Annapurna & community project trip
| country: | Nepal |
| location: | Annapurna |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 23 Nov 2010: 28 Mar, 11 Apr |
| price: | From £545 - £665 (12-15 days) excluding flights. Min group size 6 people. We can also offer alternative departure dates for bespoke groups. Please specify which trip you are interested in when enquiring |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Choose from two itineraries, our classic Annapurna & community project trip, or the Gurung Culture Trails trek.
Annapurna & community project:
From £595 (15 days) ex flights.
This imaginative itinerary is an example of how to combine adventure and compassion, providing you lasting memories of the Himalaya and allowing you to make a difference to a community in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.
The first part of your holiday is an introductory trek in the Himalaya walking for five days through beautiful terraced villages and enjoy viewing the majestic Machhappuchare, Dhaulagiri, and Annapurna mountains. The highlight of the trek will be a sunrise walk to the view point at Poon Hill, a classic place from which to enjoy the snow capped peaks of the massive Himalaya.
In Kathmandu you will have a chance to visit some of the major sights before transferring to your community project. You then have the opportunity to experience a family stay & community project.
What better way to get to know Nepal than stay with a family and work with the local community? You should be prepared for the facilities to be quite basic whilst on your home stay. If you are happy to muck in and get involved, we hope you will take away from this not only a deep understanding of the culture and way of life, but also a great feeling of satisfaction and an experience to treasure. See below for the itinerary for this trip.
Price details: Includes carbon balancing of international flights, 5 nights B&B, 5 nights Teahouse accommodation, 4 nights home-stay, 2 days guided sightseeing & entrance fees as per the itinerary, community project management & funding, flight (Pokhara-Kathmandu), porterage and guides fees, NP entrance fees and charity donation. Excludes international flights & taxes, meals (unless stated), personal expenses, tips, visas (US $30), single supplement (£75), additional sightseeing and travel insurance.
Gurung Culture Trails trek:
From £545 (12 days) ex flights.
This new cultural trail is a wonderful low altitude option for those wishing to visit “real” Nepal. With some great mountain views and family home stay experience in the land of the Gorkhas, this trip is a fabulous and highly affordable choice at under £500.
This wonderful trail gives you the chance to experience the truly wonderful Nepali hospitality by lodging in home stays at a truly affordable price. After driving from Kathmandu to the trailhead, we then head West away from the regular trails and follow a route more frequently used by locals than tourists. Our first village is the beautiful Ghalegoan, one of the few places where you can see traditional 2 storey round thatched houses. Here we enjoy a great vista of Lamjung, Annapurna II and IV and the Manasulu range of the Himalayas.
We then continue trekking through terraced fields and low altitude forest from home to home with our Nepali hosts. The area is famous for the Gurung families who have for generations been recruited into the British Ghorka army regiment. During the evening you may enjoy impromptu dancing and singing, a common form of entertainment in rural villages. As we complete our 6 day trek we shall stay at our eco friendly family run guesthouse. You can enjoy the organic products from the guesthouse garden and see some of the local charity work on biogas and reforestation before we then transfer to Pokhara for the afternoon.
Also including a days sightseeing in Kathmandu and a fabulous internal flight along the Himalayas this is a wonderful itinerary, which above all allows economic benefit to rural families and let’s you see “real” Nepal.
Annapurna & community project:
From £595 (15 days) ex flights.
This imaginative itinerary is an example of how to combine adventure and compassion, providing you lasting memories of the Himalaya and allowing you to make a difference to a community in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.
The first part of your holiday is an introductory trek in the Himalaya walking for five days through beautiful terraced villages and enjoy viewing the majestic Machhappuchare, Dhaulagiri, and Annapurna mountains. The highlight of the trek will be a sunrise walk to the view point at Poon Hill, a classic place from which to enjoy the snow capped peaks of the massive Himalaya.
In Kathmandu you will have a chance to visit some of the major sights before transferring to your community project. You then have the opportunity to experience a family stay & community project.
What better way to get to know Nepal than stay with a family and work with the local community? You should be prepared for the facilities to be quite basic whilst on your home stay. If you are happy to muck in and get involved, we hope you will take away from this not only a deep understanding of the culture and way of life, but also a great feeling of satisfaction and an experience to treasure. See below for the itinerary for this trip.
