With Heidi Harding & Chhakka Lama
September 23 – October 19, 2020
USD $10,454.
Limited to 8 Participants
Itinerary
Days 1-2: Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal on September 23rd. Check into hotel by 4 PM, the trip leaders will hold a welcome orientation in the hotel. Please plan to arrive and check into the hotel beforehand. We will celebrate with dinner together. After dinner, join the hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims circumambulating the Boudnath Stupa.
We begin each day with morning mantras and meditation to prepare internally for our journey.
In the afternoon of our second day, we will explore historic and colorful Bhaktapur.
Day 3: Leave for Nepalgunj for flight layover and stay at Siddhartha Cottage.
Day 4: Fly to Simikot (9,700 ft.), the capital of Humla, for a day of exploration and acclimatization. Meet local families, and wander through the serene cobblestone paths leading to village life and enjoy dinner together. We will have the opportunity to camp each night in the stunning and majestic mountain valley.
Day 5: An invigorating hike to Burause Village to meet the shamans. The shamans will perform rituals and healings for our group to prepare us for our pilgrimage.
Days 6 -11: Begin our trek from Simikot through the breathtaking landscape of the upper Humla valley, following a 10,000 year old pilgrimage and trade route through stunning vistas of snow-capped mountains. Receive the gifts of power and strength from the mountains.
Day 12: Enter Tibet and drive in jeeps to Lake Manasarovar.
Days 13-16: Enter Lake Manasarovar mandala to commune with the divine feminine. Circumambulate the mystery and blessings of the kora route.
Days 17-18: Drive to the ancient magical kingdom of Zhang Zhung to visit the Bön temple, Gurugyam. Soak in the healing waters of the natural hot springs, and explore the surrounding caves of yogis.
Days 19-20: Drive back to the border town of Purang to prepare for our return trek back to Nepal.
Days 21-24: Trek back to Simikot with a transformed body and mind. Mindful walking provides the opportunity for integration of the power and blessings that have been experienced.
Day 25: We bid farewell to the people and land of Humla. We will fly to Nepalgunj and then Kathmandu.
Day 26: Morning and afternoon free. A final farewell and festive celebratory dinner together.
Day 27: October 19th, depart Nepal on flights back home.
Although we have an itinerary, we ask that you be flexible about changes to the program that may be necessary due to unforeseen circumstances. This is sometimes a reality for travel to a remote region in a developing country. The most profound experiences often arise in the spaces in between, and traveling with locals creates space for unorchestrated moments of engagement and epiphany.
Trip Cost
USD $10,454. (Prices are per person, double occupancy).
For a single room and tent (when available), add USD $950.
Deposit USD $1,000. is required to reserve your space. Due to limited space availability, your deposit is non-refundable.
Balance is due by July 15, 2020. Late payments will be subject to a 5% penalty, applied to the balance due.
All payments can be made through our website. We also accept payment by way of check made out to Middle World Alliance and sent to: PO Box 454 West Stockbridge, MA 01266.
PLEASE NOTE: We require that you purchase travel insurance, medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage in order to participate on this program. It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that they are adequately covered by insurance while traveling in Nepal and Tibet.
MWA STRONGLY recommends you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself in case extenuating circumstances force you to cancel your trip. If for some unforeseen reason you must cancel your journey, your trip tuition is non-refundable after July 15, 2020. There are no exceptions to these policies and MWA is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets. In the unlikely event MWA cancels the trip, all fees and deposits are refunded in full.
Grace Period
We offer a 48-hour grace period on new registrations. If you have second thoughts about participating within 48 hours of your registration, we will refund your payment, less a $100 processing fee.
Included In Price:
Hotels and tents (all double occupancy), all meals except lunch in Khatmandu, in-country transportation and all domestic round trip flights to Nepalgunj and Simikot, full camping services and trekking staff in Nepal and Tibet, tents and all camping supplies, except sleeping bags.
Not Included:
International airfare, Nepal Visa fees, surcharge for single occupancy hotel rooms/tent, items of a personal nature, tips for trek staff, alcohol, specialty coffee drinks like espresso, cappuccinos and lattes, sleeping bag, emergency evacuation, loss or damage of baggage, excess weight for baggage, extra days. If you choose to arrive in Kathmandu early or stay later, please take care of your bills directly with the hotel. MWA will not be responsible for any bills outside of the trip itself.
Flights
You are responsible for booking your own flights to Kathmandu, Nepal. If you arrive before the starting date of the trip, you are also responsible for your transfer from the airport, and hotel accommodations before the trip starts.
Trekking Guides
We take pride that our journey is led by a trekking company with whom we have a close personal relationship with. We believe in low-impact travel and that means minimizing both our environmental impact and our cultural impact at every possible juncture. We are pilgrims, not tourists. We respect cultural norms and the local economy with fair trade practice, and employ experienced local trekking guides and support staff. Together we experience connection, global community, adventure and awe.
Join Us
This trip is joyful and rugged. Participants need to be in good physical shape. The trip is transformative and requires internal emotional strength, patience, and good humor as we sometimes travel outside of comfort zones.
For more information please contact Jan at janmccracken.mwa@gmail.com 518-275-8709