23 Day Trek in Nepal April 27 - May 20, 2010
This trek focuses on the Southern Valleys of the Solu Khumbu--home of the highest mountains in the world. This area, virtually untouched culturally for 600 years, is a settlement of Tibetan people who became the Sherpa tribe and still have similar culture today to their ancestors. These Sherpa villages are full of blooming rhododendron trees, poinsettias, other flowering trees and grasses, yaks grazing, men and women working in the fields gathering and drying grains often with a child on their back or running around their feet. These beautiful and friendly people are very welcoming to the few westerners they see.
We will arrive in Kathmandu, the beautiful capital city of Nepal and we will pick you up from the airport, drop you off at your hotel to settle in.
Then we fly to the mountains and trek in the Solu Khumbu for 18 days through mostly Sherpa villages (also Rai and other tribes reside there). Our first stop is Heleshi (Maratika in Tibetan language). Sherpa Journeys is sponsoring a healthpost in there of Tibetan Medicine beginning as well as a medicinal herb garden of powerful and endangered plants.
We will observe the daily practice at some of the monasteries including Thupten Choling run by the Tibetan Buddhist master, His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche. He is revered as the most learned lama of our time and is a teacher of the 14th Dalai Lama; 700 monks and nuns live there and 80% are Tibetan refugees.
One day will be spent at the sacred glacial lake Dudh Kunde--locally called the wish fulfilling lake--with snowy peaks towering overhead.
Then we visit our guide's home village of Thaksindu and have a gathering with local dance and music. We bring school supplies and clothing for the loca
l people there as well since this area is less developed. A day hike up to 13,500 ft. will give us a view of the entire Himalayan range in Nepal.
Then we trek toward the higher mountains to the highest monastery in Nepal, at 12,700 ft., Tengboche and attend their daily practice.
Finally We visit the oldest monastery in Nepal (600 yrs) Pangboche. Each village and monastery having a unique history and flavor of it's ow
n will unveil the local culture that is closely tied to Buddhism. Much can be learned from these simple and happy folks.
Upon returning in Kathmandu, we will tour Kathmandu valley which is an ancient city containing 7 UNESCO world heritage sites and of the most sacred sites in the world. We will visit the famous Boudhanaht—largest Buddhist temple in Nepal and my personal favorite place to spend the day while in Kathmandu. There are hundreds of people turning prayer wheels and the shops surrounding the temple play music of chanting mantras and wafting incense fills the air. It is absolutely peaceful with a tangible sacredness. It is nice to have tea or lunch in one of the balconies above the temple with a view of the city. We will also visit Swambunaht; a very ancient temple (considered to have been self manifested) with families of monkeys frolicking about. Then time permitting, to Bhaktapur with its huge squares, pagodas, temples and medieval palaces is known for rich culture, temples, wood carvings, metal and stone artwork and a huge outdoor market.
Then we will visit Pharfing about 2 hours from Kathmandu by hired car which is one of the most sacred places in the world where the 2nd Buddha Padmasambava achieved many miracles. This is a pilgrimage place for people from all over the world and historically significant as well.
See below for daily itinerary
Our goal is to help preserve the culture, create jobs and provide health care to local people. If you are interested in trekking, getting involved in this project or donating, to this project, please contact us at 303-469-1987. Proceeds from treks also fund this project. See Humanitarian Programs for more info.
Some of the group will then be taking an 18 day Land Rover tour into Tibet to visit the Holy Mt. Kailash and truncating Nepal trek by a week. This tour can be combined for a discount price. Please contact to inquire or Click here for more info: Kailash Tour.
Daily Itinerary: Kailash with Guge from Kathmandu
01: Arrive Kathmandu – transfer / hotel x 2 nights (includes breakfast)
02: Kathmandu (visa service)
03: Tour Kathmandu Valley (Pharping, Bhaktapur, Patan Durbar Square, Bodhanath, Swayambunath, etc)
07: Kathmandu-Kodari-Nyalam
08: drive to Saga via Paiku Tso
09: drive to Menshi
10: drive to Tsada
11: visit Guge (Tholing & Tsaparang)
12: drive to Darchen
13: Kailash kora
14: Kailash kora
15: complete Kailash kora – drive to Chiu Gompa (Lake Manasarovar) 16: (May 30) Go to hot springs, drive to Saga
17: drive to Shigatse / hotel
18: visit Tashilumpo – drive to Gyantse – visit Pelkor Choede
19: drive to Lhasa via Yamdrok
20: Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung and Sera
21: Lhasa sightseeing: Potala, Jokhang and Norbulinka
22: Drive to Namtso Lake – Visit hermitage cave or island
23: transfer to airport & depart
Price is $2950 and includes: Guide, transportation, Lodging/Camping, Nepali cook, visa service in Kathmandu and visa fee