Over the years, Wilderness in Nepal (WIN), Australia and Keep Walking Nepal have been lending a helping hand to rural and marginalized communities in Nepal though various community projects and medical clinics.
For 2023, we’ve planned a 4 day medical camp at Bhadaure, a remote mountainous village in the Annapurna region. The village lacked basic medical facilities and only recently a basic health center setup was setup with support from WIN.
Bhadaure village is a rural community in Kaski (Annapurna Region). Unlike the surrounding areas around Bhadaure which have benefited from Tourism, Agricultural Development, etc, the village is away from the commercial trail and thus economically deprived. The locals don’t have accessible health care as the nearest hospital is an hour away and public transportation is non-existent. Currently a health post of sorts has been put in place with financial aid from WIN and employs a health assistant to treat minor ailments.
As such, the WIN Bhadaure Medical Clinic 2023 will greatly benefit the village and surrounding community as the the nearest hospital is almost 1.5 hours away.
After the medical camp, you can join the Gokyo Lakes Trek. The highlight of the Gokyo lakes trek is Gokyo Ri ridge which ridge offers a magnificent sunrise view of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu to the east, with the turquoise Gokyo lake and the Ngozumpa glacier right below.
The trek begins from Lukla, the gateway to Khumbu. You will gradually hike through birch forests and rhododendrons along the Dudh Koshi valley to Namche Bazaar, the commercial center of the region that has developed into a natural circus facing the sacred Khumbila mountain Further along the Dudh Koshi valley you will encounter ever-changing landscapes, almost alien at times, to the famous Gokyo lakes and Gokyo Ri (5,357 m).
Throughout the trail, you will have beautiful panoramas of the Himalayan Giants, and the warm hospitality of the Sherpa people. With short walking days, and an excellent acclimatization regime, you get to enjoy the mountains at a safe comfortable pace.
Keep Walking Nepal would be pleased to have you along on this adventure. The program as a whole introduces you to our country and way of life.
Trip Highlights
- Guided tour of UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu
- Scenic scheduled return flights: Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu
- Volunteering at the Bhadaure 2023 Medical Camp
- Experience the culture, lifestyle and hospitality of the Sherpa people
- Scenic scheduled flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and Chartered Helicopter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
- Explore Sherpa villages, monasteries and lush valleys with the spectacular view of the Himalayas
Trip Grade - Hard
Fixed Departures
| Departure | Return | Price (Inc. Tax) | Dept Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 2023 | 25 Oct 2023 | $3590 USD | Available | Book Now |
Trip Summary
- Day 1 :Arrive Kathmandu transfer to hotel Tibet and welcome dinner
- Day 2 :Guided half day tour of Kathmandu
- Day 3 :Fly to Pokhara (25 min) and drive to Bhadaure (1.5 hrs)
- Day 4- 7 :Volunteer at Medical Camp
- Day 8 :Drive to Pokhara. Rest of the day at leisure.
- Day 9 :Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu (25 min). Rest of the day at leisure
- Day 10 :Flight to Lukla (2,820 m; 30 min). Trek to Phakding (2,610 m; 4 hrs).
- Day 11 :Trek to Monjo (2,900 m; 3 hrs)
- Day 12 :Trek to Namche (3,440 m; 7-8 hrs)
- Day 13 :Acclimatization day (Optional hike to Everest view hotel)
- Day 14 :Trek to Phortse Thanga (3,680 m; 5-6 hrs)
- Day 15 :Trek to Dole (4,110 m; 2-3 hrs)
- Day 16 :Trek Machhermo (4,470 m; 3-4 hrs) and acclimatization hike to Kyajo Ri ridge
- Day 17 :Trek to Gokyo Lakes (4,790 m; 4 hrs)
- Day 18 :Morning excursion to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m; 5 hrs)
- Day 19 :Trek to Dole (4,110 m; 4-5 hrs)
- Day 20 :Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m; 5-6 hrs)
- Day 21 :Trek to Khumjung (3,790 m; 5-6 hrs)
- Day 22 :Trek to Monjo (2,900 m; 5-6 hrs)
- Day 23 :Trek to Lukla (2,840 m; 4-5 hrs)
- Day 24 :Fly to Kathmandu on a chartered Heli Flight
- Day 25 :Full day at leisure in Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in the evening.
