through the green rural valleys of the Trisuli and Seti Rivers. Breakfast and lunch stops to break the journey. Afternoon boat trip on Phewa Tal, Pokhara’s beautiful lake. Overnight in Tibetan-run hotel in Pokhara.
Day 2:
Morning at leisure to discover Pokhara, and wander down to the shores of Phewa Tal. Afternoon taxi ride to Beni – 3 hours. Overnight in simple hotel in Beni, on the banks of the Khali Gandaki River.
Day 3:
Beni (817m) to Nangi (2200m). There’s no other way to put it: this walk is a hard uphill slog. We take it slow and steady, stop plenty and are rewarded by our first spectacular views of the snow-capped Annapurna range. An interesting walk through rural villages of different cultural communities. We reach Nangi this evening. Overnight in guest round houses built by villagers.
Day 4:
Rest day in Nangi. We’ll be shown around the village by our guides, see village development projects – or we can wander by ourselves. Optional afternoon walk to nearby waterfall. Homestay in villagers’ homes tonight.
Day 5:
Nangi to Swanta (2400m). Depart Nangi through giant rhododendron forest and jungle where tigers still roam. Cross path of Annapurna Circuit at Phalate, then ascend to Swanta where we overnight in small community guest house.
Day 6:
Rest day in Swanta. Meet villagers and work with them in the fields or on handicraft projects. Visit village school which your walk will help fund. Overnight in homestay accommodation in villagers’ homes.
Day 7:
Swanta (2400m) to Khopra (3600m). A hard but beautiful climb through lush forests. As we near the treeline, we may see yaks from the yak farming project (another initiative of our Village Development Committee) where we’ll overnight at the small stone lodge. Magnificent mountain views as we near Khopra. Overnight here, and we will have dinner with the yak farmer here who also manages the relay station for the villages’ wireless network.
Day 8:
For those who wish, we depart early for the walk to Khayer Lake at 4500m. This is a long, hard day: usually about 11 hours walking for the return trip. We are rewarded in our efforts work by magnificent mountain views along our route, and arrival at this beautiful, often mirror-calm lake surrounded by mountains and shrines, visited only rarely by pilgrims and seldom seen by outsiders. Annapurna is right above us here. Rest day in Khopra for those who prefer.
Day 9:
Khopra to Narchyang (1425m). A long descent today, with inspiring views over Dhaulagiri and the Khali Gandaki Valley – the deepest gorge on Earth. Overnight homestay in Narchyang, an isolated Magar village on the edge of the Khali Gandaki valley.
Day 10:
Depart for Paudwar. Today we have awe-inspiring views of the Kali Gandaki valley and small villages steeply below us, as we traverse around the hillside between Narchyang and Paudwar. We visit village cheese making scheme – unique in the area - and buy some cheese for our remaining picnic lunches.
Day 11:
Pawdwar to Ghorepani. Today we will see tourists! We walk part way on the Annapurna Circuit trail to the pretty but touristy town of Ghorepani. You’ll be able to contrast this to the places you’ve seen, buy things in the bazaar – and enjoy a hot shower.
Day 12:
Ghorepani to Poon Hill. We’ll view dawn and sunrise over the mountains from Poon Hill, and come back down to our hotel with a rest day.
Day 13:
Ghorepani to Nangi. We walk through exquisite rhododendron forests punctuated by wide mountain views back to Nangi.
Day 14:
We’ll retrace our steps today, back down to Beni. We take our final glimpse of the Annapurnas. Taxis from Beni to Pokhara. Celebratory group meal in Pokhara to mark end of trek.
Day 15:
Morning flight to Kathmandu. Afternoon optional trip to World Heritage site of Bhaktapur in Kathmandu Valley.
Day 16:
Transfers to airport and fly home – or stay on for own independent travel in Nepal.
Note: We reserve the right to alter the itinerary. Each day’s itinerary will be decided by the guide, dependent on weather conditions and the fitness of the group.
The spirit of Moving Mountains Project walks
Walks with the Moving Mountains Project are different. We want the experience we offer to be a world away from typical tourist treks. Being a not-for-profit trekking outfit already sets us apart. We are also unique in that we walk in small groups with a maximum of just six walkers. On our walks we aim for deep “mountain immersion” which means feeling the isolation and harshness of the high mountain environment, as wall as the warmth and inspiration of real cultural exchange. We can’t promise that you won’t see other tourists, but you can be sure you’ll be experiencing a much more authentic mountain Nepal than them. The spirit of our treks means that we journey as a team. Our small group of walkers and our guide works together. We aim to have no “them and us” divisions between walkers and staff. We eat together, hike together and laugh together. Although our guides, and many Nepalis, speak excellent English, walkers are encouraged to learn a few words of Nepali before the trek to help them get the most out of the adventure. We want you to be moved by the
experience of walking with us.
