THE NEPAL TRUST. Trek to Build Chadduk Khola 4.5 kw Micro Hydro Power Plant. Clean Energy - Light & Power for the People

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1 is supported by: THE NEPAL TRUST Trek to Build/Electrify Chyaduk Khola 4.5 kw Micro Hydro Power Project Clean Energy - Light & Power for the People 16 August - 11 September 2009 Implemented by: partners in Sustainable Tourism Development:

2 is supported by: BACKGROUND Welcome to another opportunity for both a personal challenge and to support communities in need. The Trek to Build Chyaduk MHP starts in Simikot, Dist. HQ of Humla and journeys NW up the Karnali river to Hilsa a village outpost on the Tibet border and then to the NE into the Limi Valley, the remotest and highest inhabited valley in Nepal. This trek is about being a part of positive change in one of the world s most beautiful yet most impoverished areas in the Hidden Himalayas of NW Nepal., a pioneer in responsible tourism in the far Western corner of Nepal since 1995, was the first development organisation in this vast region, if not the entire country, to initiate Treks-to- Build Health & Community. This project aims to promote sustainable tourism, where travellers get involved hands-on to contribute and educate and enrich themselves in community-based development related to health, renewable energy, pro-poor tourism, the environment, education and heritage preservation. was chosen by UNWTO, Dutch Development Org. SNV and the ST-EP Foundation to manage the pilot programme for the Great Himalayan Trail that will begin in We need people who are positive-minded to trek in a team that wants to make a difference in a part of the world that desperately needs support. This Trek to Build a micro-hydro to provide power and light to over 200 villagers needs participants who have the ability to think and act locally in their own home areas, but who also want to contribute globally and to the developing world. Our purpose is to provide electricity by constructing a 4.5 kw micro-hydro power plant to a Lama community (Tibetan origin) of 38 households. The area is lacking in the basic needs of primary healthcare, hygiene and education. One of the essential building-blocks of development is power and light clean renewable energy to improve health, food production and employment. In the all but forgotten valleys of the Himalayas of NW Nepal our Treks to Build Health & Community help people to help themselves to break out of the cycle of poverty. Without the support of a positive tourism combined with effective community projects, villages such as Chyaduk and thousands of others will find it incredibly difficult to muster the motivation let alone resources, that make belief in and action for positive change a possibility. These communities in the deep-end of the Himalayas that have suffered through a decade of a destructive insurgency need the support of a New Tourism For A New Century - a tourism that is a part of the solution and not a part of the problem for our world. Trek with a purpose leave more than your footprints and waste behind in the Himalayas be a part of an opportunity to support people with a clean energy source so that he can have home-lighting for the first time in their history.

3 is supported by: ITINERARY What: Trek-to-Build Chyaduk 4.5 kw Micro Hydro Power & Light for the People When: August 16 th September 11 th 2009 (28 days) Trip Level: Moderate to Strenuous Route: Kathmandu Nepalgunj, Simikot, Chyaduk, Kermi hot-springs, Hilsa, Limi Valley, Tibetan plateau and upper Humla - Simikot - Kathmandu Special features: Sightseeing tours, optional Mt Everest flight, Kathmandu, Kermi hot-springs, Nyalu Pass (5000m), Halji monastery and participate in construction of Chadduk 4.5 kw MHP Trip Cost: 2700 Depending on group size & flight availability Day 1 Aug 16, Sun Flight from London to Kathmandu Day 2 Aug 17, Mon Arrival Kathmandu, pick up at the airport and transfer to Hotel Vajra Arrival Kathmandu (Nepal) - NT staff will welcome you at the airport. Take bus to hotel. Shower, rest and relax. Those with a lot of energy can go for a short trip to downtown Thamel (tourist quarter) 19:00 pm Traditional Nepali meal (buffet) on Nepal Trust 20:00 pm Meet the rest of NT team & short introduction. Then a good night s sleep Day 3 Aug 18, Tue Sight seeing in Kathmandu 07:00 am Breakfast and an early morning start 08:15 am Board bus to Swayambhunath & the most important Hindu temple Pashupatinath 12:30 pm Lunch 19:00 pm Dinner at hotel Swayambhunath Pashupatinath Temple Day 4 Aug 19, Wed Flight Nepalgunj to Simikot (2900m) 07:00 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 08:30 am Stroll around Thamel and shop for final trekking equipment if necessary 12:00 am Lunch at hotel 13:30 pm Time to head for the airport 15:00 pm Board plane to Nepalgunj for 1hr, 15 min flight 16:15 pm Feel the heat at Nepalgunj (we have arrived in the Terai, lowlands) and off to hotel: lots of soft drinks to stay hydrated and relax 19:00 pm Dinner & early bed

