overview - australian himalayan foundation · d a y 0 1 j o i n k a t h m a n d u ( 135 0 m ) d a y...

OVERVIEW A small group of volunteers will head to Garma school and get our hands dirty, working alongside the community and teachers to get their new school hall built before winter. We will start in Kathmandu before flying to the school district. From here we will hike to the school, along the way we will experience Sherpa culture, see Mt Everest and travel through the remarkable valleys of the Solu Khumbu. Once at the school we will work on the construction of the hall and stay in a village nearby. From there we will fly back to Kathmandu before heading home. If you share our vision and are passionate about helping children in remote communities, roll up your sleeves, grab some boots and join us! WHO WE ARE Friends of NAWIC are a group of passionate, like-minded property experts, designers, engineers and builders who in partnership with the Australian Himalayan Foundation have made a commitment to help rebuild schools in the Garma district of Nepal. Most of the schools in the area were devastated in the 2015 Anzac Day earthquake. We do this work pro-bono, because we believe every child deserves an education and we have a responsibility to help where we can.

Adventure Associates Pty Ltd

PO Box 246, Blackheath NSW 2785 Australia Phone (+61 2) 6355 2022 Email [email protected] Web www.adventureassociates.com

http://www.adventureassociates.com/

ITINERARY IN BRIEF Dates: 10 February – 22 February 2019 Day 01 Join Kathmandu (1350m) Day 02 Half day sightseeing in Kathmandu Day 03 Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2800m) and commence trek to Puyin Day 04 Trek to Kharikhola (2600m) Day 05 Trek to Nunthala (2200m) Day 06 Trek to Junbesi (2620m) Day 07 Trek to Phaplu, Jeep to Garma Days 08/11 Garma School Visit and project work Day 12 Fly Phaplu to Kathmandu Day 13

Trip concludes in Kathmandu

Financial Commitment Cost:

AU $3,090 per person (excludes flight)

Flight Costs: AU $1,000 per person at 27 March 2018 Fundraising Contribution: AU $2,500 Total Commitment: AU $6,590 (depending on flights) Optional Single Supplement:

AU $590 per person

Travel confirmation requirement dates DUE DATE REQUIREMENT PAYMENTS TO 31 August $500 booking deposit Adventure Associates 26 October $2,500 charity donation

(tax deductable) Australian Himalayan Foundation

14 December Full trip payment Adventure Associates Allow 2 weeks’ prior

Visa (required for travel) Self-organised

Book flights. the sooner the better (current cost is $1,000 return)

Adventure Associates




Included:

● Private airport transfers ● 3 nights accommodation in Kathmandu, based on twin share at The Radisson Hotel or

Hotel Tibet International ● Half day sightseeing of World Heritage sights in Kathmandu including entrance fees ● Private transportation throughout ● Mountain flights Kathmandu to Lukla and Phaplu to Kathmandu ● All necessary permits for trekking ● Guides and Porters to accompany during the trek ● All necessary group camping and cooking equipment ● All meals during the trek ● Sleeping bag, down jacket & trek duffel for use on trek ● Final group farewell dinner in Kathmandu

Not included:

● Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu (final group dinner is included) ● International airfares ● Rescue and early departure from the trip ● Items of personal nature such as laundry, hot showers, battery charging fees, phone calls

etc. ● Alcoholic and aerated drinks ● Tips ● Visa for Nepal ● Personal travel insurance

*Whilst on trek all meals are included, each participant should allow approx. A$25-30 per day whilst in Kathmandu to cover lunch and dinner. Whilst on trek please allow A $15-20 per day to cover snacks, soft drinks or juices, electricity for charging electronic equipment, and hot showers.




