NEPAL SHERPA HOMESTAY TREK
March 20 - April 1, 2016 and October 1 - 13, 2016
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Sherpa People are known throughout the world for being excellent high elevation mountain
guides, but few tourists have the opportunity to get to know their guides on a personal level. A
classic Crooked Trails adventure, this trip brings us to Sibuje Village, the home of our guide Karma
Geljen Sherpa, so we can learn about Sherpa life and culture from villagers themselves.
To begin our trek we start in the village of Phaplu, far from touristic areas, and trek north toward
Makalu-Barun National Park
where towering mountains
can be seen as we ascend
ridges that separate valleys
dotted with small villages.
En route to Sibuje we meet
Rai, Sherpa, Bahun,
Chhettri, and other ethnic
groups, and see different
ways of life, different
religious practices, and
different architecture. We
also visit Buddhist monasteries and have the opportunity to participate in a meditation.
Once in Sibuje we stay in the homes of local people, and learn how to cook traditional foods and
do work on a subsistence farm. We visit the homes of many villagers, with whom we drink butter
tea and chat with the help of Karma as translator. After our stay we continue back along a
different route, with more views of giant Himalayan peaks before taking a short flight back to
Kathmandu. This is a challenging (but rewarding) trek – participants need to be in good physical
condition!
ITINERARY
DAY 1 |
KATHMANDU
Travelers arrive from international destinations and transfer to hotel. Rest in hotel. Traditional
Nepali dinner at a restaurant for those who arrive before 4pm.
DAY 2 |
KATHMANDU
City tour of world heritage sites in Kathmandu and preparation for our trek. Shop for missing items
and enjoy a group dinner.
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DAY 3 |
KATHMANDU - PHAPLU
Take a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Phaplu, in Solukhumbu District (Everest Region). Visit
Chialsa, a Tibetan refugee camp and monastery (Gompah). Visit nearby Sallery Bazaar. Stay at
a lodge in Phaplu for the evening. No trekking.
DAY 4 |
PHAPLU - NUNTHALA
Trek to Nunthala Lodge between Phaplu and Nunthala. Cross Takshindu Pass (10,100 ft./3,080
m), with views of Kangtega (22,241 ft./6,779m) Thamserku (21,729 ft./6,623 m), and on a clear
day, Mt. Everest. Pass through villages where a diversity of
ethnic groups live, and see a variety of agricultural practices
and ways of life, including Sherpa, Chhettri, Brahmin, and
Tamang. Overnight at lodge. 5 hrs. trekking.
DAY 5 |
NUNTHALA - KHARIKHOLA
Trek to Kharikhola. Descend steeply to Manidingma, a Rai
and Sherpa village, then continue downward to the Dudh Kosi
Valley. Keep your eyes open for Langur monkeys which are
often seen along the way. Cross a suspension bridge and
climb to the village of Jubing surrounded by stands of bamboo.
Finally arrive in Kharikhola, a beautiful Magar and Sherpa
village surrounded by Mani stones (stone prayer tablets) and featuring a weekly market.
Overnight at lodge. 5 hrs. trekking.
DAY 6 |
KHARIKHOLA - PANGGOM
Trek to Panggom monastery. Panggom village is an idyllic location backed by snowcapped Mera
Peak, the Numbur Himal, and Mt. Karylung. Visit with the Lama of the monastery, who is the
uncle of one of our guides, and receive a talk on Tibetan Buddhism as it is practiced by the
Sherpas of Nepal. Participate in a Buddhist meditation. Overnight at the monastery or at a
homestay in nearby Sibuje village. 3 hrs. trekking.
NOTE: The Panggom monastery may be under construction during the Fall of 2015. If this is the
case, trekkers will have lunch at the Panngom monastery and continue to Sibuje Village for the
evening. If meditation cannot be facilitated in Panggom, it will be held at the Sibuje monastery on
Day 8.
DAY 7 |
PANGGOM - SIBUJE
Short trek from Panggom to Sibuje village for a homestay. Sibuje is located along a narrow ridge
jutting out into the Dudh Kosi Valley. Its terraced fields afford spectacular views of the Numbur
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Himal and adjacent peaks. Sibuje is the home of our staff, so our arrival here will feel very much
like a homecoming. We will stay with the families of our guides,
who treat us to local food and drink along with traditional
Sherpa hospitality. In the afternoon we visit a local school for
a welcome ceremony and presentation. In the evening we
receive cooking lessons from our hosts, who teach us how to
make traditional Sherpa foods. Homestay. 1 hr. trekking.