Equipment
For a comfortable trek you’ll need well worn in, sturdy boots, a rucksack with a comfortable harness, a warm sleeping bag, down jacket or similar very warm jacket, waterproof jacket, waterproof overpants, gloves, hat, wool or polypropylene thermals, lighweight, quick drying trousers sun hat, sun glasses, sun screen. A comprehensive gear list will be sent when you book. We will be in indoor accommodation each night so we won’t need tents. We hope not to use porters as we want to keep our walks small. We do recognize that working as a porter can bring useful income to poor families, however, and we may use porters on some days, depending on the fitness of our walkers.
Weather
The trekking season in the Himalayas is in the dry months of October-April. In this season, there’s little rain and days are warm and sunny (15-25°C). Under clear skies, at high altitude, nights can be very cold – up to -5°C, though rarely less than 0°C.
Fitness and preparation
This walk is moderate level trek with some hard days. We an average of 15kms each day, walking for six to eight hours on full days, depending on terrain. We do have two days of very strenuous, sustained uphills. Like all Himalayan mountain walks, most days have significant climbing or descending, usually on stone steps and paths. Strong legs are essential. In preparation we recommend that hikers undertake an hour of strenuous, sustained aerobic exercise such as running, swimming or bike riding, four or more times a week in the months leading up to the trek. This can’t be gentle exercise: to get a good aerobic fitness-building workout you need to elevate your heart rate and be out of breath. It’s also essential to have solid walking experience: we recommend having done several multi-day, packpack-carrying hikes prior to this trek. Some long day walks or weekend walks – particularly in the walking boots you plan to bring on the trip - are also recommended as part of preparation for a Moving Mountains trek in Nepal.
Costs
AUD $2300
Cost is inclusive of all travel and trekking arrangements in Nepal, all meals on trek and all trekking services including guiding, and pre-placement of equipment by porters.
Background notes for walks with The Moving Mountains Project in Nepal
Download PDF version
Getting there: The usual way to travel to Nepal from New Zealand and Australia is via Bangkok with Thai Airlines or with Singapore Airlines via Singapore. Flights from Europe are usually via the Middle East. Please book your flight to arrive in Kathmandu at least one night before the trip begins, and book to leave no earlier than the morning of the last day of the trip. You may like to arrive a day or two earlier than the trip commences. If so, please let us know: we can meet you at the airport and advise on hotel bookings.
Travel insurance: Please have comprehensive travel insurance for the whole period of the trip, from the date you leave home to the date you return. Your insurance must include medical repatriation and helicopter evacuation. Your travel agent can advise you. Prior to departing, we'll ask you to sign a form confirming you have this.
Degree of difficulty: This is a moderate trek for a walker with good fitness and mountain walking experience however, there are several hard, steep, sustained uphill stretches which require very good endurance. The majority of the walking is between 2000m and 3000m. Two nights are spent at a high altitude of 3660m and there is an opportunity for fitter walkers to take a day trip to the highest point of the walk at 4500m. This is a very high altitude day-walk from which the group returns to 3660m to overnight.
Fitness: To get the most out of the walk, participants need a good level of fitness. It is essential to have undertaken some multi-day backpacking hikes previously as well as being comfortable with basic sleeping conditions. Walkers need to be able to carry a backpack weighing 12-14kg depending on how light they pack. Preparation for the hike should include of an hour of vigorous, sustained aerobic exercise (eg: running, cycling, swimming) a minimum of 4 times a week. This needs to be high intensity exercise: you should be out of breath for the whole hour that you train. The rule of thumb for any hike is the fitter you are, the more you're able to enjoy the experience. A more detailed discussion on fitness is contained in the trip medical form which can be downloaded here.
Clothing requirements: Comfortable hiking clothing and boots, as well as a warm jacket and thermal underwear for nighttime are required. A warm sleeping bag is recommended. For cultural reasons, both women and men are requested not to wear shorts and women should not have bare shoulders or very revealing dress. Please see the Gear List for this walk here.
What you need to carry: Walkers need to be able to carry a sleeping bag, hiking clothes, personal toiletries and 2 litres of water. On our first day of hiking, which is a long, sustained uphill (from 817m-2200m) we can give some of our gear to porters who will walk ahead of us to Nangi. Gear can also be left safely in Pokhara or Nangi. Aim to walk light with a minimum of comfortable clothing in a comfortable backpack.
Visas: Foreign visitors need a visa to enter Nepal and this is obtained easily from the Nepalese embassy or consulate in your country. Australian walkers can download this at their website www.nepalconsulate.org.au. Send this form in duplicate, 2 passport photos, your passport, a return envelope and AUD$70. It is recommended to send your passport by registered post and to include a self-addressed registered post envelope for its return. Your travel agent may also be able to help you arrange this. Non-Australians need to check the visa requirements for their nationality.
Vaccinations: There are several vaccinations that are recommended generally for travellers and specifically for travelers to Nepal. If you have been in a developing country in the last 10 years, you may have already have had the required vaccinations. The Moving Mountains Project walks medical form details the necessary vaccinations. Please visit your local travel health clinic with this form a minimum of 8 weeks before your trip’s departure.