- Day 26 :Departure: End of trip
Daily Movements
- Chartered Helicopter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu require at least 4 group members
(total capacity of a standard helicopter is 5 passengers; 4 guests and 1 guide). - If the group size is less than 4 people; the total cost of the helicopter flight will be divided with the no of group members for equal division.
- Alternatively, smaller groups can also opt to fly in regular flights from Lukla to Kathmandu.
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu transfer to hotel Tibet and welcome dinner
Our representative will pick you up at Kathmandu International Airport and drive you to your hotel. Depending upon what time you arrive, you can enjoy a full day at leisure and go on a welcome dinner with the KEEP WALKING FAMILY.
Look out for the KEEP WALKING NEPAL board behind the railing once you exit the airport terminal.
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B, D)
Day 2: Guided half day tour of Kathmandu
After breakfast you will get to experience the 2 most important sanctuaries in Kathmandu Valley: Pashupatinath & Boudhanath. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B)
Day 3: Fly to Pokhara (25 min) and drive to Bhadaure (1.5 hrs)
After breakfast, you will drive to Kathmandu airport for 25 min flights to Pokhara. Once at Pokhara, you will drive to Bhadaure village and catch up with the local team and crew.
You will then prepare for the medical camp in coordination with the Bhadaure Health Center, local villagers, and crew.
Overnight at Local Lodge or Tented Camp (B, L, D)
Day 4- 7: Volunteer at Medical Camp
You will engage in various activities at the medical camp.
Overnight at Local Lodge or Tented Camp (B, L, D)
Day 8: Drive to Pokhara. Rest of the day at leisure.
After breakfast you will drive to Pokhara. You have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at Lakeside Hotel (B)
Day 9: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu (25 min). Rest of the day at leisure
You will fly to Kathmandu late morning where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B)
Day 10: Flight to Lukla (2,820 m; 30 min). Trek to Phakding (2,610 m; 4 hrs).
You will drive to Kathmandu domestic airport for an adventurous early morning 30 min flight to Lukla’s Tenzing Hillary Airport (2,800 m) on a scheduled flight. In clear weather, you will be rewarded with the first glimpse of Everest.
At Lukla, you meet the rest of your crew. The porters will take your duffel bag and will meet you at the lodge (this will continue throughout the trek).
Once out of Lukla, you will descend past small fields and cozy little wooden houses with vegetable gardens; all with a picturesque mountain backdrop. Along the way, you might encounter some pack animals as they are the only means of goods transportation up and down the mountain.
Along the way, in clear weather, one can catch views of the ice-covered 6,000 m high Kusum Kanguru. The trail is marked by impressive black mani stones painted with Tibetan inscriptions and a large stupa which indicates our destination for the day, Phakding, is nearby.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 11: Trek to Monjo (2,900 m; 3 hrs)
After breakfast, you will continue on the trail. It is a relatively short day as you cross suspension bridges over raging streams, past small hamlets and fields. Though the trail isn’t difficult, it is undulating – what we call the Nepali flat.
You will reach Monjo for lunch and the rest of the day is at leisure. You can visit the local school, visit the local snooker house for some beer or just call it a day.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 12: Trek to Namche (3,440 m; 7-8 hrs)
Post breakfast, you will set about crossing suspension bridges and undulating terrain past traditional homes, plowed fields and forests.
As you climb slowly to the gate of Sagarmatha National Park, the snowy peak of Thamserku shows itself. After lunch, you will climb up to cross a suspension bridge over the Imja Gorge and tackle a steep hike to Namche Bazaar, the largest Sherpa village in the Khumbu region perched on the side of a hill.
On the way, if the weather is clear, you might even get the first view of the mighty Everest.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 13: Acclimatization day (Optional hike to Everest view hotel)
An important rule for a successful trek is successful acclimatization. Following the mantra, you will spend a second night in Namche but visit higher grounds to adapt our body.