4 is supported by: Day 5 Aug 20, Thu Flight Nepalgunj to Simikot (2900m) 05:30 am Wake up call, briefing NT on program & pack 06:00 am Leave for Nepalgunj airport 07:30 am Scenic flight to Humla 08:30 am Arrive in Simikot at 2900 meter altitude and feel your lungs getting into action as you walk up to the Nepal Trust Guest House for breakfast. Introduction to the Nepal Trust Guest House staff and health workers. Also meet the local people who will be trained in Mountain Leadership and as cooks on the trek. Spend the day here acclimatising: drink plenty of water and NO BEER! 13:00 pm Lunch and a short walk to loosen up our legs and get the lungs in shape 18:00 pm Small briefing about the next day 19:00 pm Dinner & early bed Nepal Trust Guest House in Simikot Simikot (District H.Q.) Day 6 Aug 21, Fri The trek starts: Simikot to Dharapori (2300m) (5 hrs.) 05:30 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 07:30 am Start trekking for a tough day. First a bit up, then watch your knees as you go down steeply (bisterai, bisterai = slowly, slowly) to the Karnali river. Follow the main trade route up the Karnali River 12:00 am Lunch break on route 16:30 pm Trek onwards and arrive at Dharapori 19:00 pm Dinner and briefing about the next day Day 7 Aug 22, Sat Dharaphori to Kermi (2820m) (3 hrs.) 07:00 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 08:30 am Start the short trek to Kermi and visit Nepal Trust health post 13:00 pm Lunch 14:00 pm Visit the Kermi MHP & take a bath in the natural hot springs 18:00 pm Dinner and briefing about the next day Day 8 Sep 24, Thu Trek Kermi to Yalbang (2820m) (4.5 hrs.) 06:30 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 07:30 am Prepare for an easy day s walk to Yangar Walk up the river valley to the ridge above Kermi and descend down to Sali Khola river and walk through beautiful forest and continue to Yalbang for camping at Nepal Trust health post. 12:30 pm Arrive Yalbang Monastery prepare campsite 13:30 pm Lunch 14:30 pm Visit Yangar and Yalbang villages