Price details: Includes carbon balancing of international flights, 5 nights B&B, 5 nights Teahouse accommodation, 4 nights home-stay, 2 days guided sightseeing & entrance fees as per the itinerary, community project management & funding, flight (Pokhara-Kathmandu), porterage and guides fees, NP entrance fees and charity donation. Excludes international flights & taxes, meals (unless stated), personal expenses, tips, visas (US $30), single supplement (£75), additional sightseeing and travel insurance.
Gurung Culture Trails trek:
From £545 (12 days) ex flights.
This new cultural trail is a wonderful low altitude option for those wishing to visit “real” Nepal. With some great mountain views and family home stay experience in the land of the Gorkhas, this trip is a fabulous and highly affordable choice at under £500.
This wonderful trail gives you the chance to experience the truly wonderful Nepali hospitality by lodging in home stays at a truly affordable price. After driving from Kathmandu to the trailhead, we then head West away from the regular trails and follow a route more frequently used by locals than tourists. Our first village is the beautiful Ghalegoan, one of the few places where you can see traditional 2 storey round thatched houses. Here we enjoy a great vista of Lamjung, Annapurna II and IV and the Manasulu range of the Himalayas.
We then continue trekking through terraced fields and low altitude forest from home to home with our Nepali hosts. The area is famous for the Gurung families who have for generations been recruited into the British Ghorka army regiment. During the evening you may enjoy impromptu dancing and singing, a common form of entertainment in rural villages. As we complete our 6 day trek we shall stay at our eco friendly family run guesthouse. You can enjoy the organic products from the guesthouse garden and see some of the local charity work on biogas and reforestation before we then transfer to Pokhara for the afternoon.
Also including a days sightseeing in Kathmandu and a fabulous internal flight along the Himalayas this is a wonderful itinerary, which above all allows economic benefit to rural families and let’s you see “real” Nepal.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival in Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel & group dinner in a restaurant in the evening. Accommodation: Hotel Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 2: | Kathmandu to Birethanti. Early morning scenic drive to Pokhara over a small pass from where there is amazing view of the Ganesh Himals, the Manaslu Range and even the Annapurnas on a clear day. We follow the Marshyangdi River with great view of the Manaslu mountains ahead of us. Lunch provides an opportunity to absorb the countryside of terraced fields; spot plenty of kingfishers. We continue through Pokhara and drive over a pass at Lumle then descend down to Naya Pul. A short 30 minute walk from here will bring us to Birethanti, our home for the night. Walking Time: 30 minutes. Accommodation: Mountain Lodge |
| Day 3: | Birethanti to Ghandrung. We start the morning with a climb out from Birithanti. We then traverse through terraced villages to see traditional rural life in the low altitude areas of the Annapurna Himalayas. The larger of these communities is called Kimche where we may take some refreshments. The local people are self sufficient and hardy working as farmers. As you pass through these medieval type villages you will hear the greeting Namaste from families huddled together in their house entrances. We continue on a steady climb until reaching Ghandrung where we will rest for the night. This town perches on the hillside and is one of the largest settlements of the Gurung people, renowned for their services in the British Gurkha regiments. The Gurung Museum displays items of basic house-hold wares and tools. Walking Time: 5 ½ hrs. Accommodation: Mountain Lodge |
| Day 4: | Ghandrung to Tadapani. From here we can see the sun rise on Annapurna South (7219m), Hiu Chuli (6441m) and Machapucchhre (6993m), undoubtedly some of the most beautiful and distinctive mountains of the world. Today’s trek is a relatively shorter day allowing you to enjoy the surrounding landscape. The trail climbs gently from Ghandrung, arriving to cross a river, continuing to Bhainsi Kharka, and on through thick rhododendron forest to Tadapani for lunch. In the afternoon we can take an optional nature walk in the forest, in search of resident birdlife. Your group leader will be able to point out and explain both cultural and natural points of interest. Walking time – 4 ½ hrs. Final altitude – 2700m. Accommodation: Mountain Lodge |