We suggest a hike early morning hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) and enjoy a breath-taking 360 panorama of Everest, Taboche, Thamserku, Kongde Ri and Ama Dablam.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 14: Trek to Phortse Thanga (3,680 m; 5-6 hrs)
You will start on the frequented trail to EBC till the rest point at Kyangjuma. From Sansa, the trail branches off west hugging the mountains on your left. The tenacious climb to Mong la (3,990 m) is rewarding with distant view of Ama Dablam to the east.
After lunch, you will descend down the valley in a series of steep switchbacks through a rhododendron and pine forest to cross a suspension bridge over the raging Dudh Koshi river. A short ahead lies the village of Phortse Thanga, your camp for the night.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 15: Trek to Dole (4,110 m; 2-3 hrs)
It’s a short day’s hike to Dole today. The trail through red birch, fir and dwarf rhododendron forest that surround yak pastures, and numerous cascading waterfalls that freeze during winter. Plus, you would also see the glacier flows from Tawache and Cholatse.
Above 4,000m the landscape and vegetation changes dramatically. Windswept valleys favor only a few species of ground-hugging rhododendrons and distinctive alpine flowers like edelweiss, gentians, anemones and stellera.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 16: Trek Machhermo (4,470 m; 3-4 hrs) and acclimatization hike to Kyajo Ri ridge
It’s about 6 km from Dole to Machhermo but it will take about 4 hours to climb the 270 meters vertical height. Machhermo valley lies in a windswept valley on the banks of Machhermo river, a drainage of the Ngozumpa glacier and the longest glacier in the Himalayas.
You will keep high above the Dudh Koshi river, going in and out of side valleys, along the settlements of Lhabarma and Luza. The trail can be quite steep at times but the views of Cholatse and Taboche will keep you company.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 17: Trek to Gokyo Lakes (4,790 m; 4 hrs)
Leaving Machhermo, you will climb a ridge, from which the entire valley of Kangtega is clearly visible. From here, China is a stone’s throw away – right behind Cho-Oyu (8,261 m).
After lunch and some rest at the village of Pangka, which lies right behind the ridge, you will cross the river to arrive at the front of Ngozumpa Glacier’s moraine. The glacier feeds the famous Gokyo lakes.
One last spurt and you will arrive at the Gokyo valley, decorated with several lakes. There are 5 of them, and today you will pass the first three: Longpong (4,650 m), Tauzhun (4,710 m), Dudh Pokhari (4,750 m).
You will stay the night in a lodge on the edge of the Dudh Pokhari lake.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 18: Morning excursion to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m; 5 hrs)
In complete darkness, you will begin a radial ascent to the summit of Gokyo-Ri (5,357 m).
It will take about three hours to storm the summit, and somewhere in the middle of the road you will see how the dawn colors the white peaks of the Himalayas. The Himalayan giants reveal themselves – Everest, Makalu, Nuptse with Lhotse, and Cholatse with Taboche along with the Ngozumpa glacier.
After spending about 30-40 minutes on the top to take pictures and admire the view, you will descend about one and a half hours to our lodge for breakfast. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 19: Trek to Dole (4,110 m; 4-5 hrs)
You will retrace your steps back to Dole.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 20: Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m; 5-6 hrs)
Today’s hike will take you through an off-the-beaten-trail to Tengboche. You will have the mountains all to yourself, an amazing feat during busy season when Khumbu becomes a trekkers ‘Disneyland’.
You will retrace your steps till Phortse Thanga to cross the Dudh Koshi river and gently ascend to Phortse village for about 45 minutes. It is a quaint little village which, unlike the Tengboche – Pangboche, doesn’t see a lot of trekkers. There is, however, a seldom used trail to Gokyo, via Thare, along the eastern bank of the Dudh Koshi river.