5 is supported by: Day 9 Sept 25, Fri Yalbang to Tumkot (3380m) (5.5 hrs.) 07:30 am An easy day s walk further up the Karnali River. Pass Yangar village and cross the Karnali river up a steep hill to Muchu village. After Muchu (2920m), we walk slightly down hill for 1 hour to Tumkot to set-up our camp near the river and below Tumkot Fort / Monastery. Day 10 Sept. 26, Sat Tumkot to Yari (3700m) (7 hrs.) A slow day up hill, we gain altitude quite quickly going up a couple of steep and rocky trails. This is the day where the effects of altitude will kick in. We will ascend nearly 600m and you will notice the air getting thin and the going a little harder time to go slow and check yourself out. Watch the vegetation changing as it gets dryer and the country now begins to look like Tibet. We cross the Karnali river once more and leave it to the left as the gorge is just to deep to follow. Then we slowly climb up and merge with the new dirt road (under construction) and the trail levels out some but always going up until we arrive at Yari village (3700m) on the slopes of the Nara La pass. Day 11 Sept 27, Sun Yari to Hilsa (3720m) (6.5 hrs.) 05:30 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 07:30 am Start trek to Hilsa on Tibet border a tough but rewarding day over the Nara-Lagna pass (4580m). Put on your wool hats and sunglasses it will be cold and windy at the top of the pass. There are beautiful views ahead into Tibet and back towards the east and the Karnali river valley far below. Move slowly and enjoy the scenery and monitor your breathing and acclimatization. After crossing the pass move carefully down the steep and loose gravel trail to Hilsa (3720m) where we will camp just on Nepali side of the border with Tibet. 16:00pm Arrive Hilsa set-up camp and explore area. 18:30pm Dinner and briefing about the next day On top of Nara Lagna pass (4580m) Viewpoint at Manipeme Day 12 Sept 28, Mon Hilsa into Limi Valley to Manipeme (3970m) (7.5 hrs.) 07:30 am We walk few hundred meters on Tibetan ground, before we turn back towards the NE into Nepal and towards the Limi valley. Then it s several switchbacks up and over a ridge (4120m) this is a long and challenging day. From the ridge we head to the campsite of Manipeme (3970m) where we camp for the night. ; be ready for a long and tough trek to Limi

6 is supported by: Day 13 Sept 29, Tue Manipeme to Til (4100m) (8 hrs.) 07:00 am Early start to a long-day to Til. We start off with more switchbacks and will take several ridges today - we cross the Namka Lagna (4300m) a tough pull and cross into the Limi valley with a clear view of Halji village in the distance and the Limi Khola. After crossing the Namka Lagna we lose sight of the Karnali as it enters a gorge to flow to the south and we head down a long steep rocky path for 2.5 hrs. and then turn due North up into a side valley towards the village of Till (3750m). 17:00 pm Arrive Til village rest and relax. Sightseeing and Visits to Nepal Trust s micro-hydro and solar projects. Day 14 Sept 30, Wed Til to Halji (3670m) (3.5 hrs.) 07:00 am (Sleep in today) - Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 08:30 am Meeting with Til leaders and visit to Til Monastery and on to Halji village (3670m). Follow the valley floor and the Limi Khola for around 3.5 hours to the village of Halji. We can visit the NT health post and the 1000 year old Halji Gompa; Nepal oldest monastery, which the NT endeavours to renovate with support from various donors. 13:30 pm Lunch 19:00 pm Dinner and briefing about the next day Til village Halji Monastery (Gompa) Day 15 Oct 1, Thu Full day Halji to visit village and Monastery 07:30 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program 09:00 am In Halji we can visit the village, monastery, caves and have meetings and interviews with village leaders and monks. We can also visit NT s health post, micro-hydro, solar project. On this day, we will also do some maintenance works in Halji with the local people. There is a possibility of a village celebration and an evening festival with the community. 18:30pm Dinner and briefing about the next day Day 16 Oct 2, Fri Trek Halji to Jang village (3800m) (4 hrs.) 07:00 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack We will have a leisurely morning. From Halji it is an easy 4-hour walk to Jang (3930m), where we will set up camp for the night. 08:30 am Trek to Jang village. 13:00 pm Have lunch in Jang and visit village and Monastery interviews.

