Himalayan Adventure Trek & Yarthung Horse Festival with Adventure Alternative
In Summary A superb two week trek up into the high Himalaya in the Annapurna region of Nepal to trek to and attend the traditional grand Yarthung horse racing festival and celebration. During the festival we also explore the beautiful area around Manang including buddhist temples and glacial lakes. After the festival we continue our trek to one of the world's most spectacular high-altitude lakes at Tilicho before marvelling at some of the world's highest mountains as we cross a high pass and drop back down to the valley villages. More Information This trek has many fantastic elements to it. For those who have never been to Nepal or even to other central Asian countries, it is hard to describe the richness and sheer contrast of the culture in this part of the world. You will see sights both human and natural that will expand your horizon immeasurably. We begin in the classically exotic city of Kathmandu with its warm, bustling and colourful streets and calm quiet temples. We then drive up through the ascending lowlands towards the inconceivably large wall of the Himalayan range. After a further short journey by 4x4 we will be in the heart of the mountains. Over the next few days we ascend up through small mountain villages on what is arguably the most interesting and spectacular part of the legendary Annapurna Circuit trek. This path takes it name from the huge mountain massif around which we are skirting. Our arrival in the attractive village of Manang will be timed to coincide with the start of the annual Yartung horse festival. The festival is an ageold tradition which celebrates the return of the livestock to the villages from the pastures higher in the mountains. It is also an opportunity for the local horseman to show off their prowess. When the horse festival concludes, we will set off to the west on a less trodden path. The path rises up a spectacular valley with strange rock formations and brightly coloured screes and sands. On the third day we will approach the spectacular lake Tilicho, perched between enormous peaks at nearly 5000m. We will camp at the lake and after enjoying a sunset and a sunrise from its shores we will make our way up over the highest point of our trek at the Mesokanto Pass at 5200m. This will be a tiring day but our previous weeks of living high in the mountains and ascending to the ice lake at Manang and the high route that we take to the Tilicho base camp will mean that we are fit and well acclimitised. We will gain fantastic views from the pass, back to lake Tilicho and ahead down into the Kali Gandaki Valley ahead, where we finish our trek at the village of Jomsom. Highlights Kathmandu Classically exotic sights and culture The Annapurna Himal- Rightfully world famous trekking area Grand Yarthung Horse Festival- Authentic traditional cultural event Tilicho Lake- A less travelled route to a spectacular azure lake amid soaring snow-clad peaks
Dates and Itinerary 7 th 24 th July 2013 Broad Itinerary Day Summary (Depart Home) 1 Arrive Kathmandu [itinerary begins] 2 Explore Kathmandu 3 Drive to Besisahar 4 4x4 to Dharapani 5 Trek to Chame, 2710m 6 Trek to Pisang, 3310m 7 Trek to Manang, 3540m 8 Manang Horse Festival & optional Gangpurna Lake walk, Visit HRA 9 Manang Horse Festival & optional day trek to ice lake, 4600m Day Summary 10 Manang Horse Festival & Temple visits 11 Trek to Khangsar, 4100m 12 Trek to Tilicho Base Camp Hotel, 4150m 13 Trek to Tilicho Lake, 4920m 14 Trek to Yak Kharka, 4100m 15 Trek to Jomsom, 2800m 16 Fly Jomsom-Pokhara-Kathmandu 17 Explore Kathmandu / Spare day for poor weather 18 Depart Kathmandu [itinerary ends] Trip Cost Land-only Cost : 1,195 Includes Airport transfers Internal transport to Besisahar and Dharapani Internal flight from Jomsom to Pokhara Internal flight from pokhara to Kathmandu Accommodation in Kathmandu for 3 nights - twin/double rooms Accommodation in lodges/tea houses (twin rooms with beds and mattresses) Three meals per day during the trek, and hot drinks (e.g tea, coffee, juices) National Park Fees Sherpa guides (English speaking, 1 st aid trained) Porters (max weight carried for you is 15kgs) Staff food, insurance and equipment Excludes International flight to Kathmandu Meals and drinks in Kathmandu (~ 40) Personal costs like drinks, laundry, hot showers, bottled water (~ 50) Trip Insurance Additional Porters if packs are overweight. 10/kg overweight/trek Visa ($30 for short stays) Airport departure tax for some tickets ( 15 paid in Nepalese rupees) Tips (~ 30) Sightseeing Tours
Fitness & Difficulty You do not need to be super-fit for this trek. We will be following good mountaineering practice which dictates that at altitude you try to move slowly and efficiently to conserve energy and so as to aid your body's acclimitisation. As such we will be plodding along the trail with plenty of stops for snacks and photos. Having said all this, it will obviously aid you in your enjoyment of the trek if you are in good physical shape. The effect of altitude can be likened to dropping you down several notches in your normal physical ability. Therefore, the higher you are to begin with the better! The type of fitness you need is the slow-burn lowintensity but sustained exertion. The best preparation would be by taking long walks in the hills with a light pack. If you can spend 4 or 5 hours out on moderately undulating terrain then this is ideal and will accurately correspond to what we will be doing. Shorter, more high-intensity training will of course also help your fitness. But if you are only used to short 45minute bursts of exercise then just being on your feet for 5 hours may surprise you in the way it tires you out. Type of Terrain For the early part of the trek we will be on the world famous Annapurna Circuit trail. This trail is well made and well trodden, it follows a large river valley but it does change position from the bottom of the valley to some way up the side. As such there are some steeper parts that may necessitate quite a few stops for a breather. However the trail here is not difficult under foot. Later in the trek we leave the main Annapurna Circuit path for a less-trodden