Nepal TourOctober 12-25, 2024
Arrival City: Kathmandu, Nepal
Departure City: Kathmandu Nepal
Nepal Trek and Tharu Village Visit
USD$2,995
- All-inclusive, see below for details
The first part of this trip is a trek through the Annapurna Sanctuary of Nepal, West of Kathmandu. The second half of the trip is a visit to a Tharu village in the Dang Valley of Western Nepal. This is all-inclusive, with the exception of in-country airfare and one dinner in Kathmandu.
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. Far from Kathmandu exists the Dang Valley, where the Tharu people of the Dang Valley are one of those groups.
With our 2023 trip to Nepal, we visit the Annapurna Sanctuary to the West and the Dang Valley to the Southwest. As soon as we are done in Pokhara, we will travel to the Dang Valley to celebrate the build up to Deshain, the greatest of all the Nepali holidays.
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: 8
Maximum number of participants: 12
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. Far from Kathmandu exists the Dang Valley, where the Tharu people of the Dang Valley are one of those groups.
With our 2023 trip to Nepal, we visit the Annapurna Sanctuary to the West and the Dang Valley to the Southwest. As soon as we are done in Pokhara, we will travel to the Dang Valley to celebrate the build up to Deshain, the greatest of all the Nepali holidays.
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: 8
Maximum number of participants: 12
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. Far from Kathmandu exists the Dang Valley, where the Tharu people of the Dang Valley are one of those groups.
With our 2020, Threshold’s trip to Nepal incorporates both of these experiences. We will trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary, visiting Annapurna Base Camp for one of the world’s greatest sunrises. As soon as we are done, we will travel to the Dang Valley to celebrate Deshain, the greatest of all the Nepali holidays.
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: 8
Maximum number of participants: 12
| Day | Riders |
|---|---|
| Oct 28-Nov 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 8: | Trek from Annapurna Base Camp – Bamboo (2310m) |
| Day 9: | Trek from Bamboo – Jhinu (1780m) |
| Day 10: | Trek from Jhinu to Nayapool and drive to Pokhara. |
| Day 11: | Depart Pokhara to travel to Dang. Spend the night at different residents in Ghorahi. |
| Day 12: | Explore Dang and explore the celebration of Deshain. |
| Day 13: | Travel to KTM from Dang and return to the USA that evening. |
| Day 14: | Optional. Stay in Kathmandu and fly out the next am if you cannot secure evening flights from Kathmandu. |
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 2023.
- 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 60 lbs.
- Travel Insurance (required)
- Medical evacuation services or medical care during emergency situations. (Nepal requires this).
Meet Jeff Gaura
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 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.
Who is trip for?
This trip is ideal for 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 100 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.
What fitness level is required?
Hiking in the Himalaya is demanding at many levels, and all participants should be comfortable walking in mountainous terrain at elevation for six to eight 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.
Where do I need to meet everyone?
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/bus to our first destination. 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.
What should I do about gear that I need? Do you have a packing list?
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
What sort of weather can I expect during the trip?
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 late October and early November. Typically, you start the day in a light jacket, and before lunch, you will be hiking in shorts and a T-Shirt.
How does departure work?
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, guides, 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.
What are the terms and conditions?
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.
You can make your deposit here: https://www.paypal.me/thresholdacademy
What are the big concerns for us on the trip?
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.
What currency will I use when I am there?
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.
What is the hygiene difference between Nepal than what I am used to?
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 Tharu people should more than offset this experience.
We also recommend carrying your washcloth and towel, as none will be provided for you either on the trek or in Dang.