| Day 5: | Tadapani to Ghorepani. The trek continues in lush rhododendron forests to a small tea house. The trail undulates all morning to a clearing called Banthanti then climbs steadily for the rest of the morning to Deurali Pass, a good place for lunch. We arrive on a ridge from where the view is breathtaking. The path then drops down towards the houses of Ghorepani, which means horse watering place. Traditionally this point used to be a main resting place on the trade route between Pokhara and the prosperous Kali Gandaki Valley leading up to Mustang. Walking time – 7 hrs. Final altitude – 2855m. Accommodation: Mountain Lodge |
| Day 6: | Ghorepani to Tirkhedunga. Early climb up to Poon Hill to view the sunrise over the mountains, one of the highlights of the trek. After breakfast we descend through mossy forests of rhodedendron until Ulleri where we take a lunch break. For the next hour the trail drops steeply down a stone staircase and cross two bridges in order to reach Tirkhedunga, situated above the Bhuringdi Khola. Walking time – 4 1/2 hrs. Final altitude – 1577m. Accommodation: Mountain Lodge |
| Day 7: | Tirkhedunga to Pokhara. Today we walk along the Bhurundi Khola where it is possible to sight Kingfishers, Redstarts, Forktails, Himalayan Dippers, Blue Magpies and Treepies. At Nayapul we meet up with our transport to Pokhara, where we can explore the lakeside, shop or go for a boat ride. Tonight will be our last with the trekking crew, so we can celebrate and say farewell in one of the lakeside restaurants. Walking time – 3 1/2 hrs. Final altitude – 820m. Accommodation: Hotel Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 8: | Pokhara to Kathmandu. Internal flight to Kathmandu with a bird’s eye view of the Himalaya (weather permitting). You arrive at the hotel to enjoy the luxury of fresh change of clothes! We then have a relaxing afternoon in the finest medieval town in Nepal – Bhaktapur. In the 14th – 16th centuries this was the country’s capital city and has the finest examples of Newari architecture. The town is studded with shrines and temples, and has a myriad of back streets and Squares to explore. Return to Thamel for an evening of celebration for the last night of the trip. Accommodation: Hotel Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 9: | Kathmandu guided sightseeing. Today's first destination is the country’s most important Hindu temple- Pashupatinath, on the banks of the Bagmati River. The cobbled streets are bustling with ladies selling flowers and colourful Sadhus (holymen). The temple dates back many 100s of years making it one of one of the most important Shiva locations across the Indian sub continent. It is also the most important cremation sites for the Hindus in Nepal. Our second visit takes us to Boudha, a Buddhist monument and the largest of its kind; you will find yourself mingling with monks in their maroon and saffron robes. You can join the locals to circumumbulate the stupa, bargain for artifacts or absorb the atmosphere from a rooftop restaurant. The rest of the afternoon is free. Evening group dinner at a comfortable and characterful restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 10-14: | Community project work. While working with local residents and youth groups on community development projects, you are placed in a home stay to encourage integration and cultural exchange. You will gain an insight into the typical daily life of the Nepali people, and an understanding for the environmental and social issues faced in a developing country. This program allows you to collaborate with locals on a project that develop the community and improve the overall way of life. Typical projects include awareness campaigns for hygiene and sanitation, renovation of school buildings, and establishing and improving potable water sources. You do not need any particular skills, only a willingness to participate. You should be prepared that the facilities in rural Nepali homesteads are relatively basic. There will be a closing ceremony and then you will be transferred back to Kathmandu. Evening group dinner to celebrate the project and new found friendships. |
| Day 15: | Depart for the UK. |
a taste of volunteering trip - what's it all about?
This type of trip is ideal for people who are unable to take very long periods off work but who are interested in volunteering to work with communities in need, or in wildlife conservation. These shorter trips combine volunteering with an opportunity to see the main sights in destinations. Find out more about 'taste of volunteering'how this holiday makes a difference
 We are a non commercial organisation specialising in travel within the Himalaya. The company’s primary objective is to generate income for charitable projects in Nepal which support environmental and educational development. We can therefore offer you a rare and unique opportunity to visit this spectacular Himalayan Kingdom knowing that all profits generated will be invested in local charitable projects. We take great pride in the fact that we are doing the right thing by you our customers, by our staff, and by the people, country and environment in which we operate. We guarantee:
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