MOUNTAIN TREKKING & WATER PROJECT
Global Goals Covered
Highlights
Work with local people to reduce single-use plastic waste
Learn how to cook traditional Nepali food
Go white water rafting down pristine Himalayan rivers
Trek through the incredible Himalayan Mountains of Nepal
This action-packed week in Nepal will see us trekking through the beautiful foothills of the Himalayas, summiting a mountain, white water rafting on mountain rivers, visiting World Heritage sites in Kathmandu and interacting with our hosts by cooking the country’s national dish for our guides. Most importantly, however, we will engage in a project that will directly impact a growing issue of single use plastics on Nepal’s trekking routes. We will assist local mountain villages in implementing sustainable drinking water filters to cut the amount of plastic waste that is polluting Nepal.
Our service project will provide a very credible alternative to single use plastic, as well as helping local mountain business owners understand how they can drive more bookings and attract more business by offering an environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water.
An Overview
One of the main attractions for tourists coming to Nepal is trekking in the mountains. In fact this is one of the core elements of your own experience in Nepal. Currently in many trekking areas water is only available by buying 1-litre bottles of drinking water. Considering that a trekker will need to drink plenty of water each day, you can imagine how many bottles are required to be sold from any given tea house on any given day. The carbon emissions generated by producing bottled water coupled with the plastic waste generated is causing a growing problem for Nepal and the Himalayas.
The project that you will be engaged in will directly impact this issue, providing a very credible alternative, as well as showing local tea house owners how they can drive more bookings and attract more business by offering an environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water.
Students will start their time in Nepal by white water rafting as a team on the Trisuli River, before trekking in the beautiful foothills of the Himalayas, where they will also engage in their service project.
Students will interact with the local people by cooking Dal Bhat (Nepal’s national dish) for their porters as a thank you. The trip will end with us visiting one of the most famous World Heritage sites in Nepal, Bouddha Stupa.
Pre Trip Activities
In order for the participating students to get as much experience, knowledge and enjoyment from the trip to Nepal as possible, Mountain Quests will prepare the students before the departure in a seminar. The preparatory seminar sessions can be arranged at the school or online. The seminar usually includes topics on cultural sensitivity, specific development challenges facing Nepal and an in-depth explanation of the water project. All students will receive pre-departure information containing YouTube videos, articles and other material in order to gain further insight of the project, the activities and the destination. If needed, an information meeting for parents can also be arranged as well.
This Trip Is Best For
Students who are:
Wanting to trek in the mountains of the Himalayas
Looking for a personal and physical challenge
Keen to help in the fight against single use plastic waste
The Itinerary
Today we’ll fly to Kathmandu. A Mountain Quests’ employee will depart with you. Upon arrival in Nepal we’ll check in to our hotel and grab dinner. Today is predominantly a travel day, but after dinner we will give the students an introduction to Nepal and all the activities we will be engaging in during our stay.
After an early breakfast we’ll take a private coach to Pokhara, stopping on the way for white water rafting. It will take about 3 hours to reach the start of the rafting, and we’ll be snaking through canyons and deep into fertile farming valleys along the way. When we reach the rafting start-point, we’ll have an early lunch, prepared from the organic gardens on the banks of the Trisuli River, which is what we will raft on.
After a thorough safety briefing we’ll hit the rapids, working in teams to navigate our way down the river. This is a really exciting start to the trip! After about three hours of rafting we’ll get back onto the coach for another 3 hours before arriving in Pokhara, a beautiful lakeside town that serves as the starting point of our trek. We will have dinner and spend the night here in a hotel.
The day will start with breakfast at the hotel, before we get on a bus to take us to the start of our trekking route. After about 2 hours we’ll be at the start, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Weather-permitting it won’t be long before you start to see some incredible views of huge mountains. By lunch we’ll be in Ghandruk, a stunning village with perfect views of Annapurna South (7,219m) and Macchapuchare (6,997m) mountains. After refueling we’ve trek for another 3 hours before arriving in Tadapani, our resting place for the night.
After a now familiar early start to the day we’ll be back on our way after breakfast, heading towards Ghorepani. Today is a full day of trekking, with the highlight being walking along the ridgeline of Deurali Pass. Here you will have great views of Annapurna 1 (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m).