7 is supported by: Day 17 Oct. 3, Sat Trek Jang to Khyungar or Talung (3800m) (8 hrs.) 05:30 am Early wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack We will move steadily today going slowly and always up again beware of altitude. We walk/ride up the valley to the NE to high pastures, hot springs, sand dunes and a river crossing past a lake and on to our camp at Khyungar below the Nyalu pass. 18:30 pm Dinner, review next day (very early start over the pass) make sure you have your hot-water bottles filled and steaming this evening as it will be super cold, wind and altitude. On the way to Chadduk Talung Lake in Limi Valley Day 18 Oct 4, Sun Trek over the Nyu La Pass (5000m) to Singjyungma (2900m) (8 hrs.) 05:30 am Early wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack Trek up the valley and watch out for snow and ice on the trail and start the long and challenging climb over the highest point of the trek: Nyu La Pass (5000m). This is a tough climb, needs total awareness and concentration follow your guides and be careful. We need to go up slowly but steadily and as a team. From the top of the pass there are fantastic 360 degree views of Humla and into Tibet. From here we can see Mt. Kailash and Mt. Saipal (7031m). Then it s steep down hill to Selima Tsho (4570m; lake). Continue down hill to Tsonga, with more beautiful views of Mt. Saipal. Follow the Salli Khola due south to our camp at Singjyungma (3701m) take a rest. Day 19 Oct. 5, Mon Singjyungma to Kermi village (2850m) (7.5 hrs.) 06:30 am Wake up call, breakfast, briefing NT on program & pack 07:30 am Start trek back to Kermi village. Today we drop below 3000m for the first time in 10 days. It s a pleasant walk through pine and birch forests and along the beautiful Salli Khola see towering rock faces on both sides of the trail. We meet the Karnali river again and turn due east towards Kermi village and on arrival enjoy a bath in the hot springs. Day 19 Sept 3, Thu Kermi village to Chadduk village (2750m) (3.5 hrs.) 06:30 am Wake up call, start packing your bags & breakfast. 07:30 am Start trek to Chadduk village straight towards south east along the Karnali river and then the last part involves hiking uphill from Chachera waterfall. Chadduk village is located at the top of the water fall in a kid of hidden valley. 12:30 pm Arrive Chadduk village, meet the community and projects members. Explore the village and take rest to start the works

8 is supported by: Day 20/24 Sept 4/8, Tue Construction work for Chadduk 4.5 Micro-Hydro Project Introduction and exploration: Chadduk is located a day walk from district headqueter Simikot of Humla. It is inhabited by 36 houholds of Bhotias who follow Tibetan Buddhist way of life. During the stay here, we will allow you the opportunity to introduce you to various attractions of the village - sites of cultural and natural significance and culture and traditions of the region. You will also meet with the key village members and project staff. Our team and the villagers will explain about the project, projects sites and it components. Working hands on: You will then start work with the local villagers and the project team to build 4.5 KW micro hydro project. They will assign jobs for you, which will include house wiring, carpentry, painting & mud plastering of the building, training the local people, as well as organising meetings and getting the team together. It will also involve activities like documenting the process taking photographs, collecting village data etc Along the trip, we will also do a survey of the village on health, education and environmental issues. Completion and celebration: After completion of the project, there will be a project handover ceremony followed by village celebration and party with singing and dancing where the local people will perform traditional songs and dances. You might also want to share your party piece with the local people. Day 25 Sept 9, Wed Chadduk to Simikot (8.5 hrs.) 06:30 am Early wake up - pack and breakfast. 7:30 Trek back to Simikot. Today we will provide pack lunch and will try to get to Simikot early so that we have enough time to prepare for the next day flight to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you can have a hot shower, beer and a comfortable bed and dinner around a warm stove at the Simikot guesthouse. Day 26 Sept 10, Thu Flight from Simikot via Nepalgunj to Kathmandu An early morning flight to Nepalgunj followed by an afternoon flight to Kathmandu & check-in at your hotel. Day 27 Sept 11, Fri Rest day/ sightseeing in Kathmandu 08:00 am Breakfast & briefing NT on program 09:00 am Board bus to Asan Here we stroll several hours through the old market area where we meet merchants, handicraftsmen, street sellers and look around in the many shops. 12:30 pm Lunch 14:00 pm Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square/ Thamel shopping area 17:30 pm Return to hotel for rest 19:00 pm Dinner and a free evening Flower sellers at Asan Merchants at old market

9 is supported by: Day 28 Sept 12, Sat Day 29 Oct 10, Sat Fly back to UK Flight Kathmandu (Nepal) to UK It s the final chance to have a lie in, get some last minute shopping and experience the sights and sounds of Kathmandu. We head to the airport in the afternoon Arrive London/Heathrow