DAY 8 |
SIBUJE HOMESTAY
Homestay in Sibuje. After a hearty Sherpa breakfast of
Tsampa (buckwheat flour porridge, like oatmeal) we will take a
short walk to visit a water-powered gristmill. The mill is used
to grind buckwheat into flour, which is later cooked to make
Tsampa porridge. We will then visit the local monastery (gompah), and visit the homes of Sibuje
villagers. Using our guides as translators, we are able to ask questions about life and challenges
that villagers face. We can also ask about village projects, since Sibuje is where project funds
from your tour are being used. Homestay. 1 hr. walk to waterwheel.
DAY 9 |
SIBUJE - PAIYA
Trek to Paiya. Today we again don our packs and begin climbing through mixed oak and
rhododendron forest toward Khari La Pass (10,088 ft./3,075m). From the pass we catch the first
glimpse of tooth-like Mt. Kumbulia (18,901 ft./5,761m), which is considered to be the abode of a
god by the Sherpa people, and therefore never to be climbed. We also see Gyachen Kang and
Kusum Kangkeru before descending and crossing a bridge into Paiya where we will stay the night
with the extended family of one of our guides. Overnight at a
family-owned guesthouse. 4 hrs. trekking.
DAY 10 | PAIYA - LUKLA
Trek to Lukla. Today we travel toward Lukla, a village made
famous as the arrival point for trekkers and climbers headed
toward Mt. Everest. Along the way we pass more lodges and
teashops, indicating that we are entering an area of greater
economic opportunity. We have continuous views of high
peaks as we gradually ascend a ridge and then descend to the
village of Surke (7,513 ft./2,290m). We cross a bridge and
then begin our final 1.5 hour ascent to Lukla (9,317 ft./2,840m). In Lukla we have the opportunity
to do some shopping and eat Western fare at cafes and restaurants. There is also internet for
those who need to contact loved-ones back home. Overnight at lodge. 4 hrs. trekking.
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DAY 11 |
LUKLA - KATHMANDU
Fly back to Kathmandu. Catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu from Lukla. Rest and
shopping in Kathmandu. Celebration dinner together at a restaurant in Kathmandu. Overnight in
hotel. 30 minute flight.
DAY 12 & 13 |
LUKLA / KATHMANDU
Alternate flight days in the event either of our flights are cancelled due to weather. We will
have plenty of fun options for you during these days.
DAY 14 |
KATHMANDU
Departure to international destinations.
Cost $2,985 per person
Cost Includes:
All in-country lodging during trip dates, including in Kathmandu
All meals, excluding meals in Kathmandu, snacks between meals, and alcohol
In-country transportation, including airport pick-up/drop-off and internal flights. City tour
Final cultural dinner celebration
Local guide and porter support, including all Nepali staff wages, clothing, equipment, food, and
insurance
Cost Does Not Include:
Participant international airfare, travel insurance/trip cancellation insurance, visa fees ($40 USD
for a 30 day Visa) personal clothing and equipment, meals in Kathmandu, snacks between meals,
alcohol, any extra baggage fees, expenses resulting from travel delays or cancellations, city tour
transportation or charges, tips for guides and support staff.
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NEPAL SHERPA HOMESTAY TREK
March 20 - April 1, 2016 and October 1 - 13, 2016
TRAVEL DAYS
ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
DAY 1 |
KATMANDU DAY 2 |
KATMANDU
DAY 3 |
KATHMANDU - PHAPLU
DAY 4 |
PHAPLU - NUNTHALA
DAY 5 |
NUNTHALA - KHARIKHOLA
DAY 6 |
KHARIKHOLA - PANGGOM
DAY 7 |
PANGGOM - SIBUJE
DAY 8 |
SIBUJE HOMESTAY
DAY 9 |
SIBUJE - PAIYA
DAY 10 |
PAIYA - LUKLA
DAY 11 |
LUKLA - KATHMANDU
DAY 12 |
LUKLA - KATHMANDU (ALTERNATE FLIGHT DAY)
DAY 13 |
LUKLA - KATHMANDU (ALTERNATE FLIGHT DAY)
DAY 14 |
KATHMANDU DEPARTURE
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