Himalayan Learning Experience: 7 Day Tour
This experience will be based in and around the majestic Kathmandu valley, a place with the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, and where ancient traditions and modern development collide. We will start our journey in the old Newari city of Bhaktapur. We will set out on a meandering hike to the hilltop town of Nagarkot, where we hope to get a glimpse of the Himalayan peaks. We will then get a unique cultural insight by staying in a Hindu ashram. We will end our trip in the Tibetan hub of Boudha, staying in the shadow of this enormous Buddhist monument. Throughout the journey we will have the chance to learn from local NGOs, businesses and scholars about the tensions between cultural survival and sustainable development, and visit grassroots projects working for positive change. We will also visit a few of the must-see religious and cultural sites of the valley that make the area so renowned and unique. The trip includes: All accommodation All meals and drinking water Entrance fees Transportation for all listed activities Tours instructors to lead and facilitate the trip A $50 donation to all NGOs and social businesses visited throughout the trip VAT (13%) The trip does not include: Nepal visa, available on arrival ($25 for 15 days) Travel insurance International flight to/from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport Snacks and drinks other than water
Day 1: Arrival Welcome to Nepal! After meeting at the airport, we will go to the medieval town of Bhaktapur to orient ourselves to this experience and country. After a welcome dinner of traditional Newari cuisine. We will introduce our main learning theme how can ancient culture survive in such a rapidly developing country? Day 2: Bhaktapur Today we will take a tour through the cobbled backstreets of Bhaktapur, a UNESCO Living World Heritage site. As well as exploring the stunning temples and architecture, we will meet artisans have kept alive their family crafts over hundreds of years. We will also look at how the city crumbled in the 2015 earthquake, interview aid workers who were on the ground at that time, and look at the long-term plans for rebuilding.
Day 3: Nagarkot Today we will take a hike up into the foothills of the Himalayas, and stop off at the oldest temple in the Kathmandu, Changu Narayan (400 AD). We will continue up to the ridge to stay in the hilltop town of Nagarkot Day 4: Ashram Rising with the sun, we will be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of majestic Himalayan peaks. After breakfast we will head towards the outer rim of the valley for our ashram stay. A spiritual community, a non-profit and functioning organic farm, it is a unique insight to Nepali culture.
Day 5: Ashram We will have a full day to participate in the daily life of the ashram. Starting off with a morning yoga class, we will spend the day learning about farming, having a dance class, exploring the income generation projects and understanding how the ashram is fighting child trafficking. We will also have a chance to interview the founder about Hindu philosophy and how it relates to modern challenges. Day 6: Boudha Saying goodbye to our ashram friends, we will head to the final stage of the journey, the Tibetan area of Boudha. Boudha is centered around an enormous monument, and here we will see pilgrims and monks headed out for daily worship. Continuing on our learning themes, we will meet some development organizations and activists, as well as receiving a teaching from a Tibetan Buddhist scholar.
Day 7: Departure We will have a day of closing and reflection (and shopping!) before saying farewell and heading back home.