.....for the admirers of nature....
info@natureloverstrek.com
Nepal honey hunting tour is one of the most amazing adventure tours in Nepal. Honey hunting is an age-old tradition usually practiced among Gurung, Magar and Rai communities. This tradition is observed twice a year, especially during spring and autumn, the time to collect wild honey from the hives hanging on the rocky hill. It's found that honey hunting has been done since 13000 BC. This ancestral job continues in many rural villages to reduce the problem of bread and butter. A large section of travelers is increasingly showing interest in honey hunting, making it one of the most desired tours in Nepal.
Honey hunting is adventurous, carrying some amount of risk while having the same amount of fun. The honey hives are made at a height of 300-400 meters above the ground by the indigenous wild bees. There is no other way to approach the honey hives except with the help of a bamboo ladder or rope. Those who wish to take part in the challenging adventure need a good knowledge of rock climbing and who can take the risk. The lead honey hunter collects the honey in the bucket from beehives and passes it down or above to another hunter. The best time for honey hunting is early in the morning or the cold when bees are inactive and easily leave hives.
Some famous places for honey hunting are Bhujung, Mipra, Siurung and Chyamje of the Annapurna region, Dhading and Jharlang across the Ganesh Himal, Arun valley in the Makalu region, etc. At the same time, the honey hunting tour also provides a sort of scenic tour with breathtakingly beautiful views of the Annapurna mountain ranges. This tour is also a combination of the cultural and historical tour, in which you will experience the warm hospitality of Gurung people and be able to taste natural honey. A honey hunting tour in Nepal is the best opportunity to view and experience the traditional way of honey-hunting with the best homestay accommodations.
Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar 7hrs and hike to the village, BLD, Homestay
Day 2: Hike to a honey hunting site and tour of the honey hunting village, cultural performance, BLD, Homestay
Day 3: Observe honey hunting or honey harvesting; follow all the processes they do before, during and after the hunting, BLD, Homestay
Day 4: Hike down to Besisahar and drive back to Kathmandu, BL
Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar 7hrs and hike to the village, BLD, Homestay
We take a local hiace or a bus early in the morning (a private vehicle can be arranged at extra cost) to get to Besisahar. After checking our permits and taking some rest, we start our hiking journey to the honey hunters' village. There are many villages, to begin with, so we must finalize our village for the honey hunting right before departure from Kathmandu.
Day 2: Hike to a honey hunting site and tour of the honey hunting village, cultural performance, BLD, Homestay
After breakfast, we shall begin prepping for the honey hunting. The first thing is to visit the site or the cliffs of honey harvesting. This could be an interesting walk through the bushes, forests, rugged terrains and sheer vertical hills. You should be prepared for it. After assessing the site properly, we shall get back and hear a briefing from the leader and the honey hunters about the process we will follow through. The welcome cultural performance will be held, before or after the dinner.
Day 3: Observe honey hunting or honey harvesting; follow all the processes they do before, during and after the hunting, BLD, Homestay
It is the primary day for honey hunting. The honey hunters and the team will carry the ladders to the site. They will fix the ladder and start the process step by step. First of all, puja or worship ceremony is done to appease the local gods and goddesses. Then smoking the leaves, climbing up or down the ladder, removing wild honey from the beehives, slicing the honeycombs and squeezing the harvest, etc, are followed. Great teamwork is needed for the successful completion of the harvest. With proper climbing gear and equipment, the entire team will get the harvest and finally carry back the wild, mad, or Himalayan harvest back to the village. It will take all day, from early morning to the evening.
Day 4: Hike down to Besisahar and drive back to Kathmandu, BL
We bid farewell to the local honey hunters and the villagers. We hike or drive back to Besisahar and continue our journey back to Kathmandu.
Customized Trips and Trip departure
Nepal Honey Hunting Tour departs from Kathmandu as per our discussed departure dates. Please talk to us for available dates as there are no fixed departures for this tour. Everything has to be finalized only after communicating with the local honey hunters or the villagers.
Accommodations in Kathmandu and during trek
You will be staying in the homestays or tented camps during the tour {as per availability}.
Route Map and Company T-shirt
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary company t-shirts.
Your trekking and tour guides and porters
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.
Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide, tour guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.
Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.
Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.
Your safety
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Nepal Honey Hunting Tour.
How much does the Nepal Honey Hunting Tour cost?
The cost of the Nepal Honey Hunting Tour varies from $500-$2000 depending upon the number of days you choose to do the tour. The longer the tour, more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will differ with the accommodation choices and group sizes also. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey.
How is the Accommodation during the Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
In Nepal Honey Hunting Tour, we will provide you the homestays or tented camping accommodations.
A homestay is typically a local house with addition of some extra beds and minor facilities to welcome the guest. Homestay is where you can stay and experience the local lifestyles and cultures. Most of the homestays have Asian style of toilets and no attached bathrooms. Hot water and hot showers are available on added cost.
During the camping days, you will be sleeping in the camps set up by our field Sherpa staffs. There will be separate kitchen and dining tents. Your meals will be freshly cooked and you will be served day and nights by our Sherpas. Our staffs will carry the sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses for you to sleep in the tents. Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect camping trek experience with Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.
What are the permits that I need for Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
For Nepal Honey Hunting Tour, you will need to make two permits: ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) and TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System).
How does this tipping system in Nepal work and do I have to tip?
Tipping is not compulsory for Nepal Honey Hunting Tour however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide expects around $5 or more per day per person while a porter expects $4 or more per day per person.
Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices in Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
Yes, you can charge your electronic devices during Nepal Honey Hunting Tour. Don’t forget to buy a plug adapter or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.
Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
Nepal Honey Hunting Tour route has average mobile network coverage, thanks to the Nepalese telecommunication companies called Ncell and NTC. You can buy one of these Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the tour to avoid paying extra by buying WiFi on the tour.
WiFi is hardly available in Nepal Honey Hunting Tour route. If it does, the signal varies from place to place and please don’t expect to receive the fast data coverage in the tour.
When is the best time to travel to Nepal honey hunting site?
Nepal Honey Hunting Tour is done 2 times in a year. Either between April and May or between October and November. Please communicate with us for the final time and the location. The timing and the location has to fixed after communication with the villagers and the honey hunters.
Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
No. You don't have to worry about the altitude sickness problem in Nepal Honey Hunting Tour journey.
Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
When it comes to traveling to the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Nepal Honey Hunting Tour is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the tour.
Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Nepal Honey Hunting Tour demands moderate physical fitness. It's better to keep doing some exercises regularly at least few weeks before the trip departure.
Do I need a travel insurance for Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
It is better to have a travel insurance to cover your losses occurred in rare case of urgent medical issues or in theft or stolen cases.
What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Nepal Honey Hunting Tour?
Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful tour to Nepal honey hunting site. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when traveling to Nepal honey hunting site. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry.
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