ITINERARY DETAILS Day 01 Join Kathmandu (1350m) Namaste! Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival to Kathmandu airport you will be met by a representative of Adventure Associates and transferred to your hotel. As arrival times will differ depending on your flights, there are no activities scheduled. Kathmandu is a vibrant, bustling city and Thamel is the popular and colourful tourist quarter located within walking distance from the hotel. Day 02 Experience Kathmandu and trip preparation At breakfast we will hold a trip briefing and then set off on a half-day sightseeing tour. Kathmandu is a fascinating city and home to many UNESCO World Heritage sights such as Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple and Durbar Square. This should conclude around 2pm, the remainder of the day is at available for you to get any last minute supplies and to acclimatise. Overnight hotel. (B) Day 03 Fly Kathmandu to Lukla, trek to Puyin (2800m), walk approx. 4-5hrs We have a very early transfer to the domestic airport for our flight into the mountains. We must be ready at any time for weather to be clear for our flight, and so it is not unusual to wait for a while for our flight to be cleared. Lukla airport is serviced only by STOL aircraft (short take off and landing), our flight from Kathmandu takes approximately 45 minutes and is one of the world’s most spectacular mountain flights. On arrival in Lukla we meet our porters and staff, who will accompany us over the coming days. Whilst we rest with a cup of tea the cooking and porter staff will be organised and once ready we commence our trek, passing by the airport and downhill to Surke. Depending on time our cook may prepare lunch beside the beautiful clear river at Surke. After lunch, it’s predominantly uphill for a couple of hours to Puyin. On this trekking day we will be rewarded with views of Numbure and Dudhkund Himal. Overnight camp. (B,L,D) Day 04 Trek to Khari Khola and school reconnaissance (2600m), walk approx. 5-6 hrs Today is mostly uphill all the way to Bupsa. Looking southward we are rewarded with picturesque views of farmhouses and terraced fields of millet and other crops. We will pass villages of mixed ethnic groups of Rai, Magar and Sherpa people. Our lunch stop will be in the vicinity of Bupsa, and after lunch we continue on to the large village of Khari Khola for the night. Khari Khola is a beautiful village filled with charming stone buildings and smiling faces, a lovely place to wander around in the evening and meet the locals. Overnight camp. (B,L,D) Day 05 Trek to Nunthala and school reconnaissance (2200m), walk approx. 4-5hrs. Today is a thoroughly enjoyable trekking day, with a good amount of up and down, and contouring around hillsides for most of the day. We will pass several densely populated villages




along the way. Following our lunch stop it’s a gentle uphill to our camp for the night at Nunthala, a good size village with a population of almost 5000 people, a large number of which are Sherpa. Overnight camp. (B,L,D) Day 06 Trek to Junbesi and school reconnaissance (2620m), walk approx. 4hrs. Today we take a slighty longer way to reach Phaplu via Junbesi. In the morning it’s a short uphill walk to Ringmo, where we are rewarded with beautiful views of Shorong Himal, Numbur, Karyolung and Khangtang. We cross Ringmo and pass a large Stupa in the middle of the trail, and continue past a few small Sherpa farming villages. We will take lunch at a small settlement with a cheese factory called Sallung. Then after lunch it’s mostly a flat and downhill trek to the river before Junbesi. Overnight camp. (B,L,D) Day 07 Trek to Phaplu (2413m) In the morning we take time to visit the Thubten Choling monastery complex, one of the biggest Buddhist centres of the SoluKhumbu region. The monastery houses more than a 100 practicing monks, and was established in the 1960’s by Trulshik Rinpoche after he fled Tibet in 1959. After our monastery visit we will make our way downhill, with a quick stop for lunch at Beni by the river and then climb mostly uphill to Phaplu. Overnight lodge. (B,L,D) Days 08/11 Garma School Visit and project work Each day we will transfer by jeep, to and from the lodge to Garma School. Volunteers will be able to undertake a variety of activities to assist in the construction of the Garma School Hall. Activities will include;

● painting ● installing light weight sheeting ● gathering materials ● creating stairs ● landscaping and planting ● stabilization ● installation of teaching equipment ● internal lining finishing ● external paving ● architecture finishes and detailing to fasciae.

Volunteers will be supervised by an Australian team and local NGO’s who will assist with translations. Overnight Lodge. (B,L,D) Day 12 Fly Phaplu to Kathmandu We rise early this morning to be ready for our mountain flight back to Kathmandu. We wave goodbye to the mountains and descend once again into the organised chaos of Kathmandu. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for overnight. The rest of the day is at leisure, and in the evening we will hold a final group dinner. Overnight hotel. (B,D)




Day 13 Trip concludes Following breakfast transfer to the airport for onward arrangements. (B) ABOUT THE TREK This trek is camping and lodge based. Whilst we camp we will be self-sufficient, led by a skilled Nepali Trek Leader. We will also employ mountain porters, trek crew, cook and cook staff. This is the traditional way of mountain travel in the Himalaya and is a very exciting way to travel through the mountains. As we get higher the terrain is steep and mountainous, and there are not always ideal opportunities for campsites. Therefore, in the larger villages we will stay in mountain lodges which offer basic but comfortable accommodation, en-suite bathrooms and nutritious food. Lodge trekking has become the more popular way to travel in the Everest region these days, and the combination of both camping and lodges during this expedition gives a good all around experience of travel in the mountains of Nepal.

