Experience Beautiful, Native Nepal as a Local in Ganesh Himal

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 meters)
Namaste! Welcome to Nepal!

A representative from our local partner greets you at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfers you to your hotel. Your time during the day is not planned, so you can explore the tourist area Thamel on your own. In the evening, we meet together with our local representative, Ram, for dinner. Ram is a successful businessman and social entrepreneur, who is involved in social work in the remote village where he grew up. After a short informational meeting about our trek, Ram tells us about the social work he is involved in, such as building and running schools and health posts and supporting children from poor families with education, etc.

Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing
After breakfast, we drive to one of the Tibetan neighborhoods in Kathmandu, Boudhanath, to begin our sightseeing. We tour the small Buddhist monasteries in the area surrounding the famous Boudhanath Stupa.

Located in East Kathmandu, the Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four prime directions keeping watch for virtuous behavior and human success.

We continue our walk through the streets of Boudhanath and continue to the traditional neighborhood of Kopan on our way to the Kopan Monastery, which is situated on a hillside on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Following a guided tour of the monastery by one of the monks, we eat lunch in the visitor’s restaurant, where we enjoy one of the best views of Kathmandu.

After lunch, we drive to the famous Pashupatinath Temple and walk around its grounds.

Pashupatinath Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva located beside the Bagmati River. It is one of the most significant temples for Hindu devotees around the world. The golden pagoda temple is richly carved with silver doors. During Maha Shivaratri, which is held every February/March, a big fair is held around the temple. Both Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

After visiting Pashupatinath Temple, we return to the hotel, where your evening is free.

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Satdobato (1,500 m); 7-8 hours

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Satdobato. The first leg of our drive leaving Kathmandu is scenic and winding. After crossing the Trishuli River, we drive to Trishuli Bazaar, where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we travel onward until we reach Satdobato, where we overnight at a beautiful campground beside a small stream.

Day 04: Trek from Satdobato to Bhalche Village (1,950 m); 3-4 hours
We start our trek after breakfast by slowly ascending until we reach the small village of Kispang, where we stop for lunch. We continue to walk through small villages until we reach Bhalche Village. We set up camp for the night on a small farm sight just outside the village, where we encounter an amazing view of the valley below our campsite. On our way to our camp, we pass schoolchildren on their way to the school, shepherds looking after their livestock and friendly villagers.

Day 05: Trek from Bhalche Village to Gonga (3,000 m); 3-4 hours
After breakfast, we set out on a walk from Bhalche Village. We head through a pine and rhododendron forest and cross a stream before we encounter our first view of the beautiful Langtang mountain range. Then we reach Gonga, where we overnight at a tented camp located on a ridge, which presents us with breathtaking sunrise views of the Langtang mountain range. We reach the campsite before lunch.  For those who wish to explore the area, we will arrange an afternoon walk to the nearest village.

Day 06: Trek from Gonga to Rupchet (3,660 m) 4-5 hours
After a serene panoramic sunrise view of the Langtang and Tibetan mountain ranges, we have breakfast and start our journey to Rupchet by walking through a pine and rhododendron forest inhabited by many animals, including monkeys. Views of Gosaikunda and the Tibetan Range can be seen clearly now. We reach the base camp of the Singla Top Trek, Rupchet, where we set up camp in a superb, wide and flat location.

Day 07: Trek from Rupchet to Singla Pass to Sertunga Kharka (2,440 m); 6-7 hours
Today is the toughest day of our trek. We start our trek after breakfast by climbing to the Singla Pass to enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the pass. Our short 2-hour trip rewards us with stunning views of Manasulu and the Ganesh Himal, Annapurna, Langtang and Tibetan ranges. We then trek down to a tiny village through the rhododendron and pine forests. Upon reaching Sertunga Kharka, we set our camp and overnight.

Day 08: Trek from Sertunga Kharka to Sertun Village (1,920 m); 3-hours
After breakfast, we head through a jungle landscape and then through corn and barley fields. The beautiful Ganesh Himal Range is still visible. We gradually descend to the village of Sertun, where we have lunch before visiting the village and experience the everyday life in the village. We overnight in Sertun.

Day 09: Trek from Sertun Village to Jharlang Phedi (1,450 m); 6-7 hours
After an extended light walk, we descend to Borang Village, where we encounter the Tamang people and a view of the Ganesh Himal Range. From Borang Village, we walk through fields and over a bridge, enjoying the view along the way, before reaching Jharlang Phedi, where we set up our camp for the night. 

