Annapurna Sanctuary, April 2022

The walking meditation hike through the Annapurna Sanctuary has to be amongst the most beautiful and amazing experiences one can gift themselves. The mobile monastery is a 13 days and 12 night journey in one of the most magnificent yet totally doable treks in Nepal. This is a moderately strenuous hike as you are at a max elevation of 14,000 FT with walk time of about 5-6 hours a day. 

The hike will include 12 participants, 3-4 monastics along with a professional guide and porters. The group will meet together in Katmandu, Nepal. After a day in Katmandu, the group will travel together to Pokhara (which is the starting point of a lot of great treks in Nepal). 

Each day will begin with a morning meditation followed by packing, breakfast and a transition to the walk. Each day as we begin the walk the monastics will lead a short mindfulness lesson and will provide the intention for the day. The participants will walk along the goat trails in silent and contemplative meditation for the first part of the day. The group breaks the silence after lunch followed by a leisurely (most often, sometimes a tab bit more strenuous) walk that will get us to the village/camp by 2:00 or 3:00 PM at the latest. The evenings would mostly be for mindful relaxation and exploration of the local village with a dharma talk and dinner in the evening. iIt's important to note that hikers will mostly carry day packs and their backpacks will be carried by the amazing porters. Each of the nights the group will sleep in the village tea house (which are simple lodges in the local villages). The beauty of this trip is that one will enjoy the beauty and serenity of Nepal without having the responsibility to carry a backpack, camp at night or cook their meals. One can focus on getting out in nature, be with a group of like minded people to explore mindfulness and meditation while also adventuring through one of the most sacred and beautiful landscapes on planet earth.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to initiate the first steps to Sign-Up by filling out the form in the Sign-Up section.

My name is Joydeep Kamdar (info@pathsofhappiness.com and I'm working with Phap Luu from the Plum Village and Hemant from Rustik Travel to set the mobile monastery in motion in Nepal. Over the next few weeks we will add more content an info to make this thing helpful :)

• ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY TREK ITINERARY: 30 APR - 13 MAY: 14D/13N
  
• DAY 1 / 30 APR, SAT / ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU (1,360 M/4,462 FT)

• DAY 2 /1 MAY, SUN / KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING AND TREK PREPARATION.
  
• DAY 3 / 2 MAY, MON / 09.00AM FLY TO POKHARA (950 M/3,117 FT AND THEN DRIVE TO NAYAPUL (1.5 HOURS) AND TREK FROM BIRETHANTI - TIKHEDUNGA (1,480 M/4,855 FT): 3.5 HOURS
  
• DAY 4 / 3 MAY, TUE / TIKHEDUNGA TO GHOREPANI (2,860 M/9,383 FT): 6-7 HOURS
  
• DAY 5 / 4 MAY, WED / GHOREPANI - POON HILL (3,210 M/10,532 FT): 2 HOURS UP, 1 HOUR DOWN) - TADAPANI (2,630 M/8,629 FT): 5-6 HOURS
  
• DAY 6 / 5 MAY, THU / TREK FROM TADAPANI VIA CHHOMRONG TO SINUWA (2,360 M/7,743 FT): 6-7 HOURS
  
• DAY 7 / 6 MAY, FRI / TREK FROM SINUWA TO DEORALI (3,230 M/10,597 FT): 6-7 HOURS
  
• DAY 8 / 7 MAY, SAT / TREK TO MACHHAPUCHHURE BASE CAMP - MBC (3,720M/12,205 FT): 3-4 HOURS
  
• DAY 9 / 8 MAY, SUN / TREK TO ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP - ABC (4,130 M/13,550 FT): 1-2 HOURS. 
  
• DAY 10 / 9 MAY, MON / TREK TO BAMBOO (2,310 M/7,579 FT.): 6-7 HOURS
  
• DAY 11 / 10 MAY, TUE / TREK TO JHINU DANDA (1,780 M/5,840 FT): 5-6 HOURS
  
• DAY 12 / 11 MAY, WED / TREK TO TOKHA (1,700 M/5,577 FT) AND THEN TO AUSTRALIAN CAMP (2,055 M/6,742 FT): 5-6 HOURS 
  
• DAY 13 / 12 MAY, THU / LAST DAY OF THE TREK FROM TOKHA TO KANDE (9 AM, 1.5 HOURS) AND THEN DRIVE TO POKHARA IN PRIVATE COACH.  REST OF THE DAY AT LEISURE IN POKHARA.
  
• DAY 14 / 13 MAY, FRI / TAKE A SCENIC FLIGHT ROUTE FROM POKHARA TO KATHMANDU FOR YOUR NEXT DESTINATION OR RETURN FLIGHT
  
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COMMERCIALS:

For a group size of 10-12 PAX

Cost: USD 2500 per person

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INCLUSIONS:

• Airport arrival and departure. Private transfer according to Itinerary
• Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu Airfare
• Pokhara – Nayapul and Kande – Pokhara land transfer by private coach    
• 2 nights accommodation (Twin Share-3***) in Kathmandu with breakfast as per itinerary
• 2 nights accommodation (Twin Share-3***) in Pokhara with breakfast as per Itinerary
• 08 Nights / 09 Days Full board (breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) teahouse trek 
• 08 Nights accommodation (twin sharing, common Bathroom) during trek – Your trip guide will choose the Lodge
• Hot drinks (Tea or Coffee ) with meals (breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) with drinking water at the tea house during trek
• Permits: Annapurna Conservation entry fee and TIMS (pp copy & photo)
• One experienced and registered trekking guide from Kathmandu
• If group size is 8 or 10 then we will provide one assistant guide
• Porters for carrying one rucksack of Max 10 Kgs per head during the trek (2 guest one porter)
• Welcome and Farewell dinners.

EXCLUSIONS:

• Nepalese Visa fee.
• Sleeping bags  and jackets (available on rent). It is recommended to get your own.
• Free baggage 20 kg (15 luggage and 5 hand bag)  and Excess Baggage fee NPR 120 per  kilo as per airports fees
• Single supplement fee INR 4200 per single room for 4 nights (only in Kathmandu and Pokhara)
• Bar bills, additional meals or snacks, extra hot drinks (beer, coke & Chocolate etc) 
• Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• SIM cards, internet connectivity
• Any meals not mentioned in the inclusions
• Personal nature of expenses (hot shower, mobile charging), personal trekking gears (Jacket & Sleeping bag) 
• Any sightseeing tour in Kathmandu or Pokhara   
• Travel Insurance for rescue operation (Per hour USD$ 2500 for helicopter Charter flight) 
• Extra night accommodation if earlier return from trekking by any reason, 
• Extra cost occur by any reason which is not in our control such as strike, landslide and accident etc, 
• Any evacuation, if required.
• TIPS for trekking staffs (Aprox INR 500 per day per trekker) and other things which is not included above.
• Any item that is not mentioned in the Inclusions.