path. The path is still an established route but in places it does steepen into multiple switch-backs as we climb and descend steep hillsides. On our way up to the Mesokanto La and down the other side the path does get quite steep. Equipment & Clothing The basic idea of the kit we will take is to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, able to move efficiently in the mountains and able to be comfortable in the evenings and night. There is a detailed list on our website, but the main points to cover are:- BAGS - Large duffle ~80L (carried by porter) + Medium Daypack ~40L (carried by you) SHELL - Top and bottoms to keep off wind/rain INSULATION - Layered system to keep you warm- body hands & Head BASELAYER - Thin layers to wick away sweat and to strip down to when it gets hot FEET - Comfortable & supportive trekking boots, more comfortable footwear for evenings/city SLEEPING - Warm sleeping bag & roll-mat to get a good nights sleep at tea houses or in tents EATING/DRINKING - Water bottles & favourite snacks for during the day WASHING & MEDICAL - To allow you to wash and maybe stave off a headache or blister
Why Choose Adventure Alternative We are an established and experienced adventure travel operator with years of proven service in delivering interesting and original adventures We have our own company, offices and guesthouse in Nepal. Therefore you will be with our own Sherpa staff throughout the trip. This gives you the chance to learn about the landscape and traditions from local people We have our own experienced, knowledgeable UK staff who you can speak to for advice at any time via our office We have a carefully planned ascent profile to maximise your rate of acclimitisation to altitude. This includes spending a number of days at Manang relaxing and taking day-hikes to prepare us for the next, and highest, stage of the trek. This not only improves your safety but also your enjoyment of the trip We have a strong ethical stance on responsible and sustainable tourism and have won multiple national award for our work as well as being awarded the maximum 5-Star status for Responsible Tourism by AITO We are fully bonded by ABTOT for financial protection of your money We are independently verified as compliant with the British Standard BS8848 Specification for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the United Kingdom Useful Links Adventure Alternative Trip Page https://www.adventurealternative.com/trips/view/117/himalayan_horse_festival_trek_manang_nepal UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office country profile http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/nepal BBC Country Profile http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12511455 General Information about tourism in the country http://www.tourism.gov.np/ Weather History http://weatherspark.com/#!dashboard;q=manang%2c%20nepal Weather Forecast http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfforecast?query=manang+nepal http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/tilicho-peak/forecasts/3500
Other Things to Remember Flights Adventure Alternative are not a flight ticketing agent so they do not sell flights. However, they have an account with STA Travel. There is a very experienced and helpful advisor there called Chris Sidebottom who you can contact and say that you are an Adventure Alternative client and he will help you. chris.sidebottom@statravel.co.uk 0871 230 8579 or +44 161 830 8759 You can also use online comparison sites, one of the best is usually Sky Scanner. You often get the best prices if you either book a long way in advance or at the last minute. Needless to say, if you book at the last minute you are likely to have less choice and also have the possibility of there being either only expensive flights left or even none. It is best to book early. Insurance You will need to take out personal travel insurance for the trip. You need to make sure it covers all the trip locations and activities and also cancellation. You need to buy cover as soon as you book your place on the trip and buy your flights so that if something happens before the trip that means you can t travel, you will be able to claim the flights and trip cost back. There is lots of information on the Adventure Alternative website about insurance. Click on the relevant link on the right hand side of the trip pages. A few providers that are worth checking are; Campbell Irvine, the BMC, Snowcard, STA Travel, Insure and Go Vaccinations & Medications You will need to check what the requirements are for vaccinations, immunisations and medications on the specific trip you are doing. You will need to make an appointment with your GP or ideally a travel health clinic for at least 6 weeks before travel. When you go to the appointment you need to take along details of the trip including the country you are going to, the areas you will visit and the activities you will be doing. All of these factors, plus your own medical history, will affect what vaccinations you are advised to get or update. Adventure Alternative operates an account with Interhealth who can give you medical and vaccination advice. You can also get advice from organisations such as the NHS and the FCO. The Fit For Travel and Live Well campaigns also give good advice for staying healthy while you are away. Visa Different countries have completely different visa requirements for people travelling to them. These requirements can also vary depending on your own citizenship, what you will be doing and how long you will be staying. If you are a UK citizen the first place to look is the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Their website has a page for each country and a section called Entry Requirements. If you are not a UK citizen you will need to contact the destination country s embassy in your home country or the foreign office of your own country. Country Info In order to get the most out of your trip, you should read a bit about the history, geography, culture, customs and language of the country you are travelling to. There is a lot of information on the Adventure Alternative website and also on the FCO website and part of the FCO Know Before You Go campaign.