After a moment to enjoy these views you’ll walk down to Ghorepani where we spend the night.
An early morning start (about 5am) will enable you hike up to the top of Poon Hill (3,210m) just in timefor sunrise over the Himalaya. This is the high point of your trek, both literally and with regards to the sights you will see. You’ll see the mountains slowly being bathed in the morning sun, before heading back down to Ghorepani to have breakfast, then trek to Banthanti where you will spend the night. In Banthanti we will cook Nepali Dal Bhat, the national dish of the country. We will then serve the meal to our hard-working porters and guides as a token of our appreciation for all their hard work.
A short trekking day will see us in Tikedhunga by 12pm, where we will have an early lunch. For the next 3 hours we will work with our teahouse host to help inaugurate a brand new water filter that the tea house will use to sell water to passing tourists, instead of selling plastic bottles. We will also assist in explaining the damage that plastic is doing to the environment, how and why this will negatively impact the businesses of local people and how this process can be stopped in order to protect the natural environment that local people rely on for income.
After completing our project we will walk a little further down the trail, where our transport will be waiting to take us back to Pokhara, where hot showers and warm beds await us. The evening will include a celebratory dinner to allow us to reflect on our trekking achievements.
After a good breakfast we’ll head to the airport in Pokhara to catch a domestic flight, getting back to Kathmandu by late morning. Once in the Capital we’ll visit Boudha Stupa and learn about the ancient history of this spectacular World Heritage site. We’ll get some lunch and then do some last minute souvenir shopping before heading to the airport in time for your flight back home in the evening.
Heath And Safety
Access to quality medical care will vary depending on our location. In Kathmandu hospitals are easily accessible and the ones we use are comparable to international, Western, standards.
Along the trek access to medical facilities is extremely limited. For small problems such as blisters, mild sprains and strains, scratches and bruises, our professional trained guides can assist. For more serious issues that required hospital treatment, we would need to call for helicopter evacuation to the CIWEC Clinic in Pokhara. We have excellent links to multiple helicopter companies to arrange efficient evacuation should the need arise. It is important that students are covered with the correct insurance to deal with this, and we can assist with how to apply for this.
All of our guides are first aid trained, and your head guide is trained in wilderness first aid by the American Red Cross. We have with us at all times a full and well-equipped medical kit. The contents of this can be shared with you prior to departure.
Students are required to provide us information on dietary requirements, allergies and their health and travel insurance before departure. All allergies and dietary requirements can be taken into consideration and managed.
FAQs
What’s the accommodation like?
In Kathmandu and Pokhara we will be staying in good quality hotels (3 star rating). Along the trek we will be staying in tea houses, which are made to accommodate tourists, normally 2 or 3 students in each room, separated by gender.
What is the weather like?
During the morning and night it will be cold but it will be warm during the day. However it will get colder as you gain altitude along the trek. It might rain, but February tends to be dry.
Health and safety?
All of our guides are professionally trained mountain guides and are first aid trained. We have many years of experience guiding school groups in the Himalayas and work to strict operating procedures.
Is the food and water safe?
Not only is it safe, it’s delicious! Most of the vegetables are grown at the tea-houses so the food is very fresh. Make sure to clean your hands thoroughly before eating and only drink bottled water. We also cater to any allergies.
What clothes should I wear?
You will receive a full and detailed kit list with plenty of time before you travel.
How long is a day of trekking?
A typical day of trekking can range from 5 - 7 hours with multiple rest stops and a lunch break.
Will I get altitude sickness?
Make sure you take it easy and don’t rush! Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and tell the guides if you ever feel dizzy or have a slight headache so they can help prevent altitude sickness. That said, our maximum altitude is 3,200m and we don’t expect altitude related issues.
How fit do I need to be?
It’s important to have a good level of fitness for this trek. You should be active in a sport or be able to run 5 kilometers without stopping. If you are not currently fit, you can train for this trip, but it is important to be fit when you begin your trek. Please consult us if you have any concerns.
Inquiries?
If you have questions about this trip, would like to know more or thinking about booking this trip with us, then please contact us at: