Kii Hanto Pilgrim Hike

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1 JAP130731/2 Kii Hanto Pilgrim Hike Hike in the footsteps of pilgrims in the sacred Kii mountain ranges Welcome to Venture! Thank you for your interest in our Kii Hanto Pilgrim Hike trip. At Venture we are passionate about our off the beaten track experiences as they provide our travellers with the thrill of coming face to face with untouched cultures as well as wilderness regions of great natural beauty. We are committed to ensuring that our unique itineraries are well researched, affordable and tailored for the enjoyment of small groups or individuals philosophies that have been at our core since we began operating adventure holidays over 10 years ago. Our itineraries will give you the very best travel experience, designed by people with incredible local knowledge who share our vision of authentic exchange and real exploration with a responsible tourism approach. Whether you like your adventures to include trekking, touring, cycling, mountaineering, kayaking or cruising Venture can make it happen for you. We hope you will join us for a life changing experience. Trip Highlights Spectacular scenery Discover Japan s cultural heart Hiking in the mountains to Hongu shrine Staying at traditional ryokan inns Trip Duration: 5 days Grade: Introductory Activities: Trekking and Day Walking Accommodation: 5 day trip and 4 nights traditional inn

2 The Trip For over 1200 years the Kii mountain ranges were deemed a spiritual region inhabited by the gods. The sacred sites and mountain trails were influential in the development and exchange of Japanese culture and religion, in particular for its fusion of Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. This evokes a deep connection between the environment, history, traditions and faith as we follow old pilgrimage routes past ancient shrines and through dense rainforest with its many streams, rivers and waterfalls. Day 1 Join Kumano Day 2 Hike in the northern mountains to Hongu shrine Day 3 Hike to Koguchi, visit Nachi shrine and waterfall Day 4 Yamabushi pilgrim trail Day 5 In Kumano, trip concludes What s Included 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners traditional ryokan inns on a twin share basis transportation as listed in itinerary expert bilingual guide medical kit Notes: Local cash payments are becoming increasingly popular with many operators in the adventure travel industry. The policy seems to benefit the tour operators, more than the local economies or travellers, as it avoids local taxes and transfers the cost and risk of cash handling to travellers. In accordance with our Responsible Travel practices we have chosen a policy not to ask for such payments.

3 Trip Dates Departs daily year round Trip Cost Joining Kumano: $1990 Options & Supplements Kii Hanto Pilgrim Hike Single Traveller Surcharge: $990 These short extensions usually operate for a minimum of 2 passengers travelling together, however most can be done if you are travelling alone (Single Traveller Surcharge). If there are two or more people travelling together who cannot or prefer not to share rooms a single supplement cost will be applicable. For competitive airfares and stopover ideas to join this adventure, contact our expert staff today to receive a detailed quote.

4 Detailed Itinerary Day 1 Join Kumano Tonight we enjoy a lovely traditional dinner with our friendly hosts and run over the walking plans and highlights of the trip ahead. After dinner we can enjoy a natural hot spring bath (onsen) where we are staying, a treat that will become and morning and evening institution. meals: D Day 2 Hike in the northern mountains to Hongu shrine Today we start by head to the Northern mountains and walking back to Hongu, the Shrine that is the centre of the many Kumano Kodo trails. Our path is stunning with North and South views giving us great perspective of the isolation of this area we are calling home for a few days. We call farmland and tea plantations home at times on the journey. We allow time today after the walk to explore the spiritual town, its shrine and pretty riverside structures before finishing our day with a soak in the famous Kawayu River Onsen. (Distance 17km, 8 hrs) meals: B,L,D Day 3 Hike to Koguchi, visit Nachi shrine and waterfall Today we view the highest waterfall in Japan before heading on our toughest but most rewarding walk. Again temples and views spoil us on the challenging but wonderful trail. We arrive in the small mountain village of Koguchi before we are bused away to our home for the nights we are in Kumano. (Distance 15km, 8.5 hrs) meals: B,L,D Day 4 Yamabushi pilgrim trail A short bus ride takes us to the start of our final trail head. We first take in one of the lovely old postal towns in the area that existed when yamambushi mountain pilgrims need supplies and accommodation. We then make several passes on our way back to Hongu and our start point. Once again we can enjoy a soak in our accommodations onsesn s and possibly have a chat with one of the many local travellers come to the area specifically for bathing and walking just like us! (Distance 13km, 7 hrs). meals: B,L,D Day 5 In Kumano, trip concludes After a large and filling local breakfast and another soak we say goodbye to this great area and our hosts for the past 4 nights. meals: B This itinerary is subject to change with any change in Community regulations as well as Governmental changes and natural circumstances beyond our control.