Staying healthy: The group will have a comprehensive first aid kit and the trip co-ordinator has wilderness first aid training. Your travel health clinic will recommend a traveller's medical kit. We ask each walker to bring their own traveller's medical kit containing anti-diarrhoeal medicines and instructions on how to take them. You may also want to consider asking your doctor about bringing medicine to counteract the effects of high altitude. Please consult the The Moving Mountains Project walks medical form for further information.
Food & Water: In Kathmandu and Pokhara we will eat in good restaurants aimed at foreigners. In Beni we will have basic food in a small hotel. In Nangi and the other villages we visit, we will eat mostly as locals do: this means rice, vegetable curry and lentils. Sometimes we'll also enjoy fried flat bread or locally made cheese. On the night in Ghorepani, walkers are able to choose from a wider menu designed for tourists. Little meat is eaten. For lunches and snacks, the guide will be carrying more western-style food: sweets, muesli bars etc. It's important to drink clean water. You will be supplied with filtered and UV treated water each morning before the group sets off and water can be replenished water during the day. Please bring a water bottle or bladder with a 2 litre capacity.
Accommodation: in Kathmandu and Pokhara walkers stay in comfortable hotel rooms with ensuite bathrooms. In Beni accommodation is a basic hotel with shared cold water facilities. In Nangi Village we stay in the "Round House" which has small separate rooms with wooden beds and mattresses, and basic shared cold-water facilities, though it is possible to can boil some hot water for washing. In the other villages walkers stay in villagers' homes or small, simple lodges. One night is spent in a low-key tourist lodge in the mountain village of Ghorepani. Please be aware that overnight accommodation will sometimes be on mattresses on the floor. There are rarely flush toilets or running water sometimes there is no privacy for sleeping. We ask you to be patient and flexible.
Money: In Kathmandu and Pokhara, Visa cards can be used in ATM/Cash Machines to withdraw money from foreign accounts in local currency. It is also a good idea to bring some US dollars to exchange. Travellers' Cheques are not widely accepted.
Language: Many Nepalis speak very good English, and most have a few words. Our local guide from Nangi village speaks excellent English and will be happy to interpret for you if you would like to communicate with a non-English speaker. You may be interested in learning a few words of Nepali. If so, a good phrase book Lonely Planet's Nepali Phrase Book (ISBN-10: 1740591925) available online at www.lonelyplanet.com, and from good book shops.
What else to bring: You may like to bring some tiny gifts for the hosts whose homes you will stay in on some nights. Things like little packets of tea bags or tiny pots of honey make good gifts. Anything that's light to carry and is attractive or useful would be appreciated. You might also like to bring a few postcards of the place you live or photos of your family to show people. Pens, coloured pencils, exercise books or stickers are appreciated by children. In addition, if you have any second-hand books for children or teenagers that you would like to donate to the schools, please talk to us. If you can bring them to Nepal, we can arrange to have them carried to the village schools in the areas we visit.
Background info: For background information, see The Moving Mountains Project website and especially the Nepal Trip notes which you can download from the Nepal page. Follow the link to the Himanchal Education Foundation (www.himanchal.org) from the Links page on our website to read more about the educational projects we support under 'The School' tab. If you click on 'The Village' tab, you can access background information about Nangi Village and the area.
Gear list for walks with The Moving Mountains Project in Nepal
Download PDF version
The following is a list outlining the kind of gear to bring with you on The Moving Mountains Walk in Nepal. This list is not meant to be prescriptive.
Numbers of items shown are only an indication. The key word in all of this is comfortable: you should walk in what feels comfortable to you. Please feel free to discuss gear with us if you have any questions.
The temperatures we can expect on the walk are from 5°C at night to 28°C during the day. At our high camp the night time temperature could dip below 0°C. During the day it should be generally dry and sunny, but rain is also possible. October and March/April can be humid. Conditions underfoot could be muddy, or quite dusty and dry depending on recent rainfalls.
Things to bring are:
-
comfortable rucksack a with good harness and volume of approx 40-50 litres or large enough to carry your own clothes, sleeping bag, camera and water while on the trek.
- warm sleeping bag (down is good)
- walking boots that you know don't give blisters, good socks
- head torch
- wool or polypropylene tops and bottoms (3 tops approx, 1 pair bottoms approx)
- wool/fleece hat and gloves
- warm fleece or down jacket to wear at night
- waterproof jacket, preferably breathable type eg: Goretex
- waterproof overpants
- cool, quick dry walking pants x2
- cool, quick dry walking shirts x2 **
- shoes or sandals for the evenings
- thermals or loose clothes to sleep in
- sun glasses, high factor (at least SPF30) sun cream, sun hat
- change of non-walking clothing for arrival/departure
- walking poles if you use them
- durable water bottle or water bladder of 2 litre minimum
- lightweight trek towel or small hand towel
- personal toiletries
- camera
- personal medical kit (see Medical Form for details)
** Women don’t usually show their shoulders in Nepal. Short sleeves are fine, but not sleeveless tops for women. You might like to do as the Nepalis do and pick up a couple of scarves which can be useful worn in all sorts of ways and wrapped around the shoulders, are a great way to stay warm.