Day 10: Trek from Jharlang Phedi to Kintang Phedi (1,000 m); 6-hours
We continue our decent with a few ascends and descends along the way. We enjoy the wonderful views of the mountains as well as the warm greetings of local people in the small villages that we walk through along the way. We also encounter charming local farms growing a variety of vegetables, which are consumed by the local folks and are also sold at the local bazaar.

Approaching Kintang Phedi, we notice the Netrawati River, which originates from the Ganesh Himal Glacier. Kintang Phedi is a small valley, where not only the Netrawati River and Kintang River come together, but diverse cultures as well. We overnight in tents alongside the river. After we have settled into our camp, it is possible to have a refreshing bath in the river.

Day 11: Trek from Kintang Phedi to Serabensi Jyamrung (700 m); 6-hours
We enjoy a slow descent along the Netrawati River. The picturesque terraced fields and the village scenery enhance our walk. We continue until we reach Serabensi Jyamrung, where we visit the village development project of our local partner Ram’s Non-Governmental Organization, Tuki Nepal. We set up the camp for the night on the riverbank. Upon request, it is also possible to stay overnight with a local family.

Day 12: Rest Day in Serabensi Jyamrung
We spend the first part of the day in the village, where we have a look around, take a bath in the river and/or just relax.

After lunch, we visit the upper part of the village and one of the palace ruins from the period when Nepal was divided into 26 different kingdoms.

Day 13: Trek from Serabensi Jyamrung to Sukaura; drive to Kathmandu. 30-minute walk; 5-6 hours drive
We cross the Netrawati Khola River over a suspension bridge and take a private Jeep, which is waiting for us, to Kathmandu. Along the way, half of the road to Dhadingbesi is bumpy, but then we enjoy a smooth drive to Malekhu and onward to Kathmandu on the beautiful Prithvi Highway. We transfer you to your hotel, where you overnight. In the evening, we meet for a farewell dinner.

Day 14: Final Departure
On our farewell day, a representative from our local partner transfers you to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for your departure.

We at Live A Life In Motion will do our best to give you an extraordinary time together with us in Nepal. We look forward to meet you on our trek in Nepal.

Tour Leader: Ingvill Ytreland
In 2013 and 2014, Ingvill journeyed to Asia, where she spent ten months in Nepal and six months in the Himalaya on treks and climbing expeditions as well as visits to remote sherpa villages. Her first trek was the classic Everest Base Camp. In November 2013, Ingvill summited one of the classical mountains in the Everest region named Ama Dablam (6,812 meters). She returned to the Everest region in Nepal in 2014 and 2015 with the goal of climbing the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest (8,848 m). Unfortunately, her expedition was canceled in 2014 after an avalanche killed 16 climbing Sherpas in the Khumbu Icefall. In 2015, her expedition was canceled again when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015. Ingvill has experience from trekking in the Mount Everest, Annapurna, Ganesh Himal, Rolwaling, Langtang and Upper Mustang regions of Nepal, the Ladakh region in India and the Snowman trek in Bhutan. Besides Ama Dablam, Ingvill has summited multiple other 6,000 meter peaks, including Island Peak (6,189 m) and Lobuche East (6,145 m) in the Mount Everest region in Nepal and Lungser Kangri (6,666 m) in Ladakh, India. Ingvill has been fortunate to have learned about the challenges one can meet on expeditions through not only her own experiences, but also from experienced mountain guides.

Ingvill holds a master degree in business and economics from the Norwegian Business School. She has 20 years work experience as a procurement and project manager at different companies and consultancy corporations in Oslo. For the last ten years before starting her journey, Ingvill worked for Skandinaviske Enskilda Banken.

This equipment list is made based, in part, on my own experience from my journeys in Himalaya as well with the advice given by others on their equipment lists. All specific products and/or materials mentioned below are those, which I have had experience with myself and can personally recommend.

In Norway, we have a tradition for using products made of wool for underwear and base layers, fleece or wool as mid-layers and a wind and waterproofed shell or down as our outer layer, all depending on the temperature and weather, of course. It has been my experience that using wool as the first layer is much more conducive to keeping warm in cold weather, as compared to under layers made of technical materials.

The brands, which I have used and have had good experience with, are: Brynje of Norway and Icebreaker (for clothes made of wool) Mountain Hardwear, Norrona and North Face (for outer layers)

Both this advice and list are based on my best tips. I am not sponsored by any of the brands that I recommend. These are strictly my recommendations for you if you have to buy new equipment for the trek. If you already have some or all of this equipment, then, of course, you use what you have.