What you carry You will be supplied with a down jacket, sleeping bag and trek duffel for use on your trek. You will receive these items in Kathmandu during your trek briefing with your Trek Leader. In your trek duffel you will need to pack all that you require to take with you into the mountains, including your sleeping bag and down jacket. The weight of your duffel should not exceed 15kgs. Any clothing you do not need on trek may be left in your luggage and secured in the hotel. You will carry a small day pack with items you may need during the day such as a rain jacket, water, sunscreen, camera and snacks.




Our Leaders Our trek leaders are experienced and highly trained in wilderness first aid and high altitude medicine. They are skilled expedition leaders who are knowledgeable and passionate, and will ensure that all aspects of the trek run smoothly. Altitude If you are ascending above 3500m, acclimatisation to altitude is an important factor and can greatly impact your enjoyment. Our trekking schedules have been carefully designed to minimise the effects of altitude, on this trek in particular, we do not ascend above 3000 meters and so there is a low chance of altitude sickness. It is still possible for mountain sickness to occur, therefore a close watch is kept on each group member by the your trek leader, who is trained in recognising and treating early symptoms of acute mountain sickness. These symptoms include bad headache, nausea, lethargy and, in extreme cases, ataxia or loss of co-ordination and severe breathlessness on rest. A mild headache and breathlessness are not uncommon at altitude but in combination with any of the above more serious symptoms, immediate descent is imperative. If you or your friends display any of these symptoms please make sure that you inform the Group Leader immediately. It is essential at altitude that you keep your fluid intake up and it is important that you drink at least 4 liters of liquid per day to keep well hydrated.

You may wish to take altitude tablets if you know you are prone to altitude sickness.

Your Group Leader can advise you more thoroughly regarding altitude problems during your group briefing and throughout your trip.




NEPAL The Kingdom of Nepal lies along the central section of the Greater Himalaya, bordered by Tibet to the north and India to the east, south and west. It encompasses many of the world’s highest mountains, including Mount Everest (8840m), which lies on its northern border. The terrain and climate define three distinct regions. The southern lowlands (Terai Region) of Nepal has a hot, tropical Indian climate. The central hill areas have a cooler sub-tropical climate and the northern region has an alpine climate. The latter two areas are dissected by deep valleys, formed by run-off from the monsoon and snow melt-water. The Himalaya range runs along the northern border of Nepal and makes up 16% of the total land area of the country. Some of the country’s most rare and beautiful animals live in this region, including the Snow Leopard and Danphe bird. The hill region, made up of the Mahabharat and Churia ranges cover 65% of the land and climb in elevation from 500-3000m. The eastern hills receive more monsoon rain, while in the west the rivers run with melt water. The low lying terai covers 17% of the country, and consists of farming land, sub tropical forest and marshes. Just under 50% of the country’s population lives in the Terai region, and it contains almost all of the industrial towns in Nepal, including Biratnagar, Butwal, and Bhairwara. About ninety per cent of Nepal’s inhabited land area is farmland and much of this is in the form of terraced paddy-fields, which reach high into the Himalayan foothills. A similar proportion of Nepal’s 18 million population are subsistent farmers. The Everest Region is famous for it’s mountains and for it’s trekking. Thousands of people travel here in the trekking season to walk the famous trail to Everest Base Camp to view Mount Everest, and see other Himalayan giants such as Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Makalu, and other 8000m peaks. The Everest Region is also famous for its people, the Sherpa people, who originally came from Tibet and settled in this rugged region as subsistent farmers. These days the Sherpa people are famous for their strength and skill on the high mountains, and many of the young Sherpa men have careers as “Climbing Sherpas” and guides, guiding westerners on the high peaks and on the trekking trails. There are no roads in the Everest Region, goods must be transported up and down the valley by animal, either pony or yak, or by mountain porters, who sometimes are seen carrying loads of up to 80kg.




HOW TO BOOK Passion, integrity and going ‘beyond the ordinary’ are the values that have made Adventure Associates such a long-standing success. Adventure Associates can also provide assistance with booking your international flights and purchasing comprehensive travel insurance. To confirm a place on this departure we require a $500 deposit and completed booking form. Final payment for land tours is due 75 days prior to departure. You can access a Booking Form on our website and read the Terms and Conditions. http://www.adventureassociates.com/about-us/ Alternatively if you have any questions or would like to discuss the trip further, please contact the Adventure Associates travel specialist looking after this trek [email protected] .



http://www.adventureassociates.com/about-us/

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overview - australian himalayan foundation · d a y 0 1 j o i n k a t h m a n d u ( 135 0 m ) d a y...

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