After some rest at Phortse, you will begin the arduous descent. Just beyond the village, you will take a left turn from a spur which switchbacks steeply all the way to the Imja river. Across the river, you will gradually climb through a rhododendron forest all the way to Tengboche. While the mountains are obscure on this section of the trail, chances are you will encounter the Himalayan Musk, partridge and even the elusive Danphe (Himalayan Monal), the national bird of Nepal.
Tengboche monastery, largest in Khumbu, was completely destroyed by fire some decades ago but has been completely restored thanks to donations, especially from abroad. The double top view of Kongde Ri with the monastery in the front is picture-perfect. The monastery houses art, a large Buddha statue and musical instruments and robes of the Lama.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 21: Trek to Khumjung (3,790 m; 5-6 hrs)
You will join the ‘main trail’ from Namche to Everest Base Camp here on. Just outside of the village, you will descend down for about 1.5 hrs through a dense Himalayan forest to the river crossing at Phunke Thanga. Again, the mountains are obscure, but chance encounters with Himalayan wildlife should be in the cards.
After some rest, you will ascend through a well-trodden trail to Kyangjuma, the rest point before a few days on your way from Namche to Phortse Thanga, and follow the higher trail via Sansa to Khumjung.
The only high school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1961 in Khumjung is definitely worth a visit. Also, don’t miss the mysterious Khumjung monastery where a Yeti scalp and skull are said to be “preserved”.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 22: Trek to Monjo (2,900 m; 5-6 hrs)
It’s all downhill from here. You will hike directly down to Namche and after some rest retrace your steps back to Monjo.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 23: Trek to Lukla (2,840 m; 4-5 hrs)
Backtracking to Lukla on the famous ‘Nepali Flats’, your journey in the homeland of the Sherpas will have come to an end. Alas, it’s your last day with your crew of Sherpas and porters, and rightfully calls for a celebration.
Overnight at Local Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 24: Fly to Kathmandu on a chartered Heli Flight
You will fly back to Kathmandu early morning after breakfast. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Note
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B)
Day 25: Full day at leisure in Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in the evening.
You will have the full day at your own leisure in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will get together to celebrate your trip with Keep Walking Nepal.
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B, D)
Day 26: Departure: End of trip
Your journey comes to an end today. A Keep Walking Nepal will drop you to Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight back home.
(B)
Cost - US $ 3590 (joining Kathmandu)
(Single Supplement: additional US $ )
Cost Includes:
- Airport pick up and drop off by private vehicle as per the itinerary.
- All local transportation as per itinerary
- Guided half day tour in Kathmandu
- Twin sharing accommodation at Hotel Tibet in Kathmandu & at hotel in Pokhara
- Twin sharing accommodation at the medical camp either in lodge or tent
- Twin sharing accommodation on the trek at local lodges
- Meals as specified in the above itinerary
- Domestic flight tickets for Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu
- Domestic flight ticket for Kathmandu – Lukla
- Chartered helicopter flights for Lukla – Kathmandu per details below;
- Please note that chartered helicopter flight requires at least 4 group members
- (total capacity of a standard helicopter is 5 passengers; 4 guests and 1 guide)
- If the group size is less than 4; the total cost of the helicopter flight will be divided with the no of passengers for equal division.
- Alternatively, smaller groups can also opt to fly out of Lukla to Kathmandu in regular flights
- Please note that chartered helicopter flight requires at least 4 group members
- Experienced local crew and cultural guide.
- All permits & entrance fees as per program (unless mentioned otherwise)
- Use of and access to a First Aid medical kit by trained and certified staff (if you require first aid assistance)
- Duffle Bag, Sleeping bag, Down Jacket
Cost Excludes:
- Meals other than specified in the itinerary.
- International airfares.
- Nepal entry visa fee.
- Rescue & travel insurance.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic drinks, hot shower, cold drinks, laundry, phone call, and internet.
- Tips (average daily rate is USD 6 TO 7 per person per day)
TRIP FACTS
-
Duration
26 Days -
Best Season
October -
Max-Altitude
5,357m -
Difficulty Level
Hard -
Group Size
2 -14 members persons -
Accomodation
Hotel, Lodge / Tent