Sleeping bag and mattress:

• One sleeping bag with a recommended comfort temperature of –15 C/+5 F (I have the Mountain Hardwear Phantom.)
  Note: If you do not have a sleeping bag, one can be borrowed from our local trekking agency partner for no additional charge.
• ADDITIONAL: Exped Synmat 7 Mattress
  Note: A thin mattress is included in the price. The mattress recommended above is if you would like extra comfort on the trek.

Underwear:

• Icebreaker or similar (see the underwear category on www.icebreaker.com)

Base Layer:

• One pair of thick woolen long underwear (example: Brynje Arctic longs or Icebreaker Vertex leggings (women), Icebreaker Apex leggings (men), or similar)
• One pair of thin woolen long underwear (example: Brynje Classic longs or Icebreaker Oasis Leggings, or similar)
• One thick woolen long sleeve shirt (example: Brynje Arctic shirt or Icebreaker Tech Top Long Sleeve, or similar)
• One thin woolen long sleeve shirt (example: Brynje Classic Shirt or Icebreaker Oasis Long Sleeve Crew, or similar)
• Two t-shirts (example: Brynje Classic t-shirt or Icebreaker Oasis Short Sleeve Crew, or similar)

Mid Layer:

• One fleece jacket of your own choice

Outer Layer:

• One warm down jacket (example: Mountain Hardwear Phantom Hooded Down Jacket, or similar)
• Two pairs of trekking pants of your own choice.
• One wind- and waterproofed jacket and trousers/pants. I prefer GoreTex. (example: Norronaor Mountain Hardwear.)
• Shorts

Footwear:

• One pair of liner socks (example: Icebreaker Hike Liner, or similar)
• One pair thick woolen socks (example: Icebreaker Mountaineer mid-calf sock, or similar)
• Two pairs of trekking socks (example: Icebreaker Hike Medium Crew, or similar)
• One pair of trekking boots (example: Scarpa SL Active, or similar)
• One pair of sandals

Hand and Head Gear :

• One beanie
• One warm hat
• One sunhat
• One buff long neck, or similar
• One pair of gloves
• One pair of warm mitts (example: Mountain Hardwear, Jalapeno OutDry Mitt, or similar)

Other Equipment:

• One 30-40 liter daypackSunscreen (SPF 50 or higher)
• One pair of UV-A & UV-B blocking sunglasses
• One headlamp with extra batteries
• One toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and moisturizing cream.
• One travel towel
• One water bottle and thermos
• Wet wipes and antibacterial gel
• Imodium, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Universal plaster/Band-Aid, Compeed plaster/blister cushion, Chlorine Dioxide tablets for water purification
• Camera

Even though our guests have been healthy on our treks, we recommend that you ask your doctor for prescriptions of antibiotics in the case of dysentery and Diamox, which is used to prevent altitude sickness. We will not use these drugs, unless it is necessary.

All equipment must be packed in duffel bags for the porters to carry them. If you do not have a duffel bag and want to borrow one from our local agent in Kathmandu, please notify us in advance of your arrival. 10 kg/22 pounds of luggage, per person, is included in the price of the trip. For an additional fee, it is possible to rent your own porter. It is also possible to leave luggage that you to not need on the trek with our local agent in Kathmandu at no additional charge.

Visas
A visa for Nepal can be purchased upon arrival at the airport. You will need two passport photographs and $40 USD in cash to apply for a 30-day visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months and contain at least one empty page for the visa.

Cancellation Insurance
Customers must arrange their own cancellation insurance. If you have taken out travel insurance for a full year, check whether cancellation coverage is included before buying separate cancellation insurance. Cancellation insurance must be valid from the date of booking.

Travel Insurance
Customers must arrange their own sickness, accident and travel insurance valid for altitudes of up to 4,500 meters above sea level. Check the terms and conditions of your travel insurance for such coverage. Many travel insurance policies limit the altitude to which they provide coverage. You may need to take out supplementary coverage. A copy of your valid travel insurance policy must be sent to the Arranger before the start of your tour.

Included in the Price:

• Three nights accommodation (breakfast inclusive) at Hotel Holy Himalaya in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis *
• Thirteen nights full-board accommodation in tents on a twin-sharing basis
• All applicable trekking fees
• Sightseeing, including all fees, where applicable, in the Tibetan neighborhood of Boudhanath and the Hindu temple Pashupatinath
• Arrival and return transportation between the airport and hotel
• A farewell dinner
• An English-speaking tour leader

* for an additional fee, it is possible to get single room accommodation at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Not included in the price:

• Airfare to Kathmandu
• Vaccination
• Insurances
• Visa

Price:
$2,645 U.S. Dollar