5 Fast Facts Countries Visited: Japan Visas: Please check visa requirements with your reservations consultant* Vaccinations: Please consult a travel vaccination specialist for up to date information Private Groups: Private group options are available for this trip* Singles: A single supplement is not available for this trip *Ask our staff for more information Important Note These trip notes represent the most current information for this itinerary, and may supersede any information in the current brochure, including but not limited to the itinerary and price. The itinerary should be seen as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to inclement weather, forces of nature and other circumstances beyond our control. Country Information A geologically volatile archipelago, 85 per cent of Japan is mountainous. It is a relatively young land. The landscape is rugged and rocky, porous with natural springs, and the scenery has been perfectly depicted in famous historic paintings and woodblock prints: tiered mountains, streams, sculpted pine trees and many flowering plants, with a rich variety of bird life. The population is concentrated in clustered centres on the coast of the main islands, with the remainder in small towns dispersed through the fertile hinterland. Since the big cities

6 are all in lowland plains, the mountains are left largely to agriculture, forestry and national parks. Buddhism arrived from the mainland about 1,600 years ago, and its many traces overlap with those of the much older native belief system, Shinto. Climate Japan has a generally temperate climate, but since the country stretches for 3000 km, fro sub Arctic in the extreme north to sub tropical in the far south, there is plenty of variation throughout the year. Summer is hot and sticky, winter chills the bones, and the highest precipitation falls during the rainy season, roughly from mid June to mid July. Accommodation on the trip The Japanese ryokan is such a delicate environment, with compact spaces and displayed heirlooms, that for the first encounter something of a bull in a china shop feeling is inevitable especially in the entrance as shoes are put on and removed. But this reaction normalises as we and the innkeepers get used to each others ways! Traditional style accommodation means sleeping on futon bedding laid out on tatami floors. In the mountains it is usual for groups to sleep together in the same room, modified by sliding partitions. Our inns understand that westerners may be more comfortable with privacy, and assign two person rooms when there are few other guests. But privacy throughout is difficult to guarantee without paying a premium. Please check with our office staff if you require more information on this. Please note that hot showers and tub bathing is at the end of the day when a communal bath is heated (women and men are separated), but usually only wash basins are available in the morning. Japanese love bathing together, communing as they soak. This is a surprisingly good opportunity to meet the locals. What you carry In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rain jacket, water bottle, camera, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip eze etc. Equipment required No specialist gear is required except for a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre departure information provided on booking). What s not included International airfare, Visa and Travel insurance (compulsory) Meals and beverages not indicated in the program Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, alcohol etc

7 Trip grading These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health. (Note: These are not easy trips). Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended. Responsible travel The environments we travel through are fragile. It is our responsibility as visitors to minimise the impact of our presence. Adventure travel By its very nature adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected. In remote and developing countries do not expect standards you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable and itineraries may be altered. To get the most out of your adventure it is important that you are flexible, positive and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. If you are uncertain about your suitability for this trip we recommend that you speak with your consultant or travel agent. Private groups The adventures featured in our brochures, and on our website, are just a starting point for many of our private group travellers. Working closely with our Groups Department we can organise custom designed itineraries for groups of friends, clubs, charity s, schools or even work colleagues. Our team will assist you with all aspects of your private group adventure from itinerary design to group flights. Contact our team today. Trip availability If this trip seems right for you then we encourage you to call us now to check availability. There are many reasons why you may not be able to join your desired departure and limited space on our small group departures is just one of them. Many of our adventures require us to secure services on your behalf; such as trekking permits, train travel and visa invitation letters. The demand is increasing each year making it difficult to join a trip last minute. To ensure we can assist you onto your adventure of a lifetime we ask that you check your trip availability with our team at your earliest convenience.

8 Why travel with Venture? Our operations are designed to showcase the rich cultural history and natural beauty of the country. Innovative themed itineraries, guided by a team of bilingual expert leaders, have been created personally to provide you with a unique and truly memorable experience. Our partners continually work with us to improve our itineraries to ensure we are taking the paths less travelled. Most importantly, we always aim to benefit the local people we interact with, safeguard the ecosystems we explore and contribute to the sustainability of travel in the regions we experience.

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