The is a unique offer for Fellowship of Christian Athletes who wish to combine an item on their bucket list with a sizeable donation to the Nepal Project. This trip is capped at 7 people. The trip is an all-inclusive trek through the Annapurna Sanctuary of Nepal, led by a Nepali speaker and fellow FCA board member outside of the Pokhara Valley in West of Kathmandu.  All participants need to be in Kathmandu on or before the first day of the trek. Airfare not included.
Nepal is a Himalayan Kingdom, famous for being home of 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world. It is home of the Gurkha soldiers, as well. Few know that about one third of all the land in Nepal is part of the Ganges River basin, where tropic conditions dominate everyday life.
Each day we will hike between 4 and 7 hours, stopping intermittently for food and refreshments along the way. We start each morning right after sunrise and finish our trekking early afternoon, to optimize time for resting and recovery.
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of participants: 7

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Nepal is a Himalayan Kingdom, famous for being home of 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world. It is home of the Gurkha soldiers, as well. Few know that about one third of all the land in Nepal is part of the Ganges River basin, where tropic conditions dominate everyday life.
With our 2024, FCA trek, we will trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary, visiting Annapurna Base Camp for one of the world’s greatest sunrises. Jeff will lead a daily devotion from the Hebrew bible, shedding light upon the remnants of Creation that are still seen in the upper Himalaya as well as a connection to stewardship as a Christian.
Each day we will hike between 4 and 7 hours, stopping intermittently for food and refreshments along the way. We start each morning right after sunrise and finish our trekking early afternoon, to optimize time for resting and recovery.
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of participants: 7

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Day	Riders
Oct 2-Oct 11, 2023	Arrival City: Kathmandu
Day 1:	Arrive in KTM and immediately fly to Pokhara. Check in at the hotel and get in a good night’s sleep after your long journey.
Day 2:	Explore Pokhara in the am. Shop for any last-minute items needed for the trek. Drive to Hile and trek to Ulleri (2073m)
Day 3:	Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,850m)
Day 4:	Ghorepani to Poon Hill to Tadapani (2,520m)
Day 5:	Tadapani to Chomrong (2100m)
Day 6:	Chhomrong to Himalaya Hotel (2920m)
Day 7:	Trek from Himalaya Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp (4130m)
Day 9:	Trek from Bamboo – Jhinu (1780m)
Day 10:	Trek from Jhinu to Nayapool and drive to Pokhara and fly back to Kathmandu and return to the USA.

What's Included

• All hotels
• All meals, except one dinner.

What's Not Included

• Beverages, including bottled water and alcohol
• Intercountry airfare. Price availability in early 2024.
• Single accommodations.
• Porter fees (budget $15 per day) Assume that you can share those costs with at least one other person, as a porter can carry 80 lbs.
• Travel Insurance (recommended)
• Medical evacuation services or medical care during emergency situations. (Nepal requires this).

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Meet Jeff Gaura

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Jeff lived in Nepal for many years, back in the 1980s, and he invested heavily in relationships that he maintains to this day. His students are now elected officials, leaders and businessmen and women at all levels. Jeff speaks fluent Nepali and is an avid trail runner, making him the perfect candidate to be your guide. Jeff will translate anything you ask, upon request, and Jeff will often bring with him students from the schools constructed by his non-profit, The Nepal Project, to help with guest comfort and accommodation needs. Jeff and his wife live in central North Carolina, and their house has lots of Nepali memorabilia in it.

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Who is trip for?

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This trip is designed to give men and women of FCA a chance to check off an item on their bucket list (trek the world tallest mountains), as well as make a donation to the FCA in Charlotte. It will also create a lifetime of memories and a chance for ministry in Nepal, where Christianity is illegal. It accommodates singles, couples, and groups of friends. Participants are both avid hikers who have always dreamed of hiking in the Himalaya and being in shape. The participant and their equipment may not exceed 120 kg in total weight. The cardiovascular demands of the Himalaya favor those who have a smaller mass and are not carrying excess muscle. Muscle demands more oxygen than fat, and as we reach higher elevations, it becomes a liability.

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What fitness level is required?

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Hiking in the Himalaya is demanding at many levels, and all participants should be comfortable walking in mountainous terrain at elevation for six hours a day. If you need assistance in achieving the fitness required, Jeff Gaura is a USAT certified coach and will gladly create a training plan for you to increase your fitness during your preparation.
As a pre-trek training goal, we suggest that everyone be able to run a half marathon on a relatively flat surface without stopping in less than 2.5 hours. Although running fitness is not a guarantee of success, it has a significant correlation. In the past, those who were unable to run the half marathon often failed to complete the trek and had to return to a lower elevation before the rest of the group.

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Where do I need to meet everyone?

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You need to fly into Kathmandu no later than early evening the day before the trip starts. We will handle all the logistics of picking you up and taking you to our transition hotel before catching an early morning plane to Pokhara. It would help if you considered arriving several days before the trek begins for those who need additional time acclimating to the differences in time zones.

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What should I do about gear that I need? Do you have a packing list?

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Assuming you are fit, everything you need is available both in Kathmandu and Pokhara, either for rent or purchase. I will send everyone a video showing you what to bring or purchase upon arrival and how to pack about two months before the trip starts. The only items that I strongly recommend you not buy or rent in Kathmandu are your hiking boots and personal hygiene/care items. Everything else, from clothing to electronics, is available in Nepal at lower prices than in the USA

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What sort of weather can I expect during the trip?

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Days will be 11 hours long, and nights will be 13. The weather will be transitioning from Fall to Winter. Weather will be dry and mild, with daytime highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Nighttime temperatures will reach about 30 degrees. The risk of rain is low in October. Typically, you start the day in a light jacket, and before lunch, you will be hiking in shorts and a T-Shirt.

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How does departure work?

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On your arrival day, either Jeff or one of his Nepali contacts will meet you at the airport after you clear customs and go outside. We will take you to your hotel and let you adjust to the time zone changes. Although we will keep in communication with you, you are on your own until the day the trip starts. Jeff arrives in Nepal three days before the journey begins to secure permits and coordinate with the porters and transportation agents that will take us around the country. As we get closer to the trip start date, Jeff will get copies of your airline tickets and work with you to find "jet lag" hotels where you can ready your body for the upcoming adventure.
On departure day, we will take you to the Kathmandu airport for your onward departure flights. If you have additional travel other than returning home, we will try to accommodate getting you to your next location.

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What are the terms and conditions?

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A $500 deposit is due upon booking, with the balance due 120 days before departure. Terms and conditions of cancellations and refunds are explained in our travel agreement. You can transfer the refundable portion of your fee to a future year or a different trip at no cost.

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What are the big concerns for us on the trip?

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On nearly every trip, someone fails to meet their goals and has to stop trekking before we reach the end. The most common occurrence is not an injury but illness, almost always Altitude Sickness (Acute Mountain Sickness) or diarrhea. Jeff will spend each day asking you questions to see if you are showing any symptoms of AMS. If it appears that you are getting AMS, Jeff will arrange for you to descend with one of our porters to a tea house at a lower elevation, where you will wait for our arrival a few days later. Since there are no prescription laws in Nepal comparable to the US, Jeff will carry various medications to treat diarrhea. Once you get AMS, there is no medication; the only sure antidote is to descend to a lower elevation ASAP.

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What currency will I use when I am there?

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The Rupee is the monetary unit of Nepal, but you can use the dollar both in Kathmandu and Pokhara and many of the shops. Cash will always be best in the country's remote locations that lack access to reliable internet and, therefore, credit card processing. There are places to exchange currency both in Kathmandu and Pokhara; often, the best exchange rates are found at the Kathmandu airport and not at the banks.

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What is the hygiene difference between Nepal than what I am used to?

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Hygiene and sanitation are poor, at best. The fact that you are in the third world is most apparent when you go to the bathroom. Clean drinking water should never be assumed unless it is first boiled or from a purchased plastic bottle. We will provide a group water filtration system for everyone's use, but we can do little to help you understand the bathrooms. Fortunately, we only spend a few minutes a day in the bathroom, and the views of the Himalaya and the warmth of the people should more than offset this experience.
We also recommend carrying your washcloth and towel, as none will be provided for